Air Pollution

SUBMITTED TO:
Dr.Satyanarayan
Professor & head
Dept. of AHE

BY:
Uday kumar
Jr .M.V.Sc.
Dept.of LPM
COMPOSITON OF AIR

78% Nitrogen (N2)

21% Oxygen (O2)
0.9% Argon
0.035% (CO2)
 Air Pollution
Air pollution is the addition
of gases, chemicals, and
particle matter into the
atmosphere.

Air pollution primarily

comes from burning
fossil fuels such as
natural gas, petroleum,
and coal.
Air Pollution
Humans are the main
cause of air pollution.
Industry, including factories
and power plants, burn
large quantities of fuel.

Burning coal and

petroleum releases sulfur
oxides and nitrogen oxide
into the air.

Airplanes, boats, and cars

burn petroleum, releasing
carbon monoxide and
carbon dioxide.
 Air
Pollution

Some air pollution is not directly caused by humans: for example, animals
emit carbon dioxide when they breathe, and volcanoes release sulfur oxide.
However, most air pollution is linked directly or indirectly to human activity.
This means that air pollution can be best controlled by modifying human
activity to burn a smaller quantity of fossil fuels.
2009 abcteach.com
 SOURCES OF AIR
POLLUTION
Natural sources include:
Volcanoes, fires, dust
storms

Greece 2007
SOURCES OF AIR
POLLUTION

Human (Anthropogenic)
Stationary vs. Mobile
Stationary: e.g., power
plants
Mobile: e.g.,
transportation
Primary and Secondary
Pollutants
Major air pollutants occur either in gaseous
forms or as particulate matter.
Classified as primary or secondary
Primary pollutants- emitted directly into
the air
Secondary pollutants- produced through
reactions between primary pollutants and
normal atmospheric compounds.
 In addition to human sources, our atmosphere
contains many pollutants of natural origin.

Release of sulfur dioxide from volcanic eruptions.

Release of hydrogen sulfide from geysers and hot
springs and from biological decay in bogs and marshes.
Emission of a variety of particles from wildfires and
windstorms.
Natural hydrocarbon seeps.
 Some primary air pollutants may react with one another
or with other chemicals in the air to form secondary air
pollutants.
Six Common Air Pollutants
There are six criteria pollutants
Sulfur dioxide
Nitrogen oxides
Carbon monoxide
Ozone
Particulates
Lead
SULFUR DIOXIDE: SO2
Sources: mostly stationary fuel combustion
(esp. coal power plants)
Main Effects:
Acid Deposition
Corrosive
Damages lungs
Damages structures
i.e. monuments/buildings
SO2
PARTICULATE MATTER
Examples: dust, soot, lead, arsenic
Sources: industry (38%) and stationary
(25%) and mobile (21%) fuel combustion
Main Effects: depends on pollutant
Usually decreases lung function
Block sunlight and may cause climate
change.
Gradual reduction in the solar energy that
reaches the surface of Earth
Particulate matter
LEAD
Sources: paints and smelting plants
Main Effects:
Affects brain and nervous system
OZONE: O3
Sources: secondary pollutant from
nitrogen dioxide, hydrocarbons, sunlight
Mostly transportation; also stationary
fuel combustion.
Main Effects:
Damages lungs damages lining of
lung; irritates eyes, irritation of
mucous membrane.
Damages plants.
Cracking of rubber products.
Good Good

Ozone is Bad Here

NITROGEN DIOXIDE: NO2
Sources: secondary pollutant from nitrogen
oxide
Mostly fuel combustion (stationary and
transportation)
Main Effects:
Acid Deposition
Forms ozone
Damages lungs
Produces brown haze in air
CARBON MONOXIDE: CO
Sources: mostly transportation
Main Effects:
Reduces bloods capacity to carry
oxygen (headaches and nausea)
Indoor air pollution
 Other pollutants
Hydrogen sulfide - geysers, swamps,
Hydrogen Fluoride - coal gasification,
burning of coal
Methyl Isocyanate pesticide

Functional damage to plants

Health problems ranging from toxicity to death for
humans and other animals.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Variety of organic compounds used as
solvents in industrial processes
Dry cleaning, degreasing, and graphic
arts.
Hydrocarbons
Comprise one group of VOCs.
Thousands of hydrocarbon compounds
exist, including natural gas, or methane
(CH4); butane (C4H10); and propane
(C3H8).
Volatile Organic Compounds
Some VOCs react with sunlight to produce
photochemical smog
Globally 15% of hydrocarbons emissions
are anthropogenic
In the US 50%
Primary human source automobiles
Smog
Term first used in 1905 as mixture of smoke
and fog that produced unhealthy air.
Two major types
Photochemical smog ( brown air)
Sulfurous smog (London type smog, gray
air, or industrial smog)
Smog
Photochemical smog reaction involves
sunlight, nitric oxides and VOCs
Directly related to automobile use
Sulfurous smog is produced by the burning
of coal or oil at large power plants.
 EFFECTS OF AIR
POLLUTION
Human Health
ACUTE: short duration
exposure and/or immediate
effects

Examples:
irritation of eyes, nose and
throat
upper respiratory
infections (bronchitis,
pneumonia)
headaches
nausea
 EFFECTS OF AIR
POLLUTION
Human Health
CHRONIC: long
duration exposure
and/or long term effects
Examples:
Asthma
lung cancer
Heart disease
Damage to brain,
nerves, liver, kidneys
Air Pollution Health Impacts
Air Pollutant Respiratory Other

Particulate Matter Yes Limited

Carbon monoxide Yes Neurologic

Nitrogen oxides Yes Limited

Ozone Yes Limited

Sulfur oxides Yes Limited

Lead Limited Organ/Neuro

Control
Control
There are various air pollution control
technologies and land-use planning strategies
available to reduce air pollution.

At its most basic level, land-use planning is

likely to involve zoning and transport
infrastructure planning.

Titanium dioxide has been researched for its

ability to reduce air pollution.
Pollution Control: Automobiles
Control of pollutants such as carbon
monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and
hydrocarbons is best achieved through
pollution control for automobiles.
Nitrogen oxides controlled by
recirculating exhaust gas
CO and hydrocarbons reduced by
catalytic converter
Pollution Control: Sulfur Dioxide
Emissions from power plants can be
reduced by removing the oxides from the
gases in the stack
Scrubbing (flue gas desulfurization)

Gases treated w/ a slurry of lime or

limestone
 Methods of controlling particulate emissions:
Wet Scrubbers: They are used to trap
SO2,NH3 and metal fumes by passing the
fumes through water.
 Electrostatic Precipitators:
When the polluted air containing
particulate pollutants is passed through
an electrostatic precipitator, it induces
electric charge on the particles and then
the aerosol particles get precipitated on
the electrodes.
Some other methods of controlling Air Pollution:
Tall chimneys should be installed in factories.
Better designed equipment and smokeless fuels
should be used in homes and industries.
Renewable and non- polluting sources of energy like
solar energy, wind energy etc, should be used.
Automobiles should be properly maintained and
adhere to emission control standards.
More trees should be planted along roadsides and
houses.
 Few other very simple steps
Ride the cycle-good for health and
environment.
Regular pollution check up for your
bike/car.
Encourage and use carpool method.
THANK YOU