AIR POLLUTION CONTROL

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Air pollution

▪ Presence of chemicals in the atmosphere in quantities and duration

that are harmful to human health and the environment

▪ Types of air pollutants:

▪ Primary pollutants - products of natural events (like fires and

volcanic eruptions) and human activities added directly to the air

▪ Secondary pollutants - formed by interaction of primary pollutants

with each other or with normal components of the air
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Air Pollution Around the World

▪ Air quality is deteriorating rapidly in

developing countries
▪ Shenyang, China
▪ Residents only see sunlight a few weeks
each year

▪ Developing countries have older cars

▪ Still use leaded gasoline

▪ 5 worst cities in world

▪ Beijing, China; Mexico City, Mexico;
Shanghai, China; Tehran, Iran; and
Calcutta, India
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Major Ambient Air Pollutants
Particulate Matter (PM)

▪ Inhalable particles (PM10)

▪ Fine particles (PM2.5)

▪ Coarse particles (PM2.5-10)

▪ Ultrafine particles (PM0.1)

The majority of PM2.5 air pollution is made up of black carbon

and co-pollutants such as organic carbon and sulphates.

Gases

▪ Oxides of nitrogen (NOX)

▪ Ozone (O3)

▪ Sulphur dioxide (SO2)

▪ Carbon monoxide (CO)

▪ Carbon dioxide (CO2)

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Anthropogenic
z GHG emissions have increased
since the industrial era, driven largely by
economic and population growth.
 How do we know if Air Quality is poor?
AQI is an overall scheme that transforms
individual air pollutant (e.g. SO2, CO, PM10)
levels into a single number, which is a simple
and lucid description of air quality for the
citizens.

AQI relates to health impacts and citizens can

avoid the unnecessary exposure to air
pollutants;

AQI indicates compliance with National Air

Quality Standards;

AQI prompts local authorities to take quick

actions to improve air quality;

AQI guides policy makers to take broad

decisions; and

AQI encourages citizens to participate in air

quality management.
 AQI: Health Impacts
AQI Possible Health Impacts

Good minimal impact

Satisfactory minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people

breathing discomfort to the people with lung disease such as asthma and
Moderate
discomfort to people with heart disease, children and older adults

breathing discomfort to people on prolonged exposure and discomfort to people with

Poor
heart disease with short exposure

respiratory illness to the people on prolonged exposure. Effect may be

Very Poor
more pronounced in people with lung and heart diseases

respiratory effects even on healthy people and serious health impacts on people with
Severe
lung/heart diseases

The higher the AQI, greater the air pollution and health concerns
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▪ 92% of the world’s population lives in places where air quality

levels exceed WHO’s Ambient Air quality guidelines for annual
mean of PM2.5 (10 μg/m3 ).

▪ Nearly 90% of air-pollution-related deaths occur in low- and

middle-income countries, with nearly 2 out of 3 occurring in
WHO’s South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions.

▪ Most air pollutants emissions are projected to increase over

the coming decades. Especially, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and
ammonia (NH3) due to increases in agricultural products and
energy (incl. transport and power generation)
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Future Emissions of Outdoor
Air Pollutants

Most air pollutants emissions are projected to increase

over the coming decades. Especially, nitrogen oxides
(NOx) and ammonia (NH3) due to increases in
agricultural products and energy (incl. transport and
power generation)
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 Extreme Weather and Climate
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Events Observed Since ~1950 -
Climate Change and Air Pollution
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 Sea Level
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“The IPCC says we can expect the oceans to rise between 11 and 38
inches (28 to 98 centimeters) by 2100, enough to swamp many of the
cities along the U.S. East Coast. More dire estimates, including a
complete meltdown of the Greenland ice sheet, place sea level rise to 23
ft (7 m), enough to submerge London.”

