smog a killing factor

 

Smog a killing factor in our environment

 

Smog is air pollution that reduces visibility. Smog word is described a mixture of smoke and fog. Today smog we see is photochemical smog and it is produced when sunlight reacts with nitrogen oxide NO2 and at least one volatile organic compound VOCs in the atmosphere. Nitrogen oxides come from coal power plants, factory discharge and vehicles discharge. VOCs are released from cleaning solvents, paints and gasoline. When sunlight passes through these chemicals, it makes smog. Smog is common in industrial areas and now in cities with a lot of industry and traffic. Cities located in the areas surrounded by mountains may have smog problems as smog is caught in the valley and can’t be carried away by wind.

Smog in cities and smoke inside houses forms a major threat to health and climate. Effects of Pollution from outdoor and household collectively cause about seven million premature deaths annually. According to WHO data 9 out of 10 people breath in air that exceeds WHO guideline limits, containing high levels of pollutants, with low and middle income countries suffering from exposures.  WHO is also supporting countries to control pollution.

Effects of smog

Smog is harmful for not only for human and animals but for plants as well. Smog makes the atmosphere ugly. It makes the sky brown or gray. Smog causes itchy and burning eyes, heart disease, chronic pulmonary disease, lung cancer and severe respiratory infections.

Measures to reduce Smog                                                                                   Smog is a big problem in many places. Everyone should participate in reducing air     pollution. Such as:                                                                                                         .....Drive less and use public transport whenever possible.                                                .....Take care of cars and vehicles. These should be tune up and oil should be changed           on regular basis.                                                                                                                 .....Filling the air in tires up to proper level can improve gas mileage and reduce                     emissions.                                                                                                                        .....Cars and vehicles should be fueled up early in the morning or at night. This will               prevents gas vapors from heating up resulting to produce smog.                               .....Products having high level of VOCs should be avoided.                                                 .....Gas powered yard equipments should not be used.                                         .....Environmental friendly consumer products should be used. House hold products              having   high level of VOCs should be avoided. Such as paints, sprays papers,                  plastics having   high VOCs.                                                                                             .....Energy efficient devices should be bought instead of energy intensive.                      .....Laws should be made to reduce smog. Laws, include restrictions on what chemicals          a factory can release into air or when to release them, should be framed.         .....Communities should be assigned ‘’burn days’’ when residents can burn their wastes           in yard.                                                                                                                             ..... 3 R- Reduce, Reuse and Recycle will also contribute in reducing air pollution smog          as less energy will be used for making new materials. Old materials will be                      recycled again and again.                                                                                               .....Smog detection and monitoring systems should be used to notice the amount of                 smog in atmosphere in order to act as warning systems.                                     .....The best way to treat the smog is to protect yourself personally by wearing mask and         glasses when you go outside. Such other devices should also be used to protect you           from the contamination with harmful particles.