The problem of air pollution. Air pollution is a serious environmental problem

Environmental effects of atmospheric pollution

The most important environmental consequences of global air pollution include:

1) possible climate warming (“greenhouse effect”);

2) violation of the ozone layer;

3) acid rain.

Most scientists in the world consider them as the biggest environmental problems of our time.

the greenhouse effect

Currently, the observed climate change, which is expressed in a gradual increase in the average annual temperature, starting from the second half of the last century, most scientists associate with the accumulation in the atmosphere of the so-called "greenhouse gases" - carbon dioxide (CO 2), methane (CH 4), chlorofluorocarbons (freons), ozone (O 3), nitrogen oxides, etc. (see table 9).

Table 9

Anthropogenic pollutants of the atmosphere and related changes (V. A. Vronsky, 1996)

Note. (+) - increased effect; (-) - decrease in effect

Greenhouse gases, and primarily CO 2 , prevent long-wave thermal radiation from the Earth's surface. An atmosphere rich in greenhouse gases acts like the roof of a greenhouse. On the one hand, it lets in most of the solar radiation, on the other hand, it almost does not let out the heat reradiated by the Earth.

In connection with the burning of more and more fossil fuels: oil, gas, coal, etc. (annually more than 9 billion tons of reference fuel), the concentration of CO 2 in the atmosphere is constantly increasing. Due to emissions into the atmosphere during industrial production and in everyday life, the content of freons (chlorofluorocarbons) is growing. The content of methane increases by 1-1.5% per year (emissions from underground mine workings, biomass combustion, emissions from cattle, etc.). To a lesser extent, the content of nitrogen oxide in the atmosphere also grows (by 0.3% annually).

A consequence of the increase in the concentrations of these gases, which create a "greenhouse effect", is an increase in the average global air temperature near the earth's surface. Over the past 100 years, the warmest years were 1980, 1981, 1983, 1987 and 1988. In 1988, the average annual temperature was 0.4 degrees higher than in 1950-1980. Calculations by some scientists show that in 2005 it will be 1.3 °C higher than in 1950-1980. The report, prepared under the auspices of the United Nations by the international group on climate change, states that by 2100 the temperature on Earth will increase by 2-4 degrees. The scale of warming in this relatively short period will be comparable to the warming that occurred on Earth after the ice age, which means that the environmental consequences can be catastrophic. First of all, this is due to the expected rise in the level of the World Ocean, due to the melting of polar ice, the reduction in the areas of mountain glaciation, etc. Modeling the environmental consequences of an increase in ocean level by only 0.5-2.0 m by the end of the 21st century, scientists have found that this will inevitably lead to a violation of the climatic balance, flooding of coastal plains in more than 30 countries, degradation of permafrost, swamping of vast areas and other adverse consequences.

However, a number of scientists see positive environmental consequences in the alleged global warming. An increase in the concentration of CO 2 in the atmosphere and the associated increase in photosynthesis, as well as an increase in climate humidification, can, in their opinion, lead to an increase in the productivity of both natural phytocenoses (forests, meadows, savannahs, etc.) and agrocenoses (cultivated plants, gardens , vineyards, etc.).

There is also no unanimity of opinion on the issue of the degree of influence of greenhouse gases on global climate warming. Thus, the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (1992) notes that the 0.3–0.6 °С climate warming observed in the last century could be due mainly to the natural variability of a number of climatic factors.

At an international conference in Toronto (Canada) in 1985, the world's energy industry was tasked with reducing by 2010 by 20% industrial carbon emissions into the atmosphere. But it is obvious that a tangible environmental effect can only be obtained by combining these measures with the global direction of environmental policy - the maximum possible preservation of communities of organisms, natural ecosystems and the entire biosphere of the Earth.

Ozone depletion

For the first time, the depletion of the ozone layer attracted the attention of the general public in 1985, when an area with a low (up to 50%) ozone content, called the "ozone hole", was discovered over Antarctica. With Since then, measurement results have confirmed the widespread depletion of the ozone layer on almost the entire planet. For example, in Russia over the past ten years, the concentration of the ozone layer has decreased by 4-6% in winter and by 3% in summer. Currently, the depletion of the ozone layer is recognized by all as a serious threat to global environmental security. A decrease in ozone concentration weakens the ability of the atmosphere to protect all life on Earth from hard ultraviolet radiation (UV radiation). Living organisms are very vulnerable to ultraviolet radiation, because the energy of even one photon from these rays is enough to destroy the chemical bonds in most organic molecules. It is no coincidence that in areas with a low ozone content there are numerous sunburns, an increase in the incidence of skin cancer among people, etc. 6 million people. In addition to skin diseases, it is possible to develop eye diseases (cataracts, etc.), suppression of the immune system, etc.

It has also been established that under the influence of strong ultraviolet radiation, plants gradually lose their ability to photosynthesis, and disruption of the vital activity of plankton leads to a break in the trophic chains of the biota of aquatic ecosystems, etc.

Science has not yet fully established what are the main processes that violate the ozone layer. Both natural and anthropogenic origin of "ozone holes" is assumed. The latter, according to most scientists, is more likely and is associated with an increased content of chlorofluorocarbons (freons). Freons are widely used in industrial production and in everyday life (cooling units, solvents, sprayers, aerosol packages, etc.). Rising into the atmosphere, freons decompose with the release of chlorine oxide, which has a detrimental effect on ozone molecules.

According to the international environmental organization Greenpeace, the main suppliers of chlorofluorocarbons (freons) are the USA - 30.85%, Japan - 12.42%, Great Britain - 8.62% and Russia - 8.0%. The USA punched a "hole" in the ozone layer with an area of 7 million km 2 , Japan - 3 million km 2 , which is seven times larger than the area of Japan itself. Recently, factories have been built in the USA and in a number of Western countries for the production of new types of refrigerants (hydrochlorofluorocarbon) with a low potential for ozone depletion.

According to the Protocol of the Montreal Conference (1990), later revised in London (1991) and Copenhagen (1992), it was envisaged to reduce CFC emissions by 50% by 1998. According to Art. 56 of the Law of the Russian Federation on Environmental Protection, in accordance with international agreements, all organizations and enterprises are required to reduce and subsequently completely stop the production and use of ozone-depleting substances.

A number of scientists continue to insist on the natural origin of the "ozone hole". Some see the reasons for its occurrence in the natural variability of the ozonosphere, the cyclic activity of the Sun, while others associate these processes with rifting and degassing of the Earth.

acid rain

One of the most important environmental problems, which is associated with the oxidation of the natural environment, is acid rain. . They are formed during industrial emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere, which, when combined with atmospheric moisture, form sulfuric and nitric acids. As a result, rain and snow are acidified (pH value below 5.6). In Bavaria (Germany) in August 1981 it rained with acidity pH=3.5. The maximum recorded acidity of precipitation in Western Europe is pH=2.3.

The total global anthropogenic emissions of the two main air pollutants - the culprits of atmospheric moisture acidification - SO 2 and NO, are annually - more than 255 million tons.

According to Roshydromet, annually at least 4.22 million tons of sulfur falls on the territory of Russia, 4.0 million tons. nitrogen (nitrate and ammonium) in the form of acidic compounds contained in precipitation. As can be seen from Figure 10, the highest sulfur loads are observed in the densely populated and industrial regions of the country.

Figure 10. Average annual sulfate precipitation kg S/sq. km (2006)

High levels of sulfur precipitation (550-750 kg/sq. km per year) and the amount of nitrogen compounds (370-720 kg/sq. km per year) in the form of large areas (several thousand sq. km) are observed in densely populated and industrial regions of the country. An exception to this rule is the situation around the city of Norilsk, the trace of pollution from which exceeds in area and thickness of precipitation in the zone of pollution deposition in the Moscow region, in the Urals.

On the territory of most subjects of the Federation, the deposition of sulfur and nitrate nitrogen from own sources does not exceed 25% of their total deposition. The contribution of own sulfur sources exceeds this threshold in the Murmansk (70%), Sverdlovsk (64%), Chelyabinsk (50%), Tula and Ryazan (40%) regions and in the Krasnoyarsk Territory (43%).

In general, in the European territory of the country, only 34% of sulfur deposits are of Russian origin. Of the rest, 39% comes from European countries and 27% from other sources. At the same time, Ukraine (367 thousand tons), Poland (86 thousand tons), Germany, Belarus and Estonia make the largest contribution to transboundary acidification of the natural environment.

The situation is especially dangerous in the humid climate zone (from the Ryazan region and to the north in the European part and throughout the Urals), since these regions are distinguished by a natural high acidity of natural waters, which, due to these emissions, increases even more. In turn, this leads to a drop in the productivity of water bodies and an increase in the incidence of teeth and intestinal tract in humans.

The impact of acid rain reduces the resistance of forests to droughts, diseases, and natural pollution, which leads to even more pronounced degradation of forests as natural ecosystems.

A striking example of the negative impact of acid precipitation on natural ecosystems is the acidification of lakes. In our country, the area of significant acidification from acid precipitation reaches several tens of million hectares. Particular cases of acidification of lakes have also been noted (Karelia, etc.). Increased acidity of precipitation is observed along the western border (transboundary transport of sulfur and other pollutants) and on the territory of a number of large industrial regions, as well as fragmentarily on the coast of Taimyr and Yakutia.

