The most terrible type of pollution nowadays is air pollution. This is the contamination of our air by substances as fuel exhaust and smoke, mostly from petroleum-based machines. Air pollution occurs when industries and vehicles release such large amounts of gas and particulates into the air that natural processes can no longer keep the atmosphere in balance. Proof to its alarming condition, according to the World Health Organization, approximately one-fifth of the world's people are exposed to hazardous levels of air pollutants.

 

Each year, more than a hundred million tons of gases and particulates pour into the atmosphere. Just to give you a picture, many dry cleaning plants remove dirt from clothing with a chemical, perchloroethylene, a harmful air pollutant. The garbage disposal through burning may discharge smoke and heavy metals, such as lead and mercury, to be released in the atmosphere. These heavy metals are exceedingly poisonous.

 

Also, something emerges when certain gases released by combustion of gasoline and petroleum byproducts react with sunlight in the atmosphere. This reaction generate hundreds of harmful chemicals that make up smog.

More problems arise, when rain and other precipitation is polluted mainly by sulfuric acid and nitric acid in the atmosphere. These acids form when gases called sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react with water vapor in the air—and it is called acid rain. The acids in acid rain travel through air and water to harm the environment over vast areas. Acid rain has killed entire fish populations in a number of lakes, damaged buildings, bridges and statues. Sites already affected by acid rain include a substantial part of eastern North America, Central Europe and Scandinavia.

 

Technology often comes with a compromise that we can enjoy it as long as it does not harm other people and the environment. Governments should make ways to meet these so that we can have a sustainable future to look forward to.