Atmospheric pollutants
Burning fuels creates many atmospheric pollutants.
| Pollutant | Source |
| Carbon dioxide CO2 | Complete combustion of any fuel containing carbon. |
| Carbon monoxide CO | Incomplete combustion of any fuel containing carbon. |
| Sulfur dioxide SO2 | Combustion of a fossil fuel that contains sulfur impurities. |
| Pollutant | Carbon dioxide CO2 |
|---|---|
| Source | Complete combustion of any fuel containing carbon. |
| Pollutant | Carbon monoxide CO |
|---|---|
| Source | Incomplete combustion of any fuel containing carbon. |
| Pollutant | Sulfur dioxide SO2 |
|---|---|
| Source | Combustion of a fossil fuel that contains sulfur impurities. |
Sulfur dioxide as a pollutant.
Sulfur dioxide can react with rain water forming sulfurous acid, which falls as acid rain.
Acid rain harms and kills living things, especially those in aquatic environments.
It can also damage limestone and marble statues and buildings.
Acid rain also defoliates trees.
Carbon dioxide as a pollutant
Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere forms a blanket around the Earth.
This causes the greenhouse effect that helps to keep the temperature of the Earth steady.
Too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere thickens this blanket and causes more heat to be trapped, this warms the Earth in an effect called global warming.
Global warming leads to polar ice caps melting, sea levels rising, flooding and climate change.