Air pollution monitoring

Observations of the level of air pollution in the cities of the Russian Federation are carried out by the territorial bodies of the Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Roshydromet). Roshydromet ensures the functioning and development of the unified State Environmental Monitoring Service. Roshydromet is a federal executive body that organizes and conducts observations, assessments and forecasts of the state of atmospheric pollution, simultaneously ensuring control over the receipt of similar observation results by various organizations in cities. The functions of Roshydromet in the field are performed by the Department for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (UGMS) and its subdivisions.

According to 2006 data, the air pollution monitoring network in Russia includes 251 cities with 674 stations. Regular observations on the Roshydromet network are carried out in 228 cities at 619 stations (see Fig. 11).

Figure 11. Air pollution monitoring network - main stations (2006).

Stations are located in residential areas, near highways and large industrial enterprises. In Russian cities, concentrations of more than 20 different substances are measured. In addition to direct data on the concentration of impurities, the system is supplemented by information on meteorological conditions, the location of industrial enterprises and their emissions, measurement methods, etc. On the basis of these data, their analysis and processing, Yearbooks of the state of atmospheric pollution on the territory of the relevant Department for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring are prepared. Further generalization of information is carried out at the Main Geophysical Observatory. A. I. Voeikov in St. Petersburg. Here it is collected and constantly replenished; on its basis, yearbooks of the state of air pollution in Russia are created and published. They contain the results of the analysis and processing of extensive information on air pollution by many harmful substances in Russia as a whole and in some of the most polluted cities, information on climatic conditions and emissions of harmful substances from numerous enterprises, on the location of the main sources of emissions and on the air pollution monitoring network.

Data on air pollution are important both for assessing the level of pollution and for assessing the risk of morbidity and mortality in the population. In order to assess the state of air pollution in cities, pollution levels are compared with the maximum allowable concentrations (MPC) of substances in the air of populated areas or with the values recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Measures for the protection of atmospheric air

I. Legislative. The most important thing in ensuring a normal process for the protection of atmospheric air is the adoption of an appropriate legislative framework that would stimulate and help in this difficult process. However, in Russia, however regrettable it may sound, there has been no significant progress in this area in recent years. The latest pollution that we are now facing, the world has already experienced 30-40 years ago and took protective measures, so we do not need to reinvent the wheel. It is necessary to use the experience of developed countries and adopt laws that limit pollution, give state subsidies to manufacturers of cleaner cars and benefits for owners of such cars.

In the US in 1998, a law to prevent further air pollution, passed by Congress four years ago, will come into force. This timeframe gives the auto industry time to adapt to the new requirements, but by 1998, be kind enough to produce at least 2 percent of electric vehicles and 20-30 percent of gas-fueled vehicles.

Even earlier, laws were passed there, prescribing the production of more economical engines. And here is the result: in 1974, the average car in the United States used 16.6 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers, and twenty years later - only 7.7.

We are trying to follow the same path. In the State Duma there is a draft law "On the state policy in the field of the use of natural gas as a motor fuel." This law provides for the reduction of the toxicity of emissions from trucks and buses, as a result of their conversion to gas. If state support is provided, it is quite realistic to make it so that by the year 2000 we would have 700,000 gas-powered vehicles (today there are 80,000).

However, our car manufacturers are in no hurry, they prefer to create obstacles to the adoption of laws that limit their monopoly and reveal the mismanagement and technical backwardness of our production. The year before last, an analysis by Moskompriroda showed the terrible technical condition of domestic cars. 44% of Muscovites that left the AZLK assembly line did not comply with GOST in terms of toxicity! At ZIL, there were 11% of such cars, at GAZ - up to 6%. This is a shame for our automotive industry - even one percent is unacceptable.

In general, in Russia there is practically no normal legislative framework that would regulate environmental relations and stimulate environmental protection measures.

II. Architectural planning. These measures are aimed at regulating the construction of enterprises, planning urban development taking into account environmental considerations, greening cities, etc. When building enterprises, it is necessary to adhere to the rules established by law and prevent the construction of hazardous industries within the city limits. It is necessary to carry out mass gardening of cities, because green spaces absorb many harmful substances from the air and help to purify the atmosphere. Unfortunately, in the modern period in Russia, green spaces are not so much increasing as they are declining. Not to mention the fact that the "dormitory areas" built at the time do not stand up to scrutiny. Since in these areas the houses of the same type are located too densely (in order to save space) and the air between them is subject to stagnation.

The problem of the rational arrangement of the road network in cities, as well as the quality of the roads themselves, is also extremely acute. It is no secret that the roads thoughtlessly built in their time are completely not designed for the modern number of cars. In Perm, this problem is extremely acute and is one of the most important. An urgent construction of a bypass road is needed to unload the city center from transit heavy vehicles. There is also a need for a major reconstruction (rather than cosmetic repairs) of the road surface, the construction of modern transport interchanges, straightening of roads, installation of sound barriers and landscaping of the roadside. Fortunately, despite the financial difficulties, recent progress has been made in this area.

It is also necessary to ensure operational monitoring of the state of the atmosphere through a network of permanent and mobile monitoring stations. It is also necessary to ensure at least minimal control over the cleanliness of vehicle emissions through special checks. It is also impossible to allow combustion processes in various landfills, since in this case a large amount of harmful substances are released with smoke.

III. Technological and sanitary technical. The following measures can be singled out: rationalization of fuel combustion processes; improved sealing of factory equipment; installation of high pipes; mass use of treatment facilities, etc. It should be noted that the level of treatment facilities in Russia is at a primitive level, many enterprises do not have them at all, and this despite the harmfulness of emissions from these enterprises.

Many industries require immediate reconstruction and re-equipment. An important task is also to convert various boiler houses and thermal power plants to gas fuel. With such a transition, emissions of soot and hydrocarbons into the atmosphere are many times reduced, not to mention the economic benefits.

An equally important task is to educate Russians in ecological consciousness. The absence of treatment facilities, of course, can be explained by the lack of money (and there is a lot of truth in this), but even if the money is there, they prefer to spend it on anything but the environment. The absence of elementary ecological thinking is especially noticeable at the present time. If in the West there are programs through which the foundations of ecological thinking are laid in children from childhood, then in Russia there has not yet been significant progress in this area. Until a generation with a fully formed environmental consciousness appears in Russia, there will be no significant progress in understanding and preventing the environmental consequences of human activity.

The main task of mankind in the modern period is the full awareness of the importance of environmental problems, and their cardinal solution in a short time. It is necessary to develop new methods of obtaining energy, based not on the destructurization of substances, but on other processes. Humanity as a whole must take up the solution of these problems, because if nothing is done, the Earth will soon cease to exist as a planet suitable for living organisms.

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If we consider environmental problems, one of the most pressing is air pollution. Environmentalists are sounding the alarm and urging mankind to reconsider their attitude to life and the consumption of natural resources, because only protection from air pollution will improve the situation and prevent serious consequences. Find out how to solve such an acute issue, influence the ecological situation and save the atmosphere.

Natural sources of clogging

What is air pollution? This concept includes the introduction and entry into the atmosphere and all its layers of uncharacteristic elements of a physical, biological or chemical nature, as well as a change in their concentrations.

What pollutes our air? Air pollution is due to many reasons, and all sources can be conditionally divided into natural or natural, as well as artificial, that is, anthropogenic.

It’s worth starting with the first group, which includes pollutants generated by nature itself:

The first source is volcanoes. Erupting, they throw out huge amounts of tiny particles of various rocks, ash, poisonous gases, sulfur oxides and other no less harmful substances. And although eruptions occur quite rarely, according to statistics, as a result of volcanic activity, the level of air pollution increases significantly, because up to 40 million tons of dangerous compounds are released into the atmosphere every year.
If we consider the natural causes of air pollution, then it is worth noting such as peat or forest fires. Most often, fires occur due to unintentional arson by a person who is negligent about the rules of safety and behavior in the forest. Even a small spark from an incompletely extinguished fire can cause a fire to spread. Less commonly, fires are caused by very high solar activity, which is why the peak of danger falls on the hot summer time.
Considering the main types of natural pollutants, one cannot fail to mention dust storms that occur due to strong gusts of wind and mixing of air flows. During a hurricane or other natural event, tons of dust rise, which provoke air pollution.

artificial sources

Air pollution in Russia and other developed countries is often caused by the influence of anthropogenic factors caused by the activities carried out by people.

We list the main artificial sources that cause air pollution:

The rapid development of industry. It is worth starting with chemical air pollution caused by the activities of chemical plants. Toxic substances released into the air poison it. Also, metallurgical plants cause air pollution with harmful substances: metal processing is a complex process, involving huge emissions as a result of heating and combustion. In addition, they pollute the air and small solid particles formed during the manufacture of building or finishing materials.
The problem of air pollution by motor vehicles is especially urgent. Although other types also provoke emissions into the atmosphere, it is cars that have the most significant negative impact on it, since there are much more of them than any other vehicles. Exhausts emitted by motor vehicles and arising during engine operation contain a lot of substances, including hazardous ones. It is sad that every year the number of emissions increases. An increasing number of people are acquiring an "iron horse", which, of course, has a detrimental effect on the environment.
Operation of thermal and nuclear power plants, boiler plants. The vital activity of mankind at this stage is impossible without the use of such installations. They supply us with vital resources: heat, electricity, hot water supply. But when burning any kind of fuel, the atmosphere changes.
Household waste. Every year, the purchasing power of people is growing, as a result, the amount of waste generated is also increasing. Their disposal is not given due attention, and some types of garbage are extremely dangerous, have a long decomposition period and emit vapors that have an extremely adverse effect on the atmosphere. Each person pollutes the air every day, but industrial waste is much more dangerous, which is taken to landfills and not disposed of in any way.

