air pollution essay class 4

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Essay on Air Pollution for Students: Check Samples of 100 Words to 250 Words

• Updated on  
• Jun 2, 2024

Essay on Air Pollution : Invisible but insidious, air pollution silently infiltrates our lives, impacting health, the environment, and future generations. Through this blog, let’s explore its roots, repercussions, and remedies, which are essential in our quest for cleaner, healthier skies. Essay writing here becomes more crucial, to raise awareness about air pollution’s dire consequences and drive action for cleaner air.

Table of Contents

• 1 10-Line Essay on Air Pollution
• 2 What are the Causes of Air Pollution?
• 3 What are the effects of Air Pollution?
• 4 Essay on Air Pollution: How to Tackle Air Pollution?
• 5 Essay on Air Pollution Sample (100 Words)
• 6 Essay on Air Pollution Sample (250 Words)

Quick Read: Essay on Child Labour

10-Line Essay on Air Pollution

Below mentioned is a 10-lined essay on air pollution:

• Air pollution is caused by harmful substances known as pollutants.
• The pollutant comes from various sources, like vehicle gasses, forest fires, and other human activities.
• The two biggest sources of air pollution are the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.
• Air pollution is harmful to humans because it can cause skin and respiratory diseases.
• Air pollution is equally harmful to plants and animals.
• Air pollution can also damage non-living things, such as ancient monuments constructed from marble and limestone.
• Air pollution leads to ozone layer depletion, climate change and global warming.
• Air pollution can damage ecosystems in forests.
• We must take effective steps to reduce air pollution.
• We can reduce air pollution by planting more trees and burning less fossil fuels.

What are the Causes of Air Pollution?

Air pollution is caused by various factors, including:

• Industrial Emissions: Factories and manufacturing processes release pollutants like chemicals and particulate matter into the air.
• Vehicle Emissions: Combustion engines in cars, trucks, and aeroplanes emit exhaust gases, including carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides.
• Burning Fossil Fuels: The use of coal, oil, and natural gas for energy generation and heating releases pollutants and greenhouse gases.
• Agricultural Activities: Pesticides and fertilizers release chemicals, while livestock emit methane.
• Deforestation: Cutting down trees reduces the planet’s capacity to absorb pollutants.
• Waste Disposal: Improper disposal of waste leads to the release of harmful substances into the air.
• Natural Sources: Volcanic eruptions, dust storms, and wildfires can also contribute to air pollution.

What are the effects of Air Pollution?

Air pollution poses severe health and environmental risks. Short-term exposure can lead to respiratory issues, eye irritation, and exacerbation of pre-existing conditions. Long-term exposure is linked to chronic diseases such as lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory disorders. 

Additionally, air pollution harms ecosystems, causing acid rain, damaging vegetation, and polluting water bodies. It also contributes to climate change by increasing greenhouse gas concentrations. Addressing air pollution is crucial to safeguard the human health and protecting the planet’s ecosystems and climate.

Essay on Air Pollution: How to Tackle Air Pollution?

Addressing air pollution is paramount for a healthier planet. By curbing emissions, adopting clean technologies, and fostering sustainable practices, we can safeguard our environment and public health. Here are some key points on how to tackle air pollution:

• Reduce Vehicle Emissions
• Improve Industrial Practices
• Plant more trees
• Reduce Indoor Air Pollution
• Promote Renewable Energy
• Encourage Sustainable Practices
• Raise Public Awareness
• Reduce Open Burning
• International Cooperation

Tackling air pollution requires a multi-faceted approach involving government policies, community engagement, and individual responsibility.

Must Read: Essay On Global Warming

Essay on Air Pollution Sample (100 Words)

Air pollution is a pressing environmental issue with far-reaching consequences. It occurs when harmful substances, such as particulate matter and toxic gases, contaminate the atmosphere. These pollutants result from various sources, including industrial emissions, vehicular exhaust, and agricultural activities.

The consequences of air pollution are severe, impacting both human health and the environment. Prolonged exposure to polluted air can lead to respiratory diseases, cardiovascular issues, and even premature death. Additionally, air pollution harms ecosystems, leading to reduced crop yields and biodiversity loss.

Mitigating air pollution requires collective efforts, including stricter emission regulations, cleaner energy sources, and promoting public awareness. By addressing this issue, we can safeguard our health and preserve the environment for future generations.

Essay on Air Pollution Sample (250 Words)

Air pollution is a pressing global issue that affects the health and well-being of people and the environment. It occurs when harmful substances, such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and volatile organic compounds, are released into the atmosphere. This pollution can have dire consequences for both humans and the planet.

First and foremost, air pollution poses a significant threat to human health. Particulate matter and toxic gases can enter the respiratory system, leading to various respiratory diseases like asthma and bronchitis. Long-term exposure to polluted air has also been linked to cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer, and premature death. Vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions are at higher risk.

Additionally, air pollution has adverse effects on the environment. It contributes to climate change by increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, leading to rising global temperatures and more frequent extreme weather events. Moreover, pollutants can harm ecosystems, contaminate water bodies, and damage crops, impacting food security.

The sources of air pollution are diverse, including industrial processes, transportation, agriculture, and energy production. To combat this problem, governments, industries, and individuals must take collective action. Implementing stricter emission standards for vehicles and industrial facilities, transitioning to cleaner energy sources, and promoting public transportation are essential steps in reducing air pollution.

In conclusion, air pollution is a critical issue that affects human health and the environment. Its detrimental effects on respiratory health and its contributions to climate change necessitate urgent action. By adopting sustainable practices and reducing emissions, we can mitigate the impact of air pollution and create a healthier and more sustainable future for all.

Ans. Air pollution is the contamination of air due to the presence of substances in the atmosphere that are harmful to the health of humans and other living beings, or cause damage to the climate or materials.

Ans. To prevent air pollution, reduce vehicle emissions by using public transport, carpooling, or opting for electric vehicles. Promote clean energy sources like wind and solar power. Implement strict industrial emissions standards. Encourage reforestation and green spaces. Educate the public about responsible waste disposal and advocate for clean energy policies.

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Home — Essay Samples — Environment — Air Pollution — Air Pollution: Causes and Effects

Air Pollution: Causes and Effects

• Categories: Air Pollution Environmental Issues Pollution

About this sample

Words: 723 |

Updated: 30 November, 2023

Words: 723 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

Video Version

Air Pollution Essay: Hook Examples

• The Silent Killer: Delve into the invisible threat that surrounds us every day, affecting our health, environment, and future generations – air pollution.
• Gasping for Breath: Paint a vivid picture of individuals struggling to breathe in polluted cities, highlighting the urgency of addressing this pressing issue.
• Nature’s S.O.S: Explore how wildlife and ecosystems send distress signals through the impact of air pollution, underscoring the interconnectedness of all living beings.
• The Economic Toll: Uncover the hidden costs of air pollution on healthcare, productivity, and quality of life, revealing the far-reaching consequences of our actions.
• Clean Air, Clear Future: Imagine a world where we embrace cleaner technologies and sustainable practices, offering a vision of hope and change in the fight against air pollution.

Works Cited

• Agarwal, A., & Agarwal, S. (2020). Air Pollution: Sources, Effects, and Control. CRC Press.
• Cohen, A. J., Brauer, M., Burnett, R., Anderson, H. R., Frostad, J., Estep, K., … & Balakrishnan, K. (2017). Estimates and 25-year trends of the global burden of disease attributable to ambient air pollution: an analysis of data from the Global Burden of Diseases Study 2015. The Lancet, 389(10082), 1907-1918.
• Guttikunda, S. K., & Gurjar, B. R. (2012). Role of meteorology in seasonality of air pollution in megacity Delhi, India. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 184(5), 3199-3211.
• He, G., Ying, Q., Ma, Y., Cheng, L., Wang, Y., & Liu, Y. (2016). Health risks of air pollution in China: a special focus on particulate matter. Environmental Pollution, 211, 17-30.
• Heyder, J., Gebhart, J., Rudolf, G., & Schiller, C. (1986). St deposition in the human respiratory tract as determined by cyclone techniques. Environmental Health Perspectives, 66, 149-159.
• Khan, M. N., Islam, M. M., Siddiqui, M. N., & Islam, M. S. (2019). Sources and Impact of Air Pollution on Human Health. In Sustainable Environment and Transportation (pp. 307-334). Springer.
• Kumar, P., Kumar, A., & Goyal, P. (2020). Air Pollution: Measurement, Modelling and Mitigation. CRC Press.
• Lelieveld, J., Evans, J. S., Fnais, M., Giannadaki, D., & Pozzer, A. (2015). The contribution of outdoor air pollution sources to premature mortality on a global scale. Nature, 525(7569), 367-371.

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Essay on Pollution for Class 4

Every time any harmful substance is included in the atmosphere it is referred to as pollution. It can turn the entire environment bad or sometimes damaging. There is a total of five variety of pollution such as noise, air, water, thermal, and soil pollution. Besides, with the growing rate of pollution, the methods to prevent it have also increased.

We are providing two essay samples for students of class 4 on the topic ‘Pollution’ for reference.

Short Essay on Pollution of 100 Words

The quality of life is extremely affected by pollution. Pollution is known to work in a way which is difficult to understand through naked eyes alone. However, pollution is present everywhere in the atmosphere.

For example, it is impossible for one to see any type of natural gasses through naked eyes in the atmosphere. In the same way, the pollutants that are drastically increasing and ruining the quality of air and environment are damaging for every living being.

Besides, these pollutants can also result in the drastic growth of the carbon dioxide which then increases global warming. Moreover, each day the quantity of pollutants present in the water is rising due to the wastes from industrial sectors.

Engage your kid into diverse thoughts and motivate them to improve their English with our  Essay for Class 4  and avail the Simple Essays suitable for them.

Long Essay on Pollution of 150 Words

Pollutants can tend to be critically harmful for all living being. Therefore, one must know the methods to avoid or reduce the spread of pollution. In order to decrease the pollution level, public transport can be utilised by the people to eliminate the smoke that originates from vehicles.

Moreover, people can also prevent using firecrackers in any celebration or festivals. As it will be helpful for eliminating both noise and air pollution. In addition, frequent recycling can also be helpful for entire environment.

People should also plant a greater number of trees since it will be useful for absorbing the gases that are harmful for the environment. The government can also take a step by reducing the amount of fertilizers that is being used.

So, each type of pollutants is damaging and hazardous and often lead to deadly consequences. Therefore, it is essential for every individual to attempt at adopting the methods to prevent the increase of pollution further.

10 Lines on Pollution in English

• Pollution is classified as the harm done to environment as well as life.
• Pollution is caused by humans and is thus, man-made activity.
• Air Pollution, Noise Pollution, Soil Pollution, Water Pollution are some of the types of pollutions.
• The harmful gases emitted by vehicles as well as factories accounts for air pollution.
• Sewage system and industrial waste from factories such as chemical factories are major accelerants for water pollution.
• The sound coming from various means of transport is one of the main causes of noise pollution.
• Respiratory infection, allergy, skin problems can be caused due to air pollution.
• Keeping your surrounding green and proper disposal of waste helps to keep pollution at bay.
• Plastic pollution is the major cause of degrading ocean health.
• The waste that comes from nuclear based plant is termed as radio-active pollution.

Frequently Asked Questions on Pollution Essay

Question. In what ways is the air polluted by the automobiles?

Answer. There are combustion engines present inside engines which makes use of both petrol and diesel. Diesel and petrol combustion can easily cause emission which leads to the formation of many types of polluting gasses.

Question. What can you understand by ozone layer?

Answer. The protective layer that is present in our atmosphere is known as ozone layer. This layer is severely affected by the increasing amount of pollutants in the environment.

Question. What is the proper definition of acid rain?

Answer. Acid rain is typically created with the combination of sulphur and nitrogen oxides with rainwater.

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Essay on Air Pollution: Types, Causes & Effects of Air Pollution

March 10, 2021 by Sandeep

Air Pollution Essay: Air Pollution can be defined as the presence of toxic substances in the air in such a concentration that can be hazardous to humans and their surroundings. These toxic particles are commonly known as pollutants; out of these pollutants, oxides of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur are particularly harmful.

Essay on Air Pollution in 500 Words

Below we have provided Air Pollution Essay in English, suitable for class 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 school students. This essay is drafted in easy and simple language.

Air Pollution is an environmental issue that poses a huge threat to billions of organisms surviving on our planet. It has been increasing at an alarming rate with an increase in the concentration of pollutants. The contamination of air by these hazardous pollutants has disrupted the natural balance in our environment. The quality of life has reduced.

Causes of Air Pollution

Two primary phenomena cause air pollution. One of them is the natural phenomenon that comprises volcanic eruptions, wildfires, radioactive elements, and volatile organic compounds. The other most crucial cause is human activity. With the increase in the number of industries, the contamination in the air automatically increases. Fuels and chemicals utilized in factories, mills, and industries release harmful chemicals to the atmosphere. These are organic compounds, gases, particulate matter, ash, and other volatile substances.

Chlorofluorocarbons, also known as CFCs, are another potent reason for air pollution. These chemicals get released from leaky refrigerants, spray tins, burning plastics and various other sources. They deplete the ozone layer and allow harmful UV rays to enter our atmosphere. This, in turn, causes serious illnesses. It is also responsible for smog in urban cities. Smog impairs visibility and can lead to accidents.

Carbon dioxide solely accounts for almost 57 percent of the air pollution. Greenhouse gases and Carbon dioxide together contribute to global warming . They also cause acid rains which are harmful to plants and man-made objects like ancient monuments.

Effects of Air Pollution

With the air quality deteriorating, our future is at stake. Increasing pollution can cause serious health hazards like cancer and cardiovascular issues. Children suffer from bronchitis and pneumonia. Irritation of the nose and throat, asthma attacks, pulmonary diseases are all outcomes of air pollution. Another significant effect of pollution is extreme climate change. Disrupting food chains, extinction of species, depleting the ozone layer are some of the grave issues we face today.

Control of Air Pollution

The Air Pollution Act forbids power sectors and high-scale industries from releasing particulate matter beyond a certain level. Chimneys, Electrostatic precipitators, and filters must be implanted to lessen the damage caused by the emissions.

People must be made aware of the grave conditions of air pollution. The government has taken a huge step to sensitize people regarding the consequences of pollution. We must do our part as well. Using the means of public transport will ensure less number of vehicles. Lesser vehicles mean lesser emission of pollutants.

Planting more and more trees can help solve this crisis. Reforestation in mining areas is also an effective step. Conservation of energy is of prime importance. Renewable energy sources like solar panels, wind turbines, hydroelectric power, and natural gas must be utilized. We must avoid burning dry leaves at our homes and must indulge in the habit of composting.

The implementation of Eco-friendly methods will ensure a cleaner and healthier environment. LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas), CNG (Compressed Natural Gas), and Biogas are some Eco-friendly substitutes of fuels. Together, we must strive to bring a change. Our efforts matter because they will bring in much-needed change. After all, everyone wants to live on a healthy planet.

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Air Pollution Essay for Students and Kids in English

February 13, 2024 by Prasanna

Air Pollution Essay: The rising concentration of the corrosive and toxic substances in the fresh air of the environment is generating air pollution. Many types of foreign particles, noxious gases and other pollutants discharged from various human actions are changing the fresh air, which harms living beings like human beings, animals and plants.

Essay Writing on Air Pollution in English

The level of air pollution depends on the type and extent of dirt particles discharged from several resources. Read the article of essay writing air pollution.

Essay About Air Pollution Cause and Effect

Topographical and meteorological situations are rising the range and intensity of the pollutants. The quality of raw materials utilized in the production process in industries is expanding the type and frequency of eruptions of harmful gases. Booming population mass is necessitating the need for more industrialization, which eventually causes air pollution Air essay.

Air Pollutants such as harmful liquid droplets, solids particulates, and toxic gases which are generally not the components of fresh air are very precarious to the plant and animal life. Some of the pollutants are oxides of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur gases, halogenated and non-halogenated hydrocarbons, suspended inorganic particulate matters, inorganic and organic acids, etc. There are two kinds of air pollution sources they are

• Natural Sources
• Human-made sources

Natural Sources of Air Pollution

Some familiar sources of the air pollution are volcanic eruptions, volcano released ashes, smokes, carbon dioxide, dust and other gases, deflation of sands, dust, salts spray from seas and ocean, bombardment of asteroid materials, soil particles, storms, forest fires, cosmic particles, rays, comets, pollen grains, fungal spores, viruses, bacteria, essay writing of air pollution etc.

