AIR POLLUTION -SOURCES ,EFFECTS &

MANAGEMENT

By
Dr. M. SRIMURALI
Professor in Civil Engineering
VU College of Engineering, Tirupati
 CONTENTS
 Layers of the Atmosphere
 Composition of Atmosphere
 What is Air Pollution
 Soures of Air Pollution
 Effects of Air Pollution
 Objectives of Air Pollution control
 Air Pollution control-General
 Public Participation
 Composition of Atmosphere
 Nitrogen - 78%
 Oxygen - 21%
 Argon (Ar), about 0.9%
 Carbon Dioxide - .032%
 Trace Constituents:
 Water vapor (H2O), up to 10000 ppmv
 Carbon dioxide (CO2), 350 ppmv
 Ozone (O3), near zero at the surface, up to 10 ppmv in
the stratosphere
 Methane (CH4), 1.7 ppmv
 and others…..
 What is Air Pollution?
Air pollution may be defined as the presence in
the air (outdoor atmosphere) of one or more
contaminants (i.e., dust, fumes, gas, mist, odour,
smoke or vapour) in sufficient quantities of such
characteristics, and of such durations as to be or
tend to be injurious to human, animal or plant
life, or property, or which reasonably interferes
with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property.
 Sources of Air pollution
(Based on the origin of pollutant)
 Natural sources  Man made sources
(non-anthropogenic) (anthropogenic)
 Volcanoes  Industry

 Forest fires  Automobile

 Dust storms  Domestic

 Ocean sprays  Nuclear reactors

 Pollen  Agricultural practices

 Radio active materials

 Decaying matter
 Sources of Air Pollution
Combustion process
 Industry
 Automobile
Agricultural Operations
Radioactive fallouts
Mining operations
Types of Air Pollutants
 Industrial
 Major pollutants are
 Corbon Monoxide
 Particulate matter
 Hydro carbons
 NOx
 SOx
 About 34% of the air pollution is due to industries.
 Auto Mobile or Transportaion
 Major pollutants
 Lead
 Hydro Carbons
 Carbon Monoxide
 NOx
 About 55.1% of the air pollution is due to
transportation.
 Agricultural Operations
 Insecticides
 Herbicides
 Dust from fertilizers
 Effects of Air Pollution
Global Effects
 Acid rain
 Global warming
 Ozone depletion
Effects on Humans
Effects on Animals
Effects on plants
Effects on Materials
 Acid Rain
Normal rain is acidic due to carbonic acid (5.65)
Acid rain - Precipitation with pH < 4.5
Result of accumulation of SOx & NOx due to
emissions from industries and automobiles
SO2  SO3  Sulphuric acid
NO2  Nitric acid
 Acid Rain - Consequences
 Contains high levels of sulfuric or nitric acids
 Affects water quality
 Destroys aquatic life
 Damage to forest vegetation
 Solubility of heavy metals
 Corrosion of buildings, monuments, metals
 Affects decomposition process
 Alters the chemical equilibrium of some soils
 Leaching of soil nutrients (K)
 Green House Effect – Global Warming
 Green house roof (glass) allows incoming short wave
(high energy) solar radiation (UV) and obstructs
outgoing long wave (low energy) IR radiation.
 Results in accumulation of heat inside the enclosure.
 Greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, HC, etc.) create a
similar effect in the atmosphere.
 Rate of increase – 1.8 mg/cum/year
 GreenHouse Gases
Carbon Dioxide (CO2): Roughly 60% of total
 Burning Fossil Fuels
 Deforestation
Methane (CH4): 15% of total
 Coal Mines
 Termites
 Wetlands
 Anaerobic decomposition
 Cattle
 Subpolar Soil and Wetlands (Methane Hydrate)
Global Warming
 Global Warming - Consequences
Melting of ice caps
Inundation/flooding of low lying areas
Changes in natural cycles dependent on temp.
Effect on aquatic life/ diversity.
Changing cropping growth
Rise in sea level
climate change
Threats to human health
Reductions in Biodiversity
 Depletion of Ozone layer
 Ozone layer exists between troposphere and
stratosphere.
 CFCs are responsible for depletion
 Supersonic aircrafts interfere with ozone balance
 Effects:
 Skin cancer
 Effects on ecosystems
 Lung inflammation
 Aggravation of pre-existing respiratory diseases such as
asthma.
Environmental Effects :
 Ozone also affects vegetation and
ecosystems
 Reductions in agricultural and
commercial forest yields
 Reduced growth and survivability
of tree seedlings
 Increased plant susceptibility to
disease, pests, and other
environmental stresses (e.g., harsh
weather).

http://www.ncl.ac.uk/airweb/ozone/greece.jpg
 Effects of Air Pollution on Humans
 Factors:
 Nature of pollutant
 Concentration
 Duration
 State of health
 Age
 Particulate Matter
 Effects:
 Individual:
 Impact depends on particle size, shape and composition
 Large particles trapped in nose
 Particles >10 μm removed in tracheobronchial system
 Particles <0.5 μm reach lungs but are exhaled with air
 Particles 2 – 4 μm most effectively deposited in lungs
 Environmental effects:
 Decreased visibility
 Damage to paints and building materials
Fig (a) Fig (b)
 Carbon Monoxide
Most abundant air pollutant
Sources:
 Produced by incomplete combustion
 Insufficient O2
 Low temperature
 Short residence time

