AIR QUALITY

SHIRIL FATHIMA SHAREEF

GROUP 7, SEMESTER 6.
Content Layout

 Introduction
 Notorious Air Pollution Episodes in History
 Naturally Occurring Air Pollution
 Air Pollution classification
 Components of Air Pollution
 Air Quality Standards
 Health Effects of Air Pollution
 Indoor Air Quality
Introduction

 Air pollution as smog. Originally, smog referred to smoke plus fog.

 The term smog complex refers to “eye irritation, irritation of the respiratory tract, chest pains,
cough, shortness of breath, nausea, and headache” associated with smog.
▸ Notorious Air Pollution Episodes in History
Meuse Valley, Belgium 1930

 The Meuse Valley had a high concentration of steel industry operations (e.g., foundries, mills,
coke ovens, and smelters).
 During an infamous episode of severe air pollution, sulfur dioxide, sulfuric acid mists, and
fluoride gases rose to extremely high levels.
 This noxious mixture was thought to be associated with the deaths of more than 60 persons
during the last 2 days of the incident.
 The resulting mortality was more than 10 times the normal mortality rate.
 Most of the fatalities occurred among the elderly who had preexisting heart and lung diseases
Donora, Pennsylvania 1948
Donora, Pennsylvania 1948

 In this very severe episode of air pollution, fog combined with particulate matter and
industrial and other contaminants.
 The sources of the contaminants were iron and steel mills, coal-fired home stoves, factories
that burned coal, coke ovens, and metal works.
 This episode caused some form of illness among approximately half of the town’s 14,000
residents; about 400 of them were hospitalized, and 20 died before the smog finally lifted at
the end of October.
 During the incident, persons who were stricken reported respiratory symptoms (cough, sore
throat, and difficulty breathing) and gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea and vomiting).
The Lethal London Fog of 1952
 The Lethal London Fog of 1952

 Traditionally, London had been known for its foggy climate coupled with smoke caused by the
use of coal and other fossil fuels to heat homes, run power plants, and operate factories.
 As a result, so-called “pea-souper” fogs were well known to the residents of the English
metropolis.
 The consequence of the particularly lethal fog that occurred in December 1952 was a reported
excess of 3,000 deaths above normal.
 Many environmental health experts consider the London fog of 1952 to be a landmark for the
study of the health effects of air pollution and a catalyst that has led to research in this field.
▸ Air Pollution classification

Naturally Occurring Air Pollution

 Wind storms that spread dust clouds

 Salt evaporation along the earth’s coasts,
 Production of materials that have a biologic
origin (e.g., mold spores, pollen, and organic
material from plants and animals).
 Volcanic eruptions
 Human-made events (When caused by human carelessness, Arson, Efforts to clear vegetation from the
land)

 Stationary sources
 electric generating plants
 factories and manufacturing complexes
 oil refineries chemical plants
 incinerators.
 Mobile sources
 On-road vehicles (e.g., cars, trucks, and buses)
 Off-road vehicles (e.g., dune buggies and snowmobiles)
 Non-road vehicles (e.g., airplanes, ships, and trains).
▸ Components of Air Pollution

 According to Phalen, “One classification segregates air contaminants into the broad categories
of infectious agents, allergens, chemical irritants, and chemical toxicants (biologic and non-
biologic).
 Another classification segregates air contaminants into particles, gases, and vapors.
 Constituents of air pollution from motor vehicles (e.g., cars and trucks) are sulfur dioxide,
particulate matter, greenhouse gases (e.g., CO2 ), carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and
nitrogen oxides.
 Other polluting chemicals can include heavy metals and toxics such as benzene.
 Criteria air pollutants

 Criteria air pollutants describes “a group of very common air pollutants regulated
by EPA on the basis of criteria.
 Criteria air pollutants are ground level ozone, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides,
carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and lead.
 Acid Rain

