Effects of Primary Air Pollutants on Human Health and Control Measures-A Review Paper

Air pollution is one of the major health problems confronting humans today. The accumulation of air pollutants in the atmosphere in large quantities and of longer duration poses harm to human health, affect man-made structures as well as change the patterns of weather and climatic systems. This paper discusses the effects of air pollution upon human health with emphasis on primary air pollutants. It also looked at historical background of air pollution problem, various sources of primary air pollutants, nitrogen oxides (NOx), Carbon monoxide (CO), Particulate material(PM), Sulphur dioxide (SO₂), Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), Radon (Rn) and Lead (Pb) and their upon human health that range from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, emphysema, asthma and so on. Control of air pollutants is likewise discussed from legislative view points and by use of instruments that lessen the quantities of pollutants released by motor vehicles, industries and so on.