Air Pollution Human Made Sources

Human-made sources of air pollution are releases from industries, agriculture, power plants, automobiles, domestic causes, etc. Some of the air pollutants from the man-made sources are like smokes from chimneys, dust while construction, particulate matters, domestic heating, eruptions from different vehicles, usage of insecticides, pesticides, herbicides, the heat produced from power plants, fly ash, etc.

Because of the growing number of air pollutants, they are divided into two types, such as primary pollutants and secondary pollutants. Primary pollutants are those attacking the fresh air directly and released from smoke, ash, dust, fumes, mist, spray, inorganic gases, carbon dioxide, ammonia, nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and radioactive compounds. Secondary pollutants are those influencing the air indirectly by biochemical interactions to the principal pollutants and other atmospheric constituents such as sulfur-trioxide, ozone, hydrocarbons, nitrogen dioxide, etc.

The consequences of air pollution lead to ozone depletion, smog, acid rain, and global warming. The Ozone layer is a belt of natural gasses in the stratosphere that protects the planet. It shields us from dangerous ultraviolet B radiation emitted by Sun. The air pollution caused by pollutants in the atmosphere is severely damaging the ozone layer. For the past few decades, many holes have developed in the layer. The ozone layer above Antarctica especially has suffered serious damage. When the ozone layer gets consumed the harmful UVB radiation enters the surface of the earth causing skin cancer and eye damage amongst humans.

Smog is the fatal mixture of Smoke and Fog. It is a grey colored fog that is produced when the pollutants in the air, like carbon particles, compress and mix with the fog. Smog is very harmful to humans and the whole environment. It can start diseases such as cold, flu, eye irritation, asthma and also lung cancer in the long run.

Acid Rain is created when a chemical reaction happens between air pollutants and water and oxygen in the atmosphere. Pollutants like sulfur-dioxide and nitrogen-oxide are water-soluble and blend with the water in the atmosphere and cause acid rain. The acidic quality of this rain produces severe harm to the plants, animals and the soil.

Air Pollution Essay Conclusion

The aim of human beings altogether all over the world may cooperate in regulating the level of air pollution. Some of the measures which can be taken are such as the establishment of industrial estates away from residential areas, usage of tall chimneys (with filters and electrostatic precipitators), usage of high-temperature incinerators. Also, we can take steps towards promoting re-plantation, utilizing non-combustive sources of energy, promoting the use of non-lead antiknock agents in gasoline and so many positive efforts.

Read More: Air Pollution Essay

FAQ’s on Air Pollution

Question 1. What are the types of air pollutants?

Answer: There are two important types of air pollutants in the form of gas compounds and in solid form. There is a big list of the different pollutants that are changing our environment, some of the dangerous ones are:

• Carbon Dioxide
• Carbon Monoxide
• Sulfur Oxides
• Nitrogen Oxides
• Particulate Matter
• Radioactive Pollutants

Question 2. What are the causes of Air Pollution?

Answer: Air pollution is caused by human-made toxic gases and some natural gases, but the effect of natural gases in the environment is almost negligible. Example of human-produced pollution is, burning of non-degradable fossil fuels such as crude oil, petrol, diesel, coal, etc.

Question 3. What are the consequences of air pollution?

Answer: The three main consequences of air pollution are:

• Ozone depletion
• Global Warming

Question 4. How to control air pollution?

• By using energy-efficient appliances
• Using more of natural gases than non-degradable resources
• Avoid burning plastics
• Industries should be nearby to natural resources like the sea, river, trees, etc.

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Essay on Pollution | Essays for Class 4 PDF Download

Land pollution is when the soil or land becomes contaminated with waste, chemicals, or other harmful substances. This can happen from improper disposal of garbage, industrial waste, or agricultural runoff. Land pollution can damage ecosystems and make land unsuitable for farming or other uses. Pollution harms not only the environment but also human health and well-being. It can lead to respiratory diseases, cancer, and other serious health problems. Pollution also contributes to climate change, which has far-reaching effects on weather patterns, ecosystems, and communities worldwide.

By working together, we can help reduce pollution and create a healthier planet for future generations.

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10 Lines, Short & Long Essay On Air Pollution For Children

Key Points to Remember When Writing an Essay on Air Pollution

10-line essay on air pollution in english, a paragraph on ‘air pollution’ in 100 words, long essay on air pollution, what your child will learn from the essay.

The Earth provides us with all the elements that are essential for us to survive. But, are we appreciative of them, and nurture and preserve these elements the way we are supposed to? Air, one of the most important elements in nature, has been taken for granted for years and polluted to the extent that it has become harmful for all of us. Air pollution is one of the most alarming problems the world is facing today. It is, therefore, important for children to learn about the implications of air pollution on our health and the environment. From an academic perspective, this is also a great topic that children can write about. An easy essay is a good place, to begin with. It can nudge children towards doing their internet research on the topic, and present facts and their viewpoints as well. In this article, we share some useful ways of writing an essay on ‘Air Pollution’ for Classes 1, 2, and 3.

When you are asked to write an essay on ‘Air Pollution’, it is important to keep all of these tips in mind:

• Like all essays, this essay should also begin with an introductory paragraph about the topic. Air pollution can be introduced with the definition or a general idea about what it means and its origins.
• Since most school essays are not technical, avoid the overuse of scientific jargon. Use simple phrases and focus on the flow of concepts.
• Introduce ideas in the proper order, include cause-and-effects of the issue, and divide the essay into smaller, readable fragments.
• If you are writing specifically about the causes of air pollution, write about them in-depth. Do not talk too much about the effects and remedies. A small mention can be made of the latter, but the essay should focus on causes.
• Add plenty of factual data and personal opinions. The essay should be backed up by facts.
• Always add a concluding paragraph and tips to reduce air pollution.

10-line essays are the easiest essays to write. Children can memorise important facts about air pollution and the science behind it for the essay. Here is an example for you:

• Air is polluted by harmful substances called pollutants.
• Pollutants come from different sources, such as volcanic eruptions, vehicle gasses, forest fires, and other human activity.
• Deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels are two of the biggest sources of air pollution.
• Air pollution is harmful to humans since it can cause respiratory and skin diseases.
• Air pollution is also harmful to plants and animals.
• Air pollution can also damage non-living things, such as ancient monuments constructed from marbles and limestone.
• Air pollution adds to ozone layer depletion, global warming and climate change.
• Since air is present everywhere, pollution can damage delicate ecosystems in forests.
• We must take effective steps to reduce air pollution.
• We can reduce air pollution by planting more trees and burning fewer fossil fuels.

An essay for classes 1 & 2 can include simple facts about air pollution, such as its origins and effects. The concluding sentences can talk about how it can be avoided. Here is a short essay in the form of a paragraph on the topic:

Air pollution occurs when harmful gasses and dust are released into the atmosphere. There are many sources of air pollution, such as forest fires, human activities, and volcanic eruptions. Automobiles and power plants are the highest contributors. Air pollution causes diseases in humans and animals. It affects the delicate ecosystem on land and in water, and causes global warming and climate change. It is essential to raise awareness about air pollution. To reduce pollution, we have to adopt green solutions, reduce energy consumption, rely on renewable sources of energy, and plant more trees.

An essay in 350 words or more on the topic will require students to learn different facts about air pollution. They can also add their viewpoints based on the facts they know. Here is an example of an essay for Class 3:

Air contamination by harmful or toxic gasses and unwanted dust particles causes air pollution. These substances degrade the quality of air and reduce its purity. Some common air pollutants include gasses, such as carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and other greenhouse gasses like methane. These pollutants are released naturally by volcanic eruptions and forest fires. However, human activity since the industrial revolution has been the biggest source of pollutants.

Air pollution affects everything on Earth. In human beings, it causes respiratory and skin diseases, especially in people who have allergies. Air pollution can reach unhealthy levels in the city and is dangerous even for normal people. Being exposed to polluted air for a long period can lead to several different diseases. Air pollution affects plants and animals, too, and can disrupt ecosystems in the forests. It also affects life forms under the ocean as many pollutant gasses can dissolve in water and form acids.

Air pollution also affects non-living things, such as manmade structures and limestone caves in the forests. When gasses like sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide mix with rainwater, they form corrosive acids. These acids destroy ancient monuments which are made out of delicate natural materials. Acids produced in this way also pollute soil and damage forests.

Air pollution has long-term effects in the form of climate change. Greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide and methane produced by human activities store excess heat in the atmosphere. Increasing temperatures change the weather and affect farming, which depends on seasonal rains. Although steps are being taken to reduce the ill effects of air pollution, much of the damage has already been done. So, it is important to act immediately to further control the damage.

There are a number of solutions for reducing air pollution, and it can start with every individual. It can be controlled by reducing the use of personal automobiles and switching to healthier modes such as cycling, using public transport, or resorting to methods such as carpooling. Since a majority of our power still comes from fossil fuels, decreasing power consumption can also significantly reduce air pollution.

It is important to understand that every small thing we do can make a difference in the outcome. It only takes a minute to decide and follow the measure that can help us save energy and reduce air pollution, too.

Essay writing is important for children to learn how to think and write methodically. The skills developed at this stage play a fundamental role in how they are able to formulate arguments from their thoughts. Writing an essay on air pollution requires them to learn about the topic and present it as a coherent write-up. Children will learn about its importance, improve their knowledge, and learn to express their thoughts about the same.

The three essays presented in this article talk about air pollution in a factual format. The 10-line essay is easy to remember and write for children. Longer essays need more structure, such as introduction, body and conclusion. As the level increases, writing the essay will require your child to learn important facts about air pollution and then express it in their own way.

Essay On Water Pollution for Kids Essay On Noise Pollution for Lower Primary Classes How to Write An Essay On Land Pollution for Children

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10 Lines on Air Pollution

Pollution is a global phenomenon, so every nation should be serious about it. It would be a mistake to underestimate its consequences and not work together on it. Pollution anywhere can be a risk of life everywhere, so, we should deal it with stern resolve and together. The study of Air Pollution is as important as is of Air. Let’s have it through the sets of 10 lines below.

Ten Lines on Air Pollution in English

Some sets of 10 lines, 5 lines, 20 lines, few lines and sentences on Air Pollution are given below for the Students of Class 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Language is kept very simple for easiness of everyone, let’s start reading:

1) The introduction of harmful gases, toxic elements, allergens etc. in the air is responsible for Air Pollution.

2) Air pollution highly affects the quality of air, making it dangerous for human survival.

3) Industrial, vehicular emissions and volcanic eruptions are a few causes of air pollution.

4) The highly polluted air can also affect the plant and vegetation of the region.

5) More than 6 million people died worldwide due to air pollution in 2012.

6) The major causes of air pollution are man-made activities.

7) Smog is a type of air pollutant that can irritate eyes and throat, damage lungs and even lead to asthma attacks.

8) Greenhouse gases from industries and vehicles gave rise to air pollution.

9) Reduction of burning fossil fuels, use of electronic vehicles, reforestation etc can reduce air pollution to a major extent.

10) Harnessing renewable sources of energy helps to keep the environment clean and healthy.

10 Lines and Sentences on Air Pollution

1) The anthropogenic causes leading to a reduction in the quality of air are Air Pollution.

2) The increasing transportation system and the industrial revolution is the prime cause of air pollution.

3) Volcanic eruptions and wildfires are the natural causes of air pollution.

4) Major pollutants of air are micro particles, pollen, toxic elements and gases, lead, smog etc.

5) Many Radioactive rocks around the world release a toxic gas ‘radon’ which causes lung cancer.

6) Air Quality Index (AQI) is the system used to measure the air pollution of a particular region.

7) AQI of 0-50 refers excellent whereas AQI > 300 is severely polluted.

8) Detergents, aerosol sprays, paints etc. can cause indoor air pollution in our homes.

9) Tree plantation and developing of micro forests within the city can help fighting air pollution.

10) Use of bicycles, e-cars, using solar energy in our homes can help reduce air pollution.

5 Lines on Air Pollution

1) Mixing contaminated substances with air leads to air pollution.

2) Air pollution causes many harmful diseases.

3) Air pollution reduces the life span of living beings.

4) Cutting down trees and forests is causing an increase in air pollution.

5) Controlling air pollution is very necessary.

20 Lines on Air Pollution

1) Air pollution has become one of the serious issues of modern times.

2) It has become important to take drastic steps to fight and prevent air pollution.

3) The most important step to fight air pollution is to lower down the emission of fumes and carbon emission into the air.

4) Reducing the use of vehicles and the burning of fossil fuels helps to reduce pollution in the air.

5) Switching to eco-friendly alternatives like electronic vehicles and solar cooker will help fighting air pollution.

6) The government should limits the smokes and fumes coming out of the chimneys of industries.

7) Strict action against the people driving below the pollution control level is very necessary.

8) It is also advisable to wear masks before going into areas with heavy pollution or dust.

9) Planting more trees is one of the best ways to reduce the effect of air pollution.

10) Air is the basis of life, so it becomes important to make it clean and pure by our activities.

11) Air pollution is one of the leading killers responsible for 1 out of 8 deaths globally.

12) Inhaling polluted air daily cuts down 1-2 years of human life.

13) In 1952, the Great Smog of London killed around 6000 and affected 1,00,000 people.

14) Air pollution is responsible for around 65% of deaths in Asia and 25% in India.

15) Researches show that 9 out of 10 persons in the world reside at places which exceed air pollution limits.

16) PM 2.5 in the tiny particles in polluted air can penetrate the lungs causing serious diseases.

17) Also natural reasons, like volcanic eruptions, radioactive decay, forest fires etc. cause air pollution.

18) Increased air pollution may also affect climate change leading to heavy losses to the agriculture sector.

19) As per WHO, the air in Delhi is two times more toxic as compared to Beijing.

20) Air pollution also accelerates the ageing of the skin leading to wrinkles and causing various skin diseases.

Air pollution is not only affecting our health, but it has also given rise to a much bigger problem of Global warming, which is just an epicentre of threats. The change in the weather conditions, sea-level rise and ocean acidification are just a few indirect effects of air pollution. It is our prime responsibility to reduce air pollution, because if we can create it, then we have to reduce it also.

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What Causes Air Pollution?

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Air pollution happens when solid and liquid particles—called aerosols —and certain gases end up in our air. These particles and gases can be bad for the planet and for our health, so keeping track of them is important.

Where do aerosols come from?

Any particle that gets picked up into the air or is formed from chemical reactions in the air can be an aerosol. Many aerosols enter the atmosphere when we burn fossil fuels—such as coal and petroleum—and wood. These particles can come from many sources, including car exhaust, factories and even wildfires. Some of the particles and gases come directly from these sources, but others form through chemical reactions in the air.

Aerosols can come from other places, too, such as ash from an erupting volcano. Dust, pollen from plants and mold spores are also examples of aerosols.

This animation uses NASA data to show how ash from a volcano in Chile travels around the world in our atmosphere. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

What else causes air pollution?

Certain gases in the atmosphere can cause air pollution. For example, in cities, a gas called ozone is a major cause of air pollution. Ozone is also a greenhouse gas that can be both good and bad for our environment. It all depends where it is in Earth’s atmosphere .

Ozone high up in our atmosphere is a good thing. It helps block harmful energy from the Sun, called radiation . But, when ozone is closer to the ground, it can be really bad for our health. Ground level ozone is created when sunlight reacts with certain chemicals that come from sources of burning fossil fuels, such as factories or car exhaust.

When particles in the air combine with ozone, they create smog. Smog is a type of air pollution that looks like smoky fog and makes it difficult to see.

Smog is a type of air pollution in cities that makes it difficult to see outside. Here are images of Beijing on a clear day after a rain (left) and on a smoggy day (right). Credit: Bobak via Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 2.5

How does air pollution affect Earth’s climate?

Aerosols can impact how the Sun’s light hits Earth. For example, some aerosols reflect sunlight while others absorb sunlight. It depends on the color of the particle.

Dark surfaces—whether it’s a black t-shirt or a dark particle in the atmosphere—absorb the Sun's heat. Lighter-colored surfaces reflect heat from the Sun.

A white t-shirt reflects the Sun on a hot day, making you feel cooler. In the same way, light-colored particles that reflect the Sun’s light and heat away from Earth can make the global temperature cooler. Dark-colored particles that absorb the Sun’s light can make the global temperature warmer.

How does air pollution affect our health?

