Economic and industrial development in large cities causes serious air pollution problems. One of the negative effects of the concentration of greenhouse gases in the city is the photochemical smog. It is about atmospheric pollution that negatively affects our health due to an accumulation of harmful gases in the city's atmosphere.
In this article we are going to tell you everything you need to know about photochemical smog, its characteristics, how it affects health and how to reduce it.
What is photochemical smog and how is it produced?
Smog is the result of a large amount of air pollution, especially smoke from burning coal, although it is also caused by gas emissions from industry or factories and cars. In other words, smog is a kind of cloud caused by environmental pollution, because it is like a dirty cloud. The English word wants to make a joke to give this mist a nickname. It is known as smoke (smoke) and fog (fog).
The main pollutants that produce smog are nitrogen oxides (NOx), ozone (O3), nitric acid (HNO3), nitroacetyl peroxide (PAN), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). They are organic compounds partially oxidized and some not burned, but the light hydrocarbons emitted by cars are as I mentioned earlier.
Another important factor is sunlight, because it generates free radicals, which initiates the chemical process that forms this cloud. Sometimes it is orange due to NO2, but it is normal for it to be gray. One of the most distinctive examples is the sky of China or Japan.
The accumulation of the gas mentioned above is the cause of the formation of smoke-like "clouds". When combined with high pressure, stagnant air forms mist instead of water droplets. In some cases, an atmospheric toxicant. This is the so-called photochemical smog. It can also take the form of acid rain and fog.
Negative effects on the environment
Aside from the severe impact on the landscape, there are also numerous negative impacts on the environment. For example, it modifies the entire structure of the dessert itself as pollutants in the air directly or indirectly influence the development of the ecosystem. It also dramatically decreases visibility. When we are in a city with a lot of photochemical smog vision may be reduced to just a few tens of meters. The reduction in visibility is not only horizontal, but also vertical, and the sky cannot be seen.
When this phenomenon exists in excess, there are no clouds or clear skies. There are also no starry nights. You only see a yellowish veil, grayish an orange on us. Keep in mind that one of the negative effects on the environment are the changes in the climate of the place such as alterations in the rainfall regime and increased heat. This increase in temperatures comes from the rebound of solar rays from the surface of the gases and back to the surface. It acts like greenhouse gases that bounce ultraviolet radiation.
On the other hand, rainfall is altered as pollutants and particles in carbon suspension cause a drop in rainfall levels.
Negative health consequences of photochemical smog
As expected, this polluting phenomenon also has negative consequences for people's health. Let's see what these consequences are:
- People living in polluted cities often have irritation to their eyes and respiratory system.
- Children and the elderly are the most vulnerable in addition to all people who have lung problems.
- It can cause emphysema, asthma or bronchitis and some heart disease.
- People with allergies can get worse because the environment is much more loaded, good on rainy days to deposit pollutants.
- It can cause shortness of breath, sore throat, cough, and decreased lung capacity.
- It causes anemia due to the high concentration of carbon monoxide that blocks the oxygen exchange in the blood and in the lungs.
- Finally, it can lead to premature death.
Among the large cities in the world with the highest amount of pollution we have London which has suffered greatly in the past from photochemical smog. Some areas were improving air quality thanks to various ordinances and smoke-free zones have been created. Thanks to this, certain industries have been banned from operating just as they have been banned from entering the downtown area of the vehicle.
Los Angeles is also another big city with serious pollution. Being a depression surrounded by mountains it is more difficult for gases to escape. Currently, it still doesn't do much to lower its pollution level.
Reduce pollution
In order to reduce pollution, governments and large corporations must agree. To this we must support the citizens and our own nature. This polluting phenomenon can be fought totally naturally thanks to the rain and the wind cleaning up new life and denouncing the surroundings. You just have to reduce pollution so that the atmosphere can be cleaned. There is usually more pollution in areas where there is little wind as well as little rain. All of this translates into a high level of contamination.
Governments and large corporations can make decisions to reduce pollutant emissions since most of them are produced by factories and industrial plants. Finally, citizens must do their bit by using the car less, taking public transport or bicycle and reducing electricity consumption. There are easy gestures in our day to day as it is creating more green spaces, vertical gardens, or going everywhere using sustainable public transport that can help us drastically reduce pollution.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about smog, its characteristics and the consequences for the environment and health.