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Title
Write a detail report on air pollution with respect to pollution sources, effects of air
pollution on environment and human. Explain how air pollution can be reduced or
prevented.
AIR POLLUTION
2.0.Table of Content
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3.0. Introduction
The planet Earth we live in is the third planet from the sun. It is the only planet to
have an atmosphere, containing free breathable Oxygen, oceans of liquid water and most
importantly, the only planet where life exist. The atmosphere makes up the largest
portion of the biosphere, that consist of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and other traces of
water vapor, carbon dioxide and other organic and inorganic gases. The atmosphere is
described as a dynamic system that continuously absorbs a wide range of solids, liquids,
and gases from nature and man-made sources. These substance will travel in and through
air, disperse and react with one and another until they find its way of depository.
Besides the existence of safe and hypoallergenic gases, the atmosphere also
composed of various contaminants due to natural occurrence or man-made processes.
These contaminants enter the atmosphere and pollute the air and interacts with the
environment. Hence, caused toxicity, diseases, aesthetic distress and also physiology
effects or environmental decay. These contaminants are labelled as pollutants. Based
on Engineers Joint Council of U.S.A, air pollution is defined as the presence in the
outdoor atmosphere of one or more contaminants such as dust, fumes, gas, mist, odor,
smoke or vapor, in small quantities with characteristics and of durations such as to be
injurious to human, plant or animal life or to property or which unreasonably interfere
with the comfort, enjoyment of life.
Air pollutants are generally categorized into two main categories based on origins,
which are primary and secondary. Air pollutants emitted directly into the atmosphere
from a source are called primary. Hence, the carbonaceous particles emitted from a
diesel engine and sulphur dioxide released from the exhaust pipe of a power plant are
examples of primary air pollutants. On the other hand, secondary pollutants are
pollutants that are formed within the atmosphere itself. Examples of secondary air
pollutants are sulphuric acid and nitric acid formed due to the natural oxidation of
sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere. Ozone which are formed by
photolysis of molecular oxygen in the atmosphere and nitrogen dioxide in the
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troposphere is also a secondary air pollutant. Besides that, air pollutants can also be
classified into natural contaminants (e.g. Pollen grains, bacteria, natural fog, and
methane gas), Aerosol (particulates like dust, smoke, mist, fog and fumes), gases and
vapors (e.g. sulphur, nitrogen, oxygen, halogen, organic and radioactive compounds)
In general, peoples activity are the main cause of pollution. As human population
increases in a certain geological location such as cities, pollution problems also arises
more severely compared to rural areas. Based on NASA, living in a large city like New
York, London, Beijing or Mumbai, and you are likely exposed to more air pollution than
people in smaller cities in surrounding areas. But, the Urban Population to Air Pollution
study shows that the pollution-population relationship varies by region (Hansen, 2013).
These human activities are exchanged with the price of pollutions and the effects varies
from mild to severe, where it might be fatal to living organisms. Therefore, solutions
and preventions have to be made to balance the bad effects of polluting the air with
human daily activities without sacrificing the development of human being and the
society. This paper will be addressing the sources of air pollution in the first section,
then effects and solutions to air pollution in the following sections.
4.1.1. Natural
Volcano Eruption.
Every volcanic eruption that occurred on our planet releases huge amount of
pollutants into the atmosphere. When a volcano erupts, it does not only release huge
amount of aerosols like ashes and dust, but also carbon dioxide and other toxic, harmful
pollutants. Carbon dioxide is one of the strongest greenhouse gas that causes global
warming. A single volcanic eruptions releases water vapor(H0), carbon dioxide(CO),
sulphur dioxide(SO), hydrogen sulfide(HS), carbon monoxide(CO), hydrogen
chloride(HCl), and hydrogen fluoride(HF) into the atmosphere. Gases derived from
volcanoes have severe detrimental impacts on vegetation; direct exposure to volcanic
gases over a long term period is lethal to most plant life (McGee, 1997).
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The eruption of Krakatau, Indonesia in 1883 had degassed a huge amount of
aerosols particulates and dispersed to New York. With the increase in particulate size
there is a decrease in the distance of which the ash cloud disperses; smaller particulates
allow for the ash cloud to extend further up and around the earths atmosphere. After the
volcanic incident, the volcanic dust cloud which was formed by Krakataus eruption also
acted as a solar radiation barrier, surface temperature decreased and took about 5 years
to return to normal.
