Pollution

Lesson

Part 1 — what pollutes our air, water and soil, and where it comes from.

In this lesson you will

Name the main air pollutants and their sources
Explain how detergents, sewage, industrial waste, oil spills and hot water pollute water, and name sources of soil pollution
Explain why biomedical waste must be segregated, and state the sources and effects of radiation and noise

Concept

Air pollutants and their sources

Table of five air pollutants, their main sources and harmful effects
Pollutant	Main sources	Harm
Carbon monoxide	Vehicle exhaust, burning garbage	Combines with haemoglobin; less oxygen to tissues
Sulphur dioxide	Coal-burning power plants, factories, brick kilns	Irritates lungs; forms acid rain
Nitrogen oxides	Vehicles, power plants	Lung damage; acid rain; smog
Particulate matter (soot, dust)	Brick kilns, diesel engines, burning garbage and crop stubble	Coughs, asthma, lung disease
Carbon dioxide	Burning coal, petrol and wood	Global warming

Check your understanding

Quick check: winter haze

Which pollutant forms most of a smoky winter haze?

Question: Multiple choice

Multiple choice1 mark

Each winter a town near farmland is covered by a thick, smoky haze when crop stubble is burnt in the fields and traffic jams are long. Which pollutant is mainly responsible for the haze?

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