What are the Sources of Nitrogen Oxide?
Nitrogen is all around us and is normally relatively un-reactive in the atmosphere. Nitrogen will only react with oxygen when put under specific conditions to form nitrogen oxides such as nitrogen monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide. The most common method that causes nitrogen and oxygen to react and form nitrogen oxides is by combusting fuel, a process where fuel is burned at high temperatures. As can been seen in Figure 1, our everyday activities such as burning fuel for transportation, or using electricity in our homes produced by burning coal or oil, or in power plants, are all activities that directly or indirectly cause the production of nitrogen oxide emissions. What are the Health Effects of Nitogen Oxides? Small levels of nitrogen oxides can irritate the eyes and/or nose, cause nausea, may cause fluid to form in the lungs, and cause shortness of breath. Exposure to high levels of nitrogen oxides can lead to rapid, burning spasms, cause the throat to swell, reduce oxygen intake, cau