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/sea-level-rise/
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 Indoor
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Air
Pollution
▪ Pollutants can be 5-
100X greater than
outdoors
▪ Most common:
▪ Radon, cigarette
smoke, carbon
monoxide, nitrogen
dioxide,
formaldehyde
pesticides, lead,
cleaning solvents,
ozone, and asbestos
Human Health Effects
▪ Exposure to air pollution is
associated with numerous
effects on human health,
including pulmonary, cardiac,
vascular, and neurological
impairments.

▪ The health effects vary

greatly from person to
person. High-risk groups
such as the elderly, infants,
pregnant women, and
sufferers from chronic heart
and lung diseases are more
susceptible to air pollution.

▪ Children are at greater risk

because they are generally
more active outdoors and
their lungs are still
developing.
▪ Exposure
z to air pollution can cause both acute
(short-term) and chronic (long-term) health
effects.

▪ Acute effects are usually immediate and often

reversible when exposure to the pollutant ends.
Some acute health effects include eye irritation,
headaches, and nausea.

▪ Chronic effects are usually not immediate and

tend not to be reversible when exposure to the
pollutant ends.
▪ Some chronic health effects include
decreased lung capacity and lung cancer
resulting from long-term exposure to toxic air
pollutants.
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Effects on Human respiratory system

▪ Both gaseous and particulate air

pollutants can have negative
effects on the lungs.

▪ Solid particles can settle on the

walls of the trachea, bronchi,
and bronchioles.

▪ Continuous breathing of
polluted air can slow the normal
cleansing action of the lungs
and result in more particles
reaching the lower portions of
the lung.

▪ Damage to the lungs from air

pollution can inhibit this process
and contribute to the occurrence
of respiratory diseases such as
bronchitis, emphysema, and
cancer.
Table 1: Sources, Health and Welfare Effects of air Pollutants.
Pollutant Description Sources Health Effects Welfare Effects
Carbon Monoxide Colorless, odorless Motor vehicle exhaust, Headaches, reduced mental Contribute to the formation of
(CO) gas indoor sources include alertness, heart attack, smog.
kerosene or wood cardiovascular diseases,
burning stoves. impaired fetal development,
death.

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Colorless gas that Coal-fired power plants, Eye irritation, wheezing, Contribute to the formation of
dissolves in water petroleum refineries, chest tightness, shortness acid rain, visibility
vapor to form acid, manufacture of sulfuric of breath, lung damage. impairment, plant and water
and interact with acid and smelting of ores damage, aesthetic damage.
other gases and containing sulfur.
particles in the air.

Nitrogen Dioxide Reddish brown, Motor vehicles, electric
(NO2) highly reactive gas. utilities, and other
industrial, commercial,
and residential sources
that burn fuels.
Ozone (O3) Gaseous pollutant Vehicle exhaust and
when it is formed in certain other
the troposphere. fumes. Formed from
other air pollutants in the
presence of sunlight.
Lead (Pb) Metallic element Metal refineries, lead
smelters, battery
manufacturers, iron and
steel producers.
Particulate Matter Very small particles Diesel engines, power
(PM) of soot, dust, or other plants, industries,
matter, including tiny windblown dust, wood
droplets of liquids. stoves.
Susceptibility to respiratory
infections, irritation of the
lung and respiratory
symptoms (e.g., cough,
chest pain, difficulty
breathing).
Eye and throat irritation,
coughing, respiratory tract
problems, asthma, lung
damage.
Anemia, high blood
pressure, brain and kidney
damage, neurological
disorders, cancer, lowered
IQ.
Eye irritation, asthma,
bronchitis, lung damage,
cancer, heavy metal
poisoning, cardiovascular
effects.
Contribute to the formation of
smog, acid rain, water quality
deterioration, global
warming, and visibility
impairment.
Plant and ecosystem
damage.
Affects animals and plants,
affects aquatic ecosystems.
Visibility impairment,
atmospheric deposition,
aesthetic damage.
 Air Quality Management System
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A collection of air pollution strategies designed to:

▪ Eliminate or reduce ambient air pollutant concentrations to acceptable levels

▪ Avoid adverse effects to human health and the environment

▪ Prevent material damage and economic loss

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