Air Pollution

Table of Contents

Introduction

Some air pollutants primarily cause lung and other types of health damage to humans and other organisms, others are more powerful greenhouse gases that trap excess heat in our atmosphere. Some mostly contribute to acid rain and ocean acidification, and some eat away at our protective ozone layer. Many air pollutants do several of these things to varying degrees.

"WHO data show that almost all of the global population (99%) breathe air that exceeds WHO guideline limits and contains high levels of pollutants, with low- and middle-income countries suffering from the highest exposures."

"Air quality is closely linked to the earth’s climate and ecosystems globally. Many of the drivers of air pollution (i.e. combustion of fossil fuels) are also sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Policies to reduce air pollution, therefore, offer a win-win strategy for both climate and health, lowering the burden of disease attributable to air pollution, as well as contributing to the near- and long-term mitigation of climate change."

The WHO also explains that "The combined effects of ambient air pollution and household air pollution is associated with 7 million premature deaths annually."

In addition to climate change and health problems, some types of air pollution can damage our ozone layer, or even create acid rain which damages our soil, buildings, monuments, coral reefs, even degrading the shells of aquatic animals and their egg shells.

Oxygen Levels Dropping in Our Air and Aquatic Environments

As we destabilize the atmosphere by damaging our oceans (which produce an estimated 70% of our oxygen), remove trees (rain forests produce an estimated 28% of our oxygen), and pump large amounts of pollution into Earth's atmosphere (particularly carbon dioxide), scientists have noticed that the amount of oxygen in our atmosphere has been dropping at an accelerated rate for the last century.

Oceans (or rather the phytoplankton who live in our oceans) suck up carbon dioxide and recycle it into oxygen. Untill recently the oceanshave produced around 70% of Earth's oxygen, but as temeratures rise, they are no longer able to function, and die, releasing toxic gases insteas. 

In addition warmer waters aren't able to hold as much oxygen, and even as the animals who live in those waters continue to breath. This depletes oxygen levels until the mobile species swim away, and those who can't die, again producing problematic gases as they decompose. 

The blue areas of the map show where warm waters are losing oxygen faster than other areas of the sea. The red coastal areas are generally caused by warming waters (which happens thanks to shallow spaces), as well as pollution that washing down our rivers.

Humans Successfully Reduced Ozone Levels

Click here to see maps and charts of ozone emissions, polar impact, and producers.

Tools & Maps

International

General

Health Impacts

Ammonia

CO2

Methane

Europe

UK

Effects of Air Pollution

Topics in this section are are listed alphabetically, not by impact.

Cardiovascular Disease

Asthma

Children & Infant Health Impacts

Premature Births

"Exposure to air pollution in pregnancy has been associated with risk of premature, or preterm, birth by increasing toxic chemicals in the blood and causing immune system stress, which can weaken the placenta surrounding the fetus and lead to preterm birth. This, in turn, raises the baby’s risk of health complications, both in the short and long term."- Air Pollution & Preterm Births in the United States: Fraction of Preterm Births Attributable to Air Pollution

Lower IQ Scores

Air Pollutants by Type

The following are listed by climate warming strength of each (strongest first), however some have other problematic effects such as depleting the ozone layer, causing acid rain, and/or causing harm to humans and other animals.

Nitrous Oxide (N2O) 

"According to one study, N2O emission is also “the single most important ozone-depleting emission, and is expected to remain the largest throughout the 21st century."  - https://civileats.com/2019/09/19/the-greenhouse-gas-no-ones-talking-about-nitrous-oxide-on-farms-explained/

"Nitrous oxide emissions from human activities have ballooned 30 percent over the past four decades, barreling past the highest emission levels scientists have projected in climate models, according to new estimates published Oct. 7 in the journal Nature. “We need to turn the valve on emissions as quickly as possible,” said study co-author Rob Jackson, a professor of Earth system science at Stanford University." - https://news.stanford.edu/2020/10/07/laughing-gas-growing-climate-problem/ 

One article states that, "the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy found that Synthetic nitrogen fertilizer accounts for 2.4% of global emissions and its supply chain accounts for 21.5% of the annual direct emissions from agriculture."