What are the most common air pollutants?

There are an incredible number of air pollutants, and environmentalists are constantly discovering new ones, which is associated with the rapid pace of industrial development and the introduction of new production and processing technologies. But the most common compounds found in the atmosphere are:

Carbon monoxide, also called carbon monoxide. It is colorless and odorless and is formed during incomplete combustion of fuel at low oxygen volumes and low temperatures. This compound is dangerous and causes death due to lack of oxygen.
Carbon dioxide is found in the atmosphere and has a slightly sour smell.
Sulfur dioxide is released during the combustion of some sulfur-containing fuels. This compound provokes acid rain and depresses human breathing.
Dioxides and oxides of nitrogen characterize air pollution by industrial enterprises, since they are most often formed during their activities, especially in the production of certain fertilizers, dyes and acids. Also, these substances can be released as a result of fuel combustion or during operation of the machine, especially if it malfunctions.
Hydrocarbons are one of the most common substances and can be found in solvents, detergents, and petroleum products.
Lead is also harmful and is used to make batteries and accumulators, cartridges and ammunition.
Ozone is extremely toxic and is formed during photochemical processes or during the operation of vehicles and factories.

Now you know what substances pollute the air pool most often. But this is only a small part of them, the atmosphere contains a lot of various compounds, and some of them are even unknown to scientists.

Sad consequences

The scale of the impact of atmospheric air pollution on human health and the entire ecosystem as a whole is simply enormous, and many underestimate them. Let's start with ecology.

Firstly, due to polluted air, a greenhouse effect has developed, which gradually, but globally, changes the climate, leads to warming and melting of glaciers, and provokes natural disasters. It can be said that it leads to irreversible consequences in the state of the environment.
Secondly, acid rains are becoming more and more frequent, having a negative impact on all life on Earth. Through their fault, entire populations of fish are dying, unable to live in such an acidic environment. A negative impact is observed when examining historical monuments and architectural monuments.
Thirdly, fauna and flora suffer, as dangerous vapors are inhaled by animals, they also enter plants and gradually destroy them.

Polluted atmosphere has a very negative impact on human health. Emissions enter the lungs and cause malfunctions of the respiratory system, severe allergic reactions. Together with the blood, dangerous compounds are carried throughout the body and wear it out greatly. And some elements are capable of provoking mutation and degeneration of cells.

How to solve the problem and save the environment

The problem of atmospheric air pollution is very relevant, especially considering that the environment has deteriorated greatly over the past few decades. And it needs to be solved comprehensively and in several ways.

Consider several effective measures to prevent air pollution:

To combat air pollution at individual enterprises, it is mandatory to install treatment and filtering facilities and systems. And at especially large industrial plants, it is necessary to begin the introduction of stationary monitoring posts for atmospheric air pollution.
Switching to alternative and less harmful energy sources, such as solar panels or electricity, should be used to avoid air pollution from vehicles.
The replacement of combustible fuels with more affordable and less dangerous ones, such as water, wind, sunlight and others that do not require combustion, will help protect the atmospheric air from pollution.
The protection of atmospheric air from pollution should be supported at the state level, and there are already laws aimed at protecting it. But it is also necessary to act and exercise control in individual subjects of the Russian Federation.
One of the effective ways, which should include the protection of air from pollution, is to establish a system for the disposal of all waste or their processing.
Plants should be used to solve the problem of air pollution. Widespread landscaping will improve the atmosphere and increase the amount of oxygen in it.

How to protect atmospheric air from pollution? If all of humanity is struggling with it, then there are chances for an improvement in the environment. Knowing the essence of the problem of air pollution, its relevance and the main solutions, we need to work together and comprehensively to combat pollution.

The atmosphere is the gaseous shell of the Earth, the mass of which is 5.15 * 10 tons. The main components of the atmosphere are nitrogen (78.08%), argon (0.93%), carbon dioxide (0.03%), and the remaining elements are to very small amounts: hydrogen - 0.3 * 10%, ozone - 3.6 * 10%, etc. According to the chemical composition, the entire atmosphere of the Earth is subdivided into the lower (up to 30km^-homosphere, which has a composition similar to surface air), and the upper one, the heterosphere, of inhomogeneous chemical composition. The upper atmosphere is characterized by the processes of dissociation and ionization of gases occurring under the influence of solar radiation. In the atmosphere, in addition to these gases, there are also various aerosols - dusty or water particles that are suspended in a gaseous environment.They can be of natural origin (dust storms, forest fires, volcanic eruptions, etc.), as well as technogenic (the result of productive activity The atmosphere is divided into several areas:

The troposphere is the lower part of the atmosphere, containing more than 80% of the entire atmosphere. Its height is determined by the intensity of the vertical (ascending descending) air currents caused by the heating of the earth's surface. Therefore, it extends at the equator to a height of 16-18 km, in temperate latitudes up to 10-11 km, and at the poles 8 km. A regular decrease in air temperature with height was noted - by an average of 0.6C for every 100 m.

The stratosphere is located above the troposphere up to a height of 50-55 km. The temperature at its upper boundary rises, which is associated with the presence of an ozone belt here.

Mesosphere - the boundary of this layer is located up to a height of 80 km. Its main feature is a sharp drop in temperature (minus 75-90C) at its upper limit. Silvery clouds consisting of ice crystals are fixed here.

Ionosphere (thermosphere) It is located up to a height of 800 km, and it is characterized by a significant increase in temperature (more than 1000C), Under the influence of ultraviolet radiation from the Sun, gases are in an ionized state. Ionization is associated with the glow of gases and the occurrence of auroras. The ionosphere has the ability to repeatedly reflect radio waves, which provides real radio communication on Earth, the Exosphere is located above 800 km. and extends up to 2000-3000 km. Here the temperature exceeds 2000 C. The velocity of gases approaches the critical value of 11.2 km/s. Hydrogen and helium atoms dominate, which form a corona around the Earth, extending to a height of 20 thousand km.

The role of the atmosphere for the Earth's biosphere is enormous, since it, with its physical and chemical properties provides the most important life processes in plants and animals.

Atmospheric air pollution should be understood as any change in its composition and properties that has a negative impact on human and animal health, the condition of plants and ecosystems.

Atmospheric pollution can be natural (natural) and anthropogenic (technogenic),

Natural air pollution is caused by natural processes. These include volcanic activity, weathering of rocks, wind erosion, mass flowering of plants, smoke from forest and steppe fires, etc. Anthropogenic pollution is associated with the release of various pollutants during human activities. In terms of its scale, it significantly exceeds natural air pollution.

Depending on the scale of distribution, various types of atmospheric pollution are distinguished: local, regional and global. Local pollution is characterized by an increased content of pollutants in small areas (city, industrial area, agricultural zone, etc.). With regional pollution, significant areas are involved in the sphere of negative impact, but not the entire planet. Global pollution is associated with changes in the state of the atmosphere as a whole.

According to the state of aggregation, emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere are classified into: 1) gaseous (sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, etc.); 2) liquid (acids, alkalis, salt solutions, etc.); 3) solid (carcinogenic substances, lead and its compounds, organic and inorganic dust, soot, tarry substances, etc.).

The main pollutants (pollutants) of the atmospheric air generated during industrial and other human activities are sulfur dioxide (SO 2), nitrogen oxides (NO 2), carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter. They account for about 98% of the total emissions of harmful substances. In addition to the main pollutants, more than 70 types of harmful substances are observed in the atmosphere of cities and towns, including formaldehyde, hydrogen fluoride, lead compounds, ammonia, phenol, benzene, carbon disulfide, etc. However, it is the concentrations of the main pollutants (sulfur dioxide, etc.) most often exceed the permissible levels in many Russian cities.

The total world emission into the atmosphere of the four main pollutants (pollutants) of the atmosphere in 2005 amounted to 401 million tons, and in Russia in 2006 - 26.2 million tons (Table 1).

In addition to these main pollutants, many other very dangerous toxic substances enter the atmosphere: lead, mercury, cadmium and other heavy metals (emission sources: cars, smelters, etc.); hydrocarbons (CnHm), among them the most dangerous is benz (a) pyrene, which has a carcinogenic effect (exhaust gases, boiler furnaces, etc.), aldehydes, and primarily formaldehyde, hydrogen sulfide, toxic volatile solvents (gasolines, alcohols, ethers) and etc.

Table 1 - Emissions into the atmosphere of the main pollutants (pollutants) in the world and in Russia

Substances, million tons	Dioxide sulfur	nitrogen oxides	carbon monoxide	Solid particles	Total
Total world release
Russia (landlines only) sources)					26.2
				11,2
Russia (including all sources), %				12,2	13,2

The most dangerous pollution of the atmosphere is radioactive. At present, it is mainly due to globally distributed long-lived radioactive isotopes - products of nuclear weapons tests conducted in the atmosphere and underground. The surface layer of the atmosphere is also polluted by emissions of radioactive substances into the atmosphere from operating nuclear power plants during their normal operation and other sources.

A special place is occupied by the release of radioactive substances from the fourth block of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in April - May 1986. If during the explosion of the atomic bomb over Hiroshima (Japan) 740 g of radionuclides were released into the atmosphere, then as a result of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986, the total release of radioactive substances into the atmosphere amounted to 77 kg.

