Chapter 21. Chapter 21: Air Pollution

What is air pollution and what is its global impact?

Why You Should Care

The air around us is made up of gases, tiny drops of liquid, and floating particles of solids, but mostly, it is impossible to see any of these things—which we don’t fear because invisible things cannot hurt us, right?

Unfortunately, anything that is dissolved in the air can be an air pollutant: ash from a forest fire, gases from car exhaust, or aerosol liquids in smog. There are natural sources for these pollutants—forest fires, sea spray, and volcanoes all produce air pollution—and anthropogenic sources—fossil fuel combustion, factory smokestacks, and conversion of land to human uses also produce the same types of air pollution.

Air pollution flows wherever there is atmosphere, so where it is produced and the areas it impacts downwind can be separated by continents. It truly has a global impact because the global wind patterns spread out the pollutants wherever the wind blows. Areas closer to the source will have higher levels and those effects are more acute, but even at the North Pole, where there are no humans or human activities, there is measurable air pollution.

2.

Of the countries shown in the Infographic above, which one has successfully lowered its outdoor air pollution?

A.

Argentina

B.

Iraq

C.

Norway

D.

Russia

999

Try again.

Correct.

Incorrect.

3.

Why are there so few countries with the lowest death rate from air pollution?

A.

Most continents do not have high populations.

B.

Most countries use fossil fuels, which release air pollutants.

C.

Some areas release pollutants that affect the whole rest of the continent.

D.

All of the above

999

Try again.

Correct.

Incorrect.

4.

Which continent has the highest death rate due to air pollution?

A.

Africa

B.

Asia

C.

Europe

D.

North America

999

Try again.

Correct.

Incorrect.

5.

Of the countries shown, which one has mostly indoor air pollution?

A.

Argentina

B.

Kenya

C.

Norway

D.

Russia

999

Try again.

Correct.

Incorrect.

6.

The WHO research that is shown here states that more than half of the deaths from air pollution are among children. Why are children more susceptible to air pollution’s health effects?

Air pollution doesn't usually kill outright: It impairs lung function. So children are more affected because they have smaller lungs that are damaged faster than an adult with larger lungs. Also, children are more likely to die of related respiratory diseases (like pneumonia) than adults.

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