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AIR POLLUTION                                           (c) On  the  basis  of  their  ability  to  undergo

            (a) Definition : Any undesirable change in the              degradation.
               physical, chemical or biological properties             (i)  Biodegradable  sources  :  These  are
               of air is called air pollution. Pollutants that             those that can be degraded by nature,
               cause  air  pollution  are  called    air                   for example, vegetation ash, etc.
               pollutants.                                             (ii) Non-biodegradable sources : These are

            (b) Sources of air pollution : On the basis of                 those that cannot be easily degraded by
               their origin :                                              nature, for example,  explosives, etc.

               (i)  Natural sources :                               (d) Common Air Pollutants
                      Volcanoes                                        (i)  Carbon monoxide:

                      Ashes                                               Colourless gas
                      Forest fire, etc.                                   Odourless gas

                                                                          Most important air pollutant
                                                                          Produced by incomplete combustion of
                                                                           fuels.

                                                                       Effects  : Carbon  monoxide  can  combine

                                                                       with  haemoglobin–red  coloured  blood
                                                                       pigment to form carboxyhaemoglobin. Due
                                                                       to the formation of carboxyhaemoglobin,

                                                                       the supply of oxygen is reduced in the body
                                                                       that, in turn, results in dizziness, headache
                                                                       and can even lead to death.
                         Natural sources of air pollution
                                                                       (ii)  Carbon  dioxide  :  Carbon  dioxide  is
               (ii) Artificial or man-made sources :
                                                                       present  in  a  particular  amount  in
                      Industries                                       environment, it is not a pollutant. But if its

                      Deforestation                                    concentration  is  increased  above  the
                      Vehicles                                         permissible  level  then  it  acts  as  a  very
                                                                       prominent greenhouse gas.

                                                                       Effects : Greenhouse effect.
                                                                       It  is  the  phenomenon  of  the  rise    in
                                                                        temperature of the earth's crust due to the
                                                                        absorption  of  solar  radiation  by

                                                                       greenhouse  gases.  This  heat  energy
                                                                       absorbed can’t escape back into the space.

                        Man-made sources of air pollution              Greenhouse effects is not a curse because




            Giraffes can live longer without water than camels.


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