... "An estimated one-third to one-half of the nitrous oxide released into the atmosphere today is a result of human activities. The biggest culprit: the increase in agricultural lands and synthetic fertilizer use in agriculture, which has steadily increased in recent decades. And industrial farming—especially of annual crops like vegetables and grains—are especially to blame, as farmers tend to over-apply fertilizers to boost their yields."

... 

"Livestock manure is another agricultural source that provides nitrogen to the microbes—the nitrous oxide is emitted during storage and treatment of the animal waste. There are also significant indirect emissions from nitrogen leaching and runoff.

Non-agricultural human sources of N2O include industry processes, biomass and fossil fuel burning, and sewage (waste management)."  - https://civileats.com/2019/09/19/the-greenhouse-gas-no-ones-talking-about-nitrous-oxide-on-farms-explained/

"Agricultural emissions of N2O in the U.S. account for nearly 80 percent of the total human emissions of this gas—including 74 percent from cultivated soils and 5 percent from manure management. And while emissions from manure may not be as significant as from soil, disposing of large amounts of manure is challenging. On some large livestock operations, farmers inject the manure into soil using a shallow disk injector in hopes it won’t run off into waterways, but that practice only increases nitrous oxide emissions. Although previous research suggested that emissions occur only during the growing season because microbes aren’t active during winter, climate change is causing soils to warm up and thaw more frequently, activating the microbes and leading to winter N2O emissions." - https://civileats.com/2019/09/19/the-greenhouse-gas-no-ones-talking-about-nitrous-oxide-on-farms-explained/

Acid Rain

Thanks to factory farms which produce huge quantities of ammonia and nitrous oxide, acid rain has come back, damaging soil, aquatic ecosystems, statues and buildings. -  https://grist.org/article/food-acid-rain-is-back-and-thanks-to-farming-worse-than-ever/ 

Ozone Depletion

It has been determined that, "nitrous oxide is the single greatest ozone-depleting substance that, if its emissions are not controlled, is expected to remain the dominant ozone-depleting substance throughout the 21st century. Reducing nitrous oxide emissions would thus enhance the rate of recovery of the ozone hole and reduce the anthropogenic forcing of climate."

Methane (CH₄)

Percent of Global Warming Caused: 30% 

Percent Produced by Humanity: 60%

The largest portion  includes 141.4Mt from Farming (livestock waste and gases, as well as gases released from flooded fields, particularly rice),followed by the energy system, and waste in landfills. 

Atmospheric concentrations of methane are 2.5x higher than in pre-industrial times, and it traps 84 times more heat than carbon dioxide over the first 2 decades in the atmosphere. 

"The difference is that methane’s power fades faster, within just decades. If we stopped emissions today, almost all the methane in the atmospheric blanket would degrade within a lifetime."

Click the Methane button to learn more, including information about what actions can reduce methane pollution, and how to get involved. Solutions include plugging leaking gas infrastructure, and which organizations are working on this task.

CO2

"Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere warms the planet, causing climate change. Human activities have raised the atmosphere’s carbon dioxide content by 50% in less than 200 years." - NASA

While scientists believe that 350 ppm is a healthy level or atmospheric CO2 for our planet's atmosphere, we're now at 416ppm.

Solutions for Reducing Emissions Production

Listed from greatest to lesser impact:

Solutions to Absorb More Carbon

Listed approximately from greatest to lesser impact:

Ammonia

This relatively mild greenhouse gas is a byproduct of livestock farming, synthetic fertilizers and other human industries. It impacts lung health and contributes to harmful ecological impacts including acid rain, ocean acidification, and eutrophication.

Click the Ammonia button to learn more.

Pollutants below this point have not been ordered by level of impact yet and are listed alphabetically.

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

"Carbon monoxide is a colorless, poisonous, odorless, tasteless, flammable gas that is slightly less dense than air. Carbon monoxide consists of one carbon atom and one oxygen atom connected by a triple bond. It is the simplest molecule of the oxocarbon family." - Wikipedia

"Indoors or outdoors, the gas can disrupt the transport of oxygen by the blood, leading to heart and health problems. CO also contributes to the formation of tropospheric ozone, another air pollutant with unhealthy effects. And though carbon monoxide does not cause climate change directly, its presence affects the abundance of greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide." - NASA

"According to MOPITT, carbon monoxide concentrations have declined since 2000. The decrease is particularly noticeable in the Northern Hemisphere. Most air quality experts attribute the decline to technological and regulatory innovations that mean vehicles and industries are polluting less than they once did. Interestingly, while MOPITT observed slight decreases of carbon monoxide over China and India, satellites and emissions inventories have shown that other pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide have risen during the same period.

