Question

Mention the various effects of air pollutants.

Answer 1

Air pollutants: These are toxic materials that contaminate the air and are responsible for air pollution.

The various effects of air pollutants are as follows:

1. Carbon monoxide (CO): is the gas emitted by vehicles and machines that use fossil fuels or petroleum products as their fuels. It is a highly toxic pollutant. This combines with hemoglobin of the blood and blocks the transportation of oxygen. Thus, it impairs respiration and can cause death.
2. Oxides of nitrogen: The oxide pollutants of nitrogen are nitric oxide (NO), and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). The entry of these pollutants causes various diseases in animals like respiratory trouble such as emphysema, bronchitis, swelling of the lungs and lung cancer, etc.
3. Ethylene: It leads to premature senescence in plants.