Breathing in polluted air can be very bad for our health. Long-term exposure to air pollution has been associated with diseases of the heart and lungs, cancers and other health problems. That’s why it’s important for us to monitor air pollution.

How is NASA monitoring air pollution?

NASA uses satellites orbiting Earth to keep an eye on air pollution. In fact, air quality forecasters use information about aerosols from NASA’s Aqua , Terra and Suomi-NPP satellites.

NASA also is developing a new instrument called the Multi-Angle Imager for Aerosols, or MAIA , to fly aboard a future spacecraft mission. MAIA will help scientists understand the size, makeup and quantity of aerosols in our air. Eventually, scientists will be able to compare this information with health records. This can help us better understand the relationship between aerosol pollution and human health.

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• Pollution Essay in English for Students

Essay on Pollution for Students

Being aware of pollution is quite mandatory for all the students these days. In order to become a responsible citizen of the world for future generations, every child should know how human activities are leaving an impact on the environment and nature. This topic is quite crucial. And, school children should learn how to write an interesting essay on ‘Pollution’ effortlessly. Take a glance below. 

A Few Things to Keep in Mind:

Never ever hurry to write the essay.

Think properly and jot down your thoughts before proceeding.

Divide your write-up into a few segments such as - introduction, main body - you can make a few points as per the topic and a conclusion.

Try writing short paragraphs. Short and crisp sentences are also a great way to avoid silly mistakes.

Adding factual data wherever required is important such as year, date etc.

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Essay on Pollution

Introduction.

Pollution has become a very common yet serious issue in today’s world. It has been there in different forms since a long time even before human evolution such as volcanic eruptions, wildfire which lead to various photochemical reactions in the atmosphere. The current concern is that it is rising day by day due to various resources of pollutants. And, one of the main pollutants are humans and man-made machines. It is right to say that pollution is damaging the mother earth severely and we, humans, should play our part to prevent it from happening.

What is Pollution?

Pollution sepsis is the presence of contaminants in the natural environment that causes harm and damage and therefore leads to adverse changes.

Kinds of Pollution

There are mainly three kinds of pollution - 1) Air Pollution, 2) Water Pollution, and 3) Soil Pollution. 

Air Pollution

Air Pollution occurs due to the presence of harmful gases and substances in the air. It is due to vehicle emission, dust and dirt, poisonous gasses from the factories etc. To reduce air pollution, we should use carpooling or public transport rather than using our private mode of transportation whose harmful gas emission only adds to the problem, we should also actively avoid burning trash or other materials etc.

Water Pollution

Water Pollution happens when toxic substances get mixed in various water bodies such as lakes, oceans, rivers etc. Here toxic substances refer to the Chemical fertilizer, Industrial waste, Sewage and wastewater, Mining activities, Marine dumping etc.

Soil Pollution

Soil pollution depicts the contamination of soil due to the presence of toxic substances due to Excessive use of fertilisers and pesticides, deforestation, industrial waste etc . To maintain the soil’s fertility, the government must limit the usage of fertilizers and plant more trees.

There are a few other pollutants causing pollution apart from the aforementioned ones, such as Radioactive pollution. This is one of the rarer types of pollution. It occurs due to the presence of radioactive substances such as the presence of nuclear waste in air, solids, liquids or any other place.

Effects of Pollution on Human Health

Pollution is increasingly having a major effect on the health of human lives. People are gettin g affected by different types of deadly diseases due to the various pollution in air, water and soil. Here are the different diseases humans face due to different pollution.

Due to Air Pollution

Air is an essential part of human life. Humans cannot live without breathing air. But, air pollution causes major damage to human lives. Here are some of the major diseases caused due to air pollution.

Lung cancer

Major coronary heart disease

Respiratory problems

Due to Water Pollution

Water is another source of life. Any living being cannot survive without drinking water. But the continuous degradation and pollution of major water bodies are also causing deadly diseases to humans and animals. It is also affecting marine life. Since water is consumed all the time, it’s pollution is causing a lot of deadly diseases. Some of the major diseases caused by water pollution are as follows:

Hepatitis A

Diarrhoea 

Due to Soil Pollution

Soil is an important part of our lives. The land on which we are walking or travelling is made with soil. Due to all the chemicals mixed with the soil and degradation due to the same, it is inevitable that many harmful chemicals come in contact with our body and cause many skin diseases or in forms of food crops that are planted on such polluted soil. Direct contact can cause a lot of problems for us humans. Some of the major diseases caused due to soil pollution are as follows:

Different types of cancer

Damage of the nervous system due to contact with lead present in the soil.

liver and kidney failure

What are the Different Methods to Reduce Pollution?

The degrading quality of all the important elements like air, water and soil is affecting the lives of many children, adults as well as animals. We need to keep our environment safe and use effective methods to reduce pollution. 

Methods to reduce Air Pollution

Some of the effective methods to reduce air pollution are as follows:

Regulation of air through chimneys: The industries should disintegrate the harmful gas from the air prior to its release from the chimneys. They should check and avoid using harmful gases, which are the major causes of air pollution.

Use of public transport or cycle: If you are travelling to distant places, it is recommended to take public transport. Or if you are going to any shops or buying any garment, it is always better to use your cycle. Public transport can take you to different places along with other people; this will help reduce air pollution. If you can cycle, it will reduce air pollution and another added benefit is that it will keep your health in check.

Reduction of fires and smokes: In the dry season, many people burn plastic, papers, dry leaves, which creates a big fire and smoke that creates a harmful layer of fog suspended in the atmosphere. It is better if you stop burning plastic to reduce smoke.

Methods to Reduce Water Pollution

Some of the effective methods to reduce water pollution are as follows:

Avoid disposing of plastic and waste materials: To keep the water free from any pollution, the first thing is to avoid disposing of any sort of plastics or food waste water material in water. The waste materials get dissolved in the water and harm the aquatic life along with those who drink the water. 

Reduce use of chemicals: you should avoid purchasing harmful chemical products that can get mixed with the water and pollute it. The biggest examples are pesticides and insecticides, which causes a major effect on marine life.

Reduce use of detergents: Detergents have many strong chemicals which can cause the leather to water and wash your clothes. If these detergents get mixed with water, they can pollute the soil.

Methods to Reduce Soil Pollution 

Some of the methods to reduce soil pollution are as follows:

Avoid disposing of harmful chemicals: The industries should avoid disposing of harmful chemicals in the soil. It can change the structure and components of the soil making it an unusable surface of land for vegetation. 

Eat food in biodegradable containers: As you dispose of the food containers in dustbins, it is good to use biodegradable food containers despite using plastic containers, which are harmful to the soil.

Plant more trees: The structure of the soil can be improved by planting more trees. Trees help to hold the soil together and improve the soil quality. Hence we should plant more trees.

How to Reduce Pollution Gradually?

Upon learning about the harmful effects of pollution, it is everyone’s responsibility to take some steps towards prevention. We should be aware of all the possible preventive measures to help reduce every kind of pollution such as to curb air pollution, we should avoid bursting crackers during any festival or using public transport or carpool to reduce air pollution or cutting down the usage of loud loudspeaker, and public honking would help in noise pollution. We should always be aware of this situation and take measures accordingly. It’s us who should be cautious in the beginning and make everyone else surrounding us conscious as well. We should take eco-friendly steps like planting more trees, reducing the usage of plastic, using more sustainable products in the household etc. while talking about the pollution of the entire world, you should always remember that every small step will lead to a bigger impact one day.

In a nutshell, every kind of pollution leaves a huge negative impact on our environment, human lives, animals etc. We, as responsible citizens, must take steps towards a better tomorrow. We must join hands to take various initiatives and fight against this problem. A lot of innocent lives are put in danger due to pollution every day. If we don’t do anything from now on or take a stand to make the earth pollution-free, then the doomsday will be upon us very soon.

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Essay on Air Pollution

Table of Contents

Air Pollution Essay: Air pollution is a major environmental problem in many parts of the world. It is caused by the release of harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. These pollutants can come from a variety of sources, including factories, power plants, cars, and airplanes. They can also come from natural sources, such as volcanoes and forest fires.

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Air Pollution can have a variety of negative effects on human health, the environment, and the climate. It can cause respiratory problems, heart disease, and cancer. It can also lead to acid rain and smog. Additionally, air pollution can contribute to global warming .

Long and Short Essay on Air Pollution in English

Day by day, the fresh air of the environment is getting polluted because of the mixing of particulates, biological molecules, and other harmful materials. Such polluted air is causing health problems, diseases, and death. Air pollution is one of the most important environmental issues which requires to be noticed and solved by the efforts of all of us.

In order to increase awareness among students about this issue, Air Pollution Essay has become an important topic for the essay writing competition. So, students, you are in the right place; just go ahead. Such an Essay on Air Pollution will help you win an essay writing competition because all are written in very simple English using easy words.

Air Pollution Essay 100 words

Air pollution is a most serious problem of the current time all over the world, especially in large cities, because of the huge level of industrialization. The release of such air pollutants in heavy concentrations such as smog, particulates, solid materials, etc., are getting settled over the city, causing air pollution and health hazards. Many dirty wastes are produced by people daily, especially in the big cities polluting the whole atmospheric air to a great extent.

The release of gaseous pollutants from burning fuel of motor vehicles, industrial processes, burning of garbage, etc., are contributing to the air pollution. Some natural pollutants like pollen, dust, soil particles, natural gases, etc., are also sources of air pollution.

Air Pollution Essay 150 words

is the mixing of harmful substances into the atmosphere fresh air causing huge levels of damage, human health disorders, reducing the quality of life, etc. Air pollution is increasing daily because of the increasing number of industries. Such polluted air never remains in one place but spread to the whole environment and affects people’s lives all through the world. Death rates of human beings have increased because of an increased variety of diseases. The polluted air we breathe every moment causes lung disorders and even lung cancer, thus affecting the health of other body organs.

Air pollution continuously damages the whole ecological system and affects the lives of plants and animals. It has reached a critical stage and affected the whole atmosphere by allowing more harmful radiations from the sun to the earth. Again polluted air acts as a better insulator that prevents heat from escaping back into space.

Air Pollution Essay 200 words

Air pollution is one of the main environmental issues nowadays. There are many reasons behind regularly increasing this air pollution. Most air pollution is caused by automobiles, transport means, industrialization, growing cities, etc. The release of several harmful gases or dangerous elements from such sources is causing whole atmospheric air pollution. The ozone layer is also getting affected too much by air pollution, which causes serious disturbances to the environment. The increasing need of the ever-growing human population is the main cause of pollution. Daily human being activities causing dangerous chemicals to release, making the atmosphere dirtier than ever and forcing climate change negatively.

The industrialization process releases harmful gases, particles, paint, and batteries containing lead; cigarettes release carbon monoxide, and transport means release CO2 and other toxic substances into the atmosphere. All the pollutants are in contact with the atmosphere, destroying the ozone layer and calling harmful sun rays to the earth. In order to reduce the level of air pollution, we should bring some huge changes to our habits on a daily basis. We should not cut trees, use public transportation, avoid spray cans, and do so many activities to reduce the effects of air pollution.

Air Pollution Essay 250 words

Air pollution is the mixing of foreign substances into the whole atmospheric air. Harmful and toxic gases emitted by industries and motor vehicles cause huge damage to living organisms, whether plants, animals, or human beings. Some of the natural and various human resources are causing air pollution. However, most air pollution sources stem from human activities like burning fossil fuels, coal, and oil and releasing harmful gases and substances from factories and motor vehicles. Harmful chemical compounds like carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, solid particles, etc., are getting mixed into the fresh air. The level of air pollution has increased greatly because of the 690% increase in damaging pollutants because of the expanded need for motor vehicles in the last century.

Another source of air pollution is the decomposition of garbage in landfills and the disposal of solid wastes emitting methane gas (dangerous to health). The rapid growth of population, industrialization, and increased use of automobiles, airplanes, etc., have made this issue a serious environmental problem. The air we breathe every moment is full of pollutants going to our lungs and whole body through blood, causing uncountable health problems. Therefore polluted air is causing damage to plants, animals, and human beings in many direct and indirect ways. If the environmental protection policies are not followed seriously and strictly, the increasing level of air pollution may increase to one million tons annually in recent decades.

Air Pollution Essay 300 words

When the fresh air gets polluted by means of dust, toxic gases, smoke, motor vehicles, mills, factories, etc. called air pollution. As we all know that fresh air is the most important element of a healthy life, we need to think that what happens if the whole atmospheric air gets dirty. First, air pollution is a matter of great regret for the whole human fraternity. Some of the big reasons for air pollution are poisonous fertilizers, insecticides, and pesticides in the agricultural sectors by innocent farmers to increase crop production. Released chemicals and hazardous gases (ammonia) from fertilizers are getting mixed into the fresh air and causing air pollution.

The burning of fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum and other factory combustibles are the major causes of air pollution. A variety of smoke emissions from the automobiles, such as cars, buses, motorcycles, trucks, jeeps, trains, airplanes, etc., are also causing air pollution. An increasing number of industries are causing the release of toxic industrial smokes and harmful gases (like carbon monoxide, organic compounds, hydrocarbons, chemicals, etc.) from the factories and mills to the environment. Some indoor activities of the people, like innocent use of cleaning products, washing powders, paints, etc., emit various toxic chemicals into the air.

The ever-increasing level of air pollution also enhances its harmful effects on the health of living beings. Air pollution is causing global warming to increase because of increasing atmospheric temperature due to the increasing level of greenhouse gases. Such greenhouse gases again cause greenhouse effect and force sea levels to increase, glaciers to melt, weather to change, climate to change, etc. Increasing air pollution is causing many lethal diseases (cancer, heart attack, asthma, bronchitis, kidney diseases, etc.) and death. Various important animal and plant species have been destroyed completely from this planet. The increasing level of harmful gases in the environment is causing the occurrence of acid rain and depleting the ozone layer.

Air Pollution Essay 400 words

The increasing concentration of harmful and toxic materials in the fresh air of the atmosphere is causing air pollution. Various foreign particles, toxic gases, and other pollutants released from various human activities are affecting the fresh air, which has an adverse effect on living beings like humans, animals, and plants. Air pollution levels depend on the type and amount of pollutants released from various sources. Topographical and meteorological conditions are increasing the spread and concentration of pollutants. Therefore variety of raw materials used in the manufacturing process in industries is increasing the type and quantum of emissions of harmful gases. Increasing population density is demanding the need for more industrialization, which ultimately causes air pollution.

Air Pollutants like harmful liquid droplets, solids particulates, and toxic gases (oxides of carbon, halogenated and non-halogenated hydrocarbons, nitrogen and sulfur gases, suspended inorganic particulate matters, inorganic and organic acids, bacteria, viruses, insecticides, etc.) which are generally not the constituents of fresh air are very hazardous to the plant and animal life. There are two types of air pollution sources which are natural sources and man-made sources. Some natural sources of air pollution are volcanic eruptions, volcanoes (ashes, carbon dioxide, smokes, dust, and other gases), deflation of sands, dust, salts spray from seas and ocean, soil particles, storms, forest fires, cosmic particles, rays, the bombardment of asteroid materials, comets, pollen grains, fungal spores, viruses, bacteria, etc.

However Man-made sources of air pollution are industries, agriculture, power plants, automobiles, domestic sources, etc. Some of the air pollutants from man-made sources are smoke, dust, fumes, particulate matter, gases from the kitchen, domestic heating, emissions from different vehicles, use of insecticides, pesticides, herbicides, and the heat created from power plants, smokes, fly ash, etc. Because of the increasing number of air pollutants, it has divided into two types: primary and secondary pollutants. Primary pollutants directly affect the fresh air and emitted from smoke, ash, dust, fumes, mist, spray, inorganic gases, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, hydrogen sulphide, ammonia, nitric oxide, and radioactive compounds. Secondary pollutants indirectly affect the air by chemical interactions with the primary pollutants and other atmospheric constituents such as sulphur-trioxide, ozone, hydrocarbons, nitrogen dioxide, etc.

The get-together effort of human beings all over the world may help in controlling the level of air pollution. Establishment of industrial estates should away from residential areas, motivate use of tall chimneys instead of small, promote the use of high-temperature incinerators. However use of non-combustive sources of energy, promote the use of non-lead antiknock agents in the gasoline, promote re-plantation and so many positive efforts.

Air pollution essays given above useful to range of students studying in classes 1 to 10, etc. You can select any of them according to your need and requirement. Also you can use in an exam or essay writing competition at any event. Apart from an essay on air pollution, you can get other related essays and related information such as:

Air Pollution Essay FAQs

What is air pollution essay writing.

