What are hazardous air pollutants? Name some and mention their effect on human health.
The air pollutants that cause severe health problems are known as hazardous air pollutants.
| Pollutants | Sources | Description | Effects |
| Carbon Monoxide | Combustion process of vehicles | Colourless, odorless, | Reduces oxygen delivery to heart and brain, 4even cause death |
| Carbon dioxide | Burning of fossil fuels, respiration in animals. | Odorless, colourless, compressed liquefied gas. | Risk of getting suffocated when confined in a compact area. |
| Sulfur dioxide | Fossil fuel combustion and industrial emits. | Invisible gas with pungent, sharp smell. | Breathing problems for asthmatic patients |
| Nitrogen oxides | Emission of cars, trucks, buses, power plants | Group of highly reactive gases. | Respiratory trouble |
| SPM | Soil, dust, organic chemicals, metals etc. | Complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets. | Affect heart and lungs and causes serious problems. |
| CFC | Refrigerator, aerosols, | Colourless, volatile gas with a mild smell. | Reduces ozone layers of atmosphere that allows UV rays to enter earth’s surface. |