Air Pollution

Thought of the Day

Do unto others as you would
have them do unto you
Hazrat Isa (A.S)
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Air Pollution
The presence in the atmosphere of one or more
air contaminants in sufficient quantities and of
such characteristics and duration as to be
injurious to human, plant, or animal life, to
health, or to property, or to unreasonably
interfere with the enjoyment of life or property
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The Atmosphere
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Composition of the Atmosphere
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Air Pollutant
An air pollutant can be
considered as a substance
in the air that, in high
enough concentrations,
produces a detrimental
environmental effect

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Environmental Effect
An environmental effect
is defined as a measurable
or perceivable detrimental
change resulting from
contact with an air
pollutant

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Ambient Air
Ambient air is the air to
which the general public
has access, i.e. any
unconfined portion of the
atmosphere
Ambient concentration
The appropriately time
averaged concentration of
a substance at a location
to which the general
public has access
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Air Pollutants
The two basic physical
forms of air pollutants are
Particulate Matter
Gases
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Sulfur Dioxide (SO
2
)
Nitrogen Dioxides (NO
2
)
Volatile Organic Compounds
(VOCs)


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Particulate Matter
A criteria air pollutant
Particulate matter includes dust, soot, and
other tiny bits of solid materials that are
released into and move around in the air
Particulates are produced by many
sources
burning of diesel fuels by trucks and buses
incineration of garbage
mixing and application of fertilizers and
pesticides
road construction
industrial processes such as steel making,
mining operations
agricultural burning (field and slash
burning)
fireplaces and woodstoves
Particulate pollution can
cause eye, nose, and
throat initiation and other
health problems

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Particulate Matter
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Relative Size of Particles
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PM 10, 2.5, 0.1
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Types and Sources of Air Pollution
A primary pollutant is one that
is emitted into the atmosphere
directly from the source of the
pollutant and retains the same
chemical form
A secondary pollutant is one
that is formed by atmospheric
reactions of precursor or
primary emissions. Secondary
pollutants undergo a chemical
change once they reach the
atmosphere

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Natural Sources (Biogenic)
Volcanoes
Wind Storms
Sand Storms
Forest Fires
Pollen
Natural Decomposition
Natural Radioactivity

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Dust Storm over Southwestern Asia
The Moderate Resolution
Imaging Spectroradiometer
(MODIS) on NASAs Terra
satellite captured this
natural-color image on
March 20, 2012
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Man Made Sources
(Anthropogenic)
Mobile Sources
Automobiles
Trains
Aero planes

Stationary Sources (Non
Moving Sources)
Power Plants
Industrial Facilities

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Criteria Pollutants
The criteria pollutants are
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Sulfur Oxides (SO
x
)
Nitrogen Oxides (NO
x
)
Ozone (O
3
)
Lead (Pb)
Particulate Matter (PM)

