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

Aug 2023

TectorTherm System

Multilayer insulation system applied to the facades of buildings to improve their energy efficiency.

Buildings & Constructions

Jun 2022

Ecodeco

A polyolefin-based material for production of wall coverings, a sustainable replacement of PVC

Buildings & Constructions

Apr 2021

TerViva’s Pongamia Protein & Oil

Producing plant protein and vegetable oil from a carbon-negative source

Agrifood & Natural Environment

Mar 2023

GASTRAQ

An innovative service in monitoring and quantification of GHG emissions

Utilities (Water, Energy, Waste)

05. Implementations

Air pollution solutions implementations

Lightyear One – Solar electric car by Lightyear implemented by BNP Paribas in Paris (France) in 2023

Electric-Hydrogen Propulsion by GreenGT implemented by Migros Geneva in Geneva (Switzerland) in 2023

VUF Bikes by VUF Bikes implemented by Oleorecycling in Toulouse (France) in 2018

SOP STAR COW by SOP - Save Our Planet implemented by Fava Dairy Farm in Reggio Emilia (Italy) in 2021

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

WeNow by WeNow implemented by Suez Consulting in Nanterre (France) in 2020

Commuter Score and Commute Management Platform by Commutifi implemented by City of Boulder in Boulder (United States) in 2021

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

SuRelease™ concrete coating by Nanophyll Inc. implemented by Synergy Inc. in Montreal (Canada) in 2022

MagicPallet by MagicPallet implemented by STG in Rennes (France) in 2022

Lungs of the City by ENS Clean Air implemented by City of Eindhoven, Eindhoven University in Eindhoven (Netherlands) in 2018

TAMIC® by Tallano Technologies implemented by Iveco, Transdev, Solea in Mulhouse (France) in 2024

Urban Heat Vulnerability Map by ECOTEN urban comfort implemented by City of Vienna in Vienna (Austria) in 2019

Green Hydrogen Mobility by HYPE implemented by Enhywhere in Paris (France) in 2023

Green Hydrogen Mobility by HYPE implemented by Vinci Concessions in Paris (France) in 2015

CO2-cured low-emissions cement by Solidia Technologies implemented by Elsmere Fire Company in Elsmere (United States) in 2019

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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