CHAPTER 3

AIR QUALITY

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Chapter 3: Air Quality
Prepared by: Nur Ain Bt Mohd Zainuddin
 Course Learning Outcome

At the end of this chapter, student should be

able to:
Define what is air pollution?

Source of pollutant

Classification of air polutant

Effect of air pollutant

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Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.1 Definition, Characteristics and Perspective

❑ Air pollution is the presence in the outdoor atmosphere of

one or more air contaminant (i.e dust, fumes, gas, mist, odor,
smoke or vapor) in sufficient quantities, of such
characteristics and of such duration as to be or to threaten to
be injuries to human, plant or animal life or to property or
which reasonably interferes the comfortable enjoyment of life
or property.
❑ Air pollution: Modification of the natural characteristics of the
atmosphere by chemical, particulate matter, or biological
agent.
❑ It causes harm or discomfort to humans or other living
organisms, or damages the natural environment into
the atmosphere.

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Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.1 Definition, Characteristics and Perspective

Unit measurement
• Suspended particulates- mass per unit volume basis (μg/m3)
• Gaseous contaminants – ppm/ppb
• For gases, ppm convert to μg/m3

Standard condition for many chemical reaction:

• T1 = 273 K (0°C)
• P1 = 1 atm (760 mmHg)
• V1 = 22.4 L/mol

While T2,P2,V2 relate to actual conditions being considered.

*But most air quality determinations are referenced at 25°C, 760 mmHg
 3.1 Definition, Characteristics and Perspective

Changes on Mesoscale
and Microscale

Reduced Altered Urban Heat

Visibility Precipitation Island

Refers to changes in weather

attributed to air pollution
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Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.1 Definition, Characteristics and Perspective

REDUCED VISIBILITY

❑ Major contributor is by particulate of size range of

0.38 to 0.76 micron and gas molecules
✓ This particulate will absorb scatter light
✓ Scattering – reduce visibility by decreasing
contrast between object and background sky

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Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.1 Definition, Characteristics and Perspective

ALTERED PRECIPITATION
• Air contaminant increase precipitation
• Occurrence of fog over cities > countryside
• Cloud formation over cities > countryside
Linked to high SO2 emission
• Noticeable @ urban areas
with high PM emission
• Acid rain caused by SO2
& NO emissions

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Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.1 Definition, Characteristics and Perspective

Urban Heat Island

Urban heat island over London

Depends on urban
areas and
facilities (building
materials),
thermal increase
during cold
weather

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Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.1 Definition, Characteristics and Perspective

Sources of pollutants

Natural sources Anthropogenic

sources

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Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.1 Definition, Characteristics and Perspective

Sources of pollutants

Sources of Pollutant Anthropogenic

• Natural • transportation (largest
• Fungi spores contributor)
• salt spray • Stationary combustion
• smoke from contaminant
• Industrial processes
• dust particles from forest fires
• Solid-waste disposal
• volcanic eruptions
• CO from the breakdown of • Total suspended
methane particulates
• Hydrocarbons from pine trees • SO, NO, Hydrocarbons,
• H2S and CH4 from the CO
anaerobic decomposition of
organic matter

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Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.1 Definition, Characteristics and Perspective

Mobile transportation : (major contributor)

Aircraft Railroads Motor vehicles

Ships
Handling & evaporation
Chapter 3: Air Quality
of gasoline 11
 3.1 Definition, Characteristics and Perspective

Stationary combustion

Residential

Commercial

Industrial power and

heating including steam-
powered electric power
plant

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Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.1 Definition, Characteristics and Perspective

Industrial processes

Chemical

Metallurgical

Pulp-paper industries

Petroleum refineries

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Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.1 Definition, Characteristics and Perspective

Solid-waste disposal
Household

Commercial refuse

Coal refuse

Agricultural burning

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Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.2 Air Pollution: past, present
and future

Discussion in class:
Interactive learning

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Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.3 Classification of Pollutants

CLASSIFICATION OF
POLLUTANTS

Chemical State of
Origin
composition matter

Particulate

Gaseous

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Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.3 Classification of Pollutants

Origin

Primary Secondary
contaminants contaminants

SOx
HC Ozone, O3

NOx
Peroxyacetyl
nitrate (PAN)

Both formed in atm by

photochemical reaction or
hydrolysis or oxidation
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Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.3 Classification of Pollutants

Chemical Composition

Organic Inorganic
compounds compounds

contain C, H and CO, CO2,

other elements such carbonates, SO,
as O2, N2, Ph & S, NO, ozone, HF,
carboxylic acids, HCl
alcohols, ethers,
esters, amines etc
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Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.3 Classification of Pollutants

