Nitrogen Dioxide(NO2)
Nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide (NO) are produced
by all combustion processes conducted in
air. Both NO2 and NO are precursors of ozone
and dissolve in water to form nitric acid
(which falls back to earth as acid rain)
Main Sources
Anthropogenic emissions are mainly due to
fossil fuel combustion, vehicle emissions,
the electricity supply industry and commercial
sector are thought to account for 50, 20
and 17% of NO2 emissions in the UK, respectively.
Health Risks
At high concentrations nitrogen dioxide
can cause inflammation of the airways, however
there is no evidence to suggest that it
affects lung function or increases the response
to allergens in sensitised individuals
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