Air pollution- is the presence of chemicals in the atmosphere in concentrations high enough to

harm organisms, ecosystems, or human-made materials, or to alter climate.

Air pollutants:  a material in the air that can have adverse effects on humans and the
ecosystem. The substance can be solid particles, liquid droplets, or gases.
Sources of Air pollutants:
Natural sources: wind-blown dust, solid and gaseous pollutants from wildfires and volcanic
eruptions, and volatile organic chemicals released by some plants.
Human sources: burning of fossil fuels in power plants and industrial facilities (stationary
sources) and in motor vehicles (mobile sources).
Scientists classify outdoor air pollutants into two categories.
Two categories of air pollutants:
Primary pollutants: Chemicals or substances emitted directly into the air from natural
processes and human activities at concentrations high enough to cause harm.
Secondary pollutants: Pollutants that are formed in the lower atmosphere by chemical
reactions of some primary pollutants and with other natural components e.g. ozone and
secondary organic aerosol (haze).
Types of air pollutants:

 Outdoor
 Indoor
Major Outdoor Air Pollutants
Hundreds of different chemicals and substances can pollute outdoor air. Here we focus on six
major groups of air pollutants.

Major Outdoor Air Pollutants

Pollutants Sources Environmental Impact Health effect

Carbon Oxides automobile emissions, contributes to smog Long-term exposure can
Carbon monoxide fires, industrial processes formation trigger heart attacks and aggravate
(CO) lung diseases such as
Carbon dioxide asthma and emphysema.
(CO2) At high levels, CO can cause
headache, nausea, drowsiness,
confusion, collapse, coma,
and death
Nitrogen Oxides automobile emissions,
(NO), Nitric electricity generation,
Acid(HNO3) industrial processes
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) electricity generation,
& Sulfuric Acid fossil-fuel combustion,
(H2SO4) industrial processes,
automobile emissions
volcanoes.
Particulates fires, smokestacks,
construction sites, and
unpaved roads.
natural sources e.g. dust,
wildfires, and
sea salt.
Ozone (O3) Industrial And
Automobile Emissions,
Gasoline Vapours,
Chemical Solvents, And
Electrical Utilities
Volatile Organic natural sources: plants,
Compounds (VOC’s) wetlands,
and termites.
Human: rice paddies,
landfills, natural gas wells,
pipelines
industrial
solvents & dry-cleaning
fluids,
damage to foliage; inflammation and irritation of
contributes to smog breathing passages
formation
and acid deposition
major cause of haze; breathing difficulties, particularly
contributes to acid rain for people with asthma and heart
formation, which disease
subsequently damages
foliage, buildings, and
monuments; reacts to
form particulate matter
contributes to Irritation of breathing passages,
formation of haze as aggravation of asthma, irregular
well as acid rain, heartbeat
which changes the pH
balance of waterways Toxic particulates e.g. lead
and damages foliage, cadmium, and polychlorinated
buildings, and biphenyls can cause genetic
monuments mutations, reproductive problems,
and cancer
Major ingredients of reduced lung function; irritation
photochemical and inflammation of breathing
smog passages
Contribute to warming Irritation of eye, throat, and nose,
the atmosphere as well as cause headaches,
dizziness, and potentially lead to
memory loss or visual
impairment.