Another form of atmospheric pollution is local excess heat input from anthropogenic sources. A sign of thermal (thermal) pollution of the atmosphere is the so-called thermal zones, for example, the “heat island” in cities, the warming of water bodies, etc.

In general, judging by official data for 2006, the level of air pollution in our country, especially in Russian cities, remains high, despite a significant decline in production, which is primarily associated with an increase in the number of cars.

2. MAIN SOURCES OF ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION

At present, the “main contribution” to atmospheric air pollution in Russia is made by the following industries: thermal power engineering (thermal and nuclear power plants, industrial and municipal boiler houses, etc.), then enterprises of ferrous metallurgy, oil production and petrochemistry, transport, non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises and production building materials.

The role of various sectors of the economy in air pollution in the developed industrial countries of the West is somewhat different. So, for example, the main amount of emissions of harmful substances in the USA, Great Britain and Germany falls on motor vehicles (50-60%), while the share of heat power is much less, only 16-20%.

Thermal and nuclear power plants. Boiler installations. In the process of burning solid or liquid fuels, smoke is released into the atmosphere, containing products of complete (carbon dioxide and water vapor) and incomplete (oxides of carbon, sulfur, nitrogen, hydrocarbons, etc.) combustion. The volume of energy emissions is very high. Thus, a modern thermal power plant with a capacity of 2.4 million kW consumes up to 20 thousand tons of coal per day and emits 680 tons of SO 2 and SO 3 into the atmosphere during this time, 120-140 tons of solid particles (ash, dust, soot), 200 tons nitrogen oxides.

The conversion of installations to liquid fuel (fuel oil) reduces ash emissions, but practically does not reduce emissions of sulfur and nitrogen oxides. The most environmentally friendly gas fuel, which pollutes the atmosphere three times less than fuel oil, and five times less than coal.

Sources of air pollution with toxic substances at nuclear power plants (NPP) - radioactive iodine, radioactive inert gases and aerosols. A large source of energy pollution of the atmosphere - the heating system of dwellings (boiler plants) produces little nitrogen oxides, but many products of incomplete combustion. Due to the low height of the chimneys, toxic substances in high concentrations are dispersed near the boiler plants.

Ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy. When smelting one ton of steel, 0.04 tons of solid particles, 0.03 tons of sulfur oxides and up to 0.05 tons of carbon monoxide are emitted into the atmosphere, as well as in small quantities such hazardous pollutants as manganese, lead, phosphorus, arsenic, and mercury vapours. and others. In the process of steelmaking, vapor-gas mixtures consisting of phenol, formaldehyde, benzene, ammonia and other toxic substances are emitted into the atmosphere. The atmosphere is also significantly polluted at sinter plants, at blast furnace and ferroalloy production.

Significant emissions of exhaust gases and dust containing toxic substances are observed at non-ferrous metallurgy plants during the processing of lead-zinc, copper, sulfide ores, in the production of aluminum, etc.

Chemical production. Emissions from this industry, although small in volume (about 2% of all industrial emissions), nevertheless, due to their very high toxicity, significant diversity and concentration, pose a significant threat to humans and the entire biota. In a variety of chemical industries, atmospheric air is polluted by sulfur oxides, fluorine compounds, ammonia, nitrous gases (a mixture of nitrogen oxides), chloride compounds, hydrogen sulfide, inorganic dust, etc.).

Vehicle emissions. There are several hundred million cars in the world that burn a huge amount of oil products, significantly polluting the air, especially in large cities. Thus, in Moscow, motor transport accounts for 80% of the total amount of emissions into the atmosphere. Exhaust gases of internal combustion engines (especially carburetor ones) contain a huge amount of toxic compounds - benzo (a) pyrene, aldehydes, nitrogen and carbon oxides, and especially dangerous lead compounds (in the case of leaded gasoline).

The largest amount of harmful substances in the composition of exhaust gases is formed when the vehicle's fuel system is not adjusted. Its correct adjustment allows reducing their number by 1.5 times, and special converters reduce the toxicity of exhaust gases by six or more times.

Intensive atmospheric air pollution is also observed during the extraction and processing of mineral raw materials, at oil and gas refineries (Fig. 1), with the release of dust and gases from underground mine workings, with the burning of garbage and burning rocks in the coverage (heaps), etc. In rural areas, the sources of air pollution are livestock and poultry farms, industrial complexes for the production of meat, spraying pesticides, etc.

Rice. 1. Routes of distribution of emissions of sulfur compounds in

area of the Astrakhan gas processing plant (APTZ)

Transboundary pollution refers to pollution transferred from the territory of one country to the area of another. In 2004 alone, due to its unfavorable geographical position, 1204 thousand tons of sulfur compounds fell on the European part of Russia from Ukraine, Germany, Poland and other countries. At the same time, in other countries, only 190 thousand tons of sulfur fell out from Russian sources of pollution, i.e. 6.3 times less.

3. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION

Air pollution affects human health and the natural environment in various ways - from a direct and immediate threat (smog, etc.) to a slow and gradual destruction of various life support systems of the body. In many cases, air pollution disrupts the structural components of the ecosystem to such an extent that regulatory processes are unable to return them to their original state, and as a result, the homeostasis mechanism does not work.

First, consider how local (local) atmospheric pollution affects the environment, and then global.

The physiological impact on the human body of the main pollutants (pollutants) is fraught with the most serious consequences. So, sulfur dioxide, combining with moisture, forms sulfuric acid, which destroys the lung tissue of humans and animals. This relationship is especially clearly seen in the analysis of children's pulmonary pathology and the degree of sulfur dioxide concentration in the atmosphere of large cities. According to studies by American scientists, at a pollution level of 502 to 0.049 mg / m 3, the incidence rate (in person-days) of the population of Nashville (USA) was 8.1%, at 0.150-0.349 mg / m 3 - 12 and in areas with air pollution above 0.350 mg/m3 - 43.8%. Sulfur dioxide is especially dangerous when it is deposited on dust particles and in this form penetrates deep into the respiratory tract.

Dust containing silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) causes severe lung disease - silicosis. Nitrogen oxides irritate and, in severe cases, corrode mucous membranes, such as the eyes, easily participate in the formation of poisonous mists, etc. They are especially dangerous if they are contained in polluted air together with sulfur dioxide and other toxic compounds. In these cases, even at low concentrations of pollutants, a synergistic effect occurs, i.e., an increase in the toxicity of the entire gaseous mixture.

The effect of carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide) on the human body is widely known. In acute poisoning, general weakness, dizziness, nausea, drowsiness, loss of consciousness appear, and death is possible (even after 3-7 days). However, due to the low concentration of CO in the atmospheric air, as a rule, it does not cause mass poisoning, although it is very dangerous for people suffering from anemia and cardiovascular diseases.

Among the suspended solid particles, the most dangerous particles are less than 5 microns in size, which can penetrate the lymph nodes, linger in the alveoli of the lungs, and clog the mucous membranes.

Very unfavorable consequences that can affect a huge time interval are also associated with such minor emissions as lead, benzo (a) pyrene, phosphorus, cadmium, arsenic, cobalt, etc. They depress the hematopoietic system, cause oncological diseases, reduce the body's resistance to infections, etc. Dust containing lead and mercury compounds has mutagenic properties and causes genetic changes in the cells of the body.

The consequences of exposure to the human body of harmful substances contained in the exhaust gases of cars are very serious and have the widest range of action: from coughing to death (Table 2). Severe consequences in the body of living beings are also caused by a toxic mixture of smoke, fog and dust - smog. There are two types of smog, winter smog (London type) and summer smog (Los Angeles type).

Table 2 Effects of vehicle exhaust gases on human health

Harmful substances	The consequences of exposure to the human body
carbon monoxide	Prevents the blood from absorbing oxygen, which impairs thinking ability, slows reflexes, causes drowsiness and can cause loss of consciousness and death
Lead	Affects the circulatory, nervous and genitourinary systems; probably causes mental decline in children, is deposited in bones and other tissues, therefore dangerous for a long time
nitrogen oxides	May increase the body's susceptibility to viral diseases (such as influenza), irritate the lungs, cause bronchitis and pneumonia
Ozone	Irritates the mucous membrane of the respiratory system, causes coughing, disrupts the functioning of the lungs; reduces resistance to colds; can exacerbate chronic heart disease, as well as cause asthma, bronchitis
Toxic emissions (heavy metals)	Cause cancer, reproductive dysfunction, and birth defects

The London type of smog occurs in winter in large industrial cities under adverse weather conditions (lack of wind and temperature inversion). Temperature inversion manifests itself in an increase in air temperature with height in a certain layer of the atmosphere (usually in the range of 300-400 m from the earth's surface) instead of the usual decrease. As a result, atmospheric air circulation is severely disrupted, smoke and pollutants cannot rise up and are not dispersed. Often there are fogs. The concentration of sulfur oxides and suspended dust, carbon monoxide reach levels dangerous for human health, lead to circulatory and respiratory disorders, and often to death. In 1952, more than 4,000 people died from smog in London from December 3 to December 9, and up to 10,000 people became seriously ill. At the end of 1962, in the Ruhr (Germany), 156 people were killed in three days. Only the wind can disperse the smog, and reducing the emissions of pollutants can smooth out the smog-dangerous situation.

