تعبير
عن البيئه بالانجليزي قصير
تعبير عن البيئه بالانجليزي قصير
Atmospheric
pollution: factors and impacts
Air
pollution Footnote 1 can affect the health of Canadians, the environment,
buildings, structures and the economy in general. Air pollution problems, such
as smog and acid rain, are the result of the presence and interaction of
various pollutants released into the atmosphere by natural processes and human
activities. Natural sources of air pollution include forest fires, volcanoes
and emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from vegetation. Human
sources of air pollution include activities that rely on the use of
carbon-based fuels (for example, transportation, electricity generation),
industrial processes such as those related to oil and gas production, and as
certain products, such as paint and solvents.
Main factors
of atmospheric pollution
Pollutant
concentrations in outdoor air can be influenced by many factors, including the
amount of air pollutants released from sources, the proximity of sources, and
weather conditions, such as air temperature, air stability, and air pollution.
air and wind speed and direction. Some pollutants can be carried by wind and
affect the air quality of places thousands of kilometers away from sources.
The growth
of Canada's population and economy is increasing demand for the production and
supply of goods and services, transportation and housing. The energy required
to meet this demand still comes from fossil fuels, which affects the quality of
the air we breathe. The growth of the economy includes growing demand for
Canadian exports (particularly from the oil and gas industry), which also
generates releases of air pollutants.
Despite this
increased demand, emissions of many air pollutants have generally decreased in
Canada over the past two decades. Various means have contributed to these
reductions, including the implementation of regulations and non-regulatory
instruments and the technological improvement of vehicles and industrial
processes. The adoption of more environmentally sustainable practices by
consumers and businesses, such as the use of public transit and carpooling, and
the optimization of production processes to make them more energy efficient,
have also contributed to the decrease observed.
To learn
more about the main sources of air pollutant emissions, please refer to the Air
Pollutant Emissions indicators.
Main impacts
of air pollution
Impact on
human health
Exposure to
nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur oxides (SOX) can irritate the lungs, impair
lung function and increase susceptibility to allergens in people with asthma.
NOX and SOX are also precursors of fine particles (P2.5) and contribute to the
formation of smog and acid rain.
Fine
particles and ground-level ozone (O3) are the main components of smog and are
associated with irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, shortness of breath,
exacerbation of breathing disorders and allergies, chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease and asthma, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease
and premature death.Footnote 2 Children, the elderly, people with acute
illnesses and those who live near cities are more vulnerable to these effects.
Impact on
the environment
Tropospheric
O3 can affect the growth and productivity of some crops, damage flowers and
shrubs, and contribute to forest decline in parts of Canada.Footnote 3 It can
also alter ecosystems, as some plant species that are more resistant to
tropospheric O3 can supplant those that are less resistant.Footnote 4
Various
components of the fine particles assimilated by plants in the soil can impair
plant growth and productivity and cause physical damage to plant surfaces
through abrasion.Footnote 4
NOX and SOX
can cause or accelerate corrosion and soiling of some materials and contribute
significantly to acid rain. Acid rain is harmful to soils and bodies of water
and is a stressor for plant and animal species. The interactions between acid
rain, ultraviolet rays and climate change can amplify the impacts of acid rain.
