What Causes Air Problems

Air pollution and what causes air problems are major concerns for many people these days. Whether you are concerned about the causes of indoor air pollution in your home only, or the causes of global air pollution, the issue of air pollution is very important either way. The causes of air pollution may differ, based on whether the pollution is indoor or outdoor. In both cases, many air pollution causes may easily be eliminated.

There are many answers to the question of what causes air problems outdoors. Some causes of outdoor, or global, air pollution cannot be controlled by people. Some examples of things that cause unavoidable outdoor air pollution are wildfires, animals, and the Earth itself. Wildfires fill the air with smoke, and animals produce methane as a byproduct of their digestive process. The Earth itself may cause outdoor air pollution from dusty land or radon emissions. However, the main causes of outdoor air pollution are manmade. Air pollution caused by factories is a concern, for example. But factories are not the main cause of outdoor air pollution, there are many others to consider as well. Automobile exhaust is a major contributor to air pollution. Electric companies also cause air pollution, especially those that use combustion-fired power plants to generate electricity. Farmers can cause outdoor air pollution, by using pesticides and other chemicals, or by doing controlled burns.

What causes air problems indoors can be widely varied as well. They can be very obvious causes, or things you might never think of. Pet dander is a widely known cause of indoor air pollution, for example. An example that causes air pollution through one method, but not through another is cleaning of clothing. Laundry detergents do not cause air pollution, but dry cleaning may, as the chemicals remain in the clothing after cleaning. Some other causes of indoor air pollution include household cleaners, mold, and houseplants. Indoor air problems may also be caused by asbestos, but should only be found in older buildings, as asbestos use is now banned in several countries, including the United States of America. Asbestos is commonly found nowadays when replacing older vinyl floors, so their removal should be done by a professional, in order to reduce health risks and air problems.

It is important to educate yourself about what causes air problems as much as possible. This is an issue that will affect future generations as well as our own. You may be contributing to air problems without even realizing you are doing so.