AIR POLLUTION

• Among the 20 most polluted cities in the

world 14 cities are from India alone as per the
data released by WHO and the huge economic
losses account for almost a tenth of India’s
GDP.
 Meaning
• Pollution : Any undesirable change in the
quality of air water or land that renders it unfit
for use.
 Air Pollutants
• Classification based on source and size.
• Source: Primary and Secondary air pollutants
• Size: SPM
• Primary air pollutants: These are harmful chemicals that are released
directly from a source into the atmosphere.
• EX: oxides of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur
• Secondary air pollutants: These are also harmful chemicals that are
produced from chemical reactions involving primary pollutants.
• EX: Sulphur trioxide is formed when sulphur dioxide reacts with oxygen. In
turn, sulphur trioxide combines with water to form sulphuric acid- Acid
Rain
 SPM
• Generally, suspended particulate matter (SPM) refers to particles in the air
of all sizes. SPM is a complex mixture of organic substances, present in the
atmosphere both as solid particles and liquid droplets. They include fumes,
smoke, dust .
• Health impacts of PM vary depending on the size and the concentration of
particles.
• PM10 refers to particles with a diameter less than 10 microns. These are
commonly called coarse particles - they contain dust from roads and
industries as well particles formed under combustion. URTI Infections.
• PM 2.5 refers to particles with a diameter of less than 2.5 microns. These
are usually called fine particles and contain secondary aerosols,
combustion particles and re-condensed organic metallic vapour, and acid
components. Get inside the lungs- chronic lung infections- LRTI.
• PM0.1 refers to particles with a diameter less than 0.1 microns, and are
called ultra-fine particles. Ultra-fine particles - still in the early stages of
research - are usually exhaled but can penetrate into the bloodstream.
 Types of Air pollution
• Outdoor Air Pollution • Indoor Air Pollution
SOURCES SOURCES
• Burning of fossil fuels • Pesticides, mosquito
• Mining activities repellents, cleaning
• Natural emissions from agents, varnishes,
dead and decaying paints etc.
organic matter. • Cooking
• Air conditioned rooms
• Cigarette Smoking
 Source: paperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31806&articlexml=WHO-meet-to-
discuss-tobacco-use-among-women-26082016013022 Aug 26, 2016
HARD FACTS

• Cigarette smoking
releases a chemical
called BAP( Benzo-a-
pyrene) which is the
causative agent for
cancer. Cigarette
smoking is a major
indoor air pollutant.
 Effects of Air Pollution
On Human Beings:
• Respiratory Disorders ( URTI and LRTI)
• Sick Building Syndrome: Combination of eye irritations, nausea, depression, headaches
etc.
• Premature deaths in babies due to acute respiratory infections.
• Juvenile asthma
• Emphysema
On Plants:
Damage to leaf structure- necrosis,
Loss of chlorophyll- chlorosis,
Dropping of leaves- abscission
Downward curling of leaves-epinasty
Ecosystem:
Climatic change, greenhouse effect, urban heat islands
 AIR QUALITY INDEX( AQI)
• The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has developed the index
in consultation with IIT, Kanpur and other expert groups comprising
medical professionals and scientists.
• In India, as in many other countries, the Index is centered around
five chief pollutants –
• Particulate Matter with a diameter less than 10 micrometers (PM10),
• Particulate Matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5),
• ozone (O3),
• Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2),
• and Carbon Monoxide (CO).
 Govt of India Initiatives
NCAP-National Clean Air Programme by MoEFCC( Ministry of Environment
Forest and Climatic Change
-aims to strengthen the air quality monitoring network
Focus on rural areas and monitor indoor air pollution.
Further studies to understand the health impacts

SAFAR India
Land Pollution
 Sources of land pollution
• Agriculture- agricultural run off causes eutrophication.
• Quarrying and mining
• Sewage sludge- has pathogenic /disease causing bacteria, viruses and
intestinal worms which cause intestinal parasitism which is again a
leading cause of anemia in our country.
• Domestic waste
• Demolition and construction waste-radioactive fallout.
• Industrial activities
 Causes of land degradation
• Soil erosion
• Salination
• Water logging
• Shifting cultivation
• Urbanisation
• Dumping of wastes.
 Effects of land pollution
• Cancer
• Neurological disorders
• Tissue damage and irritation
• Reduction in soil health
 Prevention of land pollution
• Integrated pest management ( IPM)
• Recycle, reuse
• Educating people not to litter
• Proper collection and disposal of wastes.
Preventing leachates from entering the
ground water table.