Atmospheric Risks and Health Impacts

Introduction

The atmosphere is a thin layer of gases that surrounds the Earth. Just as there are layers inside the Earth, there are also layers in the atmosphere. The layers interact, heat up, and interact with the top layer of the Earth's crust. Sometimes you feel the atmosphere as a cool breeze. Sometimes it's a really hot and humid day that seems to push on you from all sides.

The atmosphere is far more than just a layer of gases surrounding the Earth. It is a moving source of life for every creature of the planet. While the atmosphere is mainly composed of nitrogen (N₂), it also contains gases such as oxygen (O₂) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) that plants and animals need to survive. It has specialized molecules like ozone (O₃) that filter out harmful radiation from space.

The atmosphere can sometimes play the role of a blanket for pollution or a means for smoke, dust, pollutants, and/or diseases to spread regionally and at times globally.