Explain the causes and effects of air pollution -5th grade

Ans: Causes of Air Pollution:

Causes of air pollution are as follows:

i:- Burning of fossil fuels like coal, petroleum etc. A major cause of air pollution. When these fuels are burnt, poisonous gases and harmful substances are released into air.

ii:- Due to incomplete combustion of fuel in automobile, poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide are emitted in the air.

iii:- Use of insecticides, pesticides and fertilizers in agricultural activities emit hazardous chemicals like ammonia in air.

Fig. Air Pollution

iv:- Exhaust from factories. industries and oil refineries releases large amount of toxic chemicals like carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons in the air.

iv:- During mining process, dust and chemicals are released in the air causing massive air pollution.

vi:- By the burning of garbage and plastic, poisonous gases are produced which badly affect the living organisms.

vii:- Volcanoes, dust storms and forest fires also cause air pollution.

Effects Of Air Pollution

i. Respiratory and heart problems

Toxic chemicals and gases in the air create several respiratory and heart diseases along with cancer. Children usually suffer from pneumonia and asthma.

ii. Global warming

Due to air pollution, our Earth is becoming hotter day by day. It is called global warming. The rise in temperature is very harmful for life.

(iii) Acid rain

Harmful gases like nitrogen oxide and sulphur oxide are released into the air during the burning of fossil fuels. These air pollutants react with the rain water and make it acidic. This rain falls on the ground in the form of acid rain. Acid rain causes great damage to humans, animals, crops and buildings.

Fig :-Acid Rain

(iv) Depletion of Ozone layer

Ozone gas is present in the atmosphere. It is responsible for protecting living organisms from harmful radiations of Sun. Due to the addition of different harmful chemicals into atmosphere, ozone layer becomes thin and unable to stop the harmful radiations of Sun. As a result, these radiations directly come to the Earth's surface and cause skin and eye diseases. These radiations also damage the crops.