Wildfires
Wildfires can be classified into bush fire, brush fire, dessert fire, forest fire, grass
fire, hill fire, pear fire, vegetation fire or veld fire depending on the vegetation where
wildfire occurs. Natural Wildfires are mostly caused by lava, lightning or even due dry
and hot climates especially during the summer seasons. But it contributes to only 10%
of the cause of wildfires. Lightning, specifically hot lightning can last for a relatively
long time. When it strikes, it produces a spark which could set off a forest or a field in
fire. Besides that, hot burning lavas that flows out from volcanic eruptions to the forest
nearby are also another natural cause of wildfires.
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Dust storms
Each year, dust storms often occur in the northern region of China for example
Mongolia and Mideast regions during spring and winter. The sands travel across the
sea and may pollute other regions like Japan, Korea and Taiwan. The fierce dust storm
that has swept Israel over the past 24 hours has resulted in air pollution levels that are
the highest recorded in the past five years, the Environmental Protection Ministry
reported on Wednesday morning (Haaretz, 2015). As the name implies, when a dust
storm occur, dust and fine particulates (aerosols) lingers around the air for an extended
period of time. It severely affects the visibility and the local air quality.
Additionally, dust storms caused wind erosion too. Wind erosion damages land
and natural vegetation by removing soil from one place and depositing it in another. It
causes soil loss, dryness and deterioration of soil structure, nutrient and productivity
losses and air pollution.
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Pollen and mold dispersion
Natural radioactivity
Contaminants in the atmosphere that cannot be seen through the naked eye are
also air pollutants. For instance like radioactive substances which are micro to nano in
size. Good news is that they are only consist of relatively small proportion of the many
elements and chemicals that are considered air pollution. In despite of the radioactive
element in power plants and weaponization industries. The Mother Nature also emits
radioactive elements naturally. Radioactive materials are very commonly found on the
earth crustal. Thus, natural radioactive contamination are found in the different solid,
liquid and gaseous materials; particularly in the air that we breathe . The radioactive
materials that contribute to the environmental pollution are of uranium, radio, thorium
and gas radon (Rn-222). The most significant of these is radon a colorless, tasteless,
and odorless gas that comes from the decay of radium found in nearly all soils.
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4.1.2. Anthropogenic
Natural cause of air pollution may be drastic and out of hand but it only
contributes to approximately 13% of the total cause of air pollutions in our
atmosphere. The other 87% are due to human activities. For instance, the industrial
processes, artificial agricultural substances, power plant emissions, war and daily
home activities.
Heavy Industries
Heavy industries and vehicles act as major sources of primary air pollutants.
Industries like energy, shipping, manufacturing, and automobiles discharge air
pollutants. Any combustion of fossil fuel process emits gases and chemicals into the
atmosphere as by products and pollute the air.
Ideally, complete combustions releases only water vapor and carbon dioxide
gases. However, complete combustion are often difficult to achieve. Hence out of
100% of combustions, approximately only 75% to 80% are fully burnt, not to mention
unregulated and poorly regulated combustions. These incomplete combustions
releases harmful gases such as oxides of sulphur, oxides of nitrogen, carbon
monoxide, hydrogen carbon, metal fumes (eg. Arsenic, cadmium, lead and nickel
fumes) and aerosol particulates in forms of smog and soot.
Agricultural activities
In all of Europe, Russia, Japan and South Korea, agriculture is the No. 1 cause
of the soot and smog deaths, according to the study and 2nd top cause with 664,100
deaths, behind the more than 1 million deaths from in-home heating and cooking done
with wood and other biofuels in developing world (Aldern.C, 2015).
The agricultural industry plays a very important role in our society as food is
the fuel of life; without food, human beings and wont be able sustain. Hence, to
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accommodate the rapid growth of population, the industry has to be fast, effective and
efficient. A lot of advanced technology and artificial methods are applied. For
instance, development of artificial fertilizers to supply constant nutrients to the crops,
and utilization of mileage vehicles.
Agricultural air pollution comes mainly in the form of ammonia, which enters
the air as a gas from heavily fertilized fields and livestock waste. It then combines
with pollutants from combustion, mainly nitrogen oxides and sulfates from vehicles,
power plants and industrial processes to create tiny solid particles and aerosols.
Human activities not only pollute the outside air but the indoor air too. In fact,
according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in U.S.A., the air indoors is
five times more polluted than the air outside.
Firstly, many homes in the rural areas use wood-consuming stoves, people in
semi-rural and urban areas burn wood during winters to keep themselves warm.
Burning of wood releases many carbon compounds and smog. Besides, the kitchen
stove we use releases nitrogen dioxide which is a highly reactive gas. Nitrogen dioxide
readily reacts with the oxygen and moisture in the air to form toxic nitrates and nitric
acid. Almost every house has household appliances such as air conditioners and
refrigerators which make use of aerosol sprays or refrigerants like R-22. They contain
CFC, HCFCs, FCs or HFCs that depletes the ozone.