Air pollution essay writing is a way to express the problems and solutions related to the contamination of the air by harmful substances.

What is air pollution in a hundred words?

Air pollution is when the air we breathe becomes dirty with things like smoke, chemicals, and tiny particles, which can harm our health and the environment.

What is air pollution in 10 lines?

Air pollution is the presence of harmful pollutants in the air. It can come from cars, factories, and natural sources. Breathing polluted air can cause health problems. Air pollution also harms animals and plants. To reduce air pollution, we need cleaner fuels and better waste management. Planting trees can help clean the air. Laws and regulations are made to control air pollution. Education is essential to raise awareness about air pollution. Everyone can play a part in reducing air pollution by using energy wisely.

What is air pollution short paragraph?

Air pollution is when the air contains harmful substances like smoke and chemicals. This can make people sick and harm the environment.

What is air pollution for class 3 students?

Air pollution means the air becomes dirty with things that are not good for us. It can make us sick, so we need to keep the air clean.

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air pollution

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• United States Environment Protection Agency - Air Pollution: Current and Future Challenges
• Natural Resources Defense Council - Air Pollution: Everything You Need to Know
• National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences - Air Pollution
• National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Air pollution: Impact and prevention
• Frontiers - Air pollution and rhinitis
• Environmental Pollution Centers - What is Air Pollution?
• air pollution - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
• Table Of Contents

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air pollution , release into the atmosphere of various gases , finely divided solids, or finely dispersed liquid aerosols at rates that exceed the natural capacity of the environment to dissipate and dilute or absorb them. These substances may reach concentrations in the air that cause undesirable health, economic, or aesthetic effects.

Major air pollutants

Criteria pollutants.

Clean, dry air consists primarily of nitrogen and oxygen —78 percent and 21 percent respectively, by volume. The remaining 1 percent is a mixture of other gases, mostly argon (0.9 percent), along with trace (very small) amounts of carbon dioxide , methane , hydrogen , helium , and more. Water vapour is also a normal, though quite variable, component of the atmosphere, normally ranging from 0.01 to 4 percent by volume; under very humid conditions the moisture content of air may be as high as 5 percent.

There are six major air pollutants that have been designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as “criteria” pollutants — criteria meaning that the concentrations of these pollutants in the atmosphere are useful as indicators of overall air quality. The sources, acceptable concentrations, and effects of the criteria pollutants are summarized in the table.

The gaseous criteria air pollutants of primary concern in urban settings include sulfur dioxide , nitrogen dioxide , and carbon monoxide ; these are emitted directly into the air from fossil fuels such as fuel oil , gasoline , and natural gas that are burned in power plants, automobiles, and other combustion sources. Ozone (a key component of smog ) is also a gaseous pollutant; it forms in the atmosphere via complex chemical reactions occurring between nitrogen dioxide and various volatile organic compounds (e.g., gasoline vapours).

Airborne suspensions of extremely small solid or liquid particles called “particulates” (e.g., soot, dust, smokes, fumes, mists), especially those less than 10 micrometres (μm; millionths of a metre) in size, are significant air pollutants because of their very harmful effects on human health. They are emitted by various industrial processes, coal- or oil-burning power plants, residential heating systems, and automobiles. Lead fumes (airborne particulates less than 0.5 μm in size) are particularly toxic and are an important pollutant of many diesel fuels .

Except for lead, criteria pollutants are emitted in industrialized countries at very high rates, typically measured in millions of tons per year. All except ozone are discharged directly into the atmosphere from a wide variety of sources. They are regulated primarily by establishing ambient air quality standards, which are maximum acceptable concentrations of each criteria pollutant in the atmosphere, regardless of its origin. The six criteria pollutants are described in turn below.

Short Essay on Air Pollution for students

Air pollution is a pressing issue that affects our planet and our health. It involves the contamination of the air we breathe with harmful substances, which can have dire consequences. In this essay, we will explore why addressing air pollution is crucial for the well-being of our environment and ourselves.

Health Impacts

Air pollution poses serious health risks. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 4.2 million people die prematurely each year due to diseases linked to outdoor air pollution. This alarming statistic highlights the urgent need to combat air pollution for the sake of our well-being.

Environmental Consequences

Apart from health concerns, air pollution also wreaks havoc on our environment. The release of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide contributes to climate change, which leads to extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and disruption of ecosystems. Additionally, pollutants from vehicles and industries harm wildlife and damage our natural landscapes.

Economic Impact

Air pollution has far-reaching economic consequences. It leads to higher healthcare costs due to the treatment of pollution-related illnesses. Moreover, damaged crops and decreased agricultural productivity can result from air pollution, affecting food prices and availability. Addressing air pollution can help mitigate these economic burdens.

International Cooperation

Addressing air pollution requires international cooperation. Many pollutants travel across borders, affecting neighboring countries. Collaborative efforts among nations are essential to combat this global issue effectively. Organizations like the United Nations and international agreements like the Paris Agreement aim to tackle air pollution on a worldwide scale.

Conclusion of Essay on Air Pollution

In conclusion, air pollution is a critical problem that affects our health, environment, and economy. It is essential to recognize the severity of this issue and take proactive measures to reduce air pollution. By doing so, we can protect our planet, improve our well-being, and ensure a brighter future for generations to come. It is our responsibility to take action and make a positive change in the fight against air pollution.

Also Check: 500+ Words long Essay on Technology

• Biology Article

Air Pollution Control

Air pollution & its control, air pollution definition.

“Air Pollution is the release of pollutants such as gases, particles, biological molecules, etc. into the air that is harmful to human health and the environment.”

Air Pollution Diagram

Table of Contents

What is Air Pollution?

Types of air pollutants, primary pollutants, secondary pollutants, causes of air pollution.

Air pollution refers to any physical, chemical or biological change in the air. It is the contamination of air by harmful gases, dust and smoke which affects plants, animals and humans drastically.

There is a certain percentage of gases present in the atmosphere. An increase or decrease in the composition of these gases is harmful to survival. This imbalance in the gaseous composition has resulted in an increase in earth’s temperature, which is known as global warming.

There are two types of air pollutants:

The pollutants that directly cause air pollution are known as primary pollutants. Sulphur-dioxide emitted from factories is a primary pollutant.

The pollutants formed by the intermingling and reaction of primary pollutants are known as secondary pollutants. Smog, formed by the intermingling of smoke and fog, is a secondary pollutant.

Also Read:  Water Pollution

Following are the important causes of air pollution:

Burning of Fossil Fuels

The combustion of fossil fuels emits a large amount of sulphur dioxide. Carbon monoxide released by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels also results in air pollution.

Automobiles

The gases emitted from vehicles such as jeeps, trucks, cars, buses, etc. pollute the environment. These are the major sources of greenhouse gases and also result in diseases among individuals.

Agricultural Activities

Ammonia is one of the most hazardous gases emitted during agricultural activities. The insecticides, pesticides and fertilisers emit harmful chemicals in the atmosphere and contaminate it.

Factories and Industries

Factories and industries are the main source of carbon monoxide, organic compounds, hydrocarbons and chemicals. These are released into the air, degrading its quality.

Mining Activities

In the mining process, the minerals below the earth are extracted using large pieces of equipment. The dust and chemicals released during the process not only pollute the air, but also deteriorate the health of the workers and people living in the nearby areas.

Domestic Sources

The household cleaning products and paints contain toxic chemicals that are released in the air. The smell from the newly painted walls is the smell of the chemicals present in the paints. It not only pollutes the air but also affects breathing.

Effects of Air Pollution

The hazardous effects of air pollution on the environment include:

Air pollution has resulted in several respiratory disorders and heart diseases among humans. The cases of lung cancer have increased in the last few decades. Children living near polluted areas are more prone to pneumonia and asthma. Many people die every year due to the direct or indirect effects of air pollution.

Global Warming

Due to the emission of greenhouse gases, there is an imbalance in the gaseous composition of the air. This has led to an increase in the temperature of the earth. This increase in earth’s temperature is known as global warming . This has resulted in the melting of glaciers and an increase in sea levels. Many areas are submerged underwater.

The burning of fossil fuels releases harmful gases such as nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides in the air. The water droplets combine with these pollutants, become acidic and fall as acid rain which damages human, animal and plant life.

Ozone Layer Depletion

The release of chlorofluorocarbons, halons, and hydrochlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere is the major cause of depletion of the ozone layer. The depleting ozone layer does not prevent the harmful ultraviolet rays coming from the sun and causes skin diseases and eye problems among individuals. Also Read:  Ozone Layer Depletion

Effect on Animals

The air pollutants suspend in the water bodies and affect aquatic life. Pollution also compels the animals to leave their habitat and shift to a new place. This renders them stray and has also led to the extinction of a large number of animal species.

Following are the measures one should adopt, to control air pollution:

Avoid Using Vehicles

People should avoid using vehicles for shorter distances. Rather, they should prefer public modes of transport to travel from one place to another. This not only prevents pollution, but also conserves energy.

Energy Conservation

A large number of fossil fuels are burnt to generate electricity. Therefore, do not forget to switch off the electrical appliances when not in use. Thus, you can save the environment at the individual level. Use of energy-efficient devices such as CFLs also controls pollution to a greater level.

Use of Clean Energy Resources

The use of solar, wind and geothermal energies reduce air pollution at a larger level. Various countries, including India, have implemented the use of these resources as a step towards a cleaner environment.

Other air pollution control measures include:

• By minimising and reducing the use of fire and fire products.
• Since industrial emissions are one of the major causes of air pollution, the pollutants can be controlled or treated at the source itself to reduce its effects. For example, if the reactions of a certain raw material yield a pollutant, then the raw materials can be substituted with other less polluting materials.
• Fuel substitution is another way of controlling air pollution. In many parts of India, petrol and diesel are being replaced by CNG – Compressed Natural Gas fueled vehicles. These are mostly adopted by vehicles that aren’t fully operating with ideal emission engines.
• Although there are many practices in India, which focus on repairing the quality of air, most of them are either forgotten or not being enforced properly. There are still a lot of vehicles on roads which haven’t been tested for vehicle emissions.
• Another way of controlling air pollution caused by industries is to modify and maintain existing pieces of equipment so that the emission of pollutants is minimised.
• Sometimes controlling pollutants at the source is not possible. In that case, we can have process control equipment to control the pollution.
• A very effective way of controlling air pollution is by diluting the air pollutants.
• The last and the best way of reducing the ill effects of air pollution is tree plantation. Plants and trees reduce a large number of pollutants in the air. Ideally, planting trees in areas of high pollution levels will be extremely effective.

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Essay on Air Pollution

Here we have shared the Essay on Air Pollution in detail so you can use it in your exam or assignment of 150, 250, 400, 500, or 1000 words.

You can use this Essay on Air Pollution in any assignment or project whether you are in school (class 10th or 12th), college, or preparing for answer writing in competitive exams. 

Topics covered in this article.

Essay on Air Pollution in 150-250 words

Essay on air pollution in 300-400 words, essay on air pollution in 500-1000 words.

Air pollution is a pressing environmental issue that affects the health and well-being of both humans and the planet. It is the presence of harmful substances in the air, released by various sources such as industrial activities, vehicle emissions, and burning of fossil fuels.

Air pollution has detrimental effects on human health, contributing to respiratory diseases, allergies, and even premature death. It also damages ecosystems, leading to biodiversity loss and ecological imbalance. Additionally, air pollution contributes to climate change, as certain pollutants, such as greenhouse gases, trap heat in the atmosphere.

To combat air pollution, concerted efforts are needed at individual, community, and governmental levels. Implementing stricter emission standards for industries and vehicles, promoting the use of renewable energy sources, and investing in sustainable transportation are crucial steps. Furthermore, raising awareness about the impact of air pollution and encouraging sustainable practices, such as reducing energy consumption and promoting recycling, can make a significant difference.

Protecting air quality requires collective action and commitment to preserving the environment for future generations. By reducing air pollution, we can create cleaner and healthier environments, promote sustainable development, and safeguard the well-being of both humans and the planet.

Air pollution is a significant environmental issue that poses a threat to human health and the well-being of the planet. It occurs when harmful substances, such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and volatile organic compounds, are released into the air through various human activities.

The sources of air pollution are diverse and include industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, burning of fossil fuels, agricultural practices, and indoor pollution from cooking and heating. These pollutants not only contaminate the air we breathe but also contribute to climate change, leading to adverse effects on ecosystems and biodiversity.

The impacts of air pollution on human health are severe. Exposure to pollutants can lead to respiratory problems, such as asthma, bronchitis, and other chronic lung diseases. It can also increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, allergies, and even premature death. Vulnerable populations, such as children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions, are particularly at risk.

Air pollution also poses a threat to the environment. It can damage vegetation, impair water quality, and disrupt ecosystems. Acid rain, a consequence of air pollution, harms forests, lakes, and aquatic life. Pollutants released into the atmosphere contribute to the formation of smog and haze, reducing visibility and impacting tourism and outdoor activities.

Addressing air pollution requires a multi-faceted approach. Governments play a crucial role in implementing regulations and policies to reduce emissions, promote cleaner technologies, and enforce air quality standards. Industries need to adopt cleaner production practices and invest in sustainable technologies. Individuals can contribute by adopting sustainable transportation options, reducing energy consumption, and practicing responsible waste management.

Furthermore, promoting renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, can help reduce reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate air pollution. Raising public awareness about the impacts of air pollution and promoting sustainable practices in daily life is also essential.

In conclusion, air pollution is a pressing environmental issue with significant impacts on human health and the environment. It requires collective action at all levels to reduce emissions, promote sustainable practices, and protect air quality. By addressing air pollution, we can create cleaner and healthier environments, safeguard public health, and preserve the planet for future generations.

Title: Air Pollution – A Looming Environmental Crisis

Introduction :

Air pollution has emerged as a major environmental concern globally, posing significant threats to human health and the planet. It is the presence of harmful substances in the air, resulting from human activities and natural processes. This essay delves into the causes, impacts, and solutions to air pollution. By exploring the sources of pollution, health consequences, and mitigation strategies, we can better understand the severity of the issue and work towards a cleaner and healthier environment.

Causes of Air Pollution

Air pollution is primarily caused by human activities such as industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, burning of fossil fuels, and agricultural practices. Industrial processes release large amounts of pollutants into the air, including particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and volatile organic compounds. Vehicle emissions, particularly from automobiles and trucks, contribute significantly to air pollution, releasing pollutants like carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. The burning of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, for electricity generation and heating purposes, also releases pollutants into the atmosphere. Additionally, agricultural practices involving the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and livestock contribute to air pollution through the release of ammonia and methane.

Health Impacts of Air Pollution

Air pollution has severe health consequences, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. Exposure to pollutants can lead to respiratory problems, including asthma, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, causing cardiovascular diseases and increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Long-term exposure to air pollution has been linked to lung cancer, respiratory infections, and reduced lung function. Moreover, air pollution exacerbates allergies, triggers asthma attacks, and impairs lung development in children.

Environmental Impacts

Air pollution not only affects human health but also poses significant risks to the environment. It contributes to climate change by releasing greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat, leading to global warming and the disruption of ecosystems. Acid rain, a consequence of air pollution, harms forests, lakes, and aquatic life. Pollutants released into the atmosphere can also lead to the formation of smog and haze, reducing visibility and impacting tourism, outdoor activities, and overall quality of life. Additionally, air pollution has adverse effects on agriculture, damaging crops and reducing yields.

Mitigation Strategies

Addressing air pollution requires a comprehensive approach that involves governments, industries, communities, and individuals. Governments play a crucial role in setting air quality standards, implementing regulations, and monitoring compliance. They must promote cleaner technologies and renewable energy sources, incentivize industries to reduce emissions and enforce penalties for non-compliance. Additionally, governments should invest in public transportation systems, promote the use of electric vehicles, and adopt sustainable urban planning to reduce vehicle emissions.

Industries can contribute to pollution control by adopting cleaner production processes, investing in sustainable technologies, and implementing emission reduction strategies. Encouraging the use of alternative fuels, such as biofuels, and implementing energy-efficient practices can also mitigate air pollution.

Communities and individuals can play an active role in reducing air pollution by adopting sustainable practices. This includes reducing energy consumption, conserving resources, practicing responsible waste management, and using public transportation or carpooling. Raising awareness about the impacts of air pollution and promoting sustainable lifestyle choices can foster a collective effort in combating pollution.

