Overloading of Co2

The whole world is overloaded by co2 and to a certain extent it was justified as a cooling factor for the world's ice age but not anymore since it is resulting in global warming.

Air pollution is a mixture of solid particles and gases in the air, but now there is too much carbon in the world because of burning of different fossil fuels and deforestation. Due to the increased industrialization, infrastructure devolopment and increase in transportation over last few decades atmospheric co2 concentrations has increased from 280 particles per million(ppm) to 400 ppm. To understand the impact in simple terms the moment co2 concentrations reach 550 ppm, the same will start dissipating all of the coral reefs in the world.

However carbon overloading is only one form of air pollution caused by burning coal, oil, gas and wood. The WHO stated that 1 in 9 deaths in 2012 were because of diseases that happened due to air pollution.

There are multipe sources of air pollution but the two main types are :

• Anthropogenic (man made)

• Natural

The anthropogenic sources for air pollution are :

• Fossil fuels power stations.

• Motor vehicles

• Fumes that get emitted from paints and sprays.

• Waste deposition which generates methane.

• Military resources.

The natural sources for air pollution are:

• Dust from natural sources

• Methane that gets emitted by cattle like farm animals.

• Wildfires in forests.

It is important to maintain the co2 levels in the atmosphere for ensuring the sustainability of the Earth and we all have a role to play.

What can we do?

There are some simple things we can do to reduce air pollution. Some of those simple things are :

• Reduce the number of trips you take in your car.

• Reduce or eliminate fireplace/wood stoves.

• Avoiding burning leaves, trash and other things.

• Avoid using gas powered garden equipment.

• Use public transportation or use a Bicycle or walk.

• Use electric vehicles instead of gasoline or gasoil.

---

Sources:

“Carbon Overload.” Down To Earth, www.downtoearth.org.in/news/carbon-overload-10099.

“Why Does CO2 Get Most of the Attention When There Are so Many Other Heat-Trapping Gases?” Union of Concerned Scientists, www.ucsusa.org/resources/why-does-co2-get-more-attention-other-gases.

Hines, Sandra. “Ocean Blues: Carbon Dioxide Overload Threatens Entire Marine Ecosystem.” UW Magazine - University of Washington Magazine, magazine.washington.edu/feature/ocean-blues-carbon-dioxide-overload-threatens-entire-marine-ecosystem/.