 Acid rain occurs when sulfur dioxide (SO2 ) and nitrogen oxides (NOx ) are emitted into the
atmosphere and transported by wind and air currents.
 The SO2 and NOx react with water, oxygen and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric
acids.
 These then mix with water and other materials before falling to the ground.
 Acid rain settles on the earth, creating abnormally high levels of acidity that are potentially
damaging to the environment, wildlife, and human health.
 Temperature Inversion

 The term temperature inversion refers to an

atmospheric condition during which a warm
layer of air stalls above a layer of cool air that
is closer to the surface of the earth
 During a temperature inversion, pollutants
(e.g., smog, smog-forming chemicals, and
VOCs) can build up when they are trapped
close to the earth’s surface.
 Continuing release of smog-forming
pollutants from motor vehicles and other
sources during an inversion exacerbates air
pollution.
 Diesel Exhaust

 Diesel exhaust, a complex mixture of particles and gases, includes the element
carbon, condensed hydrocarbon gases, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAHs), the latter suspected of being carcinogens
 Most of the particles in diesel exhaust are very fine and capable of being inhaled
deeply into the lungs where they may have a carcinogenic effect.
▸ Air Quality Standards

1. Air Quality Index (AQI) is used to provide the public with an indication of air quality in a local
area.
2. National Ambient Air Quality Standards: Federal standards for air pollution are called the
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
 Primary standards provide public health protection, including protecting the health of
“sensitive” populations such as asthmatics, children, and the elderly.
 Secondary standards provide public welfare protection, including protection against
decreased visibility and damage to animals, crops, vegetation, and buildings.
▸ Health Effects of Air Pollution

 Short-term effects:  Long-term effects:

 Irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat  Heart disease
 Aching lungs  Chronic obstructive pulmonary
 Bronchitis disease (COPD)
 Pneumonia  Lung cancer.

 Wheezing
 Coughing
 Nausea
 Headaches.
▸ Indoor Air Quality

A significant factor in the etiology of lung disease and exacerbation of existing

conditions such as asthma and bronchitis

 The indoor environment provides many
opportunities for exposure to potentially
irritating and harmful substances.
 Aerosolized chemicals,
 Fumes from gas appliances,
 Components of building materials
 Secondhand smoke from tobacco products
 Adverse health outcomes that have been
linked to indoor pollution.
 Asthma
 Legionnaires’ disease
 Sick building syndrome
 Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis
 Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
 Sick Building Building Related
Syndrome Illness
 Sick building syndrome (SBS) is used to describe  Building Related Illness (BRI) is used when
situations in which building occupants experience symptoms of diagnosable illness are identified
acute health and comfort effects that appear to be and can be attributed directly to airborne
linked to time spent in a building, but no specific building contaminants.
illness or cause can be identified. The complaints  Examples are Legionnaires’ disease and
may be localized in a particular room or zone, or hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
may be widespread throughout the building
 Possible causes of SBS:
 SBS is a temporary phenomenon that is relieved
when affected persons are no longer inside the  Inadequate building ventilation
building.  Chemical contaminants
 Symptoms of SBS can include headache,  Biological contaminants
respiratory tract irritation, dry skin, and fatigue;
the cause of the symptoms of SBS is unknown.
 Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: The onset of multiple chemical sensitivity is described
as the development of sensitivity at about the same time to several chemicals, which
are present in the ambient environment at low levels
 Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis: An illness “characterized by flu-like symptoms that
include fever, chills, fatigue, cough, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.”59(p402)
Causal factors associated with the illness include exposure to molds, fungi, and bacteria
found in indoor air.
BIBLIOGRAPHY

 https://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/outreach/carbon_toolkit/basics.html
 https://www.researchgate.net/figure/National-ambient-air-quality-standards
-NAAQs-for-criteria-pollutants-Adapted-from_tbl1_271291024
 http://airquality.deq.idaho.gov/Information_AQI.htm
 https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/images/1869-size-comparisons-for-pm-par
ticles
 http://noair-rors.weebly.com/air-pollution.html
 https://www.inlander.com/spokane/remembering-the-may-18-1980-eruptio
n-of-mount-st-helens/Content?oid=19607703
 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(00)04135
Thank You!