Conclusion:

Air pollution remains a critical environmental issue that demands urgent action. By understanding the causes, impacts, and solutions to air pollution, we can work towards cleaner air and a healthier planet. Collaboration among governments, industries, communities, and individuals is necessary to implement effective mitigation strategies. Through the adoption of cleaner technologies, the promotion of renewable energy sources, and the practice of sustainable living, we can protect human health, preserve the environment, and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.

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वायु प्रदूषण पर निबंध (Essay On Air Pollution In Hindi)

In this Article

वायु प्रदूषण पर 10 लाइन (10 Lines On Air Pollution In Hindi)

वायु प्रदूषण पर निबंध 200-300 शब्दों में (short essay on air pollution in hindi 200-300 words), वायु प्रदूषण पर निबंध 400-500 शब्दों में (essay on air pollution in 400-500 words), वायु प्रदूषण के बारे में रोचक तथ्य (interesting facts about air pollution in hindi) , वायु प्रदूषण के इस निबंध से हमें क्या सीख मिलती है (what will your child learn from an air pollution essay), अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले प्रश्न (faqs).

जीवन जीने के लिए हमारा साँस लेना जरूरी है उसके लिए वायु का शुद्ध होना जरूरी है लेकिन समस्या की बात है कि जिस जीवन की ओर आगे बढ़ने के लिए हम जिस हवा में साँस ले रहे हैं वो हमें धीरे-धीरे जीवन से दूर कर रही है। यह बात सुनने में जितनी चिंताजनक लग रही है वास्तव में यह समस्या उससे कहीं ज्यादा बड़ी है। दुनिया भर में अलग अलग प्रकार के प्रदूषण की समस्या दिन प्रतिदिन बढ़ती जा रही है, चाहे वो जल प्रदूषण हो, वायु प्रदूषण हो या वायु प्रदूषण हो सभी के प्रभाव से मानव जाती के साथ-साथ हर जीवित पर चीज पर बुरा असर पड़ रहा है। इन दिनों वायु प्रदूषण एक ऐसी समस्या है जो हमारे देश और दुनिया के लिए एक गहरी समस्या का विषय है। यह एक ऐसी गंभीर समस्या है जो हमारे स्वास्थ्य को प्रभावित करती है और अपने साथ इससे जुड़ी और भी कई परेशानियां साथ लेकर आती है। वायु प्रदूषण के मुख्य कारण है जैसे गाड़ियां और उद्योगों से निकलने वाले धुएं, बाजारों में बिकने वाले प्लास्टिक के बैग्स, दूषित पानी और वायु प्रबंधक आदि है। इन सभी कारणों के चलते वायु प्रदूषण बढ़ता जा रहा है जो हमारे स्वास्थ्य के लिए बहुत हानिकारक है, क्योंकि ये इंसानों के फेफड़ों से जुड़ी कई बीमारियां उत्पन्न करता है। इस निबंध में वायु प्रदूषण के प्रभाव और उसको रोकने के तरीके भी बताए गए हैं। 

अगर आप काम शब्दों में वायु प्रदूषण पर निबंध या पैराग्राफ लिखना चाहते हैं तो नीचे दिए गए वायु प्रदूषण पर 10 लाइन जरूर पढ़ें। 

• वातावरण की हवा में घुली हानिकारक गैसों और अशुद्ध कणों से वायु प्रदूषण होता है।
• इसके मुख्य कारण विज्ञान और तकनीक से बढ़ती जनसंख्या और औद्योगीकरण है। 
• इसके कारण अस्थमा, फेफड़ों के रोग, खांसी आदि बीमारियां बढ़ रही हैं। 
• वायु प्रदूषण का सीधा असर मौसम पर पड़ता है। 
• वायु प्रदूषण वनस्पति और पेड़-पौधों को नुकसान पहुंचाता है। 
• इसको नजरअंदाज करने से गंभीर समस्या उत्पन्न हो सकती है। 
• इस प्रदूषण का जिम्मेदार इंसान ही है। 
• सरकार द्वारा इस प्रदूषण को कम करने के लिए योजनाएं आनी चाहिए। 
• इंसान ही नहीं पर्यावरण और पक्षियों व अन्य जीवों पर भी इसका बुरा प्रभाव पड़ रहा है। 
• इसका असर लोगों की औसत आयु पर पड़ रहा है। 

वायु प्रदूषण एक मुख्य समस्या है और यदि आपके बच्चे को इस विषय पर 200 से 300 शब्दों में निबंध लिखने को मिला है, तो उन्हें नीचे दिए गए शॉर्ट एस्से का सुझाव दे सकते हैं। 

जैसा कि आप जानते हैं, वायु प्रदूषण एक बड़ी समस्या है जो दुनिया भर में स्थायी नहीं है। देश के कई शहरों में वायु प्रदूषण की स्थिति खराब होती जा रही है। इस प्रदूषण के कारण अस्थमा और फेफड़ों के रोगों जैसी बिमारियों के लिए खतरनाक हो सकता है। ऐसा माना जा रहा है कि इन दिनों कई शहरों की वायु गुणवत्ता इतनी खराब होती जा रही है कि शहर के निवासियों की औसत आयु कम होती जा रही है। वायु प्रदूषण का मुख्य कारण वाहन और कारखानों से आने वाले टॉक्सिन होते हैं। इसके अलावा कचरे के ढेर, प्लास्टिक का उपयोग, जीवाश्म ईंधन का अधिक दोहन और जंगल की आग भी वायु प्रदूषण का मुख्य कारण हो सकते हैं। वायु प्रदूषण आज पूरी दुनिया भर में एक अहम मुद्दा बन चुका है इसके कारण प्रत्येक देश इसके हानिकारक प्रभावों को झेल रहा है। लोग सिर्फ अपने उद्योग कामों की तरफ ध्यान दे रहे हैं उनको पर्यावरण की बिलकुल भी चिंता नहीं है। 

अगर आप अपने बच्चे को किसी निबंध प्रतियोगिता में भाग दिला रही हैं जिसमें उसे 400 से 500 शब्दों के बीच हिंदी में वायु प्रदूषण पर निबंध लिखना है तो आप उन्हें इस लॉन्ग एस्से का सुझाव दे सकती हैं। इससे वो लिखने के तरीके और सही शब्दों का इस्तेमाल करना सीखेगा। 

वायु प्रदूषण क्या है? (What Is Air Pollution?)

वायु प्रदूषण एक ऐसी गंभीर समस्या है जिसमें हवा में कई प्रकार के धुएं, धूल और धुओं में मौजूद जहरीले पदार्थ मिल जाते हैं। इस जहरीले धुएं के कारण हवा की गुणवत्ता बिगड़ती है और साथ ही सांस लेने की वजह से हानिकारक हवा हमारे शरीर में भी प्रवेश कर जाती है। वायु प्रदूषण की समस्या शहरों में अधिक होती है क्योंकि यहाँ गाड़ियां, कारखाने, औधोगिक गतिविधियां अधिक होती हैं। वायु प्रदूषण का सबसे बड़ा कारण हमारी अनुचित वातावरण व्यवस्था है। इसके कारण लोगों के श्वसन तंत्र पर बुरा असर पड़ रहा है। इसके बढ़ते प्रकोप के कारण कई तरह की बिमारियों की संख्या प्रतिदिन बढ़ती जा रही है जैसे अस्थमा, फेफड़ों में खराबी, सांस लेने में तकलीफ आदि। इस समस्या को रोकने के लिए कई महत्वपूर्ण कदम उठाना जरूरी है ताकि आने वाली पीढ़ी को इससे बचाया जा सके। 

वायु प्रदूषण के कारण (Reasons For Air Pollution) 

वायु प्रदूषण को बढ़ावा देने के वैसे तो कई कारण हैं लेकिन कुछ अहम कारण हैं जिनकी वजह से देश में इसका खतरा बढ़ता जा रहा है। ये रहे वो कारण –

• पुराने ईंधन का जलना 
• इंडस्ट्री से निकलने वाले जहरीले धुएं 
• सिगरेट का धुआं  
• जंगलों में लगने वाली आग 
• पेड़-पौधों का कटना 
• गंदा कचरा बाहर फेंकना 
• बढ़ता यातायात 
• निर्माण और तोड़-फोड़ करने वाले कार्य 
• कृषि गतिविधियों में इस्तेमाल होने वाले उर्वरक या कीटनाशक 
• रासायनिक और सिंथेटिक उत्पादों का उपयोग

वायु प्रदूषण के परिणाम (Consequences Of Air Pollution)

• वायु प्रदूषण की वजह से शहरों और गांव दोनों जगह हवा की गुणवत्ता खराब होती जा रही है। 
• वायु प्रदूषण के प्रभाव से लोग बीमार हो रहे हैं, जिससे सांस लेने में तकलीफ होती है और कैंसर की संभावना बढ़ जाती है।
• वायु प्रदूषण की वजह से कई गंभीर बिमारियों जैसे अस्थमा, फेफड़ों के खराबी, कैंसर आदि खतरा बढ़ रहा है। 
• जहरीला धुआं सिर्फ शहरों ही नहीं जंगलों पर भी प्रभाव डाल रहा है जिसका असर जानवरों और पेड़-पौधों पर नजर आता है। 
• वायु प्रदूषण की वजह से लोगों की औसत उम्र कम होती जा रही है। 
• वायु प्रदूषण के कारण जलवायु पर भी बुरा असर पड़ रहा है। 

वायु प्रदूषण को रोकने के उपाय (Ways To Prevent Air Pollution)

वैसे तो वायु प्रदूषण की स्थिति गंभीर होती जा रही है। लेकिन, अभी भी कुछ ऐसे तरीके हैं जिनसे हवा से वायु प्रदूषकों की संख्या कम की जा सकती है।

• पुनर्वनीकरण (रिफॉरेस्टेशन) – अधिक से अधिक पेड़-पौधे लगाकर वायु की गुणवत्ता में सुधार लाया जा सकता है क्योंकि वे हवा को साफ और फिल्टर करते हैं।
• उद्योगों के लिए नियम बनाना – देशों में गैसों के फिल्टर से संबंधित उद्योगों के लिए सख्त नियम लागू करने चाहिए। जिसकी वजह से कारखानों से निकलने वाले रासायनिक पदार्थों को कम कर सकते हैं।
• पर्यावरण-अनुकूल ईंधन का उपयोग – हमें पर्यावरण-अनुकूल ईंधन जैसे एलपीजी (तरलीकृत पेट्रोलियम गैस), सीएनजी (संपीड़ित प्राकृतिक गैस), बायो-गैस और अन्य पर्यावरण-अनुकूल ईंधन के उपयोग को अपनाना चाहिए। ऐसा करने से हम हानिकारक जहरीली गैसों की मात्रा को कम कर सकते हैं।

हम कह सकते हैं कि जिस हवा में हम सांस ले रहे हैं वह दिन-प्रतिदिन अधिक प्रदूषित होती जा रही है। वायु प्रदूषण को बढ़ाने में सबसे बड़ा योगदान पुराने ईंधन का है जो नाइट्रिक और सल्फ्यूरिक ऑक्साइड का उत्पादन करते हैं। लेकिन, अब लोगों ने इस बढ़ती समस्या को गंभीरता से लेना शुरू कर दिया है और अपने द्वारा उत्पादित की गई समस्या को खत्म करने के लिए कई उपायों और योजनाओं पर काम करना शुरू कर दिया है।

• हर साल वायु प्रदूषण दुनिया भर में लगभग 70 लाख असामयिक मौतों का कारण होता है। 
• बच्चों पर वायु प्रदूषण का अधिक प्रभाव पड़ता है और इसके संपर्क में आने से सांस संबंधी रोग, कैंसर होने की संभावना बढ़ जाती है।  
• घर के अंदर का वायु प्रदूषण बाहरी वायु प्रदूषण से 10 गुना तक अधिक खराब हो सकता है। 
• वायु प्रदूषण की वजह से एसिड रेन का खतरा बढ़ता है, जो कि इमारतों, जंगलों और पानी में रहने वाले जानवरों को नुकसान पहुंचाती है। 
• यह प्रदूषण वातावरण में गर्मी को रोक लेता है और जिसके कारण ग्लोबल वार्मिंग और जलवायु परिवर्तन होता है। 
• 90 प्रतिशत लोग यानी की लगभग 6.9 अरब लोग हर दिन प्रदूषित हवा में सांस लेते हैं।
• वायु प्रदूषण स्वास्थ्य के लिए सबसे बड़े पर्यावरणीय खतरों में से एक है।

बच्चे हमारे समाज का भविष्य हैं और उन्हें वायु प्रदूषण से होनी वाली समस्या के बारे में ज्ञात होना चाहिए ताकि वे इस समस्या को गंभीरता से लें। इस निबंध का मुख्य उद्देश्य बच्चों को वायु प्रदूषण के प्रभावों के बारें में बताना है और साथ ही उन्हें इसे रोकने के उपायों को भी समझाना है। ताकि भविष्य में वह पर्यावरण को बचाने के लिए खुद भी सही कदम उठाए और वह इस विषय पर अच्छे शब्दों का इस्तेमाल कर के निबंध का रूप भी दे सकते हैं। 

यहाँ वायु प्रदूषण से जुड़े ऐसे कई सवालों के जवाब दिए गए, जो आपका बच्चा जानना चाहेगा।

1. भारत में सर्वाधिक वायु प्रदूषित शहर कौन सा है ?

भारत में बेगूसराय, बिहार सर्वाधिक वायु प्रदूषित शहर है। 

2. भारत में कौन सा शहर सबसे कम वायु प्रदूषित है?

इंफाल, मणिपुर भारत में सबसे कम वायु प्रदूषित शहर है। 

3. विश्व का सर्वाधिक वायु प्रदूषित शहर कौन सा है ?

ओसोर्नो, चिली विश्व का सबसे अधिक प्रदूषित शहर है। 

यह भी पढ़ें:

प्रदूषण पर निबंध जल प्रदूषण पर निबंध ध्वनि प्रदूषण पर निबंध

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The University of Chicago The Law School

Abrams environmental law clinic—significant achievements for 2023-24, protecting our great lakes, rivers, and shorelines.

The Abrams Clinic represents Friends of the Chicago River and the Sierra Club in their efforts to hold Trump Tower in downtown Chicago accountable for withdrawing water illegally from the Chicago River. To cool the building, Trump Tower draws water at high volumes, similar to industrial factories or power plants, but Trump Tower operated for more than a decade without ever conducting the legally required studies to determine the impact of those operations on aquatic life or without installing sufficient equipment to protect aquatic life consistent with federal regulations. After the Clinic sent a notice of intent to sue Trump Tower, the State of Illinois filed its own case in the summer of 2018, and the Clinic moved successfully to intervene in that case. In 2023-24, motions practice and discovery continued. Working with co-counsel at Northwestern University’s Pritzker Law School’s Environmental Advocacy Center, the Clinic moved to amend its complaint to include Trump Tower’s systematic underreporting each month of the volume of water that it intakes from and discharges to the Chicago River. The Clinic and co-counsel addressed Trump Tower’s motion to dismiss some of our clients’ claims, and we filed a motion for summary judgment on our claim that Trump Tower has committed a public nuisance. We also worked closely with our expert, Dr. Peter Henderson, on a supplemental disclosure and on defending an additional deposition of him. In summer 2024, the Clinic is defending its motion for summary judgment and challenging Trump Tower’s own motion for summary judgment. The Clinic is also preparing for trial, which could take place as early as fall 2024.

Since 2016, the Abrams Clinic has worked with the Chicago chapter of the Surfrider Foundation to protect water quality along the Lake Michigan shoreline in northwest Indiana, where its members surf. In April 2017, the U. S. Steel plant in Portage, Indiana, spilled approximately 300 pounds of hexavalent chromium into Lake Michigan. In January 2018, the Abrams Clinic filed a suit on behalf of Surfrider against U. S. Steel, alleging multiple violations of U. S. Steel’s discharge permits; the City of Chicago filed suit shortly after. When the US government and the State of Indiana filed their own, separate case, the Clinic filed extensive comments on the proposed consent decree. In August 2021, the court entered a revised consent decree which included provisions advocated for by Surfrider and the City of Chicago, namely a water sampling project that alerts beachgoers as to Lake Michigan’s water quality conditions, better notifications in case of future spills, and improvements to U. S. Steel’s operations and maintenance plans. In the 2023-24 academic year, the Clinic successfully litigated its claims for attorneys’ fees as a substantially prevailing party. Significantly, the court’s order adopted the “Fitzpatrick matrix,” used by the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia to determine appropriate hourly rates for civil litigants, endorsed Chicago legal market rates as the appropriate rates for complex environmental litigation in Northwest Indiana, and allowed for partially reconstructed time records. The Clinic’s work, which has received significant media attention, helped to spawn other litigation to address pollution by other industrial facilities in Northwest Indiana and other enforcement against U. S. Steel by the State of Indiana.

