Five Different Types of Air Pollution

Air pollution isn't just smog. Several pollutants exist which can contaminate air, both indoors and out, making it difficult and even harmful to breathe. Smog, harmful emissions from industrial plants and cars, is just one type of air pollution. Other types include particle pollution, wherein particles from burned fuel pollute the air; lead; off-gassing of building materials, paint and furniture; and noise pollution, the result of unwanted sounds that can annoy and cause hearing damage and stress.

Smog

• A hazy mixture of many different pollutants, smog is most often found hovering in large clouds above cities and industrial centers. Smog can come from industrial emissions like the release of smoke from coal-burning factories. This smoke contains sulfur dioxide, which can lead to acid rain. Acid rain is contaminated with sulfuric acid and falls to the earth, damaging plants, harming soil and polluting rivers and lakes. Motor vehicle exhaust pollutes the air in the same way as coal-burning factories, releasing smoke from the consumption of fossil fuels. These emissions of various types mix together, causing smog.

Particle Pollution

• Similar to smog, particle pollution can result from the burning of fuel. However, particle pollution isn't just smoke. As the name suggests, particle pollution consists of small particles of matter, so small as to be invisible to the naked eye. In addition to small particles of fuel emissions, particle pollution can also come from organic chemicals, metals or even dust. Inhaled, particle pollution can cause health problems to the lungs and heart.

Lead

• Sources of lead pollution include motor vehicle gasoline, airplane fuel, ore and metal processing, incinerators and lead-acid battery manufacture. Once inhaled, lead accumulates in the body and can affect the kidneys and the nervous, immune, cardiovascular, reproductive and developmental systems leading to problems like neurological dysfunction, high blood pressure, heart disease and behavior and learning problems in children.

Off-gassing

• The release of potentially harmful chemicals from non-metallic materials is called off-gassing. Common building materials like paint, varnish, carpet, insulation and plywood can produce off-gassing, leading to indoor air pollution. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found that indoor air is sometimes more polluted than outdoor air. Off-gassing can lead to a wide range of health problems like headaches, asthma, respiratory diseases and cancer.

Noise Pollution

• Just as gasses or particles can pollute the air, unwanted sound can be an invasive and harmful environmental pollutant as well. Unwanted sound can disturb sleep and conversation and decrease the quality of life. Sources of noise pollution include traffic, airplanes, garbage tucks, construction equipment and gardening equipment. According to the EPA, studies show that noise pollution can lead to health problems like stress, high blood pressure, lack of sleep and hearing loss.