In December 1952, more than 10,000 deaths occurred in London, UK. The culprit was smog. Smog is a word that comes from putting together smoke and fog. It is a mixture of smoke and fog and makes the sky hazy. As the smoke usually consists of pollutants such as exhaust gas and soot from factories, automobiles, and residential heaters, it is harmful to human health.

The five-day long smog was so thick that people could not even drive in the city. Apparently, they were not able to see their feet or even breathe inside buildings in the worst areas. As a result, the physical condition of the vulnerable such as the elderly, children, and those with chronic diseases became worse, and more than 10,000 people lost their lives. This disaster is called the Great Smog.

If the everyday air we breathe is polluted, it will only affect our health negatively. Although people are becoming more aware of air pollution and making more efforts these days, we are still suffering from air pollution. Not only pollutants from factories, automobiles, and homes, but also various types of dust in urban environments, seasonal yellow dust, and particulate matter are tormenting us.

Humans are not the only ones affected by air pollution. Plants and animals that breathe the same air as we do are also suffering. Air pollutants that harm our bodies are also harmful to animals. Pets living with people and wildlife close to cities or high-traffic roads are more affected. Animals in the countryside are not safe either. They can be exposed to pesticides and herbicides used for farming.

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Plants are more affected by air pollution. Air pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides combine with water vapors in the atmosphere and fall as acid rain. Acid rain inhibits photosynthesis by destroying the chlorophyll in plants. In addition, it can stop plants from growing by disturbing the activity of microorganisms in the ground. Particulate matter in the atmosphere can block the stomata of plants, impeding the absorption of carbon dioxide and lowering photosynthetic efficiency. Without proper photosynthesis, plants will not grow.

If plants do not grow properly or if particulate matter or pollutants accumulate inside the plants, it will naturally affect the animals that feed on them. Insects consuming leaves take in particulate matter in the bodies of plants, which leads to particulate matter building up in their digestive tract and preventing normal digestive activity. A study found that the death rate of silkworms grown on leaves containing particulate matter increased and their weight decreased. The particulate matter accumulating on the body of herbivorous insects undoubtedly affects carnivorous insects, which needs to be further researched. Insects that feed on pollen or nectar are also affected by air pollution. When they collect pollen with particulate matter on the surface, heavy metals or viruses contained in it can have a detrimental health effect. Studies have shown that air pollution can interfere with finding paths for insect pollinators such as bees, butterflies and moths. When pollutants in the air combine with the molecules that emit floral scents, it becomes difficult for flower-seeking insects to smell them.

If these insects cannot find flowers, pollination doesn’t occur smoothly. The pollination activity of insects is very important for plants. Improper pollination leads to no fruit and causes a great impact on the ecosystem. The production of crops also declines.

Inorganic substances are also the victims of air pollution. Acid rain damages ancient ruins and artifacts. Thousand-year-old cultural heritage sites are often quickly damaged by acid rain and pollutants.

We occasionally hear that ancient ruins in Greece, the Taj Mahal in India, and Roman ruins in Italy are being damaged and destroyed. The same goes for Korean relics, such as Seokgatap, Dabotap, and Cheomseongdae.

When thinking about the harm of air pollution, we tend to think only of ourselves. We must keep in mind that it is the entire environment around us that suffers from air pollution.