Introduction

History of environmental pollution

 Human beings have always caused some environmental
pollution.
 The growth of pollution started during ancient times when large
numbers of people began living together in cities
 As cities grew, pollution grew with them
 Environmental problems became even more serious and
widespread in the 1800's, during a period called the Industrial
Revolution.
 Poor sanitation facilities also allowed raw sewage to get into
water supplies in some cities
 Introduction
 Industrial revolution was characterized by the development of
factories and the overcrowding of cities with factory workers

 During the Industrial Revolution, coal powered most factories. Most

city homes also relied on coal as a heating fuel

 Progress in controlling pollution has gained speed since the 1960's.

 In many other places, pollution controls effectively limit the air

pollution created by coal burning.

 Nearly all the railroads, industries, and homes of Western Europe

and the United States have switched from coal to cleaner-burning
fuels, such as oil and natural gas
 Introduction
 Pollution is an undesirable state of the natural environment
being contaminated with harmful substances as a
consequence of human activities.

 OR It is the release of harmful environmental contaminants

 Environmental pollution is a term that refers to all the ways

that human activity harms the natural environment.

 Some kinds of pollution do not actually dirty the land, air, or

water, but they reduce the quality of life for people and other
living things
 Introduction
 Eg:- noise from traffic and machinery can be considered forms of
pollution.
 Environmental pollution is one of the most serious problems facing
humanity and other life forms today.
 Badly polluted air can harm crops and cause life-threatening
illnesses.
 Some air pollutants have reduced the capacity of the atmosphere to
filter out the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation.
 Water and soil pollution threaten the ability of farmers to grow
enough food.
 Ocean pollution endangers many marine organisms
 Introduction
All the ecosystems of Earth are connected. Thus, pollution that seems
to affect only one part of the environment may also affect other parts

 For example, sooty/ dirty smoke from a power plant might appear to
harm only the atmosphere. But rain can wash some harmful
chemicals in the smoke out of the sky and onto land or into
waterways.

 Some pollution comes from one specific point or location, such as a

sewage pipe spilling dirty water into a river. Such pollution is called
point source pollution.

 Pollution that comes from large areas is called nonpoint source

pollution.
 Introduction

For examples
 Runoff farmland and carry pesticides and fertilizers into
rivers.

 Rain water can wash gasoline, oil, and salt from highways
and parking lots into the wells that supply drinking water
 Introduction

Types of pollution

Major types of environmental pollution include:-

 Water pollution,

 Soil pollution,

 Pollution caused by solid waste and hazardous waste,

 Noise pollution and,

 Air pollution,
 Introduction

Water pollution
 Water pollution is the contamination of water by sewage, toxic
chemicals, metals, oils, or other substances.
 affect such surface waters as rivers, lakes, and oceans, ground
water.
 harm many species of plants and animals.
 Water pollution comes from businesses, farms, homes,
industries, and other sources.
 It includes sewage, industrial chemicals, agricultural chemicals,
and livestock wastes.
 Introduction
Water pollution
 Some waste, such as oil, industrial acids, or farm pesticides, poisons
aquatic plants and animals.

 Other waste, such as phosphate detergents, chemical fertilizers, and

animal manure, pollutes by supplying excess nutrients for aquatic
life. This pollution process is called eutrophication.

 Another form of water pollution is the clean but heated water

discharged by power plants into waterways.

 This heated water, called thermal pollution, harms fish and aquatic
plants
 Introduction

Water pollution
 Chemical and oil spills can cause devastating water pollution
that kills water birds, fish, and other wildlife.

 Some water pollution occurs when there is improper

separation of sewer wastewater from clean drinking water.

