Air Pollution

Definition

This refers to harmful substances including particulates and biological molecules present in Earth's atmosphere that can cause diseases or death in humans; damage other living organisms such as food crops; or damage the natural environment or built environment.

Related terms

Greenhouse Gases: Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere contributing significantly to global warming. Some examples include carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4).

Smog: A type of air pollutant derived from vehicular emission from internal combustion engines and industrial fumes that react with sunlight to create secondary pollutants that also combine with primary emissions to form photochemical smog.

Ozone Layer Depletion: The thinning of the Earth's ozone layer caused by high concentrations of pollutants such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons in the atmosphere.