In the following you will be informed about a few basic sources and facts of air pollution.
Where does it come from?
Transportation is one of the main sources, which produce air pollution. They are the so called mobile sources and include for example boats, busses, cars, trains and trucks. Millions of pounds of pollutants are produced every day. This fact is already alarming as the bad air quality impairs the environment as well as our health.
Mobile sources produce about:
- 56% of volatile organic compounds
- 79% of nitrogen oxides
- 86% of carbon monoxide emissions
The second large source of air pollution is called point or stationary source. It belongs to the business and industry and includes manufacturing and chemical plants, smelters, petroleum production facilities, and electric utilities.
Stationary sources produce about:
- 23% of volatile organic compounds
- 3% of nitrogen oxides
- 12% of carbon monoxide emissions
At home, around town or on the farm can be found small sources of air pollution. It can be even suggested that these small polluters are all around us. They are called area sources and cause together lot of pollution:
- 3% of volatile organic compounds
- 3% of nitrogen dioxides
- 12% of carbon monoxide emissions
The examples show where you and your environment produce air pollution:
- At home: aerosol cans, barbeques, cleaning products, fireplaces, lawn mowers or water heaters
- Around town: bakeries, dry cleaners, restaurants or gas stations
- On the farm: dust from farming and construction, farm equipment, tractors or pesticides