Air Pollution

Jaffy Bustamante
Department of Environmental Science
College of Science
 THIS LESSON WILL HELP YOU TO UNDERSTAND:

1. Define environmental quality and distinguish between pollution

and contamination.

2. Explain various air pollutants and their sources, with focus on

Philippines as example.
 WHAT IS AIR

Air is the invisible mixture of gases that surrounds Earth. Air contains important
substances, such as oxygen and nitrogen, that most species need to survive.

What's in the Air?

The dry composition of the atmosphere is

mostly nitrogen and oxygen. It also
contains fractional amounts of argon and
carbon dioxide and trace amounts of
other gases, such as helium, neon,
methane, krypton, and hydrogen (NASA).
 LAYERS OF ATMOSPHERE

The atmosphere is layered in to four

distinct zones of contrasting
temperature due to differential
absorption of solar energy. The four
atmospheric layers are: Troposphere,
stratosphere, mesosphere, and
thermosphere.
 LAYERS OF ATMOSPHERE

TROPOSPHERE

❑ The layer of air immediately adjacent

to the earth’s surface is called the
troposphere. Ranging in depth from
about 16 km (10 mile) over the
equator to about 8 km over the poles,
this zone is where most weather
events occur. Due to the force of
gravity and the compressibility of
gases, the troposphere contains
about 80% of the total mass of the
atmosphere .
 LAYERS OF ATMOSPHERE

STRATOSPHERE

❑ The stratosphere extends from the

tropopause up to about 50 km. Air
temperature in this zone is stable or
even increases with higher altitude.
Although more dilute than the
troposphere, the stratosphere has a
very similar composition except two
important components: water and
ozone.
 LAYERS OF ATMOSPHERE

MESOSPHERE

❑ Above the stratosphere, the

temperature diminishes again
creating the mesosphere, or the
middle layer. The minimum
temperature in this region is about
negative 80°C.
 LAYERS OF ATMOSPHERE

THERMOSPHERE

At an altitude of 80 km, another

abrupt temperature change occurs.
This is the beginning of the
thermosphere, a region of highly
ionized gases, extending to about
1600 km. Temperatures are very high in
the thermosphere because molecules
there are constantly bombarded by
high energy solar & cosmic radiation.
 Atmospheric pressure (millibars)
0 200 400 600 800 1,000
120 75
Temperature
110
65
100 Thermosphere

90 Mesopause 55

Altitude (kilometers)
80

Altitude (miles)
Mesosphere 45
70

60 Stratopause
35
50
Stratosphere
40 25

30 Tropopause
15
Ozone layer
20

10 Troposphere
Pressure 5

(Sea 0
–80 –40 0 40 80 120 Pressure =
Level) 1,000
Temperature (°C)
Millibars at
ground level
 WHAT IS AIR POLLUTION?

Air pollution may be defined as any atmospheric condition in which

certain substances are present in such concentrations that they can
produce undesirable effects on man and his environment.
 AIR POLLUTION

Why Should We Care About Air Pollution?

 TERMINOLOGIES

❑ Environmental quality- is a general term which can refer to: varied characteristics
such as air and water purity or pollution, noise, access to open space, and the
visual effects of buildings, and the potential effects which such characteristics may
have on physical and mental health (caused by human activities).

❑ Indoor air pollutions- Pollutions from the housing made materials and living and
working activities of the house, such as: natural radiation-radon, domestic
combustion-coal gas, and human habits tobacco smoking.

❑ Outdoor air pollutions- Pollutions from out door services and environmental mixings,
such as: transportation-automobiles, industries-refineries, atomic energy plant-
nuclear, and community activities-cleaning of streets.

❑ Aerosols- Small solid or liquid particles (fine drops or droplets) that are suspended in
air.
 TERMINOLOGIES

❑ Dust- aerosols consist of particles in the solid phase.

❑ Smoke- aerosols consist of particles in the solid and sometimes also liquid-phase
and the associated gases that result from combustion.

