Smog is one type of air pollution that hinders visibility. The name “smog” was initially used to characterize a mixture of smoke and fog as in the early 1900s. The smoke was typically produced by the combustion of coal. Smog was ubiquitous in industrial regions and is still a big issue in urban cities.
Smog sources include but are not limited to:
- Barbecues
- Combustion
- Coal power plants
- Factories
- Building sites,
- Fuel-powered cars, lawnmowers
- Exhaust from motors, buses, rails, trucks, and boats
- Oil paints, detergents, hairsprays, and cleaners
- Foam plastic products
- Insecticides and herbicides,
- Contaminants transported by the winds
The majority of the pollution we encounter nowadays seems to be photochemical smog. Whenever sunlight interacts with nitrogen oxides as well as a minimum of one volatile organic compound (VOC) inside air in the atmosphere, photochemical smog is formed. Nitrogen oxides are mainly released from cars, automobiles, coal-run power stations, as well factories. VOCs are maybe emitted by gasoline, paints, and released by the use of a variety of cleaning agents. As rays of light from Sun strikes these compounds, they produce airborne contaminants/pollutants/toxins and ground-level ozone, also known as smog.
Smog can remain locked above a particular area for days or weeks because when temperature inversions develop (warm air settles close to the ground rather than rising above) and the wind remains still. As there even more toxins are mixed with air by traffic as well as other means, the smog conditions worsen.
Smog is composed of a mixture of airborne pollutants which can threaten human health, affect the ecosystem, and sometimes even cause considerable damage to the properties of people. Due to visibility issues, traffic incidents can become a common occurrence on big highways.
Smog may induce or intensify conditions such as asthma, and emphysema, respiratory problems, as well as other lung disorders, and also eye pain, and decreased resilience to sore throats, colds, and chest infections.
The ozone in smog likewise limits the growth of plants and therefore can create significant harm to agricultural crops and woodlands.
Smog is still an issue in several areas and big urban cities. 94 out of 100 most polluted cities in the whole world are in India, China, and Pakistan. Everyone must work to effectively lessen smog occurrence by adopting a few of these habits, such as:
- Reduce your driving. When feasible, walk, cycle, rideshare, or catch public transport.
- Take good care of your vehicles. Periodic tune-ups, replacing oil on time, and filling tyres to the right pressure will increase fuel efficiency and lower pollutants.
- Fill up it during calmer times of each day, such as in the evening or early morning. This keeps gas vapors from heating up and creating ozone.
- Forgo goods that emit a lot of VOCs.
- Replace gas-powered types of equipment with electrical items.