Topic of the week

What is BLACK CARBON pollution?
Black carbon pollution is the release of tiny particle into the air from burning fuel for energy. Air pollution caused by such particulates has been a major problem since the beginning of the industrial revolution and the development of the internal combustion engine. Scientific publications dealing with the analysis of soot and smoke date back as early as 1896. Mankind has become so dependent on the burning of fossil fuels ( petroleum product, coal, and natural gas) that the sum total of all combustion related emissions now constitutes a serious and widespread problem, not only to human health, but also to the entire global environment.

Thanks,hcn, for the interesting information about different types of air pollution.
Now that you bring up the airborne-particulates derviving from indoor activities such as cooking and smoking, I'd like to add that there are other indoor pollutants including pollen, cat danger as well...My nose is so stuffy every morning when i wake up as it is jammed with tiny particulates circulating in my room , my chronic sinusitist seems never healed as I am exposed to indoor and outdoor pollution day in day out. Even though there have been a variety of air cleaner/purifier on the market these days, I am still in doubt about the real efficiency of them. Not so many people can afford this fancy machine, so I guess the best way for them to protect their breathing system is always keep their places clean and neat.

While the indoor pollution is controllable, the outdoor one is almost out of hand. The current most serious causes of pollution in Vietnam are deforestation and transportation. There have been more cars and motorbikes on streets and less trees on hills than ever before. The population will exceed 80 mil mark in the next 5 years. If there are no drastic action and good planning now, the whole country will have to confront a series of devastating outcomes (which have already emerged in recent years) soon.
Được johntrung sửa chữa / chuyển vào 22:57 ngày 17/12/2002

Ozone Depletion is another result of pollution. Chemicals released by ỏu activities effect the stratosphere, one of the atmospheric layers surrounding earth. The ozone layer in the stratosphere protects the earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Release of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC's) from aerosol cans, cooling systems and refrigerator equipment removes some of the ozone, causing " holes"; to open up in this layer and allowing the radiation to reach the earth. Ultraviolet radiation is known to cause skin cancer and has damaging effects on plants and wildlìe