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4.2.Effects of air pollution
In this section, the effects of air pollution will be discussed in aspects of social,
environmental, economic and politics. In the social aspect, the human health issue will
be further elaborated. Next, air pollution indirectly damage of property and materials in
terms of economics. Lastly, air pollutions had caused new laws to be passed The
effects will be studied according to the cause and pollutants emitted into the
atmosphere.
4.2.1. Social
Human Health
The main effects of emission from volcano eruptions and heavy industries are
humans and other species of animals in kind respiratory system can be extremely
damaged when exposed to sulphur dioxide (SO) and hydrogen fluoride (HF). In
addition, the introduction of sulphur dioxide to water vapor in the atmosphere causes
acid rain on a global scale. Acid rains contribute to issues regarding the human
respiratory systems as the acids in the rain may evaporate into gaseous state and enter
into our respiratory system and cause damage to respiratory tissues.
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Dust storms which are normally occur in winter and spring, causes the sand
blown up causes the atmosphere to be filled with large amounts of sand, obstructing
sunlight and at time reducing visibility to zero, which are called as black storms. The
particulate matters may also harm to the respiratory system, leading to the
development or aggravation of respiratory diseases, decreased lung function, increased
frequency and severity of respiratory symptoms such as coughing and difficulty
breathing, or increased susceptibility to respiratory infections. According to studies,
there have been 48 super dust storms in the northwestern region of China in the past 40
years, causing 11 deaths and great damage to the lives and agriculture industry of the
people. The mud rain phenomena of March 12th and 13th of 1995 are the most severe
cases.
From the ground, radon migrates into homes and other buildings through cracks
and holes in foundations or walls and travels into buildings through air. Accumulated
radon, trapped inside the buildings, may become a health hazard if the building is not
properly ventilated. Radon in the air decays into radioactive polonium, which, if
inhaled, can damage lung cells and can even lead to lung cancer.
4.2.2. Environment
Ecosystem
Air pollution also damages the environment. For example, ozone can damage
crops and other vegetation, impairing growth. These impacts can reduce the ability of
plants to take up CO2 from the atmosphere and indirectly affect entire ecosystems and
the planets climate.
Global warming
Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide are the driving force behind manmade
climate change. When we burn fossil fuels like coal, for instance, we send these
emissions up into the atmosphere. There, they actually help trap the sun's heat inside,
cooking us like a dog in a hot car and leading to all sorts of ice melts and weather
pattern changes.
Figure4.5: Annual temperature cycle from 1880 to the present, compared to the
average temperature
from 1880 to 2015.
Credits: NASA/Joshua
Stevens, Earth
Observatory
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cancer, cataracts, damage to the immune system. These harmful UV rays also affects
the ecosystems, wild life and agriculture by literally burning living tissues.
4.2.3. Economy
Besides that, the health issues that contributed by air pollutions caused people
to spend more in health and welfare like hospital bills, clinic bills, medicine bills and
health therapy bills. Moreover, labors productivity may drop drastically and causes
ineffective and inefficient spending worth. When the environment is polluted,
production of agriculture yields are highly affected. Low production means higher
cost. These examples are considered as direct costings, whereby directly affects the
economy of the country or a company. By 2060, the annual number of lost working
days, which affect labor productivity, are projected to reach 3.7 billion (currently
around 1.2 billion) at the global level (OECD, 2016).
Wildfires to clear large scale of rubber and oil palm plantations in Indonesia
had resulted in major air pollution in Asia during April to November of 1997 due to
wide spread of forest fire. The disaster had caused regions in Indonesia, Malaysia,
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Singapore and Brunei to be covered by thick smoky haze and caused a huge impact in
the tourism industry. Additionally, it also caused business and industries to shut down.
This had resulted in much mortality towards Malaysia.
4.2.4. Politics
The occurrence of air pollution caused a lot of laws being passed to control the
emissions and harmful effects of air pollutions since industrial revolution had taken
over the development of the society. In Malaysia, Environmental Quality (Clean Air)
Regulation 2014 and Environmental Quality Act 1974 are being passed to protect the
health of our atmosphere. EIA approval are needed from the Director General of
Environment prior to the giving of approval by the relevant Federal or State
Government authority for the implementation of the project. The Approving Authority
is the Government Authority that has the task of deciding, whether or not a project
should proceed. The Act also restricts the discharge of wastes into the environment in
contravention of the acceptable conditions.
