Question

(a) Explain how does burning of fossil fuels cause air pollution?
(b) Justify "dust is a pollutant"

Answer 1

a) ​The burning of fossil fuels releases harmful gases like oxides of sulphur and nitrogen into the atmosphere, which are known to be very poisonous gases and are regarded as very harmful pollutants. These gases are also the primary reason for greenhouse effect. Burning of fossil fuels also releases smoke and particulate matter into the atmosphere. It also releases carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide into the atmosphere. Both these gases are greenhouse gases, which cause global warming.

b) Dusts are fine microscopic particles of solid material such as dry earth or pollen which remains present in air as suspended particles and can cause allergy and other respiratory diseases. Dust can act as the carrier of toxic compounds like heavy metals. Thus it can be said that dust acts as a pollutant.