 Disease-carrying bacteria in the waste can then contaminate

the drinking water and cause such illnesses as cholera etc
 Introduction

Soil pollution
 Soil pollution is the destruction of Earth's thin layer of healthy, productive soil,
 Healthy soil depends on bacteria, fungi, and small animals to break down wastes
in the soil and release nutrients. These nutrients help plants grow.
 Fertilizers and pesticides can limit the ability of soil organisms to process wastes.
As a result, farmers who overuse fertilizers and pesticides can destroy the soil's
productivity.
 A number of other human activities can also damage soil.
 The irrigation of soil in dry areas with poor drainage can leave water standing in
fields
 Mining operations can contaminate soil with toxic heavy metals.
 Many scientists believe acid rain can also reduce soil fertility.
 Introduction
Solid waste
 Solid waste is probably the most visible form of pollution.
 Industrial wastes account for the majority of the discarded material.
 Solid waste from homes, offices, and stores is called municipal solid
waste.
 It includes paper, plastic, glass, metal cans, food scraps, and yard
trimmings.
 Other waste consists of junked automobiles, scrap metal, leftover
materials from agricultural processes, and mining wastes.
 The uncontrolled burning of solid waste creates smoke and other air
pollution. Even burning waste in incinerators can release toxic
chemicals, ash, and harmful metals into the air.
 Introduction
Hazardous waste
 Hazardous waste is composed of discarded substances that can
threaten human health and the environment.
 A waste is hazardous if it corrodes (wears away) other materials;
explodes; ignites easily; reacts strongly with water; or is poisonous.
 Sources of hazardous waste include industries, hospitals, and
laboratories.
 Such waste can cause immediate injury when people breathe,
swallow, or touch it.
 Some hazardous waste can seriously harm the health of people,
wildlife, and plants. These pollutants include radiation, pesticides,
and heavy metals.
 Introduction
 Radiation is an invisible pollutant that can contaminate any
part of the environment.

 Most radiation comes from natural sources, such as minerals

and the sun's rays.

 Exposure to large amounts of radiation can harm cells and

result in cancer.

 Radioactive wastes produced by nuclear reactors and weapons

factories pose a potentially serious environmental problem.

 Pesticides can travel great distances through the environment

 Introduction
 Heavy metals include mercury and lead.

 Mining operations, solid waste incinerators, industrial processes, and

motor vehicles can all release heavy metals into the environment.

 Like pesticides

 they are long lasting and can spread through the environment,

 they can collect in the bones and other tissues of animals.

 In human beings, heavy metals can damage bones, various internal

organs, and the nervous system.

 Many can also cause cancer.

 Introduction
Noise pollution

 Noise pollution comes from such machines:

 airplanes,

 motor vehicles,

 construction machinery, and industrial equipment.

 Noise does not dirty the air, water, or land, but it can cause

 discomfort,

 anxiety, and hearing loss in human beings and other

animals.
 Introduction
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 the environment

 When substances, which have been emitted into the atmosphere exist over
and above the natural;

 physical diffusion, and deposition functions, chemical elimination

functions, biological purification functions, and is dispersed throughout
the atmosphere and their volume exceeds natural conditions, they have a
direct and indirect influence on living beings. This is called pollution.

 The substances dispersed in the atmosphere are called pollutants.

 Introduction
 Air pollutants are generally defined as those substances, which alter
the composition of the natural atmosphere

 Air pollutants are any visible or invisible particles or gases present in

air that is not part of the normal composition of the air.

 Generally all substances changing the natural composition of air are

considered pollutants.

 When pollutants are present in the atmosphere in such quantities

and duration as may tend to be harmful, they adversely affect the
health of humans, animals, plants, or microbial life; damage
materials, or interfere with the natural ecosystem.
 Introduction
Classification of air Pollutants

 Air pollutants are classified into two major groups as:

 Primary Air Pollutant: and Secondary Air pollutant

Primary Air Pollutant: Air pollutants that enter or released atmosphere

directly by anthropogenic or biogenic processes e.g., sulfur dioxide, carbon

monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, nitric oxide, ammonia, hydrocarbon species,

dust etc., which are emitted from the sources.

 Secondary Air pollutant: that are created chemically in the atmosphere

when primary pollutants and other components of the air react.

 Introduction
 It is formed in the air or atmosphere by the reaction of one or
more compounds (e.g., photochemical smog);

 primary pollutants may react with each other or react with

other constituents in the atmosphere. e.g., sulfur trioxide,
nitrogen dioxide, photochemical ozone, aerosols, sulphates
and nitrate salts,

 According to the “physical state” air pollutants can be also

classified

 Gaseous pollutants, and

 Particulate matters
 Introduction

Sources of Air Pollutants

 Sources of air pollutants are divided into those which derived from
natural causes and those which are brought about by human
activities/causes.

These are called:

 Natural sources, and

 Anthropogenic sources
 Introduction

Natural sources include:

 Volcanic emissions

 Forest fires

 Pollen scattering

 Sandstorms

 Sand being blown up from the earth’s surface by winds

 Ozone which subsided from the stratosphere to the troposphere

 Introduction

Anthropogenic sources can be further classified into the

following categories:

 Industrial sources

 Domestic

 Commercial

 Agricultural, and

 Transportation related sources

 Introduction
Atmosphere
 The atmosphere is a thin blanket of gas that envelops the earth.

