Any substance that alters the natural properties of the atmosphere, whether it be chemical, physical, or biological, is considered an air pollutant. Air pollution can occur indoors or outdoors. Common causes of air pollution include motor vehicles, industrial operations, household combustion appliances, and forest fires. Particulate matter, carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide are pollutants of great public health concern. Indoor and outdoor air pollution are significant contributors to morbidity and death and are known to induce respiratory and other illnesses.
Air pollution poses a serious hazard to health and the environment, from smoke in the house to smog hanging over cities. Fine particulate matter from ambient (outside) air pollution causes acute and chronic respiratory illnesses, heart disease, lung cancer, and strokes in both urban and rural regions.
Additionally, when cooking over open flames or basic stoves powered by kerosene, biomass (wood, animal manure, and agricultural waste), or coal, about 2.4 billion individuals are exposed to dangerously high levels of indoor air pollution.
Every year, 7 million premature deaths are attributed to the impacts of household and ambient air pollution combined.
Multiple and situation-specific sources contribute to air pollution. Residential energy use for heating and cooking, transportation, power production, agriculture/waste incineration, and industry are the main causes of outdoor pollution. Key sources of ambient air pollution can be efficiently reduced by policies and investments that support cleaner household energy and transportation, energy-efficient housing, power generation, industry, and better municipal waste management.
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