Industry

Factories, steelworks and other industrial sites often burn coal or gas. Industry can release some dangerous pollution.

Main pollutants are NO2, CO2 and SO2

Power plants

All the electricity and gas we use has to come from somewhere. Unfortunately, most of it comes from power plants that burn fossil fuels! Oh no…

Main pollutants are NO2, SO2 and PM

Transport

These days, cars, trains and planes are everywhere. Most of them burn petrol or diesel, which create dirty emissions from exhaust pipes and engines. Eww!

Main pollutants are NO2, PM and CO2

Farming

Cows produce gas every time they burp or fart. Think about how many cows humans keep for farming around the world. That’s a lot of gas!

Main pollutants are CH4

NO2
PM
CO2
SO2
CH4
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)

A nasty-smelling gas that’s bad for your eyes, nose, throat and lungs. Transport is the biggest source of NO2!

Particulates (PM10 and PM2.5)

Really small bits of soot and dust – so small they can get deep inside your lungs.

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Contributes to climate change and can be bad for you to breathe in.

Sulphur dioxide (SO2)

A stinky gas that can make you cough and can even create acid rain, too.

Methane (CH4)

Traps heat in the atmosphere – making the earth get hotter.