 The gases that make up the atmosphere are held close to the
earth by the pull of gravity.

 With increasing distance from the earth’s surface, temperature,

density, pressure and composition of the atmosphere gradually
change

 On the basis of air temperature, the atmosphere can be divided

vertically into four major layers.
 Introduction
Atmospheric structure
 Introduction
Troposphere
 This first layer above the Earth’s surface contains 90% of the Earth’s
atmosphere and 99% of the water vapor.

 The gases in this regions are predominantly molecular Oxygen(O2)

and molecular nitrogen(N2)

 i.e. 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen; 1% argon, 0.036% carbon dioxide,
and trace amounts of other gases.

 Temperature in this region rapidly and almost linearly decreases

with altitude, at an average rate of 6.5 degrees Celsius per 1000
meters (commonly called the Environmental Lapse Rate),
 Introduction

Troposphere…..
 an average temperature of -55 degrees Celsius is reached at
the top of the troposphere.

 At tropopause, the top of the troposphere at about 10-16 km

above mean sea level (amsl),

 the temperature stays constant for about altitude of 10 km.

 The highest mountains are still within the troposphere and

all of our normal day-to-day activities occur here.
 Introduction

S tratosphere, upper atmosphere

10-16 km, -56ūC

Troposphere
O2, N2, Ar, CO 2, trace gases
Vapor

NO2 + h NO + O
H2O
Photochemical reactions
Droplets
Air pollutants
Particles
Weather

Temperature
inversion
 Introduction
Stratosphere
 Atmospheric layer found at an average altitude of 20 to 50 kilometers
above the Earth's surface
 The temperature rises with increasing altitude, reaching a maximum
of about –2 o C at the stratopause.
 Many jet aircrafts fly in the stratosphere because it is very stable
 temperature structure keeps the air calm in this layer
 Stratosphere contains ozone, O3, and O atoms as the result of
ultraviolet radiation acting upon stratospheric O2
 The ozone in the stratosphere absorbs dangerous kinds of ultraviolet
radiation and is essential for protecting life on Earth
 Introduction
Stratosphere
High-energy ultraviolet, wave-
length less than 100 nanometers,
penetrating to around 200 km
altitude Ultraviolet above 330 nano-
meters, visible light, infrared,
penetrating through the strat-
osphere and to EarthÕs surface

Ultraviolet between 200-330

nanometers penetrating to
around 50 km altitude

~ 50 km, -2ūC

O2 + hO + O
S tratosphere
O2 + OO 3
O3 + hO2 + O
(filtration of ultra-
violet radiation)
10-16 km, -56ūC
 Introduction

Properties of Air Pollutants in the atmosphere

Particulates;
 In general the term particulate matter refers to all atmospheric
substances that are not gases.
 They can be suspended droplets or solid particles or mixture of
the two.
 Particulate matter includes dust, soot, and other tiny bits of
solid materials that are released into and move around in the air.
 Particulates are produced by many sources including burning of
wood, diesel and other fuels,
 Introduction
Properties ……
 By traffic on unpaved roads (trucks and buses),
 incineration of garbage,
 agricultural activities such as mixing and application of
fertilizers and pesticides, road construction,
 industrial processes such as steel making, mining operations,
operation of fireplaces and wood stoves,
 Particulate matter produces a haze that can cause visibility
problems.
 It also dirties and damages buildings and clothes.
 Introduction
Properties of ……
 Smaller particulates, which float in the air, can be inhaled deeply and,
with elevated concentrations over an extended period of time, can
cause lung damage and bronchitis.

 Particulate pollution can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, and
other health problems

 Recent studies have linked exposure to these smallest particles to a

greater risk of premature death.

