Impacts of Air Pollution
Air pollution causes a number of problems in the environment. Most significantly, air pollution affects our health. Humans depend on air to live and breathe. Polluted air can cause damage to our health and affect us in a negative way. Different people will be affected by high levels of pollution in different ways depending on their age and general health, the type of pollutant and how long they are exposed to pollution. Health problems caused by air pollution range from less serious breathing difficulties, to asthma and even cancer.
Vegetation is generally negatively affected by air pollution. Poor growth rates in city centres reflect this. It is though that some plants can be damaged by sulphur dioxide and ozone. Wildlife can also be affected by air pollution, by breathing it in, by consuming it via food and water or by absorbing it through the skin.
Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides contribute to acid rain. Acid rain presents a whole new set of problems for the environment, affecting lakes, trees and other forms of wildlife.
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