Anthropogenic Effects

Geography

2/21/08

Anthropogenic Effects

There are an abundant amount of pollutants that is destroying our atmosphere. Many of these pollutants are anthropogenic contaminants. The meaning of anthropogenic is that it is human-caused. People play a significant role in hurting the atmosphere, and one of the main reasons is the pollution from automobiles.

There are many different types of anthropogenic toxins in the world. About two percent of deaths annually are in the United States because of air pollution. Anthropogenic pollution is most prevalent in urbanized regions, which include North America, Asia, and Europe. Some of the specific types of anthropogenic pollutants are carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter. Carbon monoxide is very harmful to the environment. It is made by the incomplete combustion of fuels or other carbon-containing substances. Different types of transportation make Ten percent of all carbon monoxide. A large source of carbon monoxide was found in south-central Africa and the Amazon region of South America because of the mass burning of biomass. Nitrogen oxide is another form of toxin. High temperatures and pressure combustion produces the pollutant known as nitrogen oxide. North American urban areas have ten to a hundred times higher nitrogen dioxide concentrations that nonurban areas. Nitrogen dioxide combined with other gases can for harmful substances. It can produce nitric acid, ozone pollution, and photochemical smog. Another pollutant from the automobile is photochemical smog. This pollutant results from the interaction of sunlight and combustion products in automobile exhaust.

Sulfur dioxide is another harmful chemical, which endangers the earth’s atmostphere Sulfur dioxide is made from the combustion of sulfur containing fuels. Once in the air, sulfur dioxide can react with oxygen to form sulfur trioxide. Sulfur trioxide is highly reactive and with water can form sulfate aerosols. Lastly, there are volatile organic compounds. Volatile organic compounds