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4.3.1. Engineers, Researcher & Other professionals
Engineers and researchers are educated to manage and create innovative and
better solutions to solve issues. Throughout the century, the professionals had invented
Technologies and equipment to solve the problems
aroused from air pollutions. For instance, wall
collection devices like gravity settler, cyclone
separators and electrostatic precipitators are invented
to control particulates. They are function by driving
the particles to a solid wall, where they adhere to each
other to form agglomerates that can be removed from
the collection device. This principle is similar to the
household vacuum cleaner, whereby the dusts and
hairs are sucked and accumulated in a storage to ease
disposal.
Besides that, to
control VOCs (volatile
organic compounds),
absorption method can be
used. Absorption means
the attachment of molecules to the surface of a solid. Then the absorbed materials are
attached to the absorbent like sugar dissolved in water. The most widely used
adsorbent for VOCs is activated carbon. This method is mostly used in air pollution
control to concentrate a pollutant that is present in dilute form in a gas stream, which
where VOCs commonly constitute of. Example of such measure is the activated carbon
filters in cigarettes and activated carbon canisters used in industrial face masks. The
same method can also be used to treat oxides of sulphur, but the absorbent are called
catalyst, like nitrogen dioxide and vanadium (V) oxide (V2O5).
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As for nitrogen dioxide, there are two ways in controlling the emission of
nitrogen oxides. One, to modify the combustion processes to prevent the formation of
oxides of nitrogen. During combustion of fossil fuels, oxygen can be used instead of
air which promotes complete combustion of fuels. Another way is to imply the two-
stage combustion or called as reburning (burning as much of the fuel as that amount of
air will burn, transferring heat from flames to whatever is being heated). Secondly is to
treat the oxides of nitrogen before releasing out into the atmosphere. This is practiced
by using reducing agents to the combustion gas stream to take the oxygen element
away from oxides of nitrogen. Some examples of reducing agents are carbon
monoxides, methane gas, hydrocarbon gases and ammonium gas. The same concept is
applied in the platinum-rhodium catalyst in modern auto engines which converts
nitrogen monoxide and carbon monoxide into clean air elements (nitrogen and carbon
dioxide).
In despite of the present technologies, the air pollution level is still increasing.
Therefore, even though these methods are good but still not good enough, more
researches and development has to be invested to come out with better alternatives to
tackle air pollution issues. Biofuels where one of the hot topic a decade ago but current
biofuels compete with food production and have been blamed for driving up food
prices.
One year ago, MIT researchers came out with a new technology to turn waste
gas into liquid fuel. Emissions of power stations, steel mills and garbage dumps are
turned into liquid fuels using engineered microbes. An engineered Bacteria is used to
convert the waste gases into acetic acid (vinegar) then an engineered yeast to produce
an oil. The process has been successfully trialed at a pilot plant in China and a much
bigger facility is now planned. With this new technology, waste gases with contain
harmful chemicals can be reused to make more fuels to be utilized in the future instead
of releasing into the atmosphere and cause a whole lot of impacts.
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4.3.2. Government
Government as the leader of the nation play a huge part in controlling air
pollutant being emitted and causes pollution to the environment. Passing laws to force
people to protect the environment is indeed a good move. However, the legislative is
not always perfect. Hence, the government has to do more than passing relative laws
and acts. According to WEO special report. It had highlights three key areas for
government actions.
The welfare gains of policies that avoid premature deaths and illness are
potentially very significant. However, there is no one-size-fits-all recipe for reducing
the impacts of air pollution as there are large differences among countries in terms of
prevalent pollutants and sources. The implementation of policies that reduce pollution
levels will certainly address and reduce the biophysical as well as the economic costs
of air pollution.
4.3.3. Education
5.0.Conclusion
Polluted air may contain over 900 chemicals, particles, and biological materials
with potential health effects, economy downturn and various environmental impacts.
The composition and concentrations of the different components in the air vary widely
and are influenced by human activities, natural phenomena and whether conditions.
The atmosphere is polluted through natural phenomenon of the planet but the
contribution of air pollution due to human activities are of the major cause. Hence,
actions have to be taken to overcome the effects raised and coming out with proper
alternatives to replace human activities which contributed to the major cause of air
pollution. Even Since it is not feasible to regulate all possible scenarios, prevention
from possible health effects and protection of sensitive populations is best achieved by
reducing exposure. Every individuals from every layer in the social stratification are
responsible in overcoming air pollution depending on capabilities, professionalism and
knowledge. The responsible varies from changing individuals habit to educating
people to be more aware with the environment or to a point whereby inventing real
advanced technologies. Efforts from every individuals counts and they make a huge
difference when forces are gathered.
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6.0.References
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3. Environmental Protection Administration, Executive Yuan, R.O.C. (Taiwan)
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10. Tsigaridis,K,. (2016). A Major Source of Air Pollution: Farms. Retrieved from
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