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Nitric oxide pollution can lead to all of the following, except
Explanation
Nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), collectively known as NOx, are significant air pollutants. They contribute to leaf spotting in plants by damaging plant tissues and reducing growth. In humans, NOx exposure is a known respiratory irritant that aggravates conditions like bronchitis and asthma. Through photochemical reactions with volatile organic compounds in the presence of sunlight, NOx leads to the production of ground-level ozone and corrosive gases like nitric acid, which are primary components of photochemical smog [2]. Conversely, silicosis is a specific occupational lung disease caused by the chronic inhalation of crystalline silica dust, typically found in mining, stone cutting, and construction industries. It is not caused by nitric oxide or other gaseous nitrogen oxides. Therefore, silicosis is the exception among the listed effects of nitric oxide pollution.
Sources
- [2] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 5: Environmental Pollution > Ozone. > p. 64