In Winter Quarter 2024, Clinic students worked closely with Dr. John Ikerd, an agricultural economist and emeritus professor at the University of Missouri, to file an amicus brief in Food & Water Watch v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency . In that case pending before the Ninth Circuit, Food & Water Watch argues that US EPA is illegally allowing Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, more commonly known as factory farms, to pollute waterways significantly more than is allowable under the Clean Water Act. In the brief for Dr. Ikerd and co-amici Austin Frerick, Crawford Stewardship Project, Family Farm Defenders, Farm Aid, Missouri Rural Crisis Center, National Family Farm Coalition, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, and Western Organization of Resource Councils, we argued that EPA’s refusal to regulate CAFOs effectively is an unwarranted application of “agricultural exceptionalism” to industrial agriculture and that EPA effectively distorts the animal production market by allowing CAFOs to externalize their pollution costs and diminishing the ability of family farms to compete. Attorneys for the litigants will argue the case in September 2024.

Energy and Climate

Energy justice.

The Abrams Clinic supported grassroots organizations advocating for energy justice in low-income communities and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities in Michigan. With the Clinic’s representation, these organizations intervened in cases before the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), which regulates investor-owned utilities. Students conducted discovery, drafted written testimony, cross-examined utility executives, participated in settlement discussions, and filed briefs for these projects. The Clinic’s representation has elevated the concerns of these community organizations and forced both the utilities and regulators to consider issues of equity to an unprecedented degree. This year, on behalf of Soulardarity (Highland Park, MI), We Want Green, Too (Detroit, MI), and Urban Core Collective (Grand Rapids, MI), Clinic students engaged in eight contested cases before the MPSC against DTE Electric, DTE Gas, and Consumers Energy, as well as provided support for our clients’ advocacy in other non-contested MPSC proceedings.

The Clinic started this past fall with wins in three cases. First, the Clinic’s clients settled with DTE Electric in its Integrated Resource Plan case. The settlement included an agreement to close the second dirtiest coal power plant in Michigan three years early, $30 million from DTE’s shareholders to assist low-income customers in paying their bills, and $8 million from DTE’s shareholders toward a community fund that assists low-income customers with installing energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy, and battery technology. Second, in DTE Electric’s 2023 request for a rate hike (a “rate case”), the Commission required DTE Electric to develop a more robust environmental justice analysis and rejected the Company’s second attempt to waive consumer protections through a proposed electric utility prepayment program with a questionable history of success during its pilot run. The final Commission order and the administrative law judge’s proposal for final decision cited the Clinic’s testimony and briefs. Third, in Consumers Electric’s 2023 rate case, the Commission rejected the Company’s request for a higher ratepayer-funded return on its investments and required the Company to create a process that will enable intervenors to obtain accurate GIS data. The Clinic intends to use this data to map the disparate impact of infrastructure investment in low-income and BIPOC communities.

In the winter, the Clinic filed public comments regarding DTE Electric and Consumers Energy’s “distribution grid plans” (DGP) as well as supported interventions in two additional cases: Consumers Energy’s voluntary green pricing (VGP) case and the Clinic’s first case against the gas utility DTE Gas. Beginning with the DGP comments, the Clinic first addressed Consumers’s 2023 Electric Distribution Infrastructure Investment Plan (EDIIP), which detailed current distribution system health and the utility’s approximately $7 billion capital project planning ($2 billion of which went unaccounted for in the EDIIP) over 2023–2028. The Clinic then commented on DTE Electric’s 2023 DGP, which outlined the utility’s opaque project prioritization and planned more than $9 billion in capital investments and associated maintenance over 2024–2028. The comments targeted four areas of deficiencies in both the EDIIP and DGP: (1) inadequate consideration of distributed energy resources (DERs) as providing grid reliability, resiliency, and energy transition benefits; (2) flawed environmental justice analysis, particularly with respect to the collection of performance metrics and the narrow implementation of the Michigan Environmental Justice Screen Tool; (3) inequitable investment patterns across census tracts, with emphasis on DTE Electric’s skewed prioritization for retaining its old circuits rather than upgrading those circuits; and (4) failing to engage with community feedback.

For the VGP case against Consumers, the Clinic supported the filing of both an initial brief and reply brief requesting that the Commission reject the Company’s flawed proposal for a “community solar” program. In a prior case, the Clinic advocated for the development of a community solar program that would provide low-income, BIPOC communities with access to clean energy. As a result of our efforts, the Commission approved a settlement agreement requiring the Company “to evaluate and provide a strawman recommendation on community solar in its Voluntary Green Pricing Program.” However, the Company’s subsequent proposal in its VGP case violated the Commission’s order because it (1) was not consistent with the applicable law, MCL 460.1061; (2) was not a true community solar program; (3) lacked essential details; (4) failed to compensate subscribers sufficiently; (5) included overpriced and inflexible subscriptions; (6) excessively limited capacity; and (7) failed to provide a clear pathway for certain participants to transition into other VGP programs. For these reasons, the Clinic argued that the Commission should reject the Company’s proposal.

In DTE Gas’s current rate case, the Clinic worked with four witnesses to develop testimony that would rebut DTE Gas’s request for a rate hike on its customers. The testimony advocated for a pathway to a just energy transition that avoids dumping the costs of stranded gas assets on the low-income and BIPOC communities that are likely to be the last to electrify. Instead, the testimony proposed that the gas and electric utilities undertake integrated planning that would prioritize electric infrastructure over gas infrastructure investment to ensure that DTE Gas does not over-invest in gas infrastructure that will be rendered obsolete in the coming decades. The Clinic also worked with one expert witness to develop an analysis of DTE Gas’s unaffordable bills and inequitable shutoff, deposit, and collections practices. Lastly, the Clinic offered testimony on behalf of and from community members who would be directly impacted by the Company’s rate hike and lack of affordable and quality service. Clinic students have spent the summer drafting an approximately one-hundred-page brief making these arguments formally. We expect the Commission’s decision this fall.

Finally, both DTE Electric and Consumers Energy have filed additional requests for rate increases after the conclusion of their respective rate cases filed in 2023. On behalf of our Clients, the Clinic has intervened in these cases, and clinic students have already reviewed thousands of pages of documents and started to develop arguments and strategies to protect low-income and BIPOC communities from the utility’s ceaseless efforts to increase the cost of energy.

Corporate Climate Greenwashing

The Abrams Environmental Law Clinic worked with a leading international nonprofit dedicated to using the law to protect the environment to research corporate climate greenwashing, focusing on consumer protection, green financing, and securities liability. Clinic students spent the year examining an innovative state law, drafted a fifty-page guide to the statute and relevant cases, and examined how the law would apply to a variety of potential cases. Students then presented their findings in a case study and oral presentation to members of ClientEarth, including the organization’s North American head and members of its European team. The project helped identify the strengths and weaknesses of potential new strategies for increasing corporate accountability in the fight against climate change.

Land Contamination, Lead, and Hazardous Waste

The Abrams Clinic continues to represent East Chicago, Indiana, residents who live or lived on or adjacent to the USS Lead Superfund site. This year, the Clinic worked closely with the East Chicago/Calumet Coalition Community Advisory Group (CAG) to advance the CAG’s advocacy beyond the Superfund site and the adjacent Dupont RCRA site. Through multiple forms of advocacy, the clinics challenged the poor performance and permit modification and renewal attempts of Tradebe Treatment and Recycling, LLC (Tradebe), a hazardous waste storage and recycling facility in the community. Clinic students sent letters to US EPA and Indiana Department of Environmental Management officials about how IDEM has failed to assess meaningful penalties against Tradebe for repeated violations of the law and how IDEM has allowed Tradebe to continue to threaten public and worker health and safety by not improving its operations. Students also drafted substantial comments for the CAG on the US EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule improvements, the Suppliers’ Park proposed cleanup, and Sims Metal’s proposed air permit revisions. The Clinic has also continued working with the CAG, environmental experts, and regulators since US EPA awarded $200,000 to the CAG for community air monitoring. The Clinic and its clients also joined comments drafted by other environmental organizations about poor operations and loose regulatory oversight of several industrial facilities in the area.

Endangered Species

The Abrams Clinic represented the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Hoosier Environmental Council (HEC) in litigation regarding the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) failure to list the Kirtland’s snake as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The Kirtland’s snake is a small, secretive, non-venomous snake historically located across the Midwest and the Ohio River Valley. Development and climate change have undermined large portions of the snake’s habitat, and populations are declining. Accordingly, the Clinic sued the Service in the US District Court for the District of Columbia last summer over the Service’s denial of CBD’s request to have the Kirtland’s snake protected. This spring, the Clinic was able to reach a settlement with the Service that requires the Service to reconsider its listing decision for the Kirtland’s snake and to pay attorney fees.

The Clinic also represented CBD in preparation for litigation regarding the Service’s failure to list another species as threatened or endangered. Threats from land development and climate change have devastated this species as well, and the species has already been extirpated from two of the sixteen US states in its range. As such, the Clinic worked this winter and spring to prepare a notice of intent (NOI) to sue the Service. The Team poured over hundreds of FOIA documents and dug into the Service’s supporting documentation to create strong arguments against the Service in the imminent litigation. The Clinic will send the NOI and file a complaint in the next few months.

Students and Faculty

Twenty-four law school students from the classes of 2024 and 2025 participated in the Clinic, performing complex legal research, reviewing documents obtained through discovery, drafting legal research memos and briefs, conferring with clients, conducting cross-examination, participating in settlement conferences, and arguing motions. Students secured nine clerkships, five were heading to private practice after graduation, and two are pursuing public interest work. Sam Heppell joined the Clinic from civil rights private practice, bringing the Clinic to its full complement of three attorneys.

• Open access
• Published: 02 September 2024

Air pollution: a latent key driving force of dementia

• Mahdiyeh Mohammadzadeh 1 , 2 ,
• Amir Hossein Khoshakhlagh   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-2265-5054 3 &
• Jordan Grafman 4  

BMC Public Health volume  24 , Article number:  2370 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

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Many researchers have studied the role of air pollutants on cognitive function, changes in brain structure, and occurrence of dementia. Due to the wide range of studies and often contradictory results, the present systematic review was conducted to try and clarify the relationship between air pollutants and dementia. To identify studies for this review, a systematic search was conducted in Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases (without historical restrictions) until May 22, 2023. The PECO statement was created to clarify the research question, and articles that did not meet the criteria of this statement were excluded. In this review, animal studies, laboratory studies, books, review articles, conference papers and letters to the editors were avoided. Also, studies focused on the effect of air pollutants on cellular and biochemical changes (without investigating dementia) were also excluded. A quality assessment was done according to the type of design of each article, using the checklist developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). Finally, selected studies were reviewed and discussed in terms of Alzheimer's dementia and non-Alzheimer's dementia. We identified 14,924 articles through a systematic search in databases, and after comprehensive reviews, 53 articles were found to be eligible for inclusion in the current systematic review. The results showed that chronic exposure to higher levels of air pollutants was associated with adverse effects on cognitive abilities and the presence of dementia. Studies strongly supported the negative effects of PM 2.5 and then NO 2 on the brain and the development of neurodegenerative disorders in old age. Because the onset of brain structural changes due to dementia begins decades before the onset of disease symptoms, and that exposure to air pollution is considered a modifiable risk factor, taking preventive measures to reduce air pollution and introducing behavioral interventions to reduce people's exposure to pollutants is advisable.

Peer Review reports

Introduction

Technological development and the rapid expansion of mechanization during the last few decades have led to an increase in life expectancy in various societies, especially in developed countries [ 1 ]. An increase in the life expectancy can lead to the growth of neurological disorders [ 2 ]. According to statistics published worldwide, neurological disorders, including Parkinson's (PD), cognitive dysfunction, Alzheimer's (AD) and dementia, are a leading cause of disability and death [ 3 , 4 ]. Cognitive function also diminishes with age [ 5 ] and therefore, elderly people are disproportionately affected by cognitive disorders and, finally, dementia [ 6 , 7 ] which imposes a significant burden on health care systems. According to statistics published by the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 55 million people worldwide suffered from dementia in 2019, which is estimated to more than double in 2050 [ 8 ]. Dementia is the cause of 2.4 million deaths and 28.8 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in 2016 and is known as the third cause of neurological DALYs [ 3 , 9 ].

Various factors are involved in dementia, including anthropometric parameters (for example, body mass index), the APOE Ɛ4 allele [ 10 ], lack of weight [ 11 ], inactivity [ 12 ], non-Mediterranean diet [ 13 ], and the lack of specific micronutrients and macronutrients [ 14 ]. In addition, many epidemiological studies have shown that exposure to air pollution can also contribute to neuropathology through oxidative stress, hyperactivation of microglia, disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and neuroinflammation [ 15 , 16 ] and cause adverse effects on the brain, accelerate cognitive aging and even increase the occurrence of AD and other forms of dementia [ 17 , 18 , 19 ]. The 2020 Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention and care, considered air pollution as a new modifiable risk factor for dementia, accounting for about 2% of cases worldwide [ 20 ]. Studies conducted in the United Kingdom showed that an increase of 1 µg/m 3 PM 2.5 (particles with a diameter of 2.5 µm or less) increases the risk of dementia by 6% and the risk of AD by 10% [ 21 ]. Mortamais et al. (2021) found that an increase of 5µg/m 3 in PM 2.5 level, increases 20% the risk for all-cause dementia, 20% for AD and 33% for Vascular Dementia (VaD) in elderly people over 70 years [ 22 ]. However, the adverse effects of air pollution on cognitive function are not limited to old age. Recent epidemiological studies support the hypothesis that public exposure to air pollutants can cause structural and functional changes in children's brains [ 23 , 24 ] and by causing negative effects on neuropsychological development, make them susceptible to neurological disorders in middle and old age [ 25 , 26 ].

Therefore, prevention of exposure to air pollution is a potentially correctable risk factor in the occurrence of cognitive decline and dementia in the elderly. The present systematic review was conducted to critically examine the published scientific literature related to the impact of exposure to air pollution on dementia. Specifically, the objectives were: (1) to evaluate the type and concentration of air pollutants including PM 10 (particles with a diameter of 10 µm or less), PM 2.5 , NO 2 , O 3 , black carbon (BC), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX), formaldehyde (FA) in geographic areas and (2) to assess the risk of dementia in adults with chronic respiratory exposure to the mentioned pollutants.

This systematic review was guided by the PRISMA statement (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analyses) and fully complied with the protocol registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO, CRD42023413916) .

PECO statement

In this study, the PECO (population, exposure, comparator, and outcome) [ 27 ] statement was used to develop the research question, search terms, and inclusion and exclusion criteria of the systematic review. Table 1 shows the PECO statement for understanding the adverse effects of respiratory exposure to pollutants PM 10 , PM 2.5 , NO 2 , O 3 , BC, PAHs, BTEX, and FA on dementia.

Search strategy and selection of studies

According to our knowledge, this is the first systematic review that investigated the effect of respiratory exposure to pollutants i.e. PM 10 , PM 2.5 , NO 2 , O 3 , BC, PAHs, BTEX, and FA on dementia. To obtain all published studies in this field, a systematic search was conducted in Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases, without a date limit until May 22, 2023. The keywords used in this study include the following (the details of the search strategy used for the systematic search in the databases are shown in Appendix A1):

Exposure to pollutants: “air pollution”, “PM 10 ”, “PM 2.5 ”, “nitrogen dioxide”, “ozone”, “black carbon”, “diesel”, “diesel exhaust”, “PAH*”, “BTEX”, “toluene”, “ethylbenzene”, “xylene”, “benzene”, “formaldehyde”, “formal”, “formalin”, “methanol”, “methylene oxide”

Outcomes of exposure: “Alzheimer's disease”, “Neuromarker”, “Neuroinflammation”, “Dementia”, “Vascular dementia”, “Frontotemporal dementia”, “Frontotemporal lobar degeneration”, “Lewy body disease”, “Lewy body dementia”

The mentioned keywords were extracted by (M.M and A.H.Kh) and systematically searched by (A.H.Kh) in Title/Abstract and Mesh (if any). After merging the studies in EndNote X20 software, all duplicates were removed and the data were independently screened and extracted by two researchers (M.M and A.H.Kh). More contradictions and ambiguities were resolved with the intervention of the third author (J.G). In addition, to obtain additional studies that meet the inclusion criteria, additional to the hand searching, the reference list of selected studies was also systematically searched in parallel.

