CHAPTER 6

POLLUTION ENVIRONMENT - AIR ENVIRONMENT

AIR POLLUTION - the contamination of the air, irrespective of indoors or outside. Occurs when any
harmful gases, dust, smoke enters into the atmosphere and makes it difficult for plants, animals and
humans to survive as the air becomes dirty

AIR POLLUTANT - a substance in the air that can have adverse effects on humans and the
ecosystem.

CLASSIFIED AS:

 PRIMARY – produced from a process, such as ash from volcanic eruption,

carbon gas from motor vehicle exhaust, or sulfur dioxide released factories.
 SECONDARY – Are not emitted directly. Rather, they form in the air when
PRIMARY POLLUTANTS react or interact.

SUBSTANCES INTO ATMOSPHERE BY HUMAN ACTIVITY

 CARBON DIOXIDE – natural component of the air, essential to plant and given off by
human respiratory system, emitted annually by burning fossil fuels.
 SULFUR OXIDES - a chemical compound produced by volcanoes and in various
industrial processes.
 NITROGEN OXIDES - expelled from high temperature combustion, and are also
produced during thunderstorm by electric discharge.
 CARBON MONOXIDE - a product of combustion of fuel such as natural gas, coal or
wood.
 VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOC)
 METHANE - an extremely efficient greenhouse gas which contributes to
enhanced global warming
 NON-METHANE – such as benzene and toluene can cause leukaemia after a
long exposure
 PARTICULATES – particulate matter or fine particles, are tiny particles of solid or
liquid suspended in a gas.
 PERSISTENT FREE RADICALS - Connected to airborne fine particles are linked to
cardiopulmonary disease.

 TOXIC METALS - Such as lead and mercury, especially their compounds

 CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS - These are gasses which are released from air
conditioners, refrigerators, aerosol sprays, etc.
 AMMONIA - Emitted from agricultural processes. Ammonia is a compound
normally encountered as a gas with characteristic pungent odor.
 ODOUR - Such as from garbage, sewage, and industrial processes.
  RADIOACTIVE POLLUTANTS - Produced by nuclear explosions, nuclear events,
war explosives and natural processes such as the radioactive decay of radon.

SECONDARY POLLUTANTS

 Particulates created from gaseous primary pollutants and compounds in

photochemical smog
 GROUND LEVEL OZONE
 PEROXYACETYL NITRATE - Similarly form from nitrogen oxide and volatile
organic compounds.

CAUSES OF AIR POLLUTION

 BURNING OF FOSSIL FUELS

 AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES
 EXHAUST FROM FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIES
 MINING OPERATIONS
 INDOOR AIR POLLUTION

EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION

 RESPIRATORY AND HEART PROBLEMS

 GLOBAL WARMING
 ACID RAIN
 EUTROPHICATION – high amount of nitrogen present in the water
 EFFECT ON WILDLIFE
 DEPLETION OF OZONE LAYER

SOLUTION FOR AIR POLLUTION

 USE PUBLIC MODE OF TRANSPORTATION

 CONSERVE ENERGY
 UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF REUSE, REDUCE AND RECYCLE
 EMPHASIS ON CLEAN ENERGY RESOURCES
 USE ENERGY EFFICIENT DEVICES

POLLUTION FROM CONSTRUCTION

Air pollution activities that contribute to air pollution include: Land clearing, Operation of diesel
engines, Demolition, Burning, and working with toxic materials.

MEASURES TO PREVENT AIR POLLUTION IN CONSTRUCTION SITE

 Control dust through fine water sprays

 Screen the whole site/source to stop dust spreading
 Use non-toxic paints, solvents and other hazardous materials wherever possible.
 Use low sulphur diesel oil in all vehicle and equipment engines
 No burning of materials on site.