 Poor mixing

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

Effects of CO:
 CO + Hemoglobin  COHb
 CO – 200 times more affinity to Hb than O2
 Impairs O2 carrying capacity of the blood
 O2 starvation – headache to comma & death
 Asphyxiation
 Sources: Sulfur Oxides (SOx)
 SO2, SO3, SO4 formed during combustion of fuel containing sulfur
 H2S released is converted to SO 2
 10 Tg/yr natural sources
 75 Tg/yr anthropogenic sources
 Effects:
 Individual Effects:
 High concentrations - temporary breathing impairment
 Respiratory illness,
 Alterations in the lungs' defenses, and
 Aggravation of existing cardiovascular disease
 Short-term exposures of asthmatic individuals - reduced lung
function.
 Increased airway resistance
 Chronic problems : Bronchitis, pulmonary emphysema
Environmental Effects:  Decreased Visibility
Acid Rain
 Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx)
 Sources:
 Primarily NO and NO2
 NO3, N2O, N2O3, N2O4, N2O5 are also known to occur
 Thermal NOx created by oxidation of atmospheric N2 when T
> 1000 K
 Fuel NOx from oxidation of N in fuel
 Effects:
 Inidividual Effects:
 NO has few health effects, but is oxidized to NO2
 NO2 irritates lungs and promotes respiratory infections
 Reduces O2 carrying capacity of Hb (low)
 Irritates alveoli of lungs
 Increases bronchitis in children
Environmental:
 NO2 & NO (Changes to NO2) – pollutants
 Moderately toxic
 Forms photochemical oxidants
 NO2 reacts with HC in presence of sunlight to produce
smog
 NO2 reacts with hydroxyl radicals to produce nitric acid
– acid rain
 Sources: Lead
 Gasoline (historical)
 Metals processing
 Highest air Pb concentrations
 In the vicinity of nonferrous and ferrous smelters, and
battery manufacturers.
 Effects:
 Individual Effects:
 Accumulates in the blood, bones, and soft tissues.
 Adversely affects the kidneys, liver, nervous system, and
other organs.
  Excessive exposure to Pb may cause
 neurological impairments, such as seizures, mental
retardation, and
 behavioral disorders.

 May be a factor in high blood pressure and subsequent

heart disease.
 Environmental effects:
 Chlorosis – Loss or reduction of chlorophyll (analogous
to pneumonia)
 Bleaching - Discolouration
 Necrosis – Killing or collapse of tissue
 Abscission – dropping of leaves
 Smog
 Particulates (especially lead)
 Nitrous oxides
 Potassium
 Carbon monoxide
 Other toxic chemicals
 Sources:
 hydrocarbons + NOx + sunlight → photochemical smog (oxidants)
 Primary oxidants produced:
 Ozone (O3)
 Formaldehyde
 Peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN)
Effects of Smog:
 Reduced visibility
 Nose, throat & eye irritation
 Chest pain & cough
 Objectives of Air Pollution Control
 To prevent health hazards
 To prevent plant damage
 To prevent material damage
 To avoid nuisance
 To recover by products
 To minimize economic loss
 To maintain air quality
 Air pollution control - General
 Land use planning
 Industry location
 City planning
 Meteorological control
 Stack height
 Discharge during unstable conditions
 Process change
 Process modification
 Equipment modification
 Change raw materials
 Changes in operation policy
 Fuel change
 Identification & isolation
Management of Air Pollution due to
Transportation
 Use of altetrnate fuels- Hydrogen driven vehicles.
 Keep automobile engine well tuned and use more fuel
efficient vehicles.
 Discard of aged vehicles.
 Use of vehicles meeting the latest norms.
 Use mass transport for lesser emissions.
 Phyto-control - absorbs specific pollutants.
 Plantation - decreases SPM 4 times to accepatable levels
and reduce air temperature 10o c.
 Vigilence over Aduleration of fuels.
 Vehicle emission rates:
Model HC CO
(gm/km) (gm/km)
Precontrol (before 1968) 6.59 52.2

1996-2003 0.155 2.11

2004-2006 0.0777 1.06

Drastically reduced due to imposition of

Euro V, Bharat III Norms
 Agricultural
 Application shall be away from not towards town.
 Application shall be along the wind side.
 Aware of the banned pesctisides and insecticedes that
accumulate in the food chain(BHC, DDT).
 Removal of parthenium plants(Congress Grass).
 Public Participation
 Environment Protection Act 1986.
 EIA – Environmental Impact Assessment –
Notification 1994.
 Public Hearing introduced.
 It has been modified in 2006 and some more
industries had been added in public hearing.
 EC-Environmental Clearence is necessary for
establishment of any industry .
 Procedure for obtaining Environmental Clearance
Industry
APPCB
Dist collector
Member Secaratary
paper notification
public hearing
MoEF
EC

Lanco Industries
Thermal power plants
Asian Peroxide
 Siting Guide Lines
 Minimun distance from the habitat.
 Location according to wind direction.
 Reserve forest.
 Notified Areas.
 Carrying Capacity.
 Near by industries – Super Imposition.
 Cluster.
 SEZ .
Rice mills, Flour mills
“To march towards sustainable growth public
participation is vital”