The Air that I Breathe
When fossil fuels are burned, byproducts including:
- carbon dioxide
- carbon monoxide
- nitrogen oxides
- sulphur dioxide/sulphuric acid
are produced which can:
- cause the development of lung diseases by irritating the lungs and
interfering with breathing. The people most affected are children, the
elderly and people with heart or lung conditions.
- increase the acidity of rain water.
- produce smog (coined from smoke plus fog)
- increase the "greenhouse effect" in the earth's atmosphere.
- damage crops and vegetation.
- decrease the maximum level of physical activity for healthy people
working or exercising outside.
Research has also shown a connection between smog and heart attacks.
Winds can spread these pollutants.
What Contributes to the Problem
- motor vehicle emissions
- some industrial processes
- fuel-burning power plants
- forest fires
- home heating
- idling vehicles - one minute of idling uses more fuel than restarting the engine
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