“For China, nitrogen dioxide emissions are mostly from the power and transportation sectors and have grown significantly since 2000 with the increase in demand for electricity,” explained Helen Worden, an atmospheric scientist from the National Center for Atmospheric Research. “Carbon monoxide emissions, however, have a relatively small contribution (less than 2 percent) from the power sector, so vehicle emissions standards and improved combustion efficiency for newer cars have lowered carbon monoxide in the atmosphere despite the fact that there are more vehicles on the road burning more fossil fuel.”" - NASA

Heavy Metals

Lead

A Texas A&M study found a correlation between blood nicotine levels (from second hand smoke) and higher lead levels in children's blood samples.

"The most common source of lead indoors is old paint found in homes built before 1978. If left untouched and in good condition, lead-based paint may not pose a significant hazard to health. Often, the lead-based paint is hidden underneath several layers of non-lead paint. However, if the paint is chipped or deteriorating, and the lead-based paint is damaged, it can create dust, chips and suspended particles that can be inhaled. Activities like remodeling, dry scraping, and demolition also disturb and re-suspend paint particles.

Contaminated soil and dust tracked indoors from outside are also large contributors to indoor lead pollution. Levels of lead in soil are higher near sources such as lead smelters, mines, old agricultural fields and heavily trafficked roadways and runways. The soil around older homes may also have high levels of lead due to the use of exterior lead paint. Lead dust from workplace exposures also may be brought home and contribute to indoor air pollution. People who work with or around lead must take care to avoid carrying lead particles home on their clothing or equipment." - American Lung Association 

According to this source, "Historic major sources of lead air emissions were motor vehicles and industrial sources. Motor-vehicle emissions have been reduced by the phasing out of leaded gasoline, but lead is still used in general-aviation gasoline for piston-engine aircraft. Lead that is emitted into the air can be inhaled or can be ingested, primarily through contact with contaminated soils or other surfaces.

Refrigerants

The Australian government warns that, "one kilogram of the refrigerant R410a has the same greenhouse impact as two tonnes of carbon dioxide, which is the equivalent of running your car for six months.

That's why Australia has specific laws that prohibit the importation of gases like CFCs and regulates the importation of synthetic greenhouse gases.

Refrigerants leak into the atmosphere from faulty or poorly maintained equipment, or when equipment is improperly disposed of."

Refrigerants are used for food preservation and to keep our homes cool. As more people climb out of poverty and able to afford standard appliances, the greater the impact becomes which is why it is more important than ever to update our equipment or switch to alternatives.

Click the Cool Buildings button to learn how to keep your environment both inside and out a little cooler. Solutions range from upgrades or changes we can make with a roof, garden, windows, clothing, appliances, and even DIY air conditioners that use just electricity or passive energy to function.

High efficiency heat pumps use 75% less energy than heaters or A/C units. They can be reversed seasonally to heat or cool a building without the use of refrigerants. Click the Heap Pump button to learn more, find an installer near you, and find out if your government offers grants or other financial support.

Click the Food Preservation button to learn about energy-free and refrigerant-free cooling devices (including DIY guides!). 

Lower on the page we discuss shelf-stable storage options such as canning and air or sun drying foods.

Plastic 

This includes emissions from oil extraction and for plastic production, emissions from plastic degrading in sunlight, microplastics, as well as chemicals from incineration and 'chemical recycling' of plastic'.

Click the Consume Responsibly button to learn how to reduce your consumption and avoid some of the most problematic products and materials.

Click the Laundry button to learn how to reduce the amount of microplastics breaking off from your clothes and getting into the environment.

Click the Zero Waste Directory button to find places near you that can help you reduce your plastic footprint.

