Air quality becomes bad primarily due to elevated concentrations of ground- level ozone and particulate matter. Ground-level ozone forms when nitrogen oxides and organic compounds from sources like vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions react in the presence of heat and sunlight. Particulate matter includes solid and liquid particles such as smoke and dust from vehicles, factories, power plants, fires, and natural phenomena. Both ozone and particulate matter can cause serious health issues like breathing difficulties, lung damage, heart attacks, strokes, and exacerbation of asthma and lung diseases. Weather conditions like heat, sunlight, and stagnant air can worsen air quality by increasing pollutant concentrations.
Major human sources contributing to bad air quality include industrial emissions, transportation (vehicles), agriculture, waste burning, and household fuel burning. Indoor air pollution can be worse than outdoor due to pollutants from cooking, heating, building materials, and tobacco smoke. Natural sources such as wildfires, dust storms, and volcanic eruptions also play a role.
In summary, air quality deteriorates due to a combination of human activities emitting pollutants and natural factors influencing their concentration in the atmosphere.