 Particulate can be composed of inert or extremely reactive materials

ranging in size from 100 m down to 0.1 m and even less.
 Introduction
Particulates may be further classified as follows:
 Aerosol: suspension of fine (solid or liquid) particles in a gas.
This category includes all air borne suspensions either solid or
liquid. These are generally smaller than 1 m.
 Dust: Fine solid particles. Dust particles of the size ranging from
0.01 to 1 m.
 These particles are formed by natural disintegration of rock and
soil or by mechanical processes of grinding and spraying.
 They have large settling velocities and are removed from the air
by gravity and other inertial processes.
 Introduction
Particulates may be further classified as follows:
 Fog: Condensed water vapor in the air at or near ground level or a
cloud or suspension of liquid particles.
 It is a mist in which the liquid is water and is sufficiently dense
to obscure vision
 Fume: Solid particles (dust) formed by the condensation of vapors,
sublimation, distillation, or other chemical reactions.
 Fume particles from 0.03 to 1.0 m in diameter and are normally
released from the chemical or metallurgical processes.
 Introduction
 Mist: small liquid droplets in air.

 These liquid droplets are generally smaller than 10 m, which are
formed by condensation in the atmosphere or are released from
industrial operations, for example, the formation of sulfuric acid mist

 Smoke the solid particles resulting from incomplete combustion of

materials are called smoke

 e.g produce hydrocarbons, organic acids, sulfur dioxide, and oxides of

nitrogen,

 It contains fine particles of the size ranging from 0.01 to 1.0 m.

 Smog: a mixture of fog and smoke or other air born pollutants such as
exhaust fume
 Introduction
Gaseous Pollutants
 Oxides of sulfur: The oxide emitted by pollution sources is sulfur
dioxide (SO2).

 It is oxidized slowly in clean air to sulfur trioxide (SO3), which rapidly

combines with moisture in the atmosphere to form sulfuric acid.

 Sulfur dioxide is formed when sulfurous components contained

within fossil fuels like coal and oil develop when they are oxidized
during the combustion process.

 Nitrogen oxides: Only nitrous oxide (N2O), nitric oxide (NO), and
nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are formed in appreciable quantity in the
atmosphere
 Introduction
Properties…..
The major source of nitrous oxide (N2O) in the atmosphere is
biological activity of the solid and there are no significant
anthropogenic sources.

 It has a low reactivity in the lower atmosphere.

 Nitric oxide (NO) is oxidized to NO2 in a polluted atmosphere

through photochemical reactions.

 Nitrogen dioxide is brown pungent gas with an irritating odor. It is

probably produced by the oxidation of nitric oxide by ozone.

 Nitrogen dioxide is of major concern as pollutant. It is emitted to the

atmosphere by fuel combustion and nitric acid plants.
 Introduction
Properties…..
 Carbon monoxide: CO is a highly poisonous gas, Produced by
incomplete combustion owing to:

 insufficient O2. low temperature, short residence time and poor mixing

 Major source (~77%) is motor vehicle exhaust

 Colorless and odorless

 CO has a strong affinity towards hemoglobin of the blood stream

 When inhaled, binds to hemoglobin in blood to form

carboxyhemoglobin, reducing the oxygen carrying capacity
 Introduction
Properties…..
 Brain function reduced,

 heart rate increased at lower levels

 CO constitutes the single largest pollutant in the urban atmosphere.

 The rate of oxidation of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere seems to

be slow.

 The main sources of CO in the urban air are smoke and exhaust
fumes of many devices burning coal, gas or oil.
 Introduction
Properties…..
 Hydrocarbons: The hydrocarbons in air by themselves alone cause no
harmful effects.

 Non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC) give rise to photochemical

oxidants.

 They undergo chemical reactions in the presence of sunlight and

nitrogen oxides forming photochemical oxidants of which the
predominant is ozone.

 Among the alkenes the prominent pollutants are ethylene and

propene.
 Introduction
Properties…..
 Photochemical Oxidants (Ox): Photochemical oxidants are formed by
atmospheric photochemical reactions, ,

 e.g., splitting of oxygen, or NO2 molecules, freeing an oxygen

atom which reacts with another O2 to form O3

 which occur by nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds that

are emitted directly from industrial, automobiles, and biogenic
sources.

 Ozone is the result of atmospheric chemistry involving two precursors,

non-methane hydrocarbons (NHCs) and Nox, which reacts in the
presence of heat and sunlight
 Introduction
Properties…..
 Ozone, PANs or peroxyacetyl nitrates, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2),
etc., react photo -chemically in sunlight with other compounds
causing photochemical Smog.

 Hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide emissions from cars react with

PAN's and ozone to create photochemical smog;

hydrocarbons + NOx + sunlight → photochemical smog (oxidants)

 primary oxidants produced: eg Ozone (O3), Formaldehyde

Peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN)

 Most photochemical oxidant is ozone

 Introduction
Properties…..
 Photochemical smog is a condition that develops when primary
pollutants (oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds
created from fossil fuel combustion) interact under the influence of
sunlight to produce a mixture of hundreds of different and
hazardous chemicals known as secondary pollutants.

