Sources of air pollution

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There are two main sources of air pollution:

Naturally occurring pollutants (such as volcanic eruptions, forest fires, windstorms)
Anthropogenic air pollutants (i.e. those created by human activity)

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Table 1.1 lists some examples of natural air pollutants.

Table 1.1 Natural air pollutants
Sources	Pollutants
Volcanoes	Sulfur oxides, particulates
Forest fires	Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates
Wind storms	Dust
Plants (live)	Hydrocarbons, pollen
Plants (decaying)	Methane, hydrogen sulfide
Soil	Viruses, dust
Sea	Salt particulates

Based on the above examples of natural air pollutants, please try to complete the activity below by thinking of other sources of pollutants that you have experienced or heard about.

Pollution also comes from anthropogenic sources. Table 1.2 lists some examples of human made air pollutants.

Table 1.2 Anthropogenic air pollutants
Sources	Pollutants
Power plants (fixed sources)	Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, particulates
Transportation (mobile sources)	Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, particulates and refrigerants
Buildings	Refrigerants
Factories	Dust, hydrocarbons and assorted emissions
Agriculture	Methane, hydrogen sulfide
Nuclear industry (including nuclear power plants)	Radiation, radioactive waste

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Sources of air pollution