State of Matter

Particulate Gaseous

dust, fumes, smoke, behave much as air,

fly ash, mist, spray COx, SOx, NOx, HC,
(liquid or solid) dioxin, furan
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Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.3 Classification of Pollutants

Particulates
❑ Identified as any dispersed matter, solid or
liquid, in which the individual aggregates are
larger than a single small molecule (0.002 μm)
but smaller than about 500 μm.
❑ 3 classification:
✓ Physical (size, mode of formation, settling
properties, optical properties)
✓ Chemical (organic or inorganic)
✓ Biological (bacteria, virus, spores, pollens etc)

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Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.3 Classification of Pollutants
Physical characteristics: Size
❑ Particle of major interest in air pollution
studies range from 0.01 to 100 micron
❑ Particles smaller than 1 μm do not settle out
rapidly.
❑ Ex: metallurgical fumes, cement dust, fly
ash, carbon black, sulfuric acid mist, smoke

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Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.3 Classification of Pollutants

Chalk Dust Particle, 10 μm

Diesel, 0.05 μm Coal Ash 22

Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.3 Classification of Pollutants

Physical Characteristics:
Mode of formation
❑ Solid particles:
i. Dust
ii. smoke
iii. fumes
iv. fly ash
❑ Liquid particles:
i. Mist,
ii. spray

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Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.3 Classification of Pollutants
Physical Characteristics: Mode of formation
Dust
- small, solid particles
-created by the breakup of larger masses through
processes such as crushing, grinding or blast
-may come directly from the processing or
handling or materials such as coal, cement or
grains
- byproduct of mechanical process e.g. sawing of
wood
-residue of mechanical operation e.g. sandblasting
-do not diffuse – settle by gravity
-diameter range- 1.0 to 1000 micron
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Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.3 Classification of Pollutants
Fumes
-Fine, solid particles (often metallic oxides
e.g. zinc oxide, lead oxide.
-Formed by the condensation of vapors of
solid material
-May come from sublimation, distillation,
calcination or molten metal processes
-Diameter range – 0.03 to 0.3 micron
-Flocculate and coalesce & settle out

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Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.3 Classification of Pollutants
Smoke
- fine, solid particles resulting from the incomplete
combustion of organic particles – coal, wood or
tobacco.
- consist of mainly C
& combustible
materials
- diameter range:
0.5 to 1 micron

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Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.3 Classification of Pollutants

Fly ash
-Finely divided, noncombustible particles
-Contained in flue gases from combustion of coal
-Particles range 1.0 to 1000 micron – like dust
-Results from burning – like smoke
-Consist of inorganic metallic or mineral substances
– like fumes

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Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.3 Classification of Pollutants
Mist

-Liquid particles or droplets

-Formed by the condensation of a
vapor, dispersion of liq or enactment of
chemical reaction
-Less than 10 micron in diameter
-High conc of mist - fog

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Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.3 Classification of Pollutants
Spray
- Liquid particles
- Formed by the atomization of
parent liquids, such as pesticides
and herbicides
- Particle range 10 to 1000 micron
in diameter

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Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.3 Classification of Pollutants
Settling properties

-Is the major natural self-cleansing process

-Suspended particulates – size less than 1 to 20
μm
-Settleable particulates – larger than 10 μm
-Stokes’ law - to calculate terminal settling velocity
of airborne particulates, Reynolds number must be
less than 1 (quiescent atmosphere).
-Negligible air density.

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Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.3 Classification of Pollutants
Optical properties
Settling properties
-Cause
Is the reduction
major natural self-cleansing
in visibility; process
and scattering of
-Suspended
light → accidents, plane crash– size less than 1
particulates
-to 20 μm by particles in range of visible light
Affected
-Settleable
(0.38 to 0.76 particulates
μm) – larger than 10
-μm
Affected by particle shape, surface
-Stokes’ law - distribution
characteristics, to calculateofterminal
particlessettling
velocity of airborne particulates, Reynolds
number must be less than 1 (quiescent
atmosphere).
-Negligible air density. 31
Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.3 Classification of Pollutants

Chemical characteristics

❑ Contain both organic and inorganic

components
❑ Organic – phenols, organic acids,
alcohols
❑ Inorganic – nitrates, sulfates, metals (iron,
lead, manganese, zinc and vanadium)