Click the Vegan Milkman Directory button to find companies near you. Some are entirely vegan, some offer glass recycling program, some offer both. We've tried to include such details in the descriptions to help you save time.

Sources of Air Pollution

Air pollution consists of indoor and outdoor contaminants. Some are greenhouse gases, or small particle pollution, others create low atmospheric ozone which harms humans while other pollutants damage the protective layer of ozone high in our atmosphere, which puts us at higher risks of problems like skin cancer.

Some of these gases harm lungs, brains, hearts, and other organs, reduce IQ levels in adults and even new born babies. Others cause ocean acidification which is killing coral and destroying the eggs or shells of aquatic creatures, as well as causing other types of harm.

The link in this section focuses on greenhouse gases, but we'll also include other types of pollution. Since graphs on this subject are limited by pollution type or country of origin, we'll be using this chart as our starting point for ordering pollution sources, but will do our best when adding other sources to try to stick with the greatest impact first pattern.

Energy Production

Click the Energy button to learn more about eco-friendly energy alternatives. We cover both utility scale, appliance, and DIY options when available. Currently there are at-home solutions available on our Solar and Wind pages. Solar Solar For Farmers includes resources and funding opportunities for farmers. Check out our For Teachers page for some fun classroom projects and other resources. Energy & Transit focuses on the interplay between transit and energy, with some renewable energy solutions such as solar powered gondolas or how battery powered vehicles can help store and redistribute energy to the power grid as renewables ramp up.

Industry

Some industries are being artificially supported via massive taxpayer subsidies. Even if we retract our support, our governments will keep bailing them out with our tax money, so we need to contact our representatives and vote for leaders who will reroute those funds to help farmers and others transition to more sustainable and socially beneficial activities. We need lawyers to hold polluters accountable, and to support businesses that are serious about helping our planet heal.

Click the Consume Responsibly button to learn how to reduce your impact as a consumer.

Transit

Click the Transit button to learn about transit options and which might be right for you.

Active transport is generally the most eco-friendly, healthy, and socially enhancing options for transit, but in our imperfect world where many people still rely on passive transport such a fossil fuel powered cars, trucks, and buses, we need to be mindful about the pollution and other dangers those other travelers can pose to us and our families.

Cycling is one of my favorite transport modes, but when traveling along busy or congested roads, it can be a wise choice to wear a pollution mask to help reduce the amount of small particle pollution or other dangerous substances getting into our lungs, hearts, and brains via our blood. Scientists have found that children who are riding lower may end up breathing slightly more pollution, but that covering their trailers or prams with a hood can help cut pollution levels in half (more than the increased exposure that was measured from being closer to the ground).

When possible, it's best to avoid traffic all together, taking trails through your local parks, down alley ways, or any other places with reduced traffic pollution. Studies have found that even a hedge row between people and roads can provide significant air quality improvements.

Solutions

You may also be interested in the following resources pertaining to travel...

In addition to changing the ways we travel, we can also focus on infrastructure and strategic planting. Specifically studies on roadway pollution found that trees and bushes both help reduce ambient air pollution, but hedgerows provided the most effective shield, reducing fine particle pollution from roads entering school yards by as much as 75-80% on the opposite side.

And here are some resources to help you get started with advocacy, planning, and increasing safety in your community.

Agriculture

Food Production

Food production (this includes shipping processing, and packaging after the products have left the farm) is responsible for 34% of greenhouse emissions. Within that number 39% are produced from agricultural production: fertilizer application, methane from cattle digestion, methane from rice (flooded fields produce methane while non-flooded fields are more eco-friendly), emissions from pasture management, fuel use for fisheries and on-farm machinery, energy for fertilizer production, and burning agricultural waste.

Land use makes up 32% percent of the food emissions, including land use change (deforestation), cultivasting soils, draining of wetlands and burning soils, including peatlands. 

Supply-chain emissions from packaging, shipping, and processing create 18% of food-related emissions. Post-Retail emissions such as cooking and food waste emissions make up 11% associated with food production. - https://ourworldindata.org/environmental-impacts-of-food?country=#carbon-footprint-of-food-products  

Click the Livestock button to learn about emissions from livestock farming. Gasses discussed include Ammonia, Carbon, Methane, and Nitrous Oxide.