❑ Ash- aerosols of the solid phase of smoke, particularly after it settles into a fine dust.

❑ Particulates- Small particles, that travel in air and settles or lands on something.

❑ Fumes- are polydisperse fine aerosols consisting of solid particles that often
aggregate together, so that many little particulates may form one big particle
 CONTAMINATION AND POLLUTION

Contamination is simply the Pollution is contamination that results

presence of a substance where it in or can result in adverse biological
should not be or at effects to resident communities. All
concentrations above pollutants are contaminants, but not
background. all contaminants are pollutants.
INDOOR AND OUTDOOR
 HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

Human have undoubtedly been coping

with a certain amount of polluted air ever
since primitive Homo sapiens sat crouched
by the warmth of a smoky fire in his
Paleolithic cave.

Prior to the 20th Century problems related

to air pollution were primarily associated,
in public mind at least, with city of London.
As early as 18th Century small amount of
coal from Newcastle were being shipped
in London for fuel.
 CRITERIA AIR POLLUTANTS

❑ Carbon monoxide

❑ Lead

❑ Ground-level ozone

❑ Particulate matter

❑ Nitrogen dioxide

❑ Sulfur dioxide
 CRITERIA AIR POLLUTANTS

Carbon monoxide (CO)

Carbon monoxide is a colorless,

nonirritating, odorless, and tasteless gas. It is
found in both outdoor and indoor air.

Carbon monoxide is a significant air pollutant,

capable of damaging human health as well as being
an O3 precursor. Carbon monoxide is emitted
whenever fossil fuels and vegetation are incompletely
combusted, whether in residential stoves, industrial
boilers, vehicles, or through biomass burning.
 WHAT ARE THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF CARBON MONOXIDE?

Carbon monoxide (CO)

❑ Breathing air with a high concentration of CO reduces

the amount of oxygen that can be transported in the
blood stream to critical organs like the heart and brain.

❑ At very high levels, which are possible indoors or in

other enclosed environments, CO can cause dizziness,
confusion, unconsciousness and death.
 CRITERIA AIR POLLUTANTS

Lead

Lead is a naturally occurring bluish-gray

metal found in small amounts in the earth's
crust. Lead can be found in all parts of our
environment. Much of it comes from human
activities including burning fossil fuels,
mining, and manufacturing.

Lead is persistent in the environment and can be

added to soils and sediments through deposition
from sources of lead air pollution.
 CRITERIA AIR POLLUTANTS

Lead

Sources of lead emissions vary from one area to another.

❑ At the national level, major sources of lead in the air are

ore and metals processing and piston-engine aircraft
operating on leaded aviation fuel.
❑ Other sources are waste incinerators, utilities, and lead-
acid battery manufacturers. The highest air
concentrations of lead are usually found near lead
smelters.
❑ Volcanic activity and airborne soil are the primary
natural sources of atmospheric lead.
 WHAT ARE THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF LEAD?

Lead

❑ Once taken into the body, lead distributes throughout

the body in the blood and is accumulated in the bones.

❑ Depending on the level of exposure, lead can adversely

affect the nervous system, kidney function, immune
system, reproductive and developmental systems and
the cardiovascular system.

❑ Lead exposure also affects the oxygen carrying

capacity of the blood.
 CRITERIA AIR POLLUTANTS

Ground Level Ozone

Ground-level ozone forms just above the earth’s

surface (up to about 2 miles above ground)
and impacts human, animal, and plant
respiration. Although ground-level ozone is less
concentrated than stratospheric ozone, its impacts
on human health and welfare make ground-level
ozone "bad ozone."

Elevated exposures to ozone can affect sensitive vegetation

and ecosystems, including forests, parks, wildlife refuges and
wilderness areas. In particular, ozone can harm sensitive
vegetation during the growing season.
 WHAT ARE THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF GROUND LEVEL OZONE?

