Effects of a Photochemical Smog

Smog is a type of air pollution that is caused by the interaction of sunlight with certain

chemicals in the atmosphere including aldehydes and the ozone particles themselves. The

word smog is derivative of two combined words Smoke and Fog. The chemical reaction of

sunlight, Nitrogen oxides and the volatile organic compounds leaves particulate matter at

ground level zone and this leads to what we refer to as a Photochemical Smog.

a) Sources and Environmental Effects

Environmental
Toxic Chemical Sources Additional Notes
Effects

- decreased visibility
due to yellowish
color of NO2
- combustion of oil,
- NO2 contributes to - all combustion processes
coal, gas in both
heart and lung account for only 5 % of
automobiles and
Nitrogen problems NO2 in the atmosphere,
industry
Oxides - NO2 can suppress most is formed from
- bacterial action in soil
(NO and NO2) plantgrowth reactions involving NO
- forest fires
- decreased -concentrations likely to
- volcanic action
resistance to rise in the future
- lightning
infection
- may encourage the
spread of cancer

- evaporation of - eye irritation - the effects of VOCs are

Volatile solvents - respiratory dependent on the type of
Organic - evaporation of fuels irritation chemical
Compounds - incomplete - some are - samples show over 600
(VOCs) combustion of fossil carcinogenic different VOCs in
fuels - decreased visibility atmosphere
 - naturally occurring due to blue-brown - concentrations likely to
compounds like haze continue to rise in future
terpenes from trees

- bronchial
constriction
- coughing,
wheezing
- concentrations of 0.1 parts
- respiratory
per million can reduce
- formed from irritation
photosynthesis by 50 %
photolysis of NO2 - eye irritation
- people with asthma and
Ozone (O3) - sometimes results - decreased crop
respiratory problems are
from stratospheric yields
influenced the most
ozone intrusions - retards plant
- can only be formed during
growth
daylight hours
- damages plastics
- breaks down
rubber
- harsh odor

- eye irritation
- formed by the reaction - high toxicity to
- was not detected until
of NO2 with VOCs plants
Peroxyacetyl recognized in smog
(can be formed - respiratory
Nitrates (PAN) - higher toxicity to plants
naturally in some irritation
than ozone
environments) - damaging to
proteins
 b) Effect on human health

Photochemical Smog is also hazardous to human health. Photochemical smog causes pre-

mature deaths and creates a lot of problems for even normal people. It can affect densely

populated areas and can build up to dangerous levels. The most affected include senior

citizens, children and people with heart complications who tend to suffer from bronchitis and

asthma. The photochemical smog is the cause of inflamed breathing passages which cause

decrease in the working capacity of normal lungs, pain in inhaling deeply and shortness of

breath.

Ground-level ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide are especially

harmful for senior citizens, children, and people with heart and lung conditions such as

emphysema, bronchitis, and asthma.[18] It can inflame breathing passages, decrease the

lungs' working capacity, cause shortness of breath, pain when inhaling deeply, wheezing, and

coughing. It can cause eye and nose irritation and it dries out the protective membranes of the

nose and throat and interferes with the body's ability to fight infection, increasing

susceptibility to illness. Hospital admissions and respiratory deaths often increase during

periods when ozone levels are high.

Levels of unhealthy exposure

The U.S. EPA has developed an Air Quality Index to help explain air pollution levels to the

general public. 8 hour average ozone concentrations of 85 to 104 ppbv are described as

"Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups", 105 ppbv to 124 ppbv as "unhealthy" and 125 ppb to 404

ppb as "very unhealthy".[18] The "very unhealthy" range for some other pollutants are: 355

g m3 - 424 g m3 for PM10; 15.5 ppm - 30.4ppm for CO and 0.65 ppm - 1.24 ppm for

NO2.
Premature deaths due to cancer and respiratory disease

The Ontario Medical Association announced that smog is responsible for an estimated 9,500

premature deaths in the province each year.

A 20-year American Cancer Society study found that cumulative exposure also increases the

likelihood of premature death from a respiratory disease, implying the 8-hour standard may

be insufficient.

Smog and the risk of certain birth defects

A study examining 806 women who had babies with birth defects between 1997 and 2006,

and 849 women who had healthy babies, found that smog in the San Joaquin Valley area of

California was linked to two types of neural tube defects: spina bifida (a condition involving,

among other manifestations, certain malformations of the spinal column), and anencephaly

(the underdevelopment or absence of part or all of the brain, which if not fatal usually results

in profound impairment).

Smog and low birth weight

According to a study published in The Lancet, even a very small (5 g) change in PM2.5

exposure was associated with an increase (18%) in risk of a low birth weight at delivery, and

this relationship held even below the current accepted safe levels.