Los Angeles type of smog, or photochemical smog, is no less dangerous than London. It occurs in the summer with intense exposure to solar radiation on air saturated, or rather oversaturated with car exhaust gases. In Los Angeles, the exhaust gases of more than four million cars emit only nitrogen oxides in the amount of more than a thousand tons per day. With very weak air movement or calm air in this period, complex reactions occur with the formation of new highly toxic pollutants - photooxide (ozone, organic peroxides, nitrites, etc.), which irritate the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, lungs and organs of vision. In only one city (Tokyo), smog poisoned 10,000 people in 1970 and 28,000 in 1971. According to official figures, in Athens, mortality is six times higher on smog days than on relatively clean days. In some of our cities (Kemerovo, Angarsk, Novokuznetsk, Mednogorsk, etc.), especially in those located in the lowlands, due to an increase in the number of cars and an increase in emissions of exhaust gases containing nitrogen oxide, the likelihood of photochemical smog is increasing.

Anthropogenic emissions of pollutants in high concentrations and for a long time cause great harm not only to humans, but also negatively affect animals, the state of plants and ecosystems as a whole.

Ecological literature describes cases of mass poisoning of wild animals, birds, and insects due to emissions of harmful pollutants of high concentration (especially salvos). Thus, for example, it has been established that when some toxic types of dust settle on melliferous plants, a noticeable increase in the mortality of bees is observed. As for large animals, the poisonous dust in the atmosphere affects them mainly through the respiratory organs, as well as entering the body along with the dusty plants eaten.

Toxic substances enter plants in various ways. It has been established that emissions of harmful substances act both directly on the green parts of plants, getting through the stomata into tissues, destroying chlorophyll and cell structure, and through the soil to the root system. So, for example, soil contamination with dust of toxic metals, especially in combination with sulfuric acid, has a detrimental effect on the root system, and through it on the whole plant.

Gaseous pollutants affect vegetation in different ways. Some only slightly damage leaves, needles, shoots (carbon monoxide, ethylene, etc.), others have a detrimental effect on plants (sulfur dioxide, chlorine, mercury vapor, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, etc.) (Table 13:3). Sulfur dioxide (502) is especially dangerous for plants, under the influence of which many trees die, and primarily conifers - pines, spruces, firs, and cedars.

Table 3 - Toxicity of air pollutants for plants

Harmful substances	Characteristic
sulphur dioxide	The main pollutant, a poison for the assimilation organs of plants, acts at a distance of up to 30 km
Hydrogen fluoride and silicon tetrafluoride	Toxic even in small quantities, prone to aerosol formation, effective at a distance of up to 5 km
Chlorine, hydrogen chloride	Damage mostly at close range
Lead compounds, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides	Infect vegetation in areas of high concentration of industry and transport
hydrogen sulfide	Cellular and enzyme poison
Ammonia	Damages plants at close range

As a result of the impact of highly toxic pollutants on plants, there is a slowdown in their growth, the formation of necrosis at the ends of leaves and needles, failure of assimilation organs, etc. An increase in the surface of damaged leaves can lead to a decrease in moisture consumption from the soil, its general waterlogging, which will inevitably affect in her habitat.

Can vegetation recover after exposure to harmful pollutants is reduced? This will largely depend on the restoring capacity of the remaining green mass and the general condition of natural ecosystems. At the same time, it should be noted that low concentrations of individual pollutants not only do not harm plants, but, like cadmium salt, for example, stimulate seed germination, wood growth, and the growth of some plant organs.

4. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF GLOBAL AIR POLLUTION

The most important environmental consequences of global air pollution include:

possible climate warming (“greenhouse effect”);

violation of the ozone layer;

fallout of acid rain.

Most scientists in the world consider them as the biggest environmental problems of our time.

Possible warming of the climate (“Greenhouse effect”). The currently observed climate change, which is expressed in a gradual increase in the average annual temperature since the second half of the last century, most scientists associate with the accumulation in the atmosphere of the so-called "greenhouse gases" - carbon dioxide (CO 2), methane (CH 4), chlorofluorocarbons ( freovs), ozone (O 3), nitrogen oxides, etc.

Greenhouse gases, and primarily CO 2 , prevent long-wave thermal radiation from the Earth's surface. An atmosphere rich in greenhouse gases acts like the roof of a greenhouse. On the one hand, it passes most of the solar radiation inside, on the other hand, it almost does not let the heat reradiated by the Earth pass outside.

In connection with the burning of more and more fossil fuels: oil, gas, coal, etc. (annually more than 9 billion tons of standard fuel), the concentration of CO 2 in the atmosphere is constantly increasing. Due to emissions into the atmosphere during industrial production and in everyday life, the content of freons (chlorofluorocarbons) is growing. The content of methane increases by 1-1.5% per year (emissions from underground mine workings, biomass combustion, emissions from cattle, etc.). To a lesser extent, the content of nitrogen oxide in the atmosphere also grows (by 0.3% annually).

A consequence of the increase in the concentrations of these gases, which create a "greenhouse effect", is an increase in the average global air temperature near the earth's surface. Over the past 100 years, the warmest years have been 1980, 1981, 1983, 1987, 2006 and 1988. In 1988, the average annual temperature was 0.4 °C higher than in 1950-1980. Calculations by some scientists show that in 2009 it will increase by 1.5 °C compared to 1950-1980. The report, prepared under the auspices of the UN by the international group on climate change, argues that by 2100 the temperature on Earth will be above 2-4 degrees. The scale of warming in this relatively short period will be comparable to the warming that occurred on Earth after the ice age, which means that the environmental consequences can be catastrophic. First of all, this is due to the expected rise in the level of the World Ocean due to the melting of polar ice, the reduction in the areas of mountain glaciation, etc. Modeling the environmental consequences of an increase in ocean level by only 0.5-2.0 m by the end of the 21st century, scientists have found that that this will inevitably lead to disruption of the climatic balance, flooding of coastal plains in more than 30 countries, degradation of permafrost, swamping of vast territories and other adverse consequences.

However, a number of scientists see positive environmental consequences in the alleged global warming.

An increase in the concentration of CO 2 in the atmosphere and the associated increase in photosynthesis, as well as an increase in climate humidification, can, in their opinion, lead to an increase in the productivity of both natural phytocenoses (forests, meadows, savannahs, etc.) and agrocenoses (cultivated plants, gardens , vineyards, etc.).

There is also no unanimity of opinion on the issue of the degree of influence of greenhouse gases on global climate warming. Thus, in the report of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Climate Change (1992) it is noted that the observed warming of the climate by 0.3-0.6 in the last century could be due mainly to the natural variability of a number of climatic factors.

In connection with these data, Academician K. Ya. Kondratiev (1993) believes that there are no grounds for one-sided enthusiasm for the stereotype of "greenhouse" warming and putting forward the task of reducing greenhouse gas emissions as central to the problem of preventing undesirable changes in the global climate.

In his opinion, the most important factor in the anthropogenic impact on the global climate is the degradation of the biosphere, and therefore, first of all, it is necessary to take care of the preservation of the biosphere as the main factor in global environmental security. Man, using a power of about 10 TW, has destroyed or severely disrupted the normal functioning of natural communities of organisms on 60% of the land. As a result, a significant amount of substances was withdrawn from the biogenic cycle of substances, which was previously spent by biota on stabilizing climatic conditions. Against the background of a constant reduction in areas with undisturbed communities, the degraded biosphere, which has sharply reduced its assimilating capacity, is becoming the most important source of increased emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

At an international conference in Toronto (Canada) in 1985, the world's energy industry was tasked with reducing industrial carbon emissions by 20% by 2008. At the UN Conference in Kyoto (Japan) in 1997, the governments of 84 countries of the world signed the Kyoto Protocol, according to which countries should emit no more anthropogenic carbon dioxide than they emitted in 1990. But it is obvious that a tangible environmental effect can only be obtained when these measures are combined with the global direction of environmental policy - the maximum possible preservation of communities of organisms, natural ecosystems and the entire biosphere of the Earth.

Ozone depletion. The ozone layer (ozonosphere) covers the entire globe and is located at altitudes from 10 to 50 km with a maximum ozone concentration at an altitude of 20-25 km. The saturation of the atmosphere with ozone is constantly changing in any part of the planet, reaching a maximum in the spring in the subpolar region.

Currently, the depletion of the ozone layer is recognized by all as a serious threat to global environmental security. A decrease in ozone concentration weakens the ability of the atmosphere to protect all life on Earth from hard ultraviolet radiation (UV radiation). Living organisms are very vulnerable to ultraviolet radiation, because the energy of even one photon from these rays is enough to destroy the chemical bonds in most organic molecules. It is no coincidence, therefore, that in areas with a low ozone content, sunburns are numerous, there is an increase in the incidence of skin cancer, etc. 6 million people. In addition to skin diseases, it is possible to develop eye diseases (cataracts, etc.), suppression of the immune system, etc.

According to the international environmental organization Greenpeace, the main suppliers of chlorofluorocarbons (freons) are the USA - 30.85%, Japan - 12.42; Great Britain - 8.62 and Russia - 8.0%. The United States punched a "hole" in the ozone layer with an area of 7 million km2, Japan - 3 million km2, which is seven times larger than the area of Japan itself. Recently, factories have been built in the USA and in a number of Western countries for the production of new types of refrigerants (hydrochlorofluorocarbons) with a low potential for ozone depletion.