 The Table below describes the major toxic constituents of

photochemical smog and their effects on the environment
1. Introduction
 Introduction
Macro Air Pollutant Effects (Global Environmental Problems)
 Macro air pollution effects refer to those consequences of air
pollution exhibited on a large geographical scale, with the scale
ranging from regional to global.
Major environmental problems related to air pollution are;
 Depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer
 Acidification of the tropospheric air (so-called acid rain), and
 Global warming,
Depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer
 The actual ozone concentration in the layer is in the order of ppm.
 Ozone can be both formed and destroyed by reactions with Nox.
 Introduction
Depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer
 Of recent concern is the enhanced destruction of stratospheric
ozone by (CFCs) and other manmade oxidizing air pollutants.

 Precursor pollutants that reduce stratospheric ozone concentrations

via atmospheric reactions include CFCs and nitrous oxide.

 Principal CFCs include methylchloroform and carbon tetrachloride.

 These CFCs are emitted to the atmosphere as a result of their use as

aerosol propellants, refrigerants, foam-blowing agents, and solvents.
 Introduction
Depletion of ……
 In the lower atmosphere zone is hazardous to plant, humans, and
other animals.

 However, in the stratosphere is essential to preventing harmful

ultraviolet radiation (UV) from reaching earth

Natural changes in the ozone levels are the result of:

 Volcanic activity ,Seasonal fluctuations and Sun intensity

 Release of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's) from aerosol spray air

conditioning units and refrigeration.
 Introduction
Depletion of ….

CFC’s

 Compounds of carbon, chlorine, and fluorine atoms invented in the

1920's

 Freon is a registered trade name; their useful properties being:

 Non-toxic, Non-corrosive, Nonflammable , and Un-reactive

 Absorb heat (readily change from liquid to gas making them useful
for cooling)
 Introduction
Depletion of …..
Example of reactions for one CFC (CFC) and ozone is as follows:

CCl2F2 +UV = Cl- +CClF2

Cl- +O3 = ClO + O2

 ClO is also chemically reactive and combines with atomic

oxygen as follows:

ClO + O∙ = Cl- + O2

 A single Cl atom can destroy an average of 100,000 ozone

molecules
 Introduction
Effects of increased UV light

 Increased cases of skin cancer

 Increased cataract formation

 Impaired immune systems

 Decreased in crop yields

 Drop in ocean productivity

 Increasing declines in the populations of amphibians (that

breed and develop in water such as frog)
 Introduction
Global warming
 absorb energy in the near infrared spectrum region, which may
ultimately produce global climate change (global warming ).

potential effects of global climate change can be considered in terms of:

 ecological systems,

 sea-level rise,

 water resources

 agriculture,

 electric demand,

 air quality, and

 health effects
 Introduction
Global warming…….
 Major compounds involved in global climate change are those that
produce free halogen atoms by photochemical reaction, and thus
deplete the stratospheric ozone layer, and those that absorb energy in
the near infrared spectrum region, which may ultimately produce
global climate change (global warming ).
 Climate- General pattern of weather conditions for a region over a
long period time
 Climate change is the sever problem that the whole world facing today
 The Earth's surface temperature has risen by about 1 degree units in
the past century, with accelerated warming during the past two
decades.
 Introduction
Global warming…..
 There is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming over
the last 50 years is attributable to human activities (IPCC,2007a)

 Human activities have altered the chemical composition of the

atmosphere through the buildup of GHG

 carbon dioxide,

 methane, and

 nitrous oxide.

 The heat-trapping property of these gases is undisputed

 Introduction
Global warming…..
 Introduction
Global warming…..
 The ability of certain gases in the atmosphere to trap sunlight
energy and reradiate it in a longer wavelength as heat

 Green house Effect- the warming of the troposphere due to the

presence of greenhouse gases such as CO2, CH4, CFC's, O3, N2O,
H2O

 Carbon dioxide is the biggest problem because its % in the

atmosphere has risen considerably;
 Introduction
Evidence of global warming

 Scientists report that the average temperature has increased 1 0C

over the past 100 years.

 The nine warmest years on record have occurred since 1980.

 Regional temperature increases vary 1-4 oC around the world.

 Retreat of glaciers / ice masses.

