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Air Pollution: AIR POLLUTION Is The Presence of Foreign Substances in The Air That Cause
Air Pollution: AIR POLLUTION Is The Presence of Foreign Substances in The Air That Cause
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
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.
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)
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 limit80ppm
Water permissible limit30ppm
BOD permissible limit5ppm
Nitrogen oxide permissible limit80ppm