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What Is Smog – Definition, Effect, and Causes of Air Pollution

Smog is a widespread environmental problem affecting both urban and rural areas across the globe. But what is smog exactly, and why is it so concerning? The definition of smog refers to a type of air pollution that combines smoke and fog, creating a dense, often toxic haze. Understanding what causes smog is crucial to […]

Smog is a widespread environmental problem affecting both urban and rural areas across the globe. But what is smog exactly, and why is it so concerning? The definition of smog refers to a type of air pollution that combines smoke and fog, creating a dense, often toxic haze. Understanding what causes smog is crucial to combating its harmful effects. Smog is typically caused by a combination of industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, and natural factors like weather patterns. The effects of smog are far-reaching, impacting human health, the environment, and even the economy. This article explores the causes of smog, its meaning, and the various smog effects that make it a pressing issue for modern society.

Table of Contents

Smog definition and meaning”>Smog – Definition and Meaning

The word “smog” is a combination of the English words “smoke” and “fog”. This term has become widely recognized as a way to describe heavy air pollution. But what is the definition of smog?

It is classified as thick, atmospheric pollution formed by the reaction of pollutants with sunlight and atmospheric conditions. Smog consists of harmful substances such as nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and fine particulate matter. The severity of smog depends on several factors, including emission sources, geography, and weather conditions.

Worried about air pollution? Download the Airly app HERE to start tracking air quality in your area today.

What Is Smog, and How Do We Understand It?

Many people do not fully understand what smog is and why it forms. There are two main types of smog, distinguished according to the place and conditions of formation.

  • London Smog (Sulphurous Smog): This type of smog forms in colder months and results from burning coal and other fossil fuels. It is characterised by high concentrations of sulphur dioxide and particulate matter.
  • Los Angeles Smog (Photochemical Smog): This form occurs in warmer regions with high traffic and industrial activity. It results from the interaction of sunlight with vehicle emissions, producing ground-level ozone and other harmful pollutants like gases carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and hydrocarbons.

But while those are the main categories we distinguish between today, there’s still more to learn about the different types of smog. If you want to dive deeper into the topic, read more here: Types of Air Pollution – types of smog.

What Causes Smog?

Smog forms when pollutants released into the atmosphere interact with environmental conditions. What causes smog primarily includes:

  • Vehicle Emissions: Cars, trucks, and buses release nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons, which are major contributors to photochemical smog.
  • Industrial Pollution: Factories and power plants emit large quantities of smoke, sulphur dioxide, and carbon monoxide.
  • Burning Fossil Fuels: The combustion of coal, wood, and biomass releases pollutants that increase smog formation.
  • Geographic and Weather Conditions: Cities located in valleys or regions with little wind often experience severe smog, as pollutants become trapped in the atmosphere.

A lesser-known factor is called inflow smog, where polluted air from one area spreads to another. This means that even the regions with fewer local emissions may suffer from smog effects due to external pollution sources. It is also worth noting that the type of smog present in Poland isn’t just London smog but also Los Angeles smog, resulting from traffic pollution.

The Effects of Smog – Results of Air Pollution

The effects of smog are very apparent – thick smoke hanging over the city is easily noticed. However, the results of air pollution are much more severe than just poor visibility or an unpleasant odor. Smog can have lasting consequences on human health, nature, and infrastructure:

  • Health Risks: Prolonged exposure to smog leads to respiratory diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, lung cancer, or developing allergies.
  • Environmental Impact: Air pollution affects plants by hindering growth, as smog blocks sunlight and damages vegetation.
  • Material Degradation: Buildings, bridges, and monuments deteriorate faster due to the corrosive effects of smog-related pollutants.

The effects of smog can also be experienced indirectly, for example, by eating plants that grew surrounded by polluted air or meat from animals that were exposed to such conditions. This is because aggressive chemical factors affect not only people, but animals, plants, and materials as well (including building materials).

A historical example that illustrates the dangers of smog is the famous Great London Smog of 1952. While it lasted for only 5 days, it caused 4,000 deaths related to respiratory complications. A further 8,000 people died in the following weeks. Its effects were so catastrophic that, to this day, governments wrestle with how to reduce its impact.

The Takeaway

We’ve showcased what smog is and talked about its effects and impact. It’s imperative that cities and governments implement measures to effectively reduce it, as it can dramatically improve the quality of life of those living in smog-riddled urban areas.

Want to further your knowledge? Take a look at Airly’s blog. We cover plenty of air quality-related topics, like, what is PM10 and or the most dangerous kinds of pollution.

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Smog definition and meaning

The word “smog” is a combination of the English words “smoke” and “fog”. This combination of words has spread throughout the world, perfectly describing the phenomenon. What is the definition of smog? It can be stated that smog is just such an artificial fog that was created in an unnatural way as a result of human activities and certain unfavourable circumstances of nature. Worried about air pollution? Download the Airly app HERE. 

What is smog and how we divide it?

Many people do not know what smog is. There are two main types of smog, distinguished according to the place and conditions of formation. The first one is Los Angeles smog, which is formed primarily in the summer months and can be found mainly in subtropical zones, and the second one is so-called London smog, more characteristic of the temperate climatic zone and forming mainly from November to January (sometimes March). These 2 types of smog also differ in composition. London smog is primarily a mixture of various particulate matters, enriched with sulphur, nitrogen or carbon oxides, but also with soot. Los Angeles smog consists mainly of gases, including carbon oxides, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons.

Learn more about types of smog.

What causes smog?

Smog is formed by mixing air with pollutants and exhaust gases resulting from human activities. The factors which are responsible for this include factories, an increasing number of cars, burning coal, wood and other solid fuels in stoves. Its formation is also determined by the weather, climate and general conditions of the area. It will be much more difficult to get rid of pollutants when a city is in a valley and the windless weather prevents them from being spread and thinned out, making them hang over the city. Unfortunately, the phenomenon of spreading pollutants to other areas, i.e. the so-called inflow smog, is also present. Certainly, this is how the air is purified in one place, but it becomes more polluted in another. It is also worth knowing that the smog present in Poland is not only London smog, but also Los Angeles smog, resulting from traffic pollution.

what is smog

Effects of smog – results of air pollution

The effects of smog are very noticeable – thick smoke hanging over the city is easily noticed and inhabitants should not breathe polluted air. The results of air pollution, however, are much more far-reaching than some people think – it has a significant impact on human health, with long exposure leading to:

  • the development of allergies and asthma
  • the induction of respiratory failure
  • decreased immunity of the body
  • the induction of circulatory system and heart diseases
  • the development of neoplastic diseases.

The smog effects can also be experienced indirectly, for example by eating plants or meat from animals that were exposed to such conditions. This is because aggressive chemical factors affect not only people, but animals, plants, and materials as well (including building materials). The effects of air pollution are sometimes delayed, but in other cases visible immediately. The best example is the famous Great London Smog in 1952. While it lasted for only 5 days, it caused 4,000 deaths related to respiratory complications. A further 8,000 people died in the following weeks. The effects of the smog were so catastrophic that to this day, governments wrestle with how to reduce its impact. You already know what is smog in itself, and if you want to further your knowledge, please visit our blog. You will find out, among other things, what is PM10 and PM2.5. It is also important to know what is the most dangerous pollution.

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