We need air to breathe. Fresh air contains oxygen, which all living things need to live. But there are many harmful substances in the air near our towns and cities. Sulphur dioxide gas, which comes from burning coal and oil, and nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide from the exhaust fumes of cars and lorries, can cause cancer and respiratory diseases. Lead fumes can cause brain damage.
Air pollution" means the introduction by man, directly or indirectly, of substances into the air resulting in deleterious effects of such a nature as to endanger human health, harm living resources and ecosystems and material property and impair or interfere with amenities and other legitimate uses of the environment, and "air pollutants" shall be construed accordingly. (Verzosa, 2002)
Acid rain:
Poisonous gases are added to the atmosphere every day. Oxides of nitrogen and sulphur mix with the water vapor in the air forming acids such as sulphuric acid and nitric acid. These acids are absorbed in rain clouds and fall to the ground as acid rain. Acid rain causes serious damage as it kills trees and destroys many habitats. When acid rain falls in lakes and rivers, it harms fish, plants and other freshwater life. Acid rain also attacks the stonework of buildings.
The ozone layer and the greenhouse effect:
There is a layer of gas called ozone, which surrounds the Earth at a height of 16 to 50 kilometers. Ozone protects the Earth from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the Sun. some chemicals used in aerosol sprays, refrigerators and air conditioners called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are said to damage the ozone layer, making it thinner.
More of the Sun’s energy is reaching the Earth’s atmosphere because the ozone layer is becoming thinner. The Earth’s atmosphere traps the heat of the Sun near the Earth’s..........
