The harm of air pollutants to human body is various, mainly manifested in respiratory diseases and physiological dysfunction, as well as irritation to mucous membranes such as eyes and nose, which is a chronic factor causing asthma in the elderly. Deficiency of lung qi leads to physical decline.

When the concentration of pollutants in the atmosphere is high, it will cause acute pollution poisoning, or aggravate the symptoms, and even kill thousands of people within a few days. In fact, even if the concentration of pollutants in the atmosphere is not high, breathing this polluted air all the year round will cause chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, emphysema, lung cancer and other diseases.

Second, the harm to plants

Air pollutants, especially sulfur dioxide and fluoride, are very harmful to plants. When the concentration of pollutants is very high, it will cause acute damage to plants, damage the surface of plant leaves, or directly cause the leaves to wither and fall off.

When the concentration of pollutants is not high, it will cause chronic damage to plants, make the leaves of plants fade, or have no harmful symptoms on the surface, but the physiological functions of plants are affected, leading to the decline of plant yield and deterioration of quality.

Third, increase atmospheric precipitation.

Many particles emitted by large industrial cities have the function of condensation nuclei of water vapor. Therefore, when there are other precipitation conditions in the atmosphere, there will be precipitation weather. In the downwind areas of large industrial cities, there is more precipitation.

Fourth, acid rain.

Sometimes, the rain from the sky contains sulfuric acid. This kind of acid rain is the oxidation of sulfur dioxide, a pollutant in the atmosphere, to form sulfuric acid, which falls with the precipitation in nature. Sulfuric acid rain can destroy large areas of forests and crops, corrode and destroy paper products, textiles and leather products, deteriorate metal antirust coatings and reduce their protective effects, and corrode and pollute buildings.

Fifth, reduce the amount of solar radiation reaching the ground.

A large number of smoke particles discharged into the atmosphere by factories, power stations, automobiles and household heating equipment make the air very turbid, which blocks sunlight and reduces the amount of solar radiation reaching the ground.

According to observation and statistics, in the days when smoke and dust are not scattered in large industrial cities, the direct sunlight on the ground is reduced by nearly 40% compared with the days without smoke and dust. In cities with serious air pollution, people, animals and plants will be stunted due to lack of sunshine every day.

Baidu encyclopedia-air pollution