Air Pollutants and their Sources

Table of Contents
1. Introduction:-.................................................................................................................................1
2. Sources of Air Pollutants...............................................................................................................2
2.1. Sources of Energy generation....................................................................................................2
2.2. Transport...................................................................................................................................2
2.3. Industry......................................................................................................................................2
2.4. Households................................................................................................................................2
2.5. Agricultural practices.................................................................................................................2
2.6. Land mining, earth moving activity and quarrying....................................................................3
2.7. Construction and repair works...................................................................................................3
2.8. Burning of wastes and incinerators............................................................................................3

1. Introduction:-
Air pollution is a global issue, it is a growing challenge since the time of
industrialization and according to WHO ambient both urban and rural areas was
estimated to cause 3.7 million premature deaths all over the world in 2012, in addition
3 billion people still depend on coal and biomass fuel (in door), annually there is
several billion CO2 and other greenhouse gases are brought to atmosphere. Industries,
power plants and transport are some major anthropogenic sources.

In industries and other stationary sources there are various emission reduction
techniques are being practiced such as Dilution, controlling at the source, cleaner the
fuel, profitable modification in process, modern advanced technologies, adequate
maintenance, ideal house-keeping and various end pipe treatments are discussed here.
In addition, natural sources such as volcano and forest fire events, different types of
air pollutants, health hazards, their effects, possible remedies and international
conventions and protocols on air pollution control.

Air pollution is not a new for this planet even 65 million years ago during the
cretaceous period the earth had experienced huge air pollution due to the clouds and
smoke formed after the crash of meteorite, this caused mass extinction leads to the
complete elimination of dinosaurs and various other species. Currently pollution due

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 to natural sources such as forest fires and volcano eruption are creating several tones
of greenhouse gases and other pollutants, which are unable to find human solution as
it is naturally occurred.

2. Sources of Air Pollutants

Type and factors of air pollution vary country to country, for instance in Sri Lanka it
is particles and CO, in South Africa SO2 from Coal power plants and CO from house-
hold combustion and forest fires.

2.1.Sources of Energy generation

This is where COx and SOx and water vapor are released in the atmosphere as large
amount of coal, oil, L.P/ Natural gas, gasoline and biofuels are used in combustion.

2.2.Transport
This is mobile and most leading source of CO. Combustion in engines is mainly fueled by
Gas, petrol, diesel, and kerosene. Jet engines of sub sonic long range air crafts are major
source of NOx, Traffic on road is considered as non-point or line source, addition to that
harbors and turbine engines of huge ships are also emits tons of greenhouse gases and
toxic particles in the air.

2.3.Industry
Most of the industries are directly or indirectly depend on fossil fuel, as they produce CO
and CO2, sulphur hexafluoride and particle matters. Mainly cement industry releases large
amount of particle matters in the environment. There is an array of hazardous volatile
compounds that are released from paints, electronics, dry cleansing, decreasing agents.
Furthermore, utilization of HFC, Oxides of Nitrogen, PFC and SF6 produces pollutants.

2.4.Households
Carbon and soot emission during the cooking using fossil fuels can be considered here.
Volatile toxicants such as Permethrins compounds of from insecticides could contaminate
in the air or even food and resulting in the intoxication.

2.5.Agricultural practices
Agriculture activities such as use of natural fertilizer release greenhouse gases. Pesticides
release persistent organic pollutants (POP). Enteric fermentation in cattle ranching

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produces green house gases mainly methane. Toxic chemicals found in pesticide and
weedicide also reduces the quality of air inhaled.

2.6.Land mining, earth moving activity and quarrying

Process of mining large mineral deposits in the earth accompanied with emission of dust
and other chemicals. Blasting, quarrying limestone in cement manufacturing produces
dust particles.

2.7.Construction and repair works

Drilling, blasting, transportation, loading and unloading activities often causes dust
generation. In addition, there are several non-point anthropogenic sources related to dust
generation such as welding, painting, auto mobile repairing, etc.

2.8.Burning of wastes and incinerators

This is more severe threat to the environment as it contaminates the atmosphere with
persistent organic pollutants (POP) such as dioxins, furans probably major sources are
plastics and electronic wastes. In addition, as in normal combustion carbon is emitted as
oxides and soot. Wastes are in a vast