According to the protocol of the Montreal Conference (1987), later revised in London (1991) and Copenhagen (1992), it was envisaged to reduce chlorofluorocarbon emissions by 50% by 1998. In accordance with the Law of the Russian Federation "On Environmental Protection" (2002), the protection of the ozone layer of the atmosphere from environmentally dangerous changes is ensured by regulating the production and use of substances that destroy the ozone layer of the atmosphere, on the basis of international treaties of the Russian Federation and its legislation. In the future, the problem of protecting people from UV radiation must continue to be addressed, since many of the chlorofluorocarbons can persist in the atmosphere for hundreds of years. A number of scientists continue to insist on the natural origin of the "ozone hole". Some see the reasons for its occurrence in the natural variability of the ozonosphere, the cyclic activity of the Sun, while others associate these processes with rifting and degassing of the Earth.

acid rain. One of the most important environmental problems associated with the oxidation of the natural environment is acid rain. They are formed during industrial emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere, which, when combined with atmospheric moisture, form sulfuric and nitric acids. As a result, rain and snow are acidified (pH value below 5.6). In Bavaria (FRG) in August 1981 it rained with the formation of 80,

The water of open reservoirs is acidified. The fish are dying

The total global anthropogenic emissions of the two main air pollutants - the culprits of atmospheric moisture acidification - SO 2 and NO 2 are annually more than 255 million tons (2004). Over a vast territory, the natural environment is acidified, which has a very negative impact on the state of all ecosystems. It turned out that natural ecosystems are destroyed even at a lower level of air pollution than that which is dangerous for humans.

The danger is, as a rule, not the acid precipitation itself, but the processes occurring under their influence. Under the action of acid precipitation, not only vital nutrients for plants are leached from the soil, but also toxic heavy and light metals - lead, cadmium, aluminum, etc. Subsequently, they themselves or the resulting toxic compounds are absorbed by plants and other soil organisms, which leads to very negative consequences. For example, an increase in aluminum content in acidified water to only 0.2 mg per liter is lethal for fish. The development of phytoplankton is sharply reduced, since the phosphates that activate this process are combined with aluminum and become less available for absorption. Aluminum also reduces wood growth. The toxicity of heavy metals (cadmium, lead, etc.) is even more pronounced.

Fifty million hectares of forests in 25 European countries are affected by a complex mixture of pollutants, including acid rain, ozone, toxic metals, and others. For example, coniferous mountain forests in Bavaria are dying. There have been cases of damage to coniferous and deciduous forests in Karelia, Siberia and other regions of our country.

The impact of acid rain reduces the resistance of forests to droughts, diseases, and natural pollution, which leads to even more pronounced degradation of forests as natural ecosystems.

A striking example of the negative impact of acid precipitation on natural ecosystems is the acidification of lakes. It occurs especially intensively in Canada, Sweden, Norway, and southern Finland (Table 4). This is explained by the fact that a significant part of sulfur emissions in such industrialized countries as the USA, Germany and Great Britain falls on their territory (Fig. 4). The lakes are the most vulnerable in these countries, since the bedrocks that make up their bed are usually represented by granite-gneisses and granites, which are not able to neutralize acid precipitation, in contrast, for example, to limestones, which create an alkaline environment and prevent acidification. Strongly acidified and many lakes in the north of the United States.

Table 4 - Acidification of lakes in the world

The country	The state of the lakes
Canada	More than 14 thousand lakes are strongly acidified; every seventh lake in the east of the country suffered biological damage
Norway	In water bodies with a total area of 13 thousand km 2, fish were destroyed and another 20 thousand km2 were affected
Sweden	In 14 thousand lakes, the species most sensitive to the level of acidity have been destroyed; 2200 lakes are practically lifeless
Finland	8% of lakes do not have the ability to neutralize acid. The most acidified lakes in the southern part of the country
USA	There are about 1,000 acidified lakes in the country and 3,000 almost acidic lakes (data from the Environmental Protection Fund). EPA studies in 1984 showed that 522 lakes are highly acidic and 964 are on the verge of this.

Acidification of lakes is dangerous not only for the populations of various fish species (including salmon, whitefish, etc.), but often entails the gradual death of plankton, numerous species of algae and other inhabitants, the lakes become practically lifeless.

In our country, the area of significant acidification from acid precipitation reaches several tens of million hectares. Particular cases of acidification of lakes have also been noted (Karelia, etc.). Increased acidity of precipitation is observed along the western border (transboundary transport of sulfur and other pollutants) and on the territory of a number of large industrial regions, as well as fragmentarily on Vorontsov A.P. Rational nature management. Tutorial. -M.: Association of Authors and Publishers "TANDEM". EKMOS Publishing House, 2000. - 498 p. Characteristics of the enterprise as a source of air pollution MAIN TYPES OF ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACTS ON THE BIOSPHERE THE PROBLEM OF ENERGY SUPPORT FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF HUMANITY AND PROSPECTS FOR NUCLEAR ENERGY

2014-06-13

The issue of human impact on the atmosphere is in the center of attention of ecologists around the world, because. the largest environmental problems of our time (“greenhouse effect”, ozone depletion, acid rainfall) are associated precisely with anthropogenic pollution of the atmosphere.

Atmospheric air also performs the most complex protective function, insulating the Earth from outer space and protecting it from harsh cosmic radiation. In the atmosphere there are global meteorological processes that shape the climate and weather, a mass of meteorites lingers (burns out).

However, in modern conditions, the ability of natural systems to self-cleanse is significantly undermined by the increased anthropogenic load. As a result, the air no longer fully fulfills its protective, thermoregulating and life-supporting ecological functions.

Atmospheric air pollution should be understood as any change in its composition and properties that have a negative impact on human and animal health, the condition of plants and ecosystems as a whole. Atmospheric pollution can be natural (natural) and anthropogenic (technogenic).

Natural pollution is caused by natural processes. These include volcanic activity, weathering of rocks, wind erosion, smoke from forest and steppe fires, etc.

Anthropogenic pollution is associated with the release of various pollutants (pollutants) in the process of human activities. It surpasses the natural in scale.

Depending on the scale, there are:

local (increase in the content of pollutants in a small area: city, industrial area, agricultural zone);

regional (significant areas are involved in the sphere of negative impact, but not the entire planet);

global (change in the state of the atmosphere as a whole).

According to the state of aggregation, emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere are classified as follows:

gaseous (SO2, NOx, CO, hydrocarbons, etc.);

liquid (acids, alkalis, salt solutions, etc.);

solid (organic and inorganic dust, lead and its compounds, soot, resinous substances, etc.).

The main pollutants (pollutants) of the atmospheric air generated during industrial or other human activities are sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter. They account for about 98% of the total pollutant emissions.

In addition to these main pollutants, many other very dangerous pollutants enter the atmosphere: lead, mercury, cadmium and other heavy metals (HM) (emission sources: cars, smelters, etc.); hydrocarbons (CnH m), among which the most dangerous is benzo (a) pyrene, which has a carcinogenic effect (exhaust gases, boiler furnaces, etc.); aldehydes and, first of all, formaldehyde; hydrogen sulfide, toxic volatile solvents (gasolines, alcohols, ethers), etc.

The following industries are the main contributors to air pollution:

thermal power engineering (hydroelectric and nuclear power plants, industrial and municipal boiler houses);

ferrous metallurgy enterprises,

enterprises of coal mining and coal chemistry,

vehicles (the so-called mobile sources of pollution),

non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises,

production of building materials.

Air pollution affects human health and the natural environment in various ways - from a direct and immediate threat (smog, carbon monoxide, etc.) to a slow and gradual destruction of the body's life support systems.

The physiological impact on the human body of the main pollutants (pollutants) is fraught with the most serious consequences. So, sulfur dioxide, combining with atmospheric moisture, forms sulfuric acid, which destroys the lung tissue of humans and animals. Sulfur dioxide is especially dangerous when it is deposited on dust particles and in this form penetrates deep into the respiratory tract. Dust containing silicon dioxide (SiO2) causes a severe lung disease called silicosis.

Nitrogen oxides irritate, and in severe cases corrode the mucous membranes (eyes, lungs), participate in the formation of poisonous fogs, etc.; they are especially dangerous in the air together with sulfur dioxide and other toxic compounds (there is a synergistic effect, i.e. increasing the toxicity of the entire gaseous mixture).

The effect of carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide, CO) on the human body is widely known: in acute poisoning, general weakness, dizziness, nausea, drowsiness, loss of consciousness appear, death is possible (even three to seven days after poisoning).

Among suspended particles (dusts), the most dangerous particles are less than 5 microns in size, which can penetrate into the lymph nodes, linger in the alveoli of the lungs, and clog the mucous membranes.

Very unfavorable consequences can be accompanied by such minor emissions as those containing lead, benzo(a)pyrene, phosphorus, cadmium, arsenic, cobalt, etc. These pollutants depress the hematopoietic system, cause oncological diseases, reduce immunity, etc. Dust containing lead and mercury compounds has mutagenic properties and causes genetic changes in body cells.

The consequences of exposure to the human body of harmful substances contained in the exhaust gases of cars have the widest range of action: From coughing to death.

Anthropogenic emissions of pollutants also cause great harm to plants, animals and ecosystems of the planet as a whole. Cases of mass poisoning of wild animals, birds, and insects are described as a result of emissions of harmful pollutants of high concentration (especially bursts).

The most important environmental consequences of global air pollution include:

1) possible climate warming (“greenhouse effect”);

2) violation of the ozone layer;

3) acid rain.

Possible climate warming (“greenhouse effect”) is expressed in a gradual increase in the average annual temperature, starting from the second half of the last century. Most scientists associate it with the accumulation in the atmosphere of the so-called. greenhouse gases - carbon dioxide, methane, chlorofluorocarbons (freons), ozone, nitrogen oxides, etc. Greenhouse gases prevent long-wave thermal radiation from the Earth's surface, i.e. an atmosphere saturated with greenhouse gases acts like the roof of a greenhouse: it lets in most of the solar radiation, on the other hand, almost does not let out the heat reradiated by the Earth.

According to another opinion, the most important factor in the anthropogenic impact on the global climate is atmospheric degradation, i.e. violation of the composition and condition of ecosystems due to violation of ecological balance. Man, using a power of about 10 TW, destroyed or severely disrupted the normal functioning of natural communities of organisms on 60% of the land. As a result, a significant amount of substances was withdrawn from the biogenic cycle of substances, which was previously spent by biota on stabilizing climatic conditions.

Violation of the ozone layer - a decrease in ozone concentration at altitudes from 10 to 50 km (with a maximum at an altitude of 20 - 25 km), in some places up to 50% (the so-called "ozone holes"). A decrease in ozone concentration reduces the ability of the atmosphere to protect all life on earth from harsh ultraviolet radiation. In the human body, excessive ultraviolet exposure causes burns, skin cancer, eye diseases, immune suppression, etc. Plants under the influence of strong ultraviolet radiation gradually lose their ability to photosynthesis, and disruption of the vital activity of plankton leads to a break in the trophic chains of the biota of aquatic ecosystems, etc.

Acid rain is caused by the combination of atmospheric moisture with gaseous emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere to form sulfuric and nitric acids. As a result, the precipitation is acidified (pH below 5.6). The total global emissions of the two main air pollutants that cause acidification of precipitation amount to more than 255 million tons annually. for a person.

As a rule, the danger is not the acid precipitation itself, but the processes occurring under its influence: not only the nutrients necessary for plants, but also toxic heavy and light metals - lead, cadmium, aluminum, etc. are leached from the soil. Subsequently, they themselves or formed by them toxic compounds are assimilated by plants or other soil organisms, which leads to very negative consequences. Fifty million hectares of forests in 25 European countries are affected by a complex mixture of pollutants (toxic metals, ozone), acid rain. A striking example of the action of acid rain is the acidification of lakes, which is especially intense in Canada, Sweden, Norway and southern Finland. This is explained by the fact that a significant part of the emissions from such industrialized countries as the USA, Germany and Great Britain fall on their territory.

Introduction

1. Atmosphere - the outer shell of the biosphere

2. Air pollution

3. Ecological consequences of atmospheric pollution7

3.1 Greenhouse effect

3.2 Ozone depletion

3 Acid rain

Conclusion

List of sources used

Introduction

Atmospheric air is the most important life-supporting natural environment and is a mixture of gases and aerosols of the surface layer of the atmosphere, formed during the evolution of the Earth, human activities and located outside residential, industrial and other premises.

Currently, of all forms of degradation of the natural environment in Russia, it is the pollution of the atmosphere with harmful substances that is the most dangerous. Features of the environmental situation in certain regions of the Russian Federation and emerging environmental problems are due to local natural conditions and the nature of the impact on them of industry, transport, utilities and agriculture. The degree of air pollution depends, as a rule, on the degree of urbanization and industrial development of the territory (the specifics of enterprises, their capacity, location, applied technologies), as well as on climatic conditions that determine the potential for air pollution.

The atmosphere has an intense impact not only on humans and the biosphere, but also on the hydrosphere, soil and vegetation cover, geological environment, buildings, structures and other man-made objects. Therefore, the protection of atmospheric air and the ozone layer is the highest priority environmental problem and it is given close attention in all developed countries.

Man has always used the environment mainly as a source of resources, but for a very long time his activity did not have a noticeable impact on the biosphere. Only at the end of the last century, changes in the biosphere under the influence of economic activity attracted the attention of scientists. In the first half of this century, these changes have been growing and are now like an avalanche hitting human civilization.

The pressure on the environment increased especially sharply in the second half of the 20th century. A qualitative leap took place in the relationship between society and nature, when, as a result of a sharp increase in the population, intensive industrialization and urbanization of our planet, economic loads everywhere began to exceed the ability of ecological systems to self-purify and regenerate. As a result, the natural circulation of substances in the biosphere was disturbed, and the health of the present and future generations of people was threatened.

The mass of the atmosphere of our planet is negligible - only one millionth of the mass of the Earth. However, its role in the natural processes of the biosphere is enormous. The presence of the atmosphere around the globe determines the general thermal regime of the surface of our planet, protects it from harmful cosmic and ultraviolet radiation. Atmospheric circulation has an impact on local climatic conditions, and through them - on the regime of rivers, soil and vegetation cover and on the processes of relief formation.

The modern gas composition of the atmosphere is the result of a long historical development of the globe. It is mainly a gas mixture of two components - nitrogen (78.09%) and oxygen (20.95%). Normally, it also contains argon (0.93%), carbon dioxide (0.03%) and small amounts of inert gases (neon, helium, krypton, xenon), ammonia, methane, ozone, sulfur dioxide and other gases. Along with gases, the atmosphere contains solid particles coming from the Earth's surface (for example, products of combustion, volcanic activity, soil particles) and from space (cosmic dust), as well as various products of plant, animal or microbial origin. In addition, water vapor plays an important role in the atmosphere.

The three gases that make up the atmosphere are of greatest importance for various ecosystems: oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen. These gases are involved in the main biogeochemical cycles.

Oxygen plays an important role in the life of most living organisms on our planet. It is necessary for everyone to breathe. Oxygen has not always been part of the earth's atmosphere. It appeared as a result of the vital activity of photosynthetic organisms. Under the influence of ultraviolet rays, it turns into ozone. As ozone accumulated, an ozone layer formed in the upper atmosphere. The ozone layer, like a screen, reliably protects the Earth's surface from ultraviolet radiation, which is fatal to living organisms.

The modern atmosphere contains hardly a twentieth of the oxygen available on our planet. The main reserves of oxygen are concentrated in carbonates, organic substances and iron oxides, part of the oxygen is dissolved in water. In the atmosphere, apparently, there was an approximate balance between the production of oxygen in the process of photosynthesis and its consumption by living organisms. But recently there has been a danger that, as a result of human activity, oxygen reserves in the atmosphere may decrease. Of particular danger is the destruction of the ozone layer, which has been observed in recent years. Most scientists attribute this to human activity.

The oxygen cycle in the biosphere is extremely complex, since a large number of organic and inorganic substances, as well as hydrogen, react with it, combining with which oxygen forms water.

Carbon dioxide(carbon dioxide) is used in the process of photosynthesis to form organic substances. It is thanks to this process that the carbon cycle in the biosphere closes. Like oxygen, carbon is a part of soils, plants, animals, and participates in various mechanisms of the circulation of substances in nature. The content of carbon dioxide in the air we breathe is about the same in different parts of the world. The exception is large cities in which the content of this gas in the air is above the norm.

Some fluctuations in the content of carbon dioxide in the air of the area depend on the time of day, the season of the year, and the biomass of vegetation. At the same time, studies show that since the beginning of the century, the average content of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, although slowly, but constantly increases. Scientists associate this process mainly with human activity.

Nitrogen- an irreplaceable biogenic element, since it is part of proteins and nucleic acids. The atmosphere is an inexhaustible reservoir of nitrogen, but the majority of living organisms cannot directly use this nitrogen: it must first be bound in the form of chemical compounds.

Part of the nitrogen comes from the atmosphere to ecosystems in the form of nitric oxide, which is formed under the action of electrical discharges during thunderstorms. However, the main part of nitrogen enters the water and soil as a result of its biological fixation. There are several types of bacteria and blue-green algae (fortunately, very numerous) that are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen. As a result of their activities, as well as due to the decomposition of organic residues in the soil, autotrophic plants are able to absorb the necessary nitrogen.

The nitrogen cycle is closely related to the carbon cycle. Although the nitrogen cycle is more complex than the carbon cycle, it tends to be faster.

Other constituents of the air do not participate in biochemical cycles, but the presence of a large amount of pollutants in the atmosphere can lead to serious violations of these cycles.

2. Air pollution.

Pollution atmosphere. Various negative changes in the Earth's atmosphere are mainly associated with changes in the concentration of minor components of atmospheric air.

There are two main sources of air pollution: natural and anthropogenic. Natural source- these are volcanoes, dust storms, weathering, forest fires, processes of decomposition of plants and animals.

To the main anthropogenic sources atmospheric pollution include enterprises of the fuel and energy complex, transport, various machine-building enterprises.

In addition to gaseous pollutants, a large amount of particulate matter enters the atmosphere. These are dust, soot and soot. Contamination of the natural environment with heavy metals poses a great danger. Lead, cadmium, mercury, copper, nickel, zinc, chromium, vanadium have become almost constant components of the air in industrial centers. The problem of air pollution with lead is particularly acute.

Global air pollution affects the state of natural ecosystems, especially the green cover of our planet. One of the most obvious indicators of the state of the biosphere is forests and their well-being.

Acid rains, caused mainly by sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, cause great harm to forest biocenoses. It has been established that conifers suffer from acid rain to a greater extent than broad-leaved ones.

