Air Quality Awareness

Where does air pollution come from?

Air pollution is gases or particles that can harm our health. MAIA is a NASA project that will study the health impacts of the air pollution that comes from particles (called particulate matter or PM). PM is produced by various natural events and human activities, each of which creates different types.

Sources of Air Pollution

Volcanoes: volcanic eruptions are one source of sulfate particles, though their overall contribution is small.
Traffic: Car exhaust adds black carbon and organic carbon particles to the atmosphere.
Power: Power generation creates a variety of different types of particles, especially sulfates.
Fires: Wildfires and residential and agricultural burning produce black and organic carbon, and nitrate particles.
Agriculture: Farming produces nitrate particles from fertilizers and can also kick up dust.
Dust storms: The dust that can cover the sky in desert areas is made up of tiny pieces of rock.

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Impacts on the Environment

1. Damage to Ecosystems and Vegetation

Acid Rain: Emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) react with water vapor to form acids, which forms acid rain. This acidifies soils and water bodies, damaging forests, crops, and aquatic ecosystems.
Ozone Damage: Ground-level ozone (a key component of smog) harms plant tissues, reducing crop yields and forest growth.
Soil Contamination: Pollutants can settle into the soil, affecting its chemistry and harming beneficial microorganisms.

2. Water Pollution

Eutrophication: Nitrogen compounds from air pollution can deposit into lakes and rivers, causing algal blooms. When these algae die, they deplete oxygen in the water, harming fish and other aquatic life.
Heavy Metals & Toxins: Pollutants like mercury and lead can enter water bodies via atmospheric deposition, accumulating in the food chain and poisoning wildlife.

3. Harm to Wildlife

Toxic Exposure: Animals can absorb pollutants through inhalation or by ingesting contaminated water and food. This can lead to reproductive issues, disease, and even death.
Habitat Degradation: Acid rain and smog can degrade natural habitats, making them less hospitable for plants and animals.

Effects on Health

1. Short Term Exposure

Particulate Matter:
Short term spikes that last a few days can be deadly. Older adults in particularly can have premature deaths with short term particule pollution.
Research has shown that there is higher infant mortality rate, increased hospital admissions for heart related illnesses and stroke and higher rates of asthma attacks among children

Ozone Pollution:

2. Long Term Exposure

Cancer:
A large study of over 55k women found that women living closer to roadways may increase your risk of breast cancer.

Exposure to benzene, a chemical component of gasoline increases your risk of non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

Research has shown that prolonged exposure to PM2.5 and NO2 increases the risk of colorectal and prostate cancer.

Cardiovascular Disease:

PM 2.5 increases inflammation and oxidative stress in blood vessels which leads to narrowing of arteries (atherosclerosis). Raises blood pressure and promotes clot formation and triggers irregular heart rhythms and can cause heart attacks or strokes.

Long term exposure to NO₂ and O₃ are linked to endothelial dysfunction and increase in hypertension, heart failure and arrhythmia.

​ Air Quality Awareness​​​​​​​​​​​​