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Article: Atmospheric Pollution
- Article from:
- World of Earth Science
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 The Gale Group, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Atmospheric pollution
Atmospheric pollution (also commonly called air pollution) is derived chiefly from the spewing of gasses and solid particulates into the atmosphere. Many pollutants
—
dust, pollen, and
soil
particles
—
occur naturally, but most air pollution, as the term is most commonly used and understood, is caused by human activity. Although there are countless sources of air pollution, the most common are emissions from the burning of
hydrocarbons
or fossil
fuels
(e.g.,
coal
and oil products). Most of the world's industrialized countries rely on the burning of fossil fuels; power plants heat homes and provide
electricity
, automobiles burn gas, and factories ...