Where Do They Come From?

Traffic in Dublin

Dublin's daily rush hour.

Copyright Environmental Protection Agency
Traffic in Dublin
Copyright Environmental Protection Agency

Traffic in Dublin

Dublin's daily rush hour.

Copyright Environmental Protection Agency
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Man-Made Sources

Sources of pollution caused by human activity include:

  • power plants - PM10 (Particulate Matter up to 10 micrometers in size), NOx , Sulphur , Benzene
  • waste incinerators - Sulphur , Benzene
  • motor vehicles - PM10 (diesel engines), N0x, lead (petrol), Benzene / Carbon monoxide (exhaust fumes)
  • aircraft
  • marine vessels
  • fertilisers
  • landfills
  • cigarette smoke - Benzene

Around 40% of air pollution can be attributed to the burning of fossil fuels. For example, one coal-fired power station can emit 16 million tonnes of CO2 a year.

 

Cow

The manure produced by cows naturally releases methane into the atmosphere.Companies can then take this manure and flush it into a tank or tented lagoon, where the manure can decompose and the methane gas bubbles off.

© The Irish Times
Cow
© The Irish Times

Cow

The manure produced by cows naturally releases methane into the atmosphere.Companies can then take this manure and flush it into a tank or tented lagoon, where the manure can decompose and the methane gas bubbles off.

© The Irish Times
Enlarge image

Natural sources

Natural sources of air pollution are:

  • volcanoes - these produce chlorine, ash and sulphur
  • radon - this is found in radioactive decay in the Earth's crust
  • smoke - caused by wildfires
  • methane -  from animals' digestive systems
  • dust - from expanses of land with little or no vegetation: PM10
  • windblown sea salt – PM10
  • air masses – Ozone


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