Five Major Pollutants

Primary sources because they enter the atmosphere directly. Other pollutants, known as secondary pollutants, form only when a chemical or physical reaction occurs between a primary pollutant and some other atmospheric component.


    Primary Pollutants

  • Carbon Monoxide
  • Particulate Matter (Particle Pollution)
  • Sulfur Dioxide

    Secondary Pollutants

  • Ground-Level Ozone
  • Nitrogen Dioxide

Let's explore these pollutants in more detail.