01. Definition

What is air pollution?

Air pollution can be defined as an alteration of air quality that can be characterized by measurements of chemical, biological or physical pollutants in the air. Therefore, air pollution means the undesirable presence of impurities or the abnormal rise in the proportion of some constituents of the atmosphere. It can be classified in 2 sections: visible and invisibleair pollution.

Local: this concerns the quality of ambient air within a radius of a few kilometers
Regional: pollution like acid rain, photochemical reactions and degradation of water quality at distances of a few kilometers to a thousand kilometers
Global: depletion of the ozone layer and global warming caused by the emission of greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide (CO2)

02. Causes

Air pollution causes

Air pollution is caused by the presence in the atmosphere of toxic substances, mainly produced by human activities, even though sometimes it can result from natural phenomena such as volcanic eruptions, dust storms and wildfires, also depleting the air quality.

Anthropogenic air pollution sources are:

Combustion of fossil fuels, like coal and oil for electricity and road transport, producing air pollutants like nitrogen and sulfur dioxide
Emissions from industries and factories, releasing large amount of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon, chemicals and organic compounds into the air
Agricultural activities, due to the use of pesticides, insecticides, and fertilizers that emit harmful chemicals
Waste production, mostly because of methane generation in landfills

03. Impacts

Air pollution Impacts

It is impossible to describe the whole extent of potential and actual damage caused by all forms of air pollution. But here are the main consequences:

On the environment: air pollution has a major impact on the process of plant evolution by preventing photosynthesis in many cases, with serious consequences for the purification of the air we breathe. It also contributes to the formation of acid rain, atmospheric precipitations in the form of rain, frost, snow or fog, which are released during the combustion of fossil fuels and transformed by contact with water steam in the atmosphere.
Global warming: on top of that, air pollution is a major contributor to global warming and climate change. In fact, the abundance of carbon dioxide in the air is one of the causes of the greenhouse effect. Normally, the presence of greenhouse gases should be beneficial for the planet because they absorb the infra-red radiation produced by the surface of the earth. But the excessive concentration of these gases in the atmosphere is the cause of the recent climate change
On human health: Our continual exposure to air pollutants is responsible for the deterioration of human health. Air pollution is indeed a significant risk factor for human health conditions, causing allergies, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases as well as lung damage

04. Solutions

Air pollution solutions

The Solar Impulse Label is granted to innovative solutions to air pollution that meet high standards of sustainability and profitability. Each solution goes through a strict assessment process performed by independent experts

Mar 2023

Blueroutes

An AI-based maritime routing solution able to reduce refrigerated container ships's fuel and GHG emissions by 5%

Utilities (Water, Energy, Waste)
Mobility

Oct 2024

Use case available

Welcome app For The Sustainable Transportation

A smart ride-sharing service to promote sustainable and equitable urban transportation.

Mobility

Apr 2023

Cellomur® Ultra ECA

A new generation of low carbon EPS insulation dedicated to external thermal insulation

Buildings & Constructions

Nov 2023

Use case available

Photovoltaics 4.0

A Diagnose platform that improves business and operational efficiency thru digitalization for any PV solar plant.

Utilities (Water, Energy, Waste)

05. Implementations

Air pollution solutions implementations

Welcome app For The Sustainable Transportation by Welcome IT implemented by Holiday Inn group in Riyad (Saudi Arabia) in 2024

Photovoltaics 4.0 by Clever Solar Devices implemented by IGNIS in Escatron (Spain) in 2022

Smart Travel Habits by Nudgd implemented by City of Uppsala in Uppsala (Sweden) in 2022

Smart Travel Habits by Nudgd implemented by City of Gothenburg in Gothenburg (Sweden) in 2021

Lightweight Vegetalization Structure by URBAN CANOPEE implemented by City of Châlon-en-Champagne in Châlons-en-Champagne (France) in 2020

Geothermal panel by Enerdrape implemented by Realstone in Lausanne (Switzerland) in 2021

Geothermal panel by Enerdrape implemented by Coop in Renens (Switzerland) in 2023

BioUrban by Biomitech implemented by Mexican Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in Mexico City (Mexico) in 2021

Edelsun by Edelsun implemented by Le Prestige Bar in Neuchatêl (Switzerland) in 2019

SOLVAir® Marine by Solvay implemented by La Méridionale in Marseille (France) in 2022

Fill4Life by Fluitec implemented by SRP (Mesquite) - Arizona electric power and water utility company in Arlington (United States) in 2012

TEQOYA Air Purifier by TEQOYA implemented by City of Saint Ouen (France) in Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine (France) in 2022

Urban Radar by Urban Radar implemented by City of Versailles in Versailles (France) in 2020

Skybreathe by OpenAirlines implemented by easyJet PLC, Air France in London (United Kingdom) in 2022

Skybreathe by OpenAirlines implemented by Norwegian Airlines in Oslo (Norway) in 2019

Sympheny by Urban Sympheny AG implemented by IBC Energie Wasser Chur in Dübendorf (Switzerland) in 2020

06. Conclusion

Air pollution prevention

There are ways to prevent, control and eventually reduce air pollution:

Renewable fuel and clean energy production: the most basic solution for air pollution is to move away from fossil fuels, replacing them with alternative energies like solar, wind and geothermal.
Energy conservation and efficiency: producing clean energy is crucial. But equally important is to reduce our consumption of energy by adopting responsible habits and using more efficient devices.
Eco-friendly transportation: shifting to electric vehicles and hydrogen vehicles, and promoting shared mobility (i.e carpooling, and public transports) could reduce air pollution.
Green building: from planning to demolition, green building aims to create environmentally responsible and resource-efficient structures to reduce their carbon footprint

Connect with us

Any questions

Feel free to get in touch with us
pauline.michiels@solarimpulse.com

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