Ground Level Ozone

❑Ozone in the air we breathe can harm our

health, especially on hot sunny days when ozone
can reach unhealthy levels. People at greatest
risk of harm from breathing air containing ozone
include people with asthma.
 CRITERIA AIR POLLUTANTS

Particulate Matter

PM stands for particulate matter (also called

particle pollution): the term for a mixture of
solid particles and liquid droplets found in
the air.

Particle pollution includes:

❑ PM10 : inhalable particles, with diameters that are

generally 10 micrometers and smaller; and
❑ PM2.5 : fine inhalable particles, with diameters that are
generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller.
 WHAT ARE THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF PARTICULATE MATTER?

Particulate Matter

❑ Particulate matter contains microscopic solids

or liquid droplets that are so small that they
can be inhaled and cause serious health
problems. Some particles less than 10
micrometers in diameter can get deep into
your lungs and some may even get into your
bloodstream. Of these, particles less than 2.5
micrometers in diameter, also known as fine
particles or PM2.5, pose the greatest risk to
health.
 CRITERIA AIR POLLUTANTS

Nitrogen dioxide

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) is one of a group of

highly reactive gases known as oxides of
nitrogen or nitrogen oxides (NOx). Other
nitrogen oxides include nitrous acid and
nitric acid. NO2 is used as the indicator for
the larger group of nitrogen oxides.

NO2 primarily gets in the air from the burning of fuel. NO2
forms from emissions from cars, trucks and buses, power
plants, and off-road equipment.
 WHAT ARE THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF NITROGEN DIOXIDE?

Nitrogen dioxide

❑ Breathing air with a high concentration of NO2 can

irritate airways in the human respiratory system. Such
exposures over short periods can aggravate respiratory
diseases, particularly asthma, leading to respiratory
symptoms (such as coughing, wheezing or difficulty
breathing), hospital admissions and visits to emergency
rooms.

❑ NO2 and other NOx interact with water, oxygen and

other chemicals in the atmosphere to form acid rain.
Acid rain harms sensitive ecosystems such as lakes and
forests.
 CRITERIA AIR POLLUTANTS

Sulfur dioxide

Sulfur dioxide is a colorless gas with a pungent odor.

It is a liquid when under pressure, and it dissolves in
water very easily. Sulfur dioxide in the air comes
mainly from activities such as the burning of coal
and oil at power plants or from copper smelting. In
nature, sulfur dioxide can be released to the air
from volcanic eruptions.

They can act as atmospheric radiative forcers (with

implications for climate change), as air pollutants causing
acidic deposition and acidification of terrestrial and aquatic
ecosystems, and as air pollutants adding to the atmospheric
PM load (with impacts on human health).
 WHAT ARE THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF SULFUR DIOXIDE?

Sulfur dioxide

❑ At high concentrations, gaseous SO2 can harm trees and

plants by damaging foliage and decreasing growth and
can contribute to acid rain which can harm sensitive
ecosystems.

❑ Short-term exposures to SO2 can harm the human

respiratory system and make breathing difficult. Children,
the elderly, and those who suffer from asthma are
particularly sensitive to effects of SO2.
Chloroform
Source: Chlorine-treated water in
hot showers
Possible threat: Cancer
1,1,1-Trichloroethane
Source: Aerosol sprays
Threat: Dizziness,
irregular breathing
Nitrogen oxides
Source: Unvented gas
stoves and kerosene
heaters, woodstoves
Threat: Irritated lungs,
children's colds,
headaches
Particulates
Source: Pollen, pet
dander, dust mites,
cooking smoke particles
Threat: Irritated lungs,
asthma attacks, itchy
eyes, runny nose,
lung disease
Asbestos
Source: Pipe insulation, vinyl
ceiling and floor tiles
Threat: Lung disease, lung cancer
Para-dichlorobenzene Tetrachloroethylene
Source: Air fresheners, Source: Dry-cleaning Formaldehyde
mothball crystals fluid fumes on clothes Source: Furniture stuffing,
Threat: Cancer Threat: Nerve disorders, paneling, particleboard,
damage to liver and foam insulation
kidneys, possible cancer Threat: Irritation of eyes,
throat, skin, and lungs;
nausea; dizziness
Styrene
Source: Carpets,
plastic products
Threat: Kidney and
liver damage
Benzo-α-pyrene
Source: Tobacco smoke,
woodstoves
Threat: Lung cancer
Radon-222
Source: Radioactive soil
and rock surrounding
foundation, water supply
Threat: Lung cancer
Tobacco smoke
Source: Cigarettes
Threat: Lung cancer, respiratory
ailments, heart disease
Carbon monoxide Methylene chloride
Source: Faulty furnaces, Source: Paint strippers and thinners
unvented gas stoves and Threat: Nerve disorders, diabetes
kerosene heaters,
woodstoves
Threat: Headaches,
drowsiness, irregular
heartbeat, death
AIR QUALITY INDEX IN THE PHILIPPINES

