Smog (disambiguation) facts for kids

Smog is a type of air pollution that makes the air look hazy and dirty. The word "smog" comes from combining the words "smoke" and "fog." It often hangs over big cities, making it hard to see far away and sometimes making the air unhealthy to breathe.

What is Smog?

Smog is a mix of tiny particles and gases in the air. It forms when pollutants from things like cars, factories, and power plants react with sunlight. When you see a brownish or grayish haze over a city, especially on a warm, sunny day, that's often smog. It can make the sky look dull and block out the sun.

How Does Smog Form?

Smog usually forms when certain chemicals get into the air and mix together. The main ingredients for smog are:

• Pollutants from vehicles: Cars, trucks, and buses release gases like nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from their exhaust pipes.
• Pollutants from industries: Factories and power plants that burn fossil fuels (like coal or oil) also release these gases and tiny particles.
• Sunlight: When sunlight hits these chemicals in the air, they react with each other and with oxygen. This reaction creates new, harmful substances, including ozone near the ground. This ground-level ozone is a key part of smog and is different from the helpful ozone layer high up in the atmosphere.

There are two main types of smog:

• Industrial Smog: This type used to be common in cities like London, where many people burned coal for heat and power. It's a mix of smoke, sulfur dioxide, and tiny particles.
• Photochemical Smog: This is the more common type today, especially in sunny cities. It forms from vehicle exhaust and sunlight, creating ground-level ozone and other harmful chemicals.

Why is Smog Bad?

Smog is not just ugly; it can be very harmful to people's health and the environment.

Health Effects

Breathing in smog can cause many problems, especially for children, older people, and those with lung conditions like asthma.

• Breathing problems: Smog can make it hard to breathe, causing coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
• Eye and throat irritation: It can make your eyes sting and your throat feel scratchy.
• Worsening of conditions: For people with asthma or other lung diseases, smog can trigger attacks and make their conditions much worse.
• Long-term damage: Over many years, breathing smog can damage your lungs and even increase the risk of serious illnesses.

Environmental Effects

Smog also harms plants, animals, and even buildings.

• Damage to plants: It can damage crops, trees, and other plants, making them grow slower or even killing them.
• Reduced visibility: Smog makes the air hazy, reducing how far you can see. This can affect driving and flying.
• Acid rain: Some of the chemicals in smog can contribute to acid rain, which harms lakes, forests, and buildings.

How Can We Reduce Smog?

Reducing smog is important for everyone's health and for protecting our planet. Here are some ways we can help:

• Drive less: Walk, bike, or use public transport whenever you can. If you have to drive, try to carpool.
• Save energy: Use less electricity at home, as power plants are a source of pollution. Turn off lights and electronics when you're not using them.
• Use cleaner vehicles: Support the use of electric cars and other vehicles that produce less pollution.
• Support clean energy: Encourage the use of renewable energy sources like solar and wind power instead of fossil fuels.
• Plant trees: Trees help clean the air by absorbing some pollutants.

By making smart choices and supporting cleaner technologies, we can all help make the air we breathe much healthier.

Related pages

• Smaug, a dragon in The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien