Pollution – Definition

Any undesirable changes in physical / chemical / biological characteristics of

any of the component of the environment (ie : air, water, soil) – which can
cause harmful effects on various forms of life and property

1
What is Air Pollution???
It is an atmospheric condition in which toxic substances are present in
concentrations – that pose a health risk (or) which can cause undesirable
effects on Living organisms and environment

2
 Human Activities
and
Air Pollution

Tobacco: Smoking and second-

hand tobacco contributes to indoor
air pollution and it also raises risk for
cancer and heart attacks.
3
 Classification of pollutants

Primary Pollutants Secondary Pollutants

which are emitted Formed by interaction among

from identifiable Based on Origin two or more primary pollutants

sources - CO, NO2, under light and temperature

SO2, SPM, Halogens condn. - O3, PAN, Smog,

Formaldehyde

Inorganic pollutants
CO, CO2, Organic pollutants

NOx, NH3 Aldehydes,

Based on Chemistry
SOx, H2S, Oxidising Ketones,

agents – O3 Alcohols

Halogens - HF, HCl Hydrocarbons 5

6
Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide sources :

Due to incomplete
combustion of fossil fuel,
vehicle exhaust, natural gas
heaters, cooking with
charcoal or kerosene.
Life time the atmosphere
is ~2 months

7
Black carbon

The average atmospheric

lifetime of black carbon
particles is 4-12 days

Black carbon has a

About 6.6 million
warming impact on Black carbon
tonnes of black
climate 460-1,500 times KEY POINTS
carbon were emitted
stronger than CO2 per unit
in 2015
of mass

Household cooking and

heating account for 51% of
global black carbon emissions
Primary Air Pollutants - Causes and effects

Carbon monoxide :
 Due to incomplete combustion of fossil fuel, vehicle exhaust, natural gas
heaters, cooking with charcoal or kerosene
 Affinity of hemoglobin towards “CO” is 200 times greater than “O2” - Carboxy-
hemoglobin – which affects the oxygen carrying capacity of blood cells
 Dizziness, Coma followed by death (if not treated properly)

11
12
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
colorless - odorless gas that forms during the complete combustion of
organic matter - fossil fuels and biomass

CO2 comes from

burning fossil
fuels,
transportation,
from industrial
processes and
deforestation,…
affect the
environment
heavily
13
 Carbon Footprint

• The concept of a carbon footprint was introduced

to promote individual responsibility for taking care of the environment,
and help people do their part to improve the planet.
• A carbon footprint is
the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused into the
atmosphere as a result of the anthropogenic activities”

14
When more greenhouse gases
enter Earth’s atmosphere -
more heat from the sun gets
trapped and leads to climate
change.

15
How big the Carbon Footprint is????
How big the Carbon Footprint is????
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2 )
• A corrosive gas that comes primarily from combustion of coal and oil
• It is a respiratory irritant
• Also released during volcanic eruptions and forest fires.
S + O2  SO2

Nitrogen Oxide (NOx )

• Can be either:
• NO (Nitrogen oxide): a colorless odorless gas
• NO2 (Nitrogen dioxide): pungent, reddish-brown gas
• Primary anthropogenic sources : motor vehicles and combustion of fossil
fuel.
• Natural sources: Forest fires, lightning, microbial action in soil.
19
NOx and SOx
• Nitrous oxide (N2O)
• Nitric oxide (NO)
• Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) - collectively referred
as Nitrogen Oxides
• SO, SO2, SO3, S2O2 – Sulphur Oxides

Effects of Nitrogen and Sulphur Oxides – “Acid Rain”

SO2(g) + O2(g) + H2O (l) ==> H2SO4(aq)
2NO2(g) + O2(g) + H2O(l) ==> HNO3(aq)
HCl (g) + H2O(l) ==> HCl (aq)
Impacts : damage to buildings, vegetation &
fish populations by destroying fish eggs. 20
21
 Impacts of Acid Rain

Effects of Acid Deposition or Rain

• Lowering the pH of lake water
• Decreasing species diversity of
aquatic organisms
• Mobilizing metals that are found in
soils and releasing these into surface
waters
• Damaging statues, monuments, and
buildings…acid rain erodes or corrodes
stone and metal
22
CaCO3 + H2SO4  CaSO4 + CO2 + H2O

23
Lead (Pb and PbO)
• Sources : Lead smelters, Transportation
• Incineration of Lead Acid Batteries
• Burning of Lead contaminated oils

24
Suspended Particulate
Pollution (SPM - Dust)

• Particle pollution — also called Particulate Matter

(PM) — is made up of particles (tiny pieces) of
solids or liquids that are in the air.
• These particles may include:
• Dust, Dirt
• Soot, Smoke, Drops of liquids
SPM - Suspended Particulate Matter
Particles with a diameter of less than 10 micrometers are summarized
under particulate matter (PM).
Two types of SPM
• Larger particles – 2.5 to 10 m
– From industries, agricultural land, road traffic, construction sites

• Smaller particles  2.5 m

– Burning of fossil fuel

26
Haze: reduced visibility caused primarily - when particulate matter
(from air pollution) scatters light. 27
28
• The Air Quality Index (AQI) is an index which shows air quality in
a single number.
• AQI shows 6 air quality colour-coded ranges which are
associated with different health impacts.

29
• The Air Quality Index (AQI) is an index which shows air quality in a
single number.
• AQI shows 6 air quality colour-coded ranges which are associated
with different health impacts.

51-100 Satisfactory 101-200 Moderate :

0-50 Good Minor breathing Breathing discomfort to
Minimal impact discomfort to sensitive the people with lungs,
people asthma & heart diseases

401-500 Severe : Affects

301-400 Very Poor : 201-300 Poor : Breathing
healthy people and
Respiratory illness on discomfort to most people
seriously impacts those
prolonged exposure on prolonged exposure
with existing diseases

30
SPM …
• Health Impacts – strongly related to
particle size
Smaller Particles :
– Chemically active / acidic
– most dangerous / once settled – they
can’t be removed by body’s natural
cleansing mechanism
Larger Particles
– Can be removed by nose / throat
– Chronic exposure – wheezing /
asthma

31
32
Particulate Pollution
Particulate Pollution…
Indoor Air Pollution
• Radium or Radon (Ra or Rn)
• It is present in Bricks, concrete, soil, water
226Ra  222Rn + 4He
88 86 2

• Health Impact : Lung Cancer

35
Secondary Air Pollutants
Ozone
• It is formed by reaction between primary pollutants in the
presence of light and temp. condition.
• Health Impacts :
decreases lung’s working ability  Cough / Chest pain

36
37
 Smog - kind of air pollution - named for the mixture of smoke and fog in the air – occurs
in cool /humid condition (industrial emission – SOx, SPM)

• In the 1950s - new type of smog was first described – Photochemical Smog
• Reason : Ground - level O3, SO2, NO2, CO, HC – industrial emission.
• Occurs in warm, dry, sunny climate

Photochemical Smog
Large scale pollution – caused by chemical reaction between primary pollutants in
presence of UV and heat
– N2(g) + O2(g)  2NO(g)
– 2NO(g) + O2(g)  2NO2(g)
– NO2(g) + hν  NO(g) + [O] or (O-)
– [O] or (O-) + O2(g)  O3(g) (Ground Level Ozone)
Also,
– [O] or (O-) + HC  HCHO (Oxidized HC)
38
Photochemical Oxidants
Photochemical oxidants are a class of air pollutants formed as a result of action
of sunlight on compounds such as NOx and SO2.
• harmful to plant tissue, human respiratory tissue
• Smog: mixture of oxidants and particulates

39
40
Photochemical smog :
dominated by ozone
• Also called Los Angeles-type
smog or brown smog
• Occurs when sunlight acts on
vehicle pollutants

Photochemical (Sulfurous) smog : dominated by sulfur dioxide

and sulfate compounds
• Also called London-type smog or gray smog.
• Occurs where coal is burned & the atmosphere is humid.

41
 A Brief History of Air Pollution

Disastrous London smog event of 1952

Smog: smoke and fog (emissions from coal burning)
dominated by sulfur dioxide and sulfate compounds
5 days, nearly 4000 deaths;
Clean Air Act in 1956
Los Angeles: photochemical smog (1943)
• The smog over Los Angeles - result of the NOx and HC from
automobile exhaust - reacting with the oxygen in presence of Sun
• It is the first recognized smog - in Los Angeles in the summer - 1943.
• The visibility was only 3 blocks, and the smog was last for longer
duration
42