Which of the following is a common air pollutant produced by combustion?

Which of the following is a common air pollutant produced by combustion?

• A. Ozone (O3)
• B. Carbon monoxide (CO)
• C. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
• D. Sulfur dioxide (SO2)

Answer: (B)

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a common air pollutant that is produced primarily by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. Sources of carbon monoxide include vehicle emissions, industrial processes, and residential heating systems that burn fossil fuels. When these fuels are burned, ideally, they produce carbon dioxide and water. However, under conditions of limited oxygen or at lower combustion temperatures, carbon monoxide is formed instead, which is harmful because it binds to hemoglobin in the blood, reducing its ability to carry oxygen. This makes CO a significant concern for air quality and public health. While other options like ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide are also pollutants, they are typically associated with different processes or sources. Ozone, for example, is a secondary pollutant formed by reactions between sunlight and primary pollutants like volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide are directly emitted from combustion processes, especially from vehicles and power plants, but CO remains a distinct and widely recognized risk from incomplete combustion in various settings.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a common air pollutant that is produced primarily by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. Sources of carbon monoxide include vehicle emissions, industrial processes, and residential heating systems that burn fossil fuels. When these fuels are burned, ideally, they produce carbon dioxide and water. However, under conditions of limited oxygen or at lower combustion temperatures, carbon monoxide is formed instead, which is harmful because it binds to hemoglobin in the blood, reducing its ability to carry oxygen. This makes CO a significant concern for air quality and public health.

While other options like ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide are also pollutants, they are typically associated with different processes or sources. Ozone, for example, is a secondary pollutant formed by reactions between sunlight and primary pollutants like volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide are directly emitted from combustion processes, especially from vehicles and power plants, but CO remains a distinct and widely recognized risk from incomplete combustion in various settings.