Criteria of entering and extracting studies

In this review, we excluded studies focused on the effects of exposure to air pollutants on neurological and biochemical changes (without examining dementia) and studies that investigated exposure to air pollutants as a dependent variable. Animal studies, laboratory studies, books, review articles, conference papers, and letters to the editors were also excluded. In this systematic review, only original peer-reviewed articles in English were reviewed.

Finally, the following information was extracted from the selected articles:

Authors, the year of publication, study design, country, the number of sample people, the age range of people, gender, the type of pollutant, the mean concentration of pollutant, diagnosis tool, and the type of dementia.

Quality control

The quality of the selected studies was checked by two researchers (M.M and A.H.Kh) using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist for cohort studies, case–control studies and analytical cross-sectional studies, independently. This checklist evaluates the risk of bias in studies by asking 2 questions from each of the sample areas including selection criteria, exposure assessment, confounding factors and results and appropriate statistical analysis. The defined answers for each question can be one of the options (yes, no, unclear, or not applicable). According to the total selection percentage of each of the 4 mentioned answers, the quality of articles is determined in the following 3 levels:

High-quality level and low risk of bias (Q1) (Yes ≥ 50–75%).

Moderate quality level and unclear risk of bias (Q2) (unclear ≥ 50–75%).

Low-quality and high risk of bias (Q3) (No ≥ 50–75%) [ 28 ].

All the articles that were of adequate quality were included in the study.

Result synthesis

Due to heterogeneity in study design, exposure (occupational/environmental) and the age of subjects, quantitative synthesis of studies in the form of meta-analysis was not possible. Therefore, the results obtained from the selected studies, which included the type of dementia, the age of the subjects, gender, the type of air pollutants, mean concentration, the instrument for detecting pollutants, and the diagnosis of dementia, and the outcome of exposure (Appendix A2), were narratively combined. This synthesis was done in two steps. The first stage included the initial synthesis using the general grouping of studies based on Alzheimer's and non-Alzheimer's dementia; therefore, the results of articles were carefully studied, and considered which of the types of Alzheimer's dementia (AD) (Appendix A2) and non-Alzheimer's dementia (VaD, FTD and PD) (Appendix A3) have been investigated. In the second step, the relationship between the type and concentration of each pollutant in dementia was investigated.

Figure  1 shows the process of conducting the present systematic review by the members of the research team, which includes six general steps:

Visualization of the systematic review guiding process comprising eight distinct stages

Topic selection, systematic search, screening and data extraction, quality control, resolving contradictions and ambiguities, and synthesis of results.

Results and Discussion

Selection process and characteristics of articles.

In this review, 14,924 articles were obtained through a systematic search in databases, of which 4532 studies were retrieved from PubMed, 5878 from Scopus, and 4514 from Web of Science. After entering the articles into EndNote X20 software, 6546 duplicates were removed and 8378 studies were screened for title and abstract. At this stage, 8289 articles were excluded and the entry and exit criteria and quality assessment were done for 88 full texts. Finally, after conducting additional reviews, 36 studies were excluded for the following reasons:

Nine studies were review articles, two studies only investigated brain volume, in twelve articles the type of air pollutant was not specified, five studies investigated the effect of other pollutants on dementia, five studies were excluded due to the high risk of bias and access to three full texts was not possible.

In addition, hand searching and systematic search of the selected articles' reference lists were also conducted to identify additional studies eligible for inclusion, which led to the identification of two studies through reference checking. Therefore, the total number of studies included in this systematic review increased to 53 articles (Fig.  2 ).

PRISMA flow diagram of the literature search

The studies in this systematic review included 6 case–control [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ], 7 cross-sectional [ 19 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 ], and 40 cohort studies [ 1 , 2 , 18 , 21 , 22 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 ]. Specifically, selected studies have been conducted in 17 countries around the world:

19 in the United States of America, 7 in Sweden, 7 in Taiwan, 4 in Canada, 3 in France, 2 in Australia, 2 in Germany, 2 in Hong Kong, 2 in Mexico, 2 in the United Kingdom, 1 in each country of Netherlands, Spain, China, Denmark, England, Italy, and the Republic of Korea.

In total, 173,698,774 subjects were contained in the studies examined in this systematic review. The characteristics of the reviewed studies are shown in Table  2 .

Diagnostic methods in the types of dementia

When we examined the 53 selected studies, 39 diagnostic tools and methods for AD and other types of dementia had been used (Appendix A2 and A3); of these, 21 diagnostic tools were used for Alzheimer's dementia and 28 methods for non-Alzheimer's dementia. According to the investigations carried out in studies related to Alzheimer's dementia, the methods of medical records ( N  = 11) and Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) ( N  = 8) were the most prevalent. Five studies also used medical imaging (such as MRI and CT scan) to investigate the changes made in brain structures, which indicate the onset of Alzheimer's disease. In addition, the most common diagnostic tools for non-Alzheimer's dementia were included medical reports ( N  = 4), MMSE ( N  = 10), Medical imaging ( N  = 4), Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Box (CDR-SB) ( N  = 4), and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) ( N  = 3).

MMSE and MoCA are among the most important reliable screening tools that are widely used for clinical and research purposes [ 76 , 77 ]. These tools have received a lot of attention due to the need for little training, ease of implementation, and the ability to differentiate dementia patients from healthy people [ 78 , 79 , 80 ]. MMSE is also widely used to describe a wide range of cognitive functions, including attention, memory, verbal ability, and visual-spatial cognitive function [ 81 ], and its total score is related to disease progression [ 82 ]. However, it has been found that the MMSE may be less reliable than the MoCA in the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) because this instrument had lower sensitivity among multiple study settings [ 83 , 84 , 85 , 86 , 87 ]. In addition, the MoCA can show differences in the cognitive profile of people diagnosed with MMSE in the normal range, which makes the MoCA a powerful, concise, and useful tool [ 77 , 88 , 89 ].

Although the use of questionnaire methods is a standard requirement for dementia researchers, the importance of medical imaging methods in diagnosing dementia types with high certainty should not be neglected to investigate the changes made in the brain structure and the speed of disease progression. Among the most important diagnostic imaging tools for dementia are PET imaging with 2-deoxy-positron emission tomography (PiB-PET), 2 [18F] fluoro-D-glucose tracer (FDG-PET) and Structural and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) [ 90 ]. The first PET technique used to diagnose neurodegenerative disorders was 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) metabolic imaging, which is a measure of neuronal or synaptic integrity [ 91 , 92 ]. More recent advances using PET includes the detection of specific neural ligands, such as specific ligands for fibrillar Aβ [ 93 ], paired-helical filament tau [ 94 , 95 ], and synaptic vesicle protein 2A [ 96 ]. The PET technique, however, is only available in specialized centers due to its high cost.

In our systematic review, the main neuroimaging technique used was MRI. This tool can measure brain atrophy, especially in the mesial-temporal structures, and detect it even before appearing the first clinical symptoms [ 97 , 98 ]. This method is included in both the diagnostic criteria presented by Dubois [ 99 ] and NIA-AA [ 100 ] and has been used as a reliable diagnostic tool by many researchers [ 101 , 102 , 103 ]. The sensitivity of this method as an AD marker has been reported to be more than 85% [ 97 ], which is more than PiB-PET (70%) [ 104 ] and FDG-PET (80%) [ 105 , 106 ].

Atrophy in the medial temporal lobe, especially the hippocampus, and a decrease in the thickness of the cerebral cortex in vulnerable areas of AD are among the first signs detectable by MRI in the early stages of the disease [ 107 , 108 , 109 ]. This tool can show hippocampal volume reduction 2 to 3 years before the onset of dementia in asymptomatic carriers of APP mutations [ 110 ] and in elderly people up to 6 years before that [ 103 , 107 ]. In addition, entorhinal cortex volume reduction, which progresses up to four years before cognitive decline, can be detected by MRI up to 90% [ 107 ].

Alzheimer’s dementia

The characteristics and results extracted from the articles related to Alzheimer's dementia are shown in Appendix A2. Thirty-one studies investigated the effect of pollutants i.e. PM 10 , PM 2.5 , NO 2 , O 3 , BC, PAHs, BTEX, and FA on the occurrence of Alzheimer's dementia. These studies were published from 1995–2023, and most were since 2018, indicating the novelty of the subject under discussion. More than 80% of the studies investigated the incidence of Alzheimer's in people over 60 years old, but some studies included younger people, comprising Haisu Zhang (2023) [ 40 ], Lilian Calderón-Garcidueñas (2022) [ 38 , 39 ], Marta Crous-Bou (2020) [ 1 ], Anna Oudin (2019 and 2016) [ 44 , 53 ], and Ruo-Ling Li (2019) [ 51 ].

The results showed that chronic exposure to air pollutants, especially particulate matter (PMs), increases the number of hospitalizations due to the exacerbation of neurocognitive disorders caused by Alzheimer's dementia or related diseases. This finding is compatible with previous studies on the role of exposure to air pollutants on the development of this neurological disorder [ 18 , 74 , 75 ]. Results from human and animal studies have shown that air pollution is associated with atherosclerosis, increased blood inflammatory biomarkers, and oxidative stress, which may accelerate hospitalization for several neurological diseases [ 111 , 112 ]. In the United Kingdom, the results of a population-based cohort study showed that the risk of AD was associated with exposure to PM 2.5 (adjusted hazard ratio—HR 1.10, 95% CI 1.02–1.18) and NO 2 (1.23, 1.07–1.43) increases significantly so that an increase of 1 µg/m 3 PM 2.5 is associated with a 10% increase in the risk of AD. Exposure to O 3 reduced this risk [ 21 ]. Also Cerza et al. (2019) in a cohort study in Italy concluded that a positive association between exposure to O 3 and NO x and dementia hospitalizations, (O 3 : HR = 1.06; 95% CI: 1.04–1.09 per 10 μg/m 3 ; NO x : HR = 1.01; 95% CI: 1.00–1.02 per 20 μg/m 3 ) [ 52 ]. This study showed that exposure to NO x , NO 2 , PM 2.5 , and PM 10 , except for O 3 , has a significant negative relationship with AD [ 52 ].

He et al. (2022) also demonstrated in a population-based cohort study in China that exposure to PM 2.5 , PM 10 , and CO pollutants was significantly associated with an increased risk of AD, but there is no significant relationship between exposure to NO and SO 2 with the occurrence of this disorder. This study also showed an inverse relationship between O 3 exposure and AD [ 69 ]. Meanwhile, Jung et al. (2015) concluded that for an increase of 9.63 ppb in O 3 concentration, the risk of AD increases 1.06 times in the elderly ≥ 65 years (adjusted HR 1.06, 1.00–1.12) [ 43 ]. The difference between the results of these studies can be caused by different characteristics in the study population, study design, sample size, setting, and different measurements of exposure to air pollutants.

In addition, the researchers found evidence of the adverse effect of exposure to air pollutants on episodic memory. Several animal studies showed that exposure to inhaled PM 2.5 can impair neural systems that underlie episodic memory processes [ 113 , 114 , 115 ]. So far, limited longitudinal epidemiological studies have been conducted about PM 2.5 and episodic memory in humans [ 116 , 117 , 118 ]. The results of a prospective study on 998 elderly women aged 73 to 87 years old in the US showed that chronic exposure to PM 2.5 in residential environments was associated with a rapid decline in episodic memory, especially in measures of immediate recall and learning of new material [ 68 ]. A decrease in verbal episodic memory (such as the ability to remember details, with context, from daily and distant experiences) is prominent in AD and can be detected in the preclinical stage [ 119 , 120 ]. For example, impaired episodic memory is one of the main criteria for the classic diagnosis of AD by Dubois et al. (2007), which appears early in the course of the disease [ 99 ]. Studies have proven that the rapid decline of this memory is somewhat associated with an increase in the Alzheimer's disease pattern similarity (AD-PS) score [ 68 ]. AD-PS is a brain MRI-based structural biomarker that reflects high-dimensional gray matter atrophies in brain regions vulnerable to AD neuropathology [ 68 ]. In addition to exposure to environmental factors, natural aging can also lead to a decrease in episodic memory, which is related to the decrease in the volume of the hippocampus and other structures of the medial temporal lobe [ 121 ]. The medial temporal lobe and its structural components, especially the hippocampus, play an important role in encoding (learning, recalling) and retrieving (recalling) the details of events that make up episodic memories [ 121 ].

Zhao et al. (2019) showed in a human imaging study that atrophy in hippocampal subfields can impose a wide range of effects on measures of episodic memory (immediate recalls, delayed-recalls, and recognition) [ 122 ]. Although so far the relative roles of hippocampal subfields (e.g. cornu ammonis (CA, CA2-3), CA4-denate gyrus, presubiculum, subiculum) have not been determined in the processes related to encoding and retrieval, animal studies have proven the adverse effects of PMs on the morphology and functional changes in hippocampal subfields. Also, we can mention the decrease in apical dendritic spine density and dendritic branches in the CA1 and CA3 regions [ 123 ], decrease in synaptic function in CA1 neurons [ 114 , 124 ], decrease in basic protein in white matter, and increase in atrophy of neurites in the CA1 region [ 125 ]. Based on the studies, encoding is done by CA2, CA3, and dentate gyrus, while CA1 and subiculum are involved in retrieval [ 126 ]. According to the results obtained by Younan et al. (2020), it seems that the significant reduction of episodic memory processes (immediate recall/new learning) caused by exposure to PM 2.5 is more due to the adverse effects of this pollutant on hippocampal subfields associated with encoding, such as CA2, CA3, and dentate gyrus [ 68 ]. These neurotoxicological results indicate that some hippocampal subfields may be more sensitive to the adverse effects of particulate matter than other subfields.

So far, many studies have proven the existence of an inverse relationship between exposure to air pollutants and white matter volume, gray matter volume, and cerebral cortex thickness in brain areas affected by AD [ 127 , 128 , 129 , 130 ]. Wilker et al. (2015) showed in a study that with increasing PM 2.5 concentration, brain volume decreases by 0.32% [ 131 ], which was consistent with the results obtained by Chen et al. (2015) regarding the reduction of white matter volume and the volume of the whole brain due to exposure to high concentrations of this pollutant [ 128 ]. The results of the study by Crous-Bou et al. (2020) showed that chronic exposure to air pollutants, especially NO 2 and PM 10 , is associated with a decrease in the thickness of the cerebral cortex in brain areas affected by AD [ 1 ], which is consistent with the results of study done by Casanova et al. (2016) [ 127 ]. In a voxel-based morphometry study, they examined the local brain structure related to PMs in elderly women and concluded that exposure to PM 2.5 has an inverse relationship with the reduction of the frontal cortex [ 127 ]. Furthermore, Cho et al. (2023) showed that a 10 µg/m 3 increase in (β = -1.13; 95% CI, − 1.73 to − 0.53) PM 10 and a 10 ppb increase in (β = -1.09; 95% CI, − 1.40 to − 0.78) NO 2 are significantly associated with decreasing MoCA score. Also, these two pollutants were significantly associated with an increase in AD-like cortical atrophy scores and a decrease in the thickness of the cerebral cortex [ 129 ].

PET ligand studies indicate that gray matter atrophy of the brain can be caused by tau neuropathological processes, which can lead to cognitive decline in patients [ 132 , 133 , 134 ]. Several plausible biological mechanisms explain the rapid development or onset of neurological diseases caused by exposure to air pollution. After inhalation, air pollutants can pass through the BBB and enter the brain through the olfactory bulb or systemic circulation [ 135 ] causing oxidative stress and systemic inflammatory responses, disruption of the blood–brain barrier, deposition of peptides beta-amyloid (Aβ) and activation of microglia and as a result may exacerbate the disease progression of AD [ 136 , 137 ]. In addition, it has been reported that NO 2 is associated with inflammatory responses and markers such as increased serum concentration of systemic interleukin IL-6 [ 138 ]. Recent studies have shown that exposure to air pollutants can be effective in causing neurological and cognitive disorders by contributing to AD pathologies such as brain Aβ and tau burden [ 139 , 140 ]. Researchers use the levels of Aβ, total tau (t-tau) and phospho-tau (p-tau) in CSF as specific biomarkers for the clinical diagnosis of probable AD [ 99 ]. Some studies have proven that CSF Aβ, as the first marker of AD, shows abnormal levels several years before the appearance of impaired memory [ 141 , 142 ]. Diagnosis of early AD in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) can be done by detecting low levels of Aβ and high levels of p-tau and t-tau in CSF [ 143 ].