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Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless,
odorless, poisonous gas
slightly lighter than air
produced through the incomplete
combustion of carbon
operations of internal combustion
engines, such as automobiles
CO enters the bloodstream and
reduces the delivery of oxygen to the
bodys organs and tissues
most serious for people with
cardiovascular disease
Exposures to elevated carbon
monoxide concentrations are
associated with impairment of visual
perception, work capacity, manual
dexterity, learning ability, and
performance of complex tasks
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Sulfur dioxide (SO
2
)
Sulfur dioxide (SO
2
) is a corrosive,
poisonous gas
produced in power plants, particularly use
high-sulfur coal as a fuel
SO
2
and oxides of nitrogen after being
released into the atmosphere, can be
chemically converted into sulfates and
nitrates
may later be deposited on the ground in
the form of so-called acid rain or snow
At high concentrations, SO
2
affects
breathing and produces respiratory illness
alterations in the defenses of the lungs
aggravation of existing respiratory and
cardiovascular disease
Sulfur dioxide can also produce damage
on trees and agricultural crops
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Nitrogen Dioxide (NO
2
)
Nitrogen dioxide (NO
2
) is produced when
fuels are burned at high temperatures
main sources are transportation vehicles
and power plants
NO and NO
2
are inhaled, they can irritate
the lungs and lower resistance to
respiratory infections such as influenza
continued or frequent exposure to high
concentrations causes increased incidence
of acute respiratory disease in children
Nitrogen oxides are also an important
precursor of both ozone and acidic
precipitation
may affect both terrestrial and aquatic
ecosystems
limit for nitrogen dioxide is also designed
to support the limit for ozone
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Ozone (O
3
)
Ozone (O
3
) is formed in the atmosphere as
a result of chemical reactions between
oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic
compounds, such as hydrocarbons (HCs)
If inhaled, damages lung tissue
reduces lung function
sensitizes the lungs to other irritants
Scientific evidence indicates that ambient
levels of ozone not only affect people with
impaired respiratory systems, such as
asthmatics, but healthy adults and
children
Specific effects, particularly at elevated
concentrations, include eye and lung
irritation
Ozone is also responsible for several
billion dollars of agricultural crop loss in
the United States each year.
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Lead (Pb)
Lead (Pb) is a heavy, comparatively
soft metal used as an additive to
gasoline
household paint
shotgun pellets
stained-glass windows
When taken into the body, it
accumulates in the blood, bones, and
soft tissues
Because it is not readily excreted, it
also affects the kidneys, liver, nervous
system, and blood-forming organs
Excess exposure may cause
neurological impairments such as
seizures, mental retardation, and/or
behavioral disorders.
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Particulate Matter
Particulates are solids or liquids
produced by the combustion of
fuel in stationary power plants
diesel-powered vehicles
various industrial processes
produced by plowing and burning
of agricultural fields
If particulates are inhaled, they
can lead to respiratory symptoms
aggravate existing respiratory
cardiovascular disease
alter the defenses of the body
against foreign materials, damage
lung tissue, and produce latent
cancers and premature mortality.
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National Primary US Air Quality
Standards
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Table 1: Sources, Health and Welfare Effects for Criteria Pollutants.
Pollutant Description Sources Health Effects Welfare Effects
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Colorless, odorless gas Motor vehicle exhaust,
indoor sources include
kerosene or wood burning
stoves.
Headaches, reduced
mental alertness, heart
attack, cardiovascular
diseases, impaired fetal
development, death.
Contribute to the
formation of smog.
Sulfur Dioxide (SO
2
) Colorless gas that
dissolves in water vapor
to form acid, and interact
with other gases and
particles in the air.
Coal-fired power plants,
petroleum refineries,
manufacture of sulfuric
acid and smelting of ores
containing sulfur.
Eye irritation, wheezing,
chest tightness, shortness
of breath, lung damage.
Contribute to the
formation of acid rain,
visibility impairment,
plant and water damage,
aesthetic damage.
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO
2
) Reddish brown, highly
reactive gas.
Motor vehicles, electric
utilities, and other
industrial, commercial,
and residential sources
that burn fuels.
Susceptibility to
respiratory infections,
irritation of the lung and
respiratory symptoms
(e.g., cough, chest pain,
difficulty breathing).
Contribute to the
formation of smog, acid
rain, water quality
deterioration, global
warming, and visibility
impairment.
Ozone (O
3
) Gaseous pollutant when it
is formed in the
troposphere.
Vehicle exhaust and
certain other
fumes. Formed from
other air pollutants in the
presence of sunlight.
Eye and throat irritation,
coughing, respiratory
tract problems, asthma,
lung damage.
Plant and ecosystem
damage.
Lead (Pb) Metallic element Metal refineries, lead
smelters, battery
manufacturers, iron and
steel producers.
Anemia, high blood
pressure, brain and kidney
damage, neurological
disorders, cancer, lowered
IQ.
Affects animals and
plants, affects aquatic
ecosystems.
Particulate Matter (PM) Very small particles of
soot, dust, or other matter,
including tiny droplets of
liquids.
Diesel engines, power
plants, industries,
windblown dust, wood
stoves.
Eye irritation, asthma,
bronchitis, lung damage,
cancer, heavy metal
poisoning, cardiovascular
effects.
Visibility impairment,
atmospheric deposition,
aesthetic damage.
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Perfect Combustion
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Incomplete Combustion
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Emissions
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Anthropogenic Sources
(Man-Made Sources)
Mobile Sources
On-Road Sources
Non-Road Sources
Stationary Sources
Point Source
Area Source
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Mobiles Sources
Responsible for more than
half of the air pollution
cars are primary source
vehicles produce 75-90% less
pollution for each mile driven
than their 1970 counterpart
no. of vehicles have increased
immensely

Mobile Sources Pollutants
45% VOC emissions
50% NOx emissions
60% CO emissions
50% hazardous air pollutants
in urban air

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Mobile Sources
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Air Quality Index
The Air Quality Index
(AQI), also known as the
Air Pollution Index (API)
or Pollutant Standard
Index (PSI) is an index
for reporting daily air
quality

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How does the AQI work?
Think of the AQI as a
yardstick that runs from 0 to
500. The higher the AQI
value, the greater the level
of air pollution and the
greater the health concern

An AQI value of 100
generally corresponds to
the national air quality
standard for the pollutant,
which is the level EPA has
set to protect public health

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Air Quality Index
Levels of Health Concern
Numerical
Value
Meaning
Good 0-50
Air quality is considered satisfactory,
and air pollution poses little or no risk.
Moderate 51-100
Air quality is acceptable; however, for
some pollutants there may be a
moderate health concern for a very
small number of people who are
unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Unhealthy for
Sensitive Groups
101-150
Members of sensitive groups may
experience health effects. The general
public is not likely to be affected.
Unhealthy 151-200
Everyone may begin to experience
health effects; members of sensitive
groups may experience more serious
health effects.
Very Unhealthy 201-300
Health alert: everyone may experience
more serious health effects.
Hazardous > 300
Health warnings of emergency
conditions. The entire population is
more likely to be affected.
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Green House Gases
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Carbon Dioxide
Water Vapors
Methane
Nitrous Oxide
Chlorofloro Carbons CFCs
Ozone
Acid Rain / Acid Deposition
Acid deposition occurs when
emissions of sulfur dioxide and
nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere
react with water, oxygen, and
oxidants to form acidic compounds
These compounds fall to the earth in
either dry form (gas and particles)
known as Dry Deposition or wet
form (rain, snow, and fog) known as
Wet Deposition

Duration of the reaction
It takes days or weeks for
atmospheric SOx and NOx to be
converted to acids and deposited on
the earth's surface, acid deposition
occurs in a multistate scale hundreds
of miles away from its sources

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World Health Day 2012
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Thank You
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