 Decrease in snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere.

 CO2 emissions have increased 30% since the Industrial Revolution

 Alteration of precipitation patterns leading to droughts and floods.

 Changes in soil moisture that would effect plant growth

 Introduction

. What can be done? (Counter measure)

 Increase efficiency of energy usage.

 Impose carbon tax

 Increase the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

 Plant more trees

 Reduce deforestation (such as the rain forests)

 Ban the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC'S)

 Use substitutes for air conditions, refrigerators, aerosol

sprays
 Introduction
. Rainfall

 The physical and chemical quality of rainfall is one issues related

to the general effects of air pollution.

 Air pollution can cause the pH of rainfall to decrease, while the

suspended dissolved solids and total solids in rainfall increase.

 Nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in rainfall can also

increase as a result of the atmospheric releases of pollutants

 Increases in lead and cadmium in rainfall are also a result of air

pollutant emissions.
 Introduction
. Acid rain

 An important issue related to air pollution effects is acid rainfall

and the resultant effects on aquatic ecosystems.

 Acid rainfall is any rainfall with a pH less than 5.7.

 The natural pH of rainfall is 5.7 and reflects the presence of weak

carbonic acid (H2CO3) resulting from the reaction of water and
carbon dioxide.

 Rainfall becomes more acid as a result of acidic mists such as

H2SO4 and HNO3.
 Introduction
Acid rain…….
 Atmospheric emissions of carbon monoxide also add to the carbonic
acid mist in the atmosphere and cause the pH of rainfall to be less
than 5.7.

 It is the result of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX)

reacting in the atmosphere with water and returning to earth as rain,
fog, or snow.

 Deposition: The processes by which chemical constituents move from

the atmosphere to the earth's surface.

 These processes include precipitation (wet deposition, such as rain or

cloud fog), as well as particle and gas deposition (dry deposition).
 Introduction
Acid rain…….
 Dry deposition refers to the settling of acidic gases and particles out of
the atmosphere.

 About half of the acidity in the atmosphere falls back to the earth
through dry deposition.

 Sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are the primary causes
of acid rain, usually released from electric power generation that relies
on burning fossil fuels like coal.

 Acid rain occurs when these gases react in the atmosphere with water,
oxygen, and other chemicals to form various acidic compounds.
 Introduction

Acid rain…….

 Sunlight increases the rate of most of these reactions.

 The result is a mild solution of sulfuric acid and nitric acid.

 pH- measure of acid strength of a solution; measured on a scale of 1

to 14 (acid to base);

 Buffering capacity- the extent of resistance of water or soil to changes

in pH.
 Introduction
Chemical Reactions in the Atmosphere

Formation of carbonic acid

 The normal pH of rainwater is slightly acidic. Carbon dioxide in the

atmosphere dissolves in water and produce carbonic acid.

CO2 + H2O H2CO3

Formation of sulfuric acid –sulfur trioxide in the atmosphere dissolves in

water and dissociates to produce sulfuric acid.

SO3 + H2O H2SO4

Formation of nitric acid- nitrogen dioxide dissolves in water and dissociate

to produce nitric acid NO2 + H2O 2HNO3
 Introduction

In-door air pollution

Types of Indoor Air Pollutants

 CO- from furnaces and water heaters, automobile exhaust

 Asbestos- ceiling and floor tiles, pipe insulation

 Tobacco smoke -source of particulates, benzo-a pyrene

(carcinogen)

 Styrene- from carpets, plastics

 Radon- from radioactive soil and rock surrounding foundation

 Introduction

Types of Indoor Air Pollutants ……

 Tetrachloroethylene- from dry-cleaned clothing
 Chloroform- from chlorinated water in hot showers

 NOx- from wood burning stoves, kerosene heater, un-vented gas

stoves

 Formaldehyde- from furniture stuffing, particle board,

paneling, foam insulation.
 Introduction

Effects of air Pollution/Pollutants

Air pollution can cause:

 Adverse effects on human and animal health

 Damage to vegetation

 Damage to materials
 Introduction
Health Effects of Air Pollutants

 The category of health effects ranges from personal discomfort to

actual health hazards.

 Personal discomfort is characterized by eye irritation and irritation to

individuals with respiratory difficulties.

 Eye irritation is associated with oxidants and the components within

the oxidant pool such as ozone, proxyacetylnitrate (PAN), and others.

 Individuals with respiratory difficulties associated with asthma,

bronchitis,
 Introduction
Health Effects ……..