Reports show that living in areas with high air pollution can lead to the accumulation of Aβ in neurons and astrocytes [ 144 ]. Also, the results obtained from the study of Fu et al. (2022) indicate that the increase in the concentration of each unit of ln-transformed Ʃ-OH PAHs in the urine of coke oven workers was associated with an increase of 9.416 units of P-Tau231 in plasma and a decrease of 0.281 in visuospatial/executive function [ 145 ]. Tau is a microtubule-associated protein that contributes to the stability of axonal microtubules in the brain [ 146 ]. The presence of hyperphosphorylated tau leads to the formation of neurofibrillary tangles, which is considered a pathological characteristic of AD [ 147 ]. Some researchers have reported changes in the concentration of phosphorylated tau as a possible sign of the progression of some neurological diseases [ 148 , 149 ]. This is consistent with the results of Nie et al.'s (2013) study, which showed that benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) leads to tau 231 hyperphosphorylation [ 150 ].

Non-Alzheimer’s dementia

Among the 53 selected articles, 41 studies investigated the effect of air pollutants on the incidence of non-Alzheimer's dementia (Appendix A3), which were published during the years 2014–2023. Except for the studies of Anna Oudin (2016) [ 44 ], Anna Oudin (2018) [ 49 ], Iain M Carey (2018) [ 21 ], Anna Oudin (2019) [ 53 ], Han-Wei Zhang (2019) [ 54 ], Zorana J. Andersen (2022) [ 67 ], Lilian Calderón-Garcidueñas (2022) [ 38 , 39 ], and Haisu Zhang (2023) [ 40 ], the rest of the articles included people over the age of 60 years old.

Non-Alzheimer's dementia accounts for almost half of dementia cases [ 151 ]. The most common non-Alzheimer's neurological disorders include vascular dementia (VaD) [ 152 , 153 ], Parkinson's disease (PD) [ 154 ], Fronto-Temporal Dementia (FTD) [ 155 ] and Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) [ 92 ], which are characterized by the accumulation of natural proteins in the CNS, as proteinopathies [ 156 ].

Vascular Dementia

The present study showed that exposure to air pollutants may have a direct effect on the incidence and progression of VaD. In a longitudinal study, Oudin et al. (2016) concluded that the probability of VaD diagnosis, with HR = 1.43, was higher among citizens with the highest exposure to traffic-related air pollution than those with low exposure [ 44 ]. These results were consistent with the study conducted by Cerza et al. (2019) [ 52 ]. In a longitudinal study on elderly men and women in Italy, they reported that chronic exposure to NO x , NO 2 , PM 10 and PM 2.5 has a positive relationship with VaD. In addition, a direct relationship between exposure to O 3 and NO x with dementia hospitalization was also observed (O 3 : HR = 1.06 per 10 μg/m 3 ; NO x : HR = 1.01; per 20 μg/m 3 ) [ 52 ].

According to the studies, chronic exposure to air pollutants can cause vascular damage caused by large vessel atherosclerosis and small vessel arteriosclerosis and cause cortical and subcortical infarcts, sub-infarct ischemic lesions, and large and small cerebral hemorrhages [ 153 , 157 ]. Researchers identify these factors as responsible for the initiation of VaD [ 153 ]. Moreover, dysfunction and degeneration of the neurovascular unit, which consists of a network of pericytes, myocytes, astrocytes, neurons, oligodendrocytes, endothelial cells and cerebral microvessels, aggravate the pathogenesis of VaD by disrupting the BBB [ 158 ]; which require hospital care to treat and prevent further side effects.

Also, the results obtained from a case–control study in Taiwan indicate that exposure to high levels of NO 2 significantly increases the risk of developing VaD [ 31 ]. According to the studies, some researchers showed that for an increase of 5 μg/m 3 NO 2 , the risk of VaD increases by 1.62 [ 74 ]. However, some studies have reached contradictory results. A cohort study conducted in England estimated the prevalence of VaD among men and women aged 50–79 years old at 29%, but found little evidence of the effect of air pollution on this neurological disorder [ 21 ]. Differences in results could be due to differences in instruments used, study design, and sample population characteristics.

VaD is a pathological condition in the elderly characterized by progressive cognitive dysfunction and is the second most common form of dementia, after AD [ 159 ]. This disorder is manifested by the loss of rationality, judgment skills, and especially cognitive functions and memory, and patients usually survive only 5–7 years after its onset [ 160 ]. Multifactorial etiopathology, diverse clinical manifestations, and numerous clinical subgroups are among the characteristics of VaD [ 152 ]. Chronic reduction in cerebral blood flow is one of the main characteristics of this neurological disorder [ 161 ], which results in the departure of brain blood vessels from regulation. This causes functional damage to capillaries, arteries and venules and damage to myelinated axons, and by creating a lesion in the white matter, it starts the pathophysiological process of VaD [ 162 ]. Small vessel disease (leukoaraiosis and lacunar infarcts), microinfarcts, microhemorrhages, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, and mixed vascular lesions are among the most important debilitating lesions of VaD [ 163 , 164 ]. In addition, chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) has been reported as the main cause of this type of dementia [ 163 , 165 ]. The results obtained from the studies indicate that CCH is associated with both neurodegeneration and dementia [ 166 , 167 ]. Studies have shown that exposure to PMs can increase CCH-induced white matter neurotoxicity by enhancing pathophysiology [ 168 , 169 ]. In a recent epidemiological study, Chen et al. (2015) showed that exposure to PM 2.5 was associated with a decrease in regional white matter volume in the corpus callosum and frontal/temporal lobes of elderly women [ 128 ], which is consistent with the results of the study by Erickson et al. (2020) was matched [ 170 ]. In addition, experimental data obtained from animal studies showed that exposure to air pollutants, especially PMs, causes changes in myelin in the CA1 area of the hippocampus in rodents [ 171 ], which can increase the risk of developing neurological disorders and types of dementia.

Dementia due to Parkinson’s disease

The results of the studies retrieved in this systematic review showed that dementia due to PD, a dementia that begins 1 year or more after well-established Parkinson's disease [ 92 ], can be considered as one of the adverse effects of exposure to air pollutants, especially PMs. Shi et al. (2020) in a national cohort study in the USA showed that for an annual increase of 5 μg/m 3 PM 2.5 , the probability of the first hospital admission due to PD and other related dementias will increase by 1.13 times for the American Medicare population (HR = 1.13) [ 75 ]. In this regard, Yuchi et al. (2020) also obtained similar results [ 32 ]. In a population-based cohort study in Canada, they proved that exposure to air pollutants increases the risk of PD (HR for PMs = 1.09, HR for BC = 1.03, HR for NO 2  = 1.12), but no relationship was observed on the occurrence of AD [ 32 ]. These results were consistent with those obtained from the studies of Rhew et al. (2021) [ 33 ], Yitshak-Sade et al. (2021) [ 61 ] and Calderón-Garcidueñas et al. [ 39 ].

The studies have demonstrated that over 80% of individuals with Parkinson's disease develop dementia [ 172 ]. Generally, the point prevalence of dementia in patients with Parkinson's has been determined to be approximately 25%, which has a higher prevalence in men than in women [ 173 ]. Researchers have proven that the risk of dementia increased as the duration of the disease increased, so that this probability reached 50% 10 years after the diagnosis of Parkinson's [ 91 ]. Research indicates that dementia occurs in patients who survive for more than 10 years [ 93 ].

PD, containing Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites, is one of the common brain disorders associated with aging and is characterized by the accumulation of α-synuclein in intracellular inclusions [ 154 ]. The main pathological characteristic of PD is the progressive loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, which causes Parkinsonism in PD patients [ 174 ]. Parkinsonism is a clinical syndrome characterized by rest tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia and gait dysfunction with postural instability [ 174 ]. Neurological disorders such as progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal syndrome (CBS), or FTD may overlap in their symptoms with PD [ 156 ]. Reports show that a significant number of people with PD suffer from cognitive impairment and PD dementia during their disease [ 172 , 175 ]. In some cases, co-existing pathology of TDP-43 can also be detected in PD patients [ 176 ]. TDP-43 is a protein biomarker whose accumulation can diagnose and classify neurological disorders [ 177 ]. The available evidence indicates that exposure to air pollutants plays a role in the accumulation of this protein [ 178 ]. Neuropathological examination of 44 children (average age 12.89 ± 4.9 years old) and 159 young adults (average age 29.2 ± 6.8 years old) living in Mexico City showed that exposure to PM 2.5 and O 3 pollutants can cause AD and PD in 23% of people. Furthermore, it causes TDP-43 pathology in 18.7% of cases [ 179 , 180 ], which is in line with the results of the present systematic review.

Fronto-Temporal Dementia

FTD is a group of neurodegenerative disorders and although clinically and pathologically heterogeneous, they mainly affect the frontal and/or temporal lobes of the brain [ 156 , 181 ]. This type of dementia is usually characterized by predominant frontal or temporal atrophy, and atrophy in the fronto-polar region is considered a special symptom of FTD [ 182 ]. The main clinical manifestations of FTD include two types of behavioral variant (bvFTD) and primary progressive aphasia (PPA). BvFTD mainly leads to personality changes and behavioral problems; While PPA causes gradual deterioration in speech/language and has a lower prevalence than bvFTD [ 183 ]. Primary Parkinsonism is observed in more than 20% of patients with FTD, mostly in bvFTD patients, and then non-fluent variant primary progressive aphasia occurs [ 184 ]. Each of the mentioned stages can have an effective role in reducing people's lives and increasing the economic burden for health systems by creating FTD.

In the current review, only two studies investigated FTD. Parra et al. (2022) concluded in a national cohort in the UK that there was a strong association between exposure to PM 2.5 , NO 2 , and NO x with the incidence of AD and VaD but not with FTD [ 73 ]. Meanwhile, Calderón-Garcidueñas et al. (2022) obtained completely contradictory results in the study of neurological disorders caused by exposure to PM 2.5 in young adults living in the metropolis of Mexico City [ 39 ]. They showed that chronic exposure to PM 2.5 higher than the values recommended by US-EPA causes a significant reduction of gray matter in higher-order cortical areas, which is usually associated with AD, PD and FTD in educated Mexicans [ 39 ]. The discrepancy in the results of these two studies can be explained by the difference in the number of cases, the age range of the cases, and the country under study.

Strengths and limitations of the study

Although several review studies related to exposure to air pollutants and the incidence of dementia have been published in recent years [ 135 , 185 , 186 , 187 ], the present systematic review has several notable strengths that distinguish our study from other review studies. First, this study is the most up-to-date systematic review published related to the role of chronic exposure to air pollutants on dementia (Alzheimer's/Non-Alzheimer's).

Second, unlike other studies, we did not impose any restrictions on publication time [ 135 ], study design [ 185 , 186 , 187 ], and geographic scope [ 185 ] in the systematic search, which allowed us to find more studies and more comprehensive results. In addition, we tried to perform a systematic search in the largest and the most reliable databases to ensure the inclusion of all eligible studies. This resulted in the extraction of 53 related studies that met the inclusion criteria for the present review. However, our investigations showed that none of the recent review articles discussed the current number of studies [ 135 , 185 , 186 , 187 ].

Third, due to the inclusion of an acceptable number of articles in the present systematic review, the results obtained from examining a substantial population of subjects, 173,698,774 people, were presented, which indicates the comprehensiveness and generalizability of the results of the present study.

Fourth, our study included types of dementia, such as Alzheimer's and non-Alzheimer's, and related dementias. This will help researchers to understand the impact of air pollution on each type of dementia and the action mechanism of pollutants in creating structural changes in the brain.

Fifth, in this study, in addition to criterion pollutants, other common and dangerous air pollutants, including FA, BTEX, and PAHs, were also investigated; these pollutants were not investigated in any of the published reviews.

However, the lack of access to the full texts of some studies and the examination of a limited number of pollutants were among the inevitable limitations of this systematic review.

Gaps and Recommendations

An in-depth review of published studies indicates the existence of some gaps in this important health field, including the lack of sufficient studies related to the role of air pollutants on FTD. As mentioned earlier, we could find only two studies related to the effect of exposure to PM 2.5 , PM 10 , NO 2 , and NO x on FTD [ 39 , 73 ], which makes it impossible to compare the results with each other. Therefore, it is recommended that more researchers investigate the impact of exposure to different pollutants in diverse populations on FTD, to cover this important gap.

Moreover, the presence of various confounding factors can also be effective in achieving contradictory results in studies. Researchers believe that factors such as aging, early retirement, smoking, body mass index (BMI), alcohol consumption, and physical inactivity are among the confounding factors that can accelerate the process of dementia [ 66 ]. Also, studies have proven that co-morbidities, such as cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes and mental health, environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), chronic exposure to noise, insufficient sleep, and unhealthy diet can also play an effective role in occurring or developing dementia at an older age [ 188 ]. Research has identified several potential socioeconomic factors that can influence the relationship between air pollution exposure and neurological outcomes at the individual and regional levels. Based on this, living in deprived neighborhoods and on the outskirts of cities increases the possibility of exposure to high levels of air pollution [ 189 ]. Studies have also shown that lower levels of education, and poor access to socioeconomic benefits, such as health care, are associated with an increased risk of dementia in the future [ 190 , 191 ]. Therefore, it is necessary to consider strategies to control the impact of confounding factors to achieve more accurate results.

Also, due to the limited number of studies related to occupational exposure to pollutants in dementia, it is recommended to conduct more research to investigate occupational exposure in workers of different occupations and compare and analyze their results.

Since it has been proven that prenatal exposure is effective in the occurrence of some diseases in the future; therefore, it is recommended that cohort studies be designed and implemented to investigate the role of prenatal exposure to air pollutants and dementia at older ages.

The results of this systematic review showed that chronic exposure to air pollutants, especially PM 2.5 and NO 2 , could have a potential role in the development and progression of AD and non-Alzheimer's dementia in old age. The review of selected studies indicates that the relationship between exposure to PM 2.5 and then NO 2 and O 3 and suffering from dementia has been the focus of researchers in the last 5 years. No study was found that investigated the effect of FA on dementia and met the inclusion criteria for this study. In addition, BTEX and PAHs have been neglected by researchers, which is surprising due to the widespread presence of these pollutants in the environment and industries. Therefore, conducting more studies on the impact of other air pollutants, including FA, BTEX and PAHs, on the incidence of dementia and cognitive disorders is highly recommended. We believe that the identification and prevention of modifiable risk factors, such as exposure to toxic air in conjunction with behavioral interventions, can help prevent or delay the progression of neurodegenerative disorders and significantly reduce the burden of those disorders on society.

Availability of data and materials

Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.

Code availability

Not applicable.

Abbreviations

Alzheimer's dementia

Blood-brain barrier

Black carbon

Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylenes

Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion

Dementia with Lewy Bodies

Disability-adjusted life years

Formaldehyde

Parkinson Disease

Particulate Matter

Particles with a diameter of 10 µm or less

Particles with a diameter of 2.5 µm or less

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment

World Health Organization

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Department of Health in Emergencies and Disasters, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Mahdiyeh Mohammadzadeh

Climate Change and Health Research Center (CCHRC), Institute for Environmental Research (IER), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran

Amir Hossein Khoshakhlagh

Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Neurology, Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Center, Department of Psychiatry, Feinberg School of Medicine & Department of Psychology, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA

Jordan Grafman

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M.M and A.H. Kh conceptualized the study and were involved in screening and data extraction. All authors were involved in the interpretation of the findings. M.M wrote the first draft. All authors were involved in the scientific processes leading up to the writing of the manuscript and contributed to the interpretation of the findings and the critical evaluation of the final version of the manuscript.

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Mohammadzadeh, M., Khoshakhlagh, A.H. & Grafman, J. Air pollution: a latent key driving force of dementia. BMC Public Health 24 , 2370 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-19918-4

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Received : 05 June 2024

Accepted : 28 August 2024

Published : 02 September 2024

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-19918-4

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