What is the primary cause of air pollution?

Human activities are the primary cause of air pollution due to the large number of pollutants released through industrial processes, transportation, and other human-made sources. Activities such as burning fossil fuels for energy, manufacturing goods, and using vehicles contribute significantly to the release of substances like carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter into the atmosphere. These pollutants can have severe health impacts, contributing to respiratory diseases and other health issues, as well as environmental consequences such as acid rain and global warming.

While natural disasters, like volcanic eruptions, can produce significant amounts of pollutants temporarily, they are not consistent sources of air pollution compared to the ongoing emissions generated by human activities. Climate change, although a significant environmental issue related to air quality, does not directly produce air pollutants; instead, it affects weather patterns and can indirectly influence air quality by exacerbating conditions that foster pollution. Therefore, human activities remain the leading cause of persistent air pollution across the globe.