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| Effects of Air Pollution on Animals |
Air Pollution: An Overview
Air pollution refers to the introduction of some harmful gases and particulate matter in the Earth's atmosphere which in turn results in contamination of air that the various lifeforms require for various life processes. There exist natural causes of air pollution - such as volcanic eruptions, wildfires, etc. as well as human-induced causes such as vehicle emissions, industrial fumes, etc. Over the last few decades, human-induced air pollution has become a lot more severe and common as compared to its natural counterpart. The contaminants that are known to pollute the air include carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide etc. all of which are known to be harmful for human beings and animals alike.
Air Pollution Effects on Animals
Along with humans, animals - ranging from tiny microbes to large mammals, are dependent on oxygen that they derive from the air. When contaminated air is inhaled for breathing oxygen, several harmful gases are also inhaled along with this lifesaving gas. These harmful gases are believed to affect animals in the same manner in which they affect humans. Experts also suggest that the particulate matter that the animals inhale over a prolonged period can get accumulated in their tissues and damage their organs in the long run. Other than inhaling the harmful contaminants directly, animals can also come in contact with these contaminants from the food that they eat and by absorption through their skin. Some studies do reveal that the effects of air pollution on animal species are much more severe than they are on us humans - as they are not well-equipped to protect themselves from this hazard as we are.
Acid Rain
While the effects of breathing in harmful gases and particulate matter on animals are similar to that on humans, animals are also vulnerable to these harmful gases indirectly. Acid rain - which is again attributed to air pollution, is one of the major threats for animals. When contaminants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide are released in the atmosphere, they start ascending in the air and come in contact with rain bearing clouds. When these clouds start precipitating, the water droplets react with chemicals that are suspended in the atmosphere and result in acid rain. With a pH value of 5.5, acid rainwater alters the chemical properties of ponds and rivers, and result in habitat destruction for species which inhabit these water bodies. Similarly, acid rain also contaminates the vegetation and water on the planet, and harms animals which drink the contaminated water and feed on contaminated plants. There is no dearth of instances of habitat loss for freshwater biome species as a result of acid rain. In fact, several North American lakes have virtually become lifeless as a result of increasing instances of acid rain and acid fog which has - in turn, resulted in acidification of these freshwater sources.
Ozone Depletion and Global Warming
When greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide are released in the atmosphere, they start depleting the ozone layer which blocks the harmful ultraviolet radiation coming from the Sun. As the ozone layer starts depleting, the harmful radiation which enter the Earth's atmosphere harm the plants and animals on the planet. If experts are to be believed these harmful ultraviolet radiation can cause skin problems - such as cancer, in animals as well. At the same time, tropospheric ozone - which happens to be a greenhouse gas in itself, has the tendency to cause tissue damage and respiratory infections in animals. Not to forget, global warming - which happens to be one of the underlying factors for loss of habitat for numerous species, is also attributed to unabated release of pollutants like carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere of the Earth.
As we mentioned earlier, the effects of air pollution on animals are considered to be much more severe than its effects on us humans, as we can at least protect ourselves from the hazards of the same. The rapid rate at which air pollution is occurring is not even giving the animals a chance to adapt to the changes in the environment. In the long term, these effects are likely to trigger extinction of species - one after another, and that will indirectly add to our woes considering that we along with all these animals - that are at the receiving end today, form the complex ecological network wherein all species are dependent on each other.