AIR POLLUTION

AIR POLLUTION is the presence of foreign substances in the air that cause
damage to life and property.

SOURCES
Anthropogenic (man-made) Natural
-industries -power plant -volcanic eruptions
-mining -nuclear explosion -dust storms
-transport -construction activity -forest fires
-decay of organic matter
-natural gas emissions

TYPES OF AIR POLLUTANTS

o Primary—These are emitted directly from identified sources. Eg—
SO2, NO2, CO2, carbon monoxide, H2S

o Secondary—These are formed in the atmosphere by reaction with

the constituents of the atmosphere and cause pollution. Eg—sulphur
trioxide, H2SO4, nitric acid, ozone, HCHO (formaldehyde)

IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTION

 SO2, NO2, and CO2 in the atmosphere result into acid rain and affects
metal surfaces, agriculture, and health.
 Air pollution leads to breathing problems, bronchitis, asthma, and
other respiratory diseases.
 SPM (Suspended Particulate Matter) and RSPM (Respirable SPM)
leads to decrease in photosynthetic rate, skin problems, and lung
disorders in urban areas.
 On a global scale, air pollution leads to ozone hole and global
warming.
 Globally, 2.5 million people are exposed to hazardous levels of
smoke. Altogether, pollution contributes to more deaths per year
than any other disease.
 Through the process of evaporation and precipitation, hazardous air
pollutants are accumulated in the Artic and the Antarctic, where they
concentrate through food chains to reach dangerous levels in
humans, predators like polar bears and whales.
 CFC, and halogen derivatives migrate into stratosphere, where they
destroy ozone to a large extent.
CRITERIA / CONVENTIONAL AIR POLLUTANTS
The US Clean Air Act, 1970, designated 7 major air pollutants that have
contributed to air pollution. These are—SO2, carbon oxides, particulate
matters, hydrocarbons, photochemical oxidants, and lead.

A) SO2
 Colourless, corrosive, which directly damages flora and fauna.
 It can further oxidize to SO3 and H2SO4, leading to acid rain.
 Sources—volcanic eruptions, transport, decay of organic matter,
industries (especially coal industry)
 SO2 in ambient air can be estimated by West & Gaeke Method.
 Out of the total SOx emissions, 2/3rd is man-made.

B) CARBON OXIDES (COX)

 Carbon monoxide (CO)—

Emission Sources
(Annual SOX emissions = 114 mn metric tonnes)

fossil fuels

volcano eruptions

marine processes

land use
 o Colourless, odourless, non-irritating gas formed by
incomplete combustion, incineration, and decay of organic
waste.
o 50% manmade + 50% natural = 1 billion metric tonnes
 Carbon dioxide (CO2)—
o Non-toxic, colourless gas. Increased levels of CO2 have
contributed towards global warming.
o IPCC estimates prime source of carbon emission as fossil
fuels, followed by cement manufacturing, and other
industries.
o 7.8bn tonnes—terrestrial ecosystem (3), marine ecosystem
(2), stagnated in atmosphere (2.8)

C) PARTICULATE MATTER
 It includes dust, ash, soot, spores, and many other suspended
materials.
 90% emissions anthropogenic, 10% emissions natural.
 They are of 3 sizes—
o PM2.5 (fine dust)
o PM10 (2.5—10) (RSPM)
o PM100 (10—100) (SPM)
 It decreases visibility and leaves dirty deposits on infrastructure,
flora and fauna.
 PM2.5 can be drawn into lungs and can damage respiratory
tissues.
 Diesel fuels contain fine particulates like benzene (C6H6), dioxins,
and mercury, which are carcinogenic.
 Man-made PM emissions account for 362 million metric tonnes
per year worldwide.
 Air-borne dust is considered as a primary source of allergies
worldwide.
(Cacul discovered benzene)
D) NITROGEN OXIDES (NOX)
  These are highly reactive. They are formed when nitrogen from
fuel is burned above 600°C.
 They are of 3 types—
o NO (nitric oxide)
o NO2 (nitrogen dioxide)
o N2O (nitrous oxide—greenhouse gas—laughing gas)
 Nitric oxide further reacts to form nitric acid (HNO3), which leads
to acidification of the atmosphere.
 NOx in ambient air can be estimated by sodium arsenite method.

Emission Sources
(Annual NOX emissions = 230 mn metric tonnes)

fossil fuels

land use

soil processes

lightning

E) HYDROCARBONS
 It mainly consists of volatile organic compounds.
 SOURCES
MAN-MADE NATURAL
-incomplete combustion -animals
-transportation -wetlands
 -incineration -bacteria
-petroleum refineries -agriculture (paddy fields)

F) PHOTOCHEMICAL OXIDANTS (PCO)

 These are formed by secondary reactions in the atmosphere
driven by solar energy.
 In ambient air, ozone is a strong oxidant that damages vegetation,
and sensitive tissues (eyes, lungs).
 PCO may be carcinogenic, neurotoxic, mutagens, teratogens
(causing mutations in birth), etc., and can bring about health
hazards.
 Eg—ozone, peroxy acetyl nitrate (PAN), atomic/nascent oxygen.

G) LEAD (Pb)
 It is a metabolic poison and a neurotoxin that binds to essential
enzymes, cellular components, and inactivates them.
 Worldwide atmospheric lead emissions amount to 2mm metric
tonnes per year (2/3rd of all metallic pollution).
 Major sources—ores, metal processing units, aircraft engines
operated on leaded gasoline.
 Minor sources—incinerators, lead acid battery manufacturers.

86% fossil fuels (43% petroleum, 20% natural gas, 23% coal)
7% nuclear power
3% hydroelectric power
2.5% wind energy
<1% solar energy
Sulphur oxide permissible limit80ppm
Water permissible limit30ppm
BOD permissible limit5ppm
Nitrogen oxide permissible limit80ppm