Description Of Air Pollution

The term "air pollution" is used to describe substances that are artificially introduced into the air. Air pollution stems from gases and airborne particles which, in excess, are harmful to human health, buildings and ecosystems.

Four major impacts determine the classification of pollutants under the traditional policy field Air Pollution :

• the acidification of soil and water by pollutants such as sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides and ammonia;
• the damage to buildings sensitive to the same acidifying substances;
• the formation of tropospheric ozone from so-called ozone precursors, e.g. volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide which indirectly affect human and animal health and vegetation;
• direct effects on human health and ecosystems e.g. through high atmospheric concentrations of particles, and VOCs.

Source : http://esl.jrc.it/envind/pf_intro/pf_int02.htm