Click the Food & Carbon button to learn about how our food choices impact carbon emissions, and what activities are most effective for sequestering carbon.

Biogas

"Factory farm gas programs don’t address all greenhouse gas emissions produced by factory farms. While anaerobic digesters capture methane emitted from manure lagoons, a significant amount of methane escapes in the process and is released into the atmosphere. These programs also fail to account for enteric methane emissions from cows, or other greenhouse gas emissions such as those related to transporting the animals or their feed. 

Meanwhile, factory farm gas programs completely ignore other types of pollution caused by industrial animal agriculture, such as the release of fine particulate matter, ammonia, nitrogen oxide, and volatile organic compounds — all of which contribute to health problems in vulnerable nearby communities, largely unchecked by the federal government.  

Research has shown that nearly 16,000 people die in the U.S. every year due to air pollution caused by agricultural food production. Of those deaths, four out of five are linked to animal agriculture.  

The factory farm gas scheme also props up the oil and gas industry, enabling petroleum companies to offset their greenhouse gas emissions by purchasing factory farm gas “credits” instead of meaningfully reducing their own carbon emissions." - Animal Defense Fund

Crop Burning

In some parts of the world, it is very common for farmers harvest crops then burn the stubble to make way for next year's crop, this can turn the sky grey over nearby cities, creating breathing hazards for the sick, elderly, and young children who's lungs are still developing. Air pollution is the top killer of children under 5, with smoke from fire being particularly dangerous. Simple methods like cutting the chaff and composting it in situ can not only keep our air cleaner, but it can work as a free form of mulch, maintaining moisture in the soil, and reducing erosion between crops. Cover crops, food forests, compost piles, indoor farming, and other methods may also help increase a farmer's income while providing various environmental benefits.

Peatland Destruction

Peatlands (also called bogs or mires) are a type of wetland that have sequestered carbon from the atmosphere for millions of years. 

Due to unsustainable practices including draining, burning, and mining for peat, these have begun to release more greenhouse gases than they store. Global warming only makes this problem worse.

By turning to paludiculture, farmers can reverse the harm being done, while continuing to earn enough money to make ends meet. Click the Peatland button to learn more.

Peatland

Peatlands, Climate and Paludiculture

7:20 minute video talks about the value of mires (peatland), how modern farming destroys these resources and increases farming costs, as well as what can be grown instead to help protect these biomes.

Gas Stoves, Furnaces & Water Heaters (NO2)

Gas Stoves, Furnaces, and Water Heaters poison people in their homes by releasing NO2 which increases the risk of respiratory illnesses like asthma. 

"Due in part to the growing awareness of the link between smoking cigarettes and cancer, dozens of researchers ran studies on NO2 exposure and respiratory illness in the 1970s and 80s. In 1992 the EPA analyzed results from dozens of these studies in the first meta-analysis on the topic. They concluded that for every 30 μg/m3 increase in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) – comparable to the increase resulting from exposure to a gas stove — the odds of respiratory illness in children go up by 20%."  - https://carbonswitch.co/how-bad-is-my-gas-stove-part-two 

Click the buttons to learn which alternative water heaters, cooking devices, etc. may be best for your needs and location.

The following are listed from the biggest energy users to less intensive.

Apps & Blockchains

Resources

International

Europe

UK

North America

USA

International

Europe

UK

North America

USA

The goal of A2 is to help communities fight back. We do that by providing them organizing support, scientific and technical guidance, and better access to foundation and government funding. Most of all, our work consists of listening to our frontline leaders. Their experience, research, and solidarity guide everything we do, and offer a path toward environmental and social justice.

Supported by outstanding partner organizations with expertise in engineering, hydrology, public health, planning, and the law, A2 leaders have successfully halted developments in climate-vulnerable areas; implemented nature-based hazard mitigation strategies; organized home buyouts; and pushed for clean-ups at superfund sites, toxic landfills, and petrochemical plants.

We support everyone we can, but our special priority is people who have suffered the worst environmental impacts for the longest time; that usually means low-income, Black, Latinx, Native American and other underserved communities.

To learn about our policies, read our A 10-Point Platform on Climate Change."

Calirfornia

Maps

International

Grants

International

North America

USA

California