Criteria Air pollutants

Dr. Muhammad Umar Farooq

Criteria Air pollutants:

USEPA has designated seven major Air Pollutants for which

ambient Air levels are mandated.

Those are, SO2, CO, PM, NOx, Pb, HC, & Photochemical
Oxidants (O3 + PAN)
Criteria Pollutants:
Are responsible for largest air quality degradation,

Pose serious threat to human health and welfare.

Non-Criteria Pollutants:

USEPA has considered some pollutants as Unconventional

setting standards for their emissions.

These are considered especially toxic & hazardous. These

include,
ASBESTOS, BENZENE, BERRYLIUM, MERCURY, PCBs, V.C.

MAJOR URBAN AIR POLLUTANTS

(Sources & Effects)
1) Particulate Matter (PM):
Particle pollution..a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Some
particles, such as dust, dirt, soot, or smoke, are large or dark enough to be seen with the naked
eye. Others are so small they can only be detected using an electron microscope.

Many sizes and shapes and can be made up of hundreds of different chemicals.

Primary particles are emitted directly from a source, such as construction sites, unpaved roads,
fields, smokestacks or fires.
Secondary particlesform in complicated reactions in the atmosphere

These particles, known as make up most of the fine particle pollution in the country.

MAJOR URBAN AIR POLLUTANTS

(Sources & Effects)

1) Particulate Matter (PM):
Sources:
Industries, Motor Vehicles, Fugitive Dust
PM10 (Inhalable coarse particles)
PM2.5 (Fine particles)
Effects:
Health problems (linked with Size)

Reduced Visibility
Environmental Damage
Aesthetic Damage/Soiling of clothes

MAJOR URBAN AIR POLLUTANTS

(Sources & Effects)

2) NOx
Sources:
Industries, Motor Vehicles

Effects:
Reduced plant growth
Asthma, Bronchitis

Produce Photochemical Smog

Form small particles (PM) (ammonia, moisture & other compounds)
Acid rain
Global Warming
Metal Corrosion
Fading of Textiles

MAJOR URBAN AIR POLLUTANTS

(Sources & Effects)

3) SOx
Sources:
Burning of Fossil Fuels
Effects:

Acid Rain
Irritation of Respiratory tract
Reduced Plant growth

4) COx
Sources:
Burning of Fossil Fuels
Effects:
CO Reduces blood carrying capacity
CO2 Causes Global Warming

MAJOR URBAN AIR POLLUTANTS

(Sources & Effects)

5) Hydrocarbons
Sources:
Mostly automobile exhaust, fuel evaporation

Effects:
All HC except CH4 produce photochemical smog
CH4 Global warming
Skin cancer

MAJOR URBAN AIR POLLUTANTS

(Sources & Effects)

6) Ozone
Source:
Tropospheric ozone produced by Photochemical smog reactions

NOx + HC + O2

UV rays

O3 + PAN

Effects:
O3 reduces visibility
Eye, Nose, Throat irritation
Bronchitis
Produces cracks in tires

Stresses Plants