AIR POLLUTION

A change in the physical , biological and chemical conditions of the environment which
harmfully affects the quality of life indicates pollution of the environment.
Air Pollution is an indication of disturbances to the composition of the atmosphere, as excess
emission of gases/vapors into the atmosphere , saturation of chemical compounds or particulates and
emergence of new chemical reactions of the reactive and non-biodegradable compounds.
STATIONARY AND MOBILE SOURCE OF AIR POLLUTION
Stationary sources are those that have a relatively fixed location .
Point sources - emit pollutants from one or more controllable sites.
Fugitive sources generate air pollutants from open areas exposed to wind processes.
Area Sources are well define areas within which are several sources of air pollutants- for
example , urban communities , area of intense industrialization within urban complexes ,
and agricultural areas sprayed with herbicides and pesticides.

Mobile sources of air pollutants move from place to place while emitting pollutants.
Primary pollutants are those emitted directly to air
Secondary pollutants are produced through reactions between primary pollutants and
normal atmospheric compounds

TYPES ,SOURCES AND EFFECTS PF AIR POLLUTANTS

The major air pollutants occur either in gaseous form or as particulate matter (pm)

Particulate Matter consists of thousands of different solid and liquid particles

that are suspended in the atmosphere.
Gaseous Pollutants

Two main human sources of primary air pollutants are :

Motor Vehicles
Electrical power plants and other industries emit most of the particulate matter and sulfur
oxides .
The top three industrial sources of air pollutants are:

Chemical Industry
Metal Industry
Paper Industry

The major effects of air pollutants are the following:

Air pollutions damages living organisms , reduces visibility, and attacks and corrodes materials.
The respiratory tracts of animals including humans , are particularly harmed by air pollutants
which also aggravate existing medical conditions.
The over-all productivity of crops plants is reduced.
When combined with other environmental stresses , air pollution causes plants to decline and
die.

THE MAJOR AIR POLLUTANTS AND THEIR IMPACT

The following eight pollutants have been identified as most widespread and serious:
Suspended particulate matter is a complex mixture of solid particles and aerosols
suspended in the air.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) include materials such as gasoline , paint
solvents , and organic cleaning solution s, which evaporate and enter the air in the
vapor state , as well as fragments of molecules resulting from incomplete oxidation
of fuels and wastes. VOCs are prime agents of ozone formation.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible , odorless gas that is highly poisonous to airbreathing animals because of its ability to block the delivery of oxygen to the organs
and tissues.
Nitrogen oxides (Nox) nclude several nitrogen-oxygen compounds , all gases ,
which are produced by the chemical interaction between nitrogen and oxygen.
The major effects of nitrogen oxides are the following:

Involved in the production of photochemical smog

Acid deposition
Global Warming

Sulfur oxides (Sox) are gases produced by chemical interactions between sulfur and oxygen.
Lead and other heavy metals- lead is an important constituent of automobile
batteries and other industrial products . When lead is added to gasoline , it helps
protect the engine and promotes more even fuel consumption.
Ozone and other photochemical oxidants
Ozone is colorless gas with slightly sweet odor
However, ozone is also highly toxic to both plants and animals ; its damages lung
tissue and is implicated in many lung disorders.
Peroxyacyl nitrates or PAN

 Air toxic and radioactive substances

Toxic chemicals in the air include carcinogenic chemicals , radioactive materials
and other chemicals that are emitted as pollutants.
SOURCES AND EFFECTS OF INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
POLLUTAN

COMPOSITION

CLASS

PRIMARY OR
SECONDARY

Dust

Variable

Particulates

Primary

Solid particles

Lead

Pb

Particulates

Primary

Solid particles

Sulfuric Acid

H2SO4

Particulates

Secondary

Liquid droplets

Nitrogen dioxide

NO2

Nitrogenoxide

Secondary

Sulfur dioxide

SO2

Sulfur oxide

Primary

Carbon
Monoxide

CO

Carbon oxide

Primary

Methane

CH4

Hydrocarbon

Primary

Colorless, odorless gas

Benzene

C6H6

Hydrocarbon

Primary

Liquid with sweet smell

Ozone

O3

Photochemica
l oxidant

Secondary

Pale blue gas with

sweet smell

CHARACTERISTICS

Reddish Brown Gas

Colorless gas with
strong odor
Colorless, odorless gas

Sources of Indoor Pollutants

The sources of indoor pollution are the ff:

Formaldehyde and other synthetic rganic compounds emanating from plywood ,

particleboard , foam rubber, plastic upholstery , and no-iron sheets and pillowcases.
A wide range of compounds from foods burned on the stove or in the oven.
Incomplete combustion and impurities from fuel-fired heating systems
Fumes from household cleaners and other cleansing agents
fumes from glues and hobby materials
Pesticides
Aerosols sprays of all sorts
Asbestos

Short Term Effects

Eyes, nose and throat irritation
Upper respiratory infections
Headaches . Nausea and allergic reactions
Aggravate medical conditions of individuals with asthma and emphysema
Long Term Effects
Chronic respiratory disease
Lung Cancer
Heart disease
Damge to brain , liver and kidneys
Continual exposure affects lung of growing children
Aggravate or complicate medical conditions in the elderly
Premature death due to smoking cigarettes