What is the main cause of air pollution?

The primary cause of air pollution is the burning of fossil fuels. This process releases a significant amount of pollutants into the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter. These emissions result from various activities such as transportation, electricity generation, and industrial processes that rely on coal, oil, and natural gas.

When fossil fuels are burned, a chemical reaction takes place, producing harmful gases that contribute to air quality deterioration and have serious consequences for both human health and the environment. Burnt fossil fuels are a major contributor to climate change and can lead to respiratory illnesses, heart disease, and other health problems.

In contrast, while industrial waste and agricultural emissions do contribute to air pollution, they are not as ubiquitous or impactful as the emissions from fossil fuel combustion. Nuclear waste is also not a direct cause of air pollution since it primarily involves the disposal of radioactive materials that do not directly affect air quality in the same way that the combustion of fossil fuels does.