Only on the territory of our country, the total area of forests affected by industrial emissions has reached 1 million hectares. A significant factor in forest degradation in recent years is environmental pollution with radionuclides. Thus, as a result of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, 2.1 million hectares of forests were affected.

Particularly affected are green spaces in industrial cities, the atmosphere of which contains a large amount of pollutants.

The air environmental problem of ozone depletion, including the appearance of ozone holes over Antarctica and the Arctic, is associated with the excessive use of freons in production and everyday life.

Human economic activity, acquiring an increasingly global character, begins to have a very tangible impact on the processes taking place in the biosphere. You have already learned about some of the results of human activity and their impact on the biosphere. Fortunately, up to a certain level, the biosphere is capable of self-regulation, which makes it possible to minimize the negative consequences of human activity. But there is a limit when the biosphere is no longer able to maintain balance. Irreversible processes begin, leading to ecological disasters. Humanity has already encountered them in a number of regions of the planet.

3. Environmental effects of atmospheric pollution

The most important environmental consequences of global air pollution include:

1) possible climate warming (“greenhouse effect”);

2) violation of the ozone layer;

3) acid rain.

Most scientists in the world consider them as the biggest environmental problems of our time.

3.1 Greenhouse effect

Table 9

Anthropogenic atmospheric pollutants and related changes (V.A. Vronsky, 1996)

Note. (+) - increased effect; (-) - decrease in effect

3.2 Ozone depletion

The ozone layer (ozonosphere) covers the entire globe and is located at altitudes from 10 to 50 km with a maximum ozone concentration at an altitude of 20-25 km. The saturation of the atmosphere with ozone is constantly changing in any part of the planet, reaching a maximum in the spring in the subpolar region. For the first time, the depletion of the ozone layer attracted the attention of the general public in 1985, when an area with a low (up to 50%) ozone content was discovered over Antarctica, which was called "ozone hole". With Since then, measurement results have confirmed the widespread depletion of the ozone layer on almost the entire planet. For example, in Russia over the past ten years, the concentration of the ozone layer has decreased by 4-6% in winter and by 3% in summer. Currently, the depletion of the ozone layer is recognized by all as a serious threat to global environmental security. A decrease in ozone concentration weakens the ability of the atmosphere to protect all life on Earth from hard ultraviolet radiation (UV radiation). Living organisms are very vulnerable to ultraviolet radiation, because the energy of even one photon from these rays is enough to destroy the chemical bonds in most organic molecules. It is no coincidence that in areas with a low ozone content there are numerous sunburns, an increase in the incidence of skin cancer among people, etc. 6 million people. In addition to skin diseases, it is possible to develop eye diseases (cataracts, etc.), suppression of the immune system, etc. It has also been established that under the influence of strong ultraviolet radiation, plants gradually lose their ability to photosynthesize, and disruption of the vital activity of plankton leads to a break in the trophic chains of the aquatic biota. ecosystems, etc. Science has not yet fully established what are the main processes that violate the ozone layer. Both natural and anthropogenic origin of "ozone holes" is assumed. The latter, according to most scientists, is more likely and is associated with an increased content chlorofluorocarbons (freons). Freons are widely used in industrial production and in everyday life (cooling units, solvents, sprayers, aerosol packages, etc.). Rising into the atmosphere, freons decompose with the release of chlorine oxide, which has a detrimental effect on ozone molecules. According to the international environmental organization Greenpeace, the main suppliers of chlorofluorocarbons (freons) are the USA - 30.85%, Japan - 12.42%, Great Britain - 8.62% and Russia - 8.0%. The USA punched a "hole" in the ozone layer with an area of 7 million km 2 , Japan - 3 million km 2 , which is seven times larger than the area of Japan itself. Recently, factories have been built in the USA and in a number of Western countries for the production of new types of refrigerants (hydrochlorofluorocarbon) with a low potential for ozone depletion. According to the Protocol of the Montreal Conference (1990), later revised in London (1991) and Copenhagen (1992), it was envisaged to reduce CFC emissions by 50% by 1998. According to Art. 56 of the Law of the Russian Federation on Environmental Protection, in accordance with international agreements, all organizations and enterprises are required to reduce and subsequently completely stop the production and use of ozone-depleting substances.

3.3 Acid rain

One of the most important environmental problems, which is associated with the oxidation of the natural environment, - acid rain. They are formed during industrial emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere, which, when combined with atmospheric moisture, form sulfuric and nitric acids. As a result, rain and snow are acidified (pH value below 5.6). In Bavaria (Germany) in August 1981 it rained with acidity pH=3.5. The maximum recorded acidity of precipitation in Western Europe is pH=2.3. The total global anthropogenic emissions of the two main air pollutants - the culprits of atmospheric moisture acidification - SO 2 and NO, are annually - more than 255 million tons. nitrogen (nitrate and ammonium) in the form of acidic compounds contained in precipitation. As can be seen from Figure 10, the highest sulfur loads are observed in the densely populated and industrial regions of the country.

Figure 10. Average annual sulfate precipitation kg S/sq. km (2006) [according to the site http://www.sci.aha.ru]

Over a vast territory, the natural environment is acidified, which has a very negative impact on the state of all ecosystems. It turned out that natural ecosystems are destroyed even at a lower level of air pollution than that which is dangerous for humans. "Lakes and rivers devoid of fish, dying forests - these are the sad consequences of the industrialization of the planet." The danger is, as a rule, not the acid precipitation itself, but the processes occurring under their influence. Under the action of acid precipitation, not only vital nutrients for plants are leached from the soil, but also toxic heavy and light metals - lead, cadmium, aluminum, etc. Subsequently, they themselves or the resulting toxic compounds are absorbed by plants and other soil organisms, which leads to very negative consequences.

The impact of acid rain reduces the resistance of forests to droughts, diseases, and natural pollution, which leads to even more pronounced degradation of forests as natural ecosystems.

A striking example of the negative impact of acid precipitation on natural ecosystems is the acidification of lakes. . In our country, the area of significant acidification from acid precipitation reaches several tens of million hectares. Particular cases of acidification of lakes have also been noted (Karelia, etc.). Increased acidity of precipitation is observed along the western border (transboundary transport of sulfur and other pollutants) and on the territory of a number of large industrial regions, as well as fragmentarily on the coast of Taimyr and Yakutia.

Conclusion

The protection of nature is the task of our century, a problem that has become a social one. Again and again we hear about the danger threatening the environment, but still many of us consider them an unpleasant, but inevitable product of civilization and believe that we will still have time to cope with all the difficulties that have come to light.

However, human impact on the environment has taken on alarming proportions. Only in the second half of the 20th century, thanks to the development of ecology and the spread of ecological knowledge among the population, it became obvious that humanity is an indispensable part of the biosphere, that the conquest of nature, the uncontrolled use of its resources and environmental pollution is a dead end in the development of civilization and in the evolution of man himself. Therefore, the most important condition for the development of mankind is a careful attitude to nature, comprehensive care for the rational use and restoration of its resources, and the preservation of a favorable environment.

However, many do not understand the close relationship between human economic activity and the state of the natural environment.

Broad environmental education should help people to acquire such environmental knowledge and ethical norms and values, attitudes and lifestyles that are necessary for the sustainable development of nature and society. To fundamentally improve the situation, purposeful and thoughtful actions will be needed. A responsible and efficient policy towards the environment will be possible only if we accumulate reliable data on the current state of the environment, substantiated knowledge about the interaction of important environmental factors, if we develop new methods to reduce and prevent the harm caused to Nature by Man.

Bibliography

1. Akimova T. A., Khaskin V. V. Ecology. Moscow: Unity, 2000.

2. Bezuglaya E.Yu., Zavadskaya E.K. Influence of air pollution on public health. St. Petersburg: Gidrometeoizdat, 1998, pp. 171–199.

3. Galperin M. V. Ecology and basics of nature management. Moscow: Forum-Infra-m, 2003.

4. Danilov-Danilyan V.I. Ecology, nature protection and ecological safety. M.: MNEPU, 1997.

5. Climatic characteristics of the conditions for the propagation of impurities in the atmosphere. Reference manual / Ed. E.Yu. Bezuglaya and M.E. Berlyand. - Leningrad, Gidrometeoizdat, 1983.

6. Korobkin V. I., Peredelsky L. V. Ecology. Rostov-on-Don: Phoenix, 2003.

7. Protasov V.F. Ecology, health and environmental protection in Russia. M.: Finance and statistics, 1999.

8. Wark K., Warner S., Air pollution. Sources and control, trans. from English, M. 1980.

9. Ecological state of the territory of Russia: Textbook for students of higher education. ped. Educational institutions / V.P. Bondarev, L.D. Dolgushin, B.S. Zalogin and others; Ed. S.A. Ushakova, Ya.G. Katz - 2nd ed. M.: Academy, 2004.

10. List and codes of substances polluting the atmospheric air. Ed. 6th. SPb., 2005, 290 p.

11. Yearbook of the state of atmospheric pollution in cities in Russia. 2004.– M.: Meteo agency, 2006, 216 p.

The problem of air pollution. Air pollution is a serious environmental problem

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artificial sources

What are the most common air pollutants?

Sad consequences

How to solve the problem and save the environment

2. MAIN SOURCES OF ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION

3. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION

4. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF GLOBAL AIR POLLUTION

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The problem of air pollution. Air pollution is a serious environmental problem

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2. MAIN SOURCES OF ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION

3. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION

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