Breathing chemicals: a review of air pollution over the years
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24193/subbbiol.2022.1.10Keywords:
air pollution, biosensors, greenhouse gases, human health.Abstract
Air is necessary for human survival and the preservation of the environment. The scientific community is concerned about the ongoing rapid expansion of the population, which uses resources faster, and thus the accumulation of an enormous amount of waste will gradually worsen the air quality. The change in the pollutants released in the atmosphere became more complex throughout human history, and they were released in huge quantities. The sources of air pollution vary greatly – from burning fuel, the household, agricultural or mining activities to natural disasters or significant industrial accidents. New techniques that monitor the air composition are being developed to ensure air quality control. The population exposed to these harmful compounds is predisposed to various health concerns, including skin, cardiovascular, brain, blood, and lung illnesses. The substances also contribute to global warming, acid rains and ozone depletion. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was noticed that reducing human activities causing pollution leads to improved air quality, which shows that long-term solutions can also be found. This paper aims to offer an overview of the air pollution problems persisting around the globe and present the current state, causes and evolution of air pollution. Some of the solutions we propose in this article include energy-saving, public transportation and material recycling. We also emphasize the need to develop new technologies to control the air quality and implement a sustainable approach.
Article history: Received: 1 April 2022; Revised: 21 April 2022; Accepted: 27 May 2022; Available online: 30 June 2022.
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