 Health effects result from either acute or chronic exposures.

 Acute exposures result from accidental releases of pollutants or air

pollution episodes.

 Episodes with documented illness or death are typically caused by

persistent (three to six days) thermal inversions with poor
atmospheric dispersion and high air pollutant concentrations.

Exposures to lower concentrations for extended periods of time have

resulted in:

 chronic respiratory and cardiovascular disease;

 Introduction
Health Effects …….

 alterations of body functions such as lung ventilation and oxygen

transport;

 aggravation of existing respiratory conditions such as asthma.

 Pollutant particles can be prevented from the lungs by the action

of tiny hairs called cilia that sweep mucus out through the throat
and nose.

 The bronchial cilia can be paralyzed by inhaled smoke, enhancing

the synergistic effect between smoking and air pollution.
 Introduction
Health Effects of particulate matter

 Impact depends on particle size, shape and composition

Inhalable PM includes both fine and coarse particles.

 Coarse particles

 aggravation of respiratory conditions, such as asthma.

Fine particles

 increased hospital admissions and emergency room visits for heart

and lung disease

 decreased lung function

 premature death
 Introduction
The major health effects include:

 Breathing and respiration problem

 Aggravation of existing respiratory and cardiovascular disease

 Alteration of body’s defense systems against foreign materials

 Damage to lung tissues

 Carcinogenesis

 Persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary or cardiovascular

disease, influenza, or asthma, the elderly, and children are the most
sensitive.
 Introduction
Health effects …….

Sulfur dioxide.

 Major effects of sulfur dioxide include:

 Breathing problem

 Respiratory illness

 Breakdown of lung defense

 Aggravation of existing respiratory and cardiovascular disease

 Death
 Introduction
Health effects …….

Carbon monoxide.

 The effect of CO inhalation on human health is directly proportional to the

quantity of CO bound to hemoglobin.

 CO- reduces oxygen carrying capacity of the blood by combing with

hemoglobin and forming carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO) which is stable.

 It reduces oxygen delivery to organs and tissues by interfering with the

hemoglobin oxygen carrying capacity.

 At elevated concentration CO impairs visual perception, manual dexterity,

and mental ability.
 Introduction
Health effects …….

Nitrogen oxides

 NO is highly reactive gas that plays a major role in tropospheric ozone

formation

 Nitrogen dioxide causes: lung irritation, bronchitis, and, lower

resistance to respiratory infections,

 Ozone affects healthy adults and children as well as persons with

impaired respiratory systems.

 It reduces lung function, usually associated with coughing, sneezing,

chest pain, and pulmonary congestion
 Introduction

Effects on Vegetation
Vegetation is damaged by air pollutants in three ways:

 Nercosis ( collapse of the leaf tissue)

 Chlorolysis (bleaching or other color changes), and

 Alteration in growth. The damage caused by various pollutants differ

markedly.

 Fluorine- causes phytotoxicological effects to plants exposed to it. It

produces nercosis at the periphery of the leafs.

 Frequently the plant damage is observed on the fruit or on the

flowers.
 Introduction

Effects on Vegetation ……

 Ozone- produces tissue collapse and marking of the upper

surface of a leaf known as stipple (pigmented red-brown),
and flecking (bleached straw to white).

 Peroxyacetylnitrate (PAN) -produces a bronzing on the

under side of vegetable leaves.

 Smog- produces early maturity in plants

 Generally, plants have different susceptibility to pollutants.

 Introduction

Effects on Animals

 Air pollutants affect animals in the way as they do affect

people.

 Additional hazard to animals is chronic poisoning from

ingesting forage contaminated by particulate pollutants of

heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, and compounds like

organic emissions and fluoride.

 Fluorine causes fluorosis in animals.

 Introduction
Effects on Materials and Services
 The familiar effect of air pollution on materials is the soiling of building
surfaces, clothing, and other materials. Soiling results from the deposition of
smoke on surfaces over time as surfaces become discolored or darkened.

 Acidic precipitation of pollutants like sulfur dioxide can accelerate the corrosion
of metallic materials.

 Ozone and PAN have resulted in rubber cracking, which can be used to measure
ozone concentration.

 Fabrics and dyes also bleach and discolor under the influence of variety of air
pollutants.

 Accelerated aging of synthetics and rubber is due to exposure to atmospheric

pollutants.
 Introduction

Thank you