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When talking about air pollution, we often look only at its current influence on our lives. But the consequences of its existence will be far more reaching and will impact our future as well. So how will pollution affect the world in the coming years?
Harm to human health
One of the most significant future effects of air pollution will be an increase in diseases and, as a result, a higher mortality rate. Short-term exposure to polluted air is not that harmful, but prolonged contact is linked to various conditions, including respiratory diseases, cancer, cardiovascular and nervous system damage, and birth defects. WHO estimates that 7 million people die every year due to air pollution, and that number will rise in the future if the air quality keeps getting worse.
Harm to animals
It is useful to know the adverse effects of air pollution on animals. Animals, just like humans, need clean air to stay alive. The rising pollution of the environment can cause damage to their respiratory systems, induce skin irritations and even be a reason for neurological and fertility problems. Air pollution will also have a damaging impact on the quality of soil and water, which will harm wildlife and existing ecosystems.
Harm to plants and crops
Plants, trees, and crops grow slower when exposed to prolonged air pollution. Ozone is particularly harmful to plant cells and disturbs photosynthesis, which will endanger even more vegetation in the coming years. What are the possible future effects of air pollution on agriculture? Damaged plants will give diminished crops, which may cause global food shortages. We’re already dealing with huge losses of soy, wheat, maize, and rice, and this issue will only get worse with rising air pollution.
Acid rain
It is useful to know the causes of acid rain. Burned fossil fuels poison our air with sulfur and nitrogen oxides, and when those compounds mix with water droplets, they create acid rain. Acid rain falls on earth and increases the acidity of soils and water. It harms vegetation and is another component that can heavily impact our food production in the future. It also damages buildings, both new and old ones, destroying even ancient monuments from marble and limestone that have been part of our history for centuries. So these are other future effects of air pollution.
Reduced sunlight
Air pollution creates not only smog and reduces visibility but can also significantly decrease the amount of sunlight that reaches the earth. And as we know, sunlight is a key component of photosynthesis. With its lower dose getting to the plants, forests, and crops, we will see our food supply dwindle with the years.