(IQAir, 2022)
AIR QUALITY INDEX IN THE PHILIPPINES

(IQAir, 2022)
 Solutions
Stationary Source Air Pollution
Prevention Dispersion or
Cleanup
Burn low-sulfur coal Disperse emissions above
thermal inversion layer with
tall smokestacks

Remove sulfur from coal

Remove pollutants after

Convert coal to a liquid combustion
or gaseous fuel

Shift to less polluting Tax each unit of pollution

energy sources produced
 Solutions
Motor Vehicle Air Pollution
Prevention Cleanup
Use mass transit Require emission
control devices

Walk or bike

Use less polluting fuels

Inspect car
Improve fuel efficiency exhaust systems
twice a year
Get older, polluting
cars off the road

Give large tax

write-offs or rebates
for buying low- Set strict emission
polluting, energy standards
efficient vehicles
 Solutions
Indoor Air Pollution

Prevention Cleanup or
Clean ceiling tiles Dilution
and line AC Use adjustable
ducts to fresh air vents
prevent release for work spaces
of mineral fibers

Ban smoking Increase

or limit it to intake of
well- outside air
ventilated
areas Change air
Set stricter more
formaldehyde frequently
emissions
standards
for carpet, Circulate a
furniture, and building’s air
building through rooftop
materials greenhouses
Prevent radon
infiltration Use efficient
venting systems
Use office for wood-
machines burning
in well- stoves
ventilated areas
Use exhaust
Use less hoods
polluting for stoves and
substitutes for appliances
harmful cleaning burning
agents, paints, natural gas
and other products
 Solutions
Air Pollution
Outdoor Indoor
Improve energy Reduce poverty
efficiency to
reduce fossil fuel
use
Distribute cheap
Rely more on and efficient
lower-polluting cookstoves or
natural gas solar cookers to
poor families in
Rely more on developing
renewable energy countries
(especially solar
cells, wind,
geothermal and
solar-produced Reduce or ban
hydrogen) indoor smoking

Transfer energy
efficiency, Develop simple
renewable energy, and cheap tests
and pollution for indoor
prevention pollutants such
technologies as particulates,
to developing radon, and
countries formaldehyde
 REFERENCES
CDC. (2019). Air Quality - Air Pollutants. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/air/pollutants.htm

IQAir. (2022). Philippines Air Quality Index (AQI) and Air Pollution information | AirVisual.
Www.iqair.com. https://www.iqair.com/philippines

European Environment Agency. (2004). environmental quality — European Environment Agency.

Www.eea.europa.eu. https://www.eea.europa.eu/help/glossary/eea-glossary/environmental-
quality

Is There A Difference Between Pollution And Contamination? (n.d.). WorldAtlas.

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/is-there-any-difference-between-pollution-and-
contamination.html

What’s In the Air? | UCAR Center for Science Education. (n.d.). Scied.ucar.edu.
https://scied.ucar.edu/learning-zone/air-quality/whats-in-the-
air#:~:text=The%20dry%20composition%20of%20the
 End of the Presentation

CREDITS: This presentation template was created by

Slidesgo, including icons from Flaticon, infographics &
images by Freepik