Module #6 – Every Breath You Take Lesson #1 – What’s up with our air?

Breathing is one of the most essential functions of our bodies. We can’t live for 5 minutes without breathing. We breathe in OXYGEN which goes to our blood and our brains and every organ. But when we breathe in polluted air, we breathe in tiny particles of toxins into our lungs which then go to other parts of our bodies, too.

But WHAT is air pollution and where does it come from?

Explanation from NASA Climate kids:

“AIR POLLUTION is caused by solid and liquid particles and certain gases that are suspended in the air. These particles and gases can come from car and truck exhaust, factories, dust, pollen, mold spores, volcanoes, and wildfires. The solid and liquid particles suspended in our air are called AEROSOLS.”

CAR POLLUTION

When cars burn gasoline, they emit pollutants. Pollutants are particles and gases, that are difficult to see.  Gasoline fumes escape into the air even when we pump gasoline into our fuel tanks. A car emits CARBON MONOXIDE when it runs. The fuel (gas) burns so that the engine can run. The part of the carbon that doesn’t burn completely is let out into the air around us.  This is called exhaust. It’s very hard to see exhaust, but it’s there. A car’s exhaust is full of hydrocarbons, a toxic compound of hydrogen and carbon.

Fact:  There are more than 276 million cars in the US alone, all emitting carbon monoxide.

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