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Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.3 Classification of Pollutants
Lead
-Lead in atmosphere: elemental (Pb), oxides
(PbO, PbO2, PbxO3), sulfates (PbSO4) , sulfides
(PbS), alkyl (Pb(CH3)4), lead halides.
-Three systems most sensitive: blood-forming
sys, renal sys, nervous sys.
-Affects reproductive, endocrine, hepatic etc
-Acute lead poisoning- vomiting, colic, insomnia,
irritability, etc.
-Chronic lead poisoning – headache, weakness,
etc.
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Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.3 Classification of Pollutants
Biological characteristics
❑ Include protozoa, bacteria, viruses, fungi, spores, pollens
and algae
❑ Microorganisms survive for short time in atm
-lack of nutrients and UV radiation from sun
❑ Certain bact & fungi can survive long periods
❑ Pollen cause hay fever

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Chapter 3: Air Quality
3.3 Classification of Pollutants
Effect of particulates
On human health
❑ At high conc, poses
hazards to those
susceptible to
respiratory illness
❑ Depends on size of
particulates inhaled
& depth of
penetration
❑ 40% of 1 & 2 μm
particles retain in
bronchioles & alveoli
❑ 0.25 to 1 μm –
breathed in & out
❑ Particles below 0.25
μm – results in
impingement

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Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.3 Classification of Pollutants
Aeroallergens
-Refer to airborne substances causing
allergies
-Common allergens – pollen and spores
-Other of biological origin – yeasts, molds,
animal fur, feathers and hair

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Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.3 Classification of Pollutants
Effects on Plants and animals
- Little damage if deposited on a leaf surface
- Reduce photosynthesis, hence plant growth

Animals that
eats the plants
coated with
particulates
suffer some ill
effects.

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Chapter 3: Air Quality
 3.3 Classification of Pollutants
Effects on Materials
- Soiling clothing and textiles
- Corroding metals (at relative humidities above
75%)
- Eroding building surfaces
- Discoloring and destroying painted surfaces
- Acid rain

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Chapter 3: Air Quality
3.3 Classification of Pollutants

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 3.3 Classification of Pollutants
Sources of particulates
Particulates Source Detections Standard &
Control
Settleable Dustfall bucket S – primary
pollutant is 260
µg/m3while
secondary
pollutant is 150
µg/m3
Suspended High-volume C- depend upon
sampler or paper- principles of
tape sampler sedimentation,
centrifugation,
impaction
Opacity Qualified observer
Lead Combustion of High-volume S- 1.5 µg/m3
fuels sampler and C- electrostatic
analysis by atomic precipitator, fabric
absorption filter, wet scrubber
Pollen Durham sampler
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Particulates Source Detections Standard &
Control
Aliphatic HC -Natural source Gas S- 160 µg/m3
(contain alkanes, are from biological chromatography C- incineration,
alkenes and sources – plant adsorption,
alkynes) and and tree absorption,
Aromatic HC -Anthropogenic – condensation
industrial
refineries,
transportation
Carbon monoxide -Decaying Nondispersive S- 10 mg/m3 (8 hr)
vegetation- infrared (NDIR), and 40 mg/m3 (1
oxidation of gas hr)
methane chromatography, C- adsorption,
-human catalytic abs,
metabolism conversion, flame condensation,
-transportation, ionization combustion
solid-waste detection
disposal, forest
fires
Oxides of sulfur – Burning of solid Colorimetric, S- 6 to 10
SO2 and SO3 and fossil fuel conductometric, µg/m3for 24 hr
coulometric, average and 10 to
spectroscopic 15 µg/m3 for
annual ave 41
 3.3 Classification of Pollutants

Particulates Source Detections Standard &

Control
Oxides of nitrogen -Natural source Calorimetric S- 100 µg/m3
– NO and NO2 are solar method, ultraviolet C- modification of
radiation, forest spectrophotometry combustion
fires , electrical conditions
-Anthropogenic – tranducers
fuel combustion
and transportation
Photochemical Solar radiation, -Oxidizing specific S- 240 µg/m3 (1hr)
oxidants - ozone lightning and reagents – and 40 mg/m3 (1
forest fires neutral- hr)
phosphate-
buffered KI,
ultraviolet
photometry
-gas
chromatography
(PAN)
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 3.3 Classification of Pollutants
INDOOR AIR QUALITY
• Refers to air quality within
& around buildings &
structures as it relates to
the health & comfort of
building occupants.
• Sources: mold, bacteria,
gases, VOCs, particulates,
etc.

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 3.3 Classification of Pollutants
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
Sources: building
materials,
furnishings,
equipments, pets,
human
activities e.g.
cooking, cleaning
and smoking

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