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Air pollution

Air pollution occurs when harmful substances


including particulates and biological molecules are introduced into Earth's
atmosphere. It may cause diseases, allergies or death in humans; it may
also cause harm to other living organisms such as animals and food crops,
and may damage the natural or built environment. Human activity and
natural processes can both generate air pollution.

Particulates: Atmospheric particulate matter also known as particulate


matter (PM) or particulates are microscopic solid or liquid matter
suspended in the Earth's atmosphere. The term aerosol commonly refers
to the particulate/air mixture, as opposed to the particulate matter alone.

Pollutants[edit]
An air pollutant is a substance in the air that can have adverse effects on
humans and the ecosystem. The substance can be solid particles, liquid
droplets, or gases. A pollutant can be of natural origin or man-made.
Pollutants are classified as primary or secondary. Primary pollutants are
usually produced from a process, such as ash from a volcanic eruption.
Other examples include carbon monoxide gas from motor vehicle exhaust,
or the sulfur dioxide released from factories. Secondary pollutants are not
emitted directly. Rather, they form in the air when primary pollutants react
or interact.

Substances emitted into the atmosphere by human activity include:

1. Carbon dioxide :CO2 currently forms about 405 parts per million
(ppm) of earth's atmosphere, compared to about 280 ppm in pre-
industrial times, and billions of metric tons of CO2 are emitted
annually by burning of fossil fuels. CO2 increase in earth's
atmosphere has been accelerating. Because of its role as
a greenhouse gas it has been described as "the leading pollutant.
2. Sulfur oxides (SOx) - particularly sulfur dioxide, a chemical compound
with the formula SO2. SO2 is produced by volcanoes and in various
industrial processes. Coal and petroleum often contain sulfur
compounds, and their combustion generates sulfur dioxide. Further
oxidation of SO2, usually in the presence of a catalyst such as NO2,
forms H2SO4, and thus acid rain.

3. Carbon monoxide (CO) - CO is a colorless, odorless, toxic yet non-


irritating gas. It is a product of incomplete combustion of fuel such as
natural gas, coal or wood. Vehicular exhaust is a major source of
carbon monoxide.

4. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) - Nitrogen oxides, particularly nitrogen dioxide,


are expelled from high temperature combustion, and are also
produced during thunderstorms by electric discharge. Nitrogen
dioxide is a chemical compound with the formula NO2. It is one of
several nitrogen oxides. One of the most prominent air pollutants, this
reddish-brown toxic gas has a characteristic sharp, biting odor.

5. Volatile organic compounds (VOC) - VOCs are a well-known outdoor


air pollutant. They are categorized as either methane (CH4) or non-
methane (NMVOCs). Methane is an extremely efficient greenhouse
gas which contributes to enhanced global warming.

6. Particulates, alternatively referred to as particulate matter (PM),


atmospheric particulate matter, or fine particles, are tiny particles of
solid or liquid suspended in a gas. In contrast, aerosol refers to
combined particles and gas. Some particulates occur naturally,
originating from volcanoes, dust storms, forest and grassland fires,
living vegetation, and sea spray. Human activities, such as the
burning of fossil fuels in vehicles, power plants and various industrial
processes also generate significant amounts of aerosols.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) - harmful to the ozone layer; emitted from


products are currently banned from use. These are gases which are
released from air conditioners, refrigerators, aerosol sprays, etc. On
release into the air, CFCs rise to the stratosphere. Here they come in
contact with other gases and damage the ozone layer. This allows
harmful ultraviolet rays to reach the earth's surface. This can lead to
skin cancer, eye disease and can even cause damage to plants.
7. Ammonia (NH3) - emitted from agricultural processes. Ammonia is a
compound with the formula NH3. It is normally encountered as a gas
with a characteristic pungent odor. Ammonia contributes significantly
to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a
precursor to foodstuffs and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or
indirectly, is also a building block for the synthesis of many
pharmaceuticals.
Secondary pollutants include:

Particulates created from gaseous primary pollutants and compounds


in photochemical smog. Smog is a kind of air pollution. Classic smog
results from large amounts of coal burning in an area caused by a
mixture of smoke and sulfur dioxide. Modern smog does not usually
come from coal but from vehicular and industrial emissions that are
acted on in the atmosphere by ultraviolet light from the sun to form
secondary pollutants that also combine with the primary emissions to
form photochemical smog.
Ground level ozone (O3) formed from NOx and VOCs. Ozone (O3) is a
key constituent of the troposphere. It is also an important constituent
of certain regions of the stratosphere commonly known as the Ozone
layer. Photochemical and chemical reactions involving it drive many
of the chemical processes that occur in the atmosphere by day and
by night. At abnormally high concentrations brought about by human
activities (largely the combustion of fossil fuel), it is a pollutant, and a
constituent of smog.
Peroxyacetyl nitrate (C2H3NO5) - similarly formed from NOx and
VOCs.
Sources[edit]
There are various locations, activities or factors which are responsible for
releasing pollutants into the atmosphere. These sources can be classified
into two major categories.

Anthropogenic (man-made) sources:


Natural sources:
Anthropogenic (man-made) sources:
Stationary sources include smoke stacks of power plants,
manufacturing facilities (factories) and waste incinerators, as well as
furnaces and other types of fuel-burning heating devices. In
developing and poor countries, traditional biomass burning is the
major source of air pollutants; traditional biomass includes wood, crop
waste and dung

Mobile sources include motor vehicles, marine vessels, and aircraft.


Controlled burn practices in agriculture and forest management.
Controlled or prescribed burning is a technique sometimes used in
forest management, farming, prairie restoration or greenhouse gas
abatement. Fire is a natural part of both forest and grassland ecology
and controlled fire can be a tool for foresters. Controlled burning
stimulates the germination of some desirable forest trees, thus renewing
the forest.
Fumes from paint, hair spray, varnish, aerosol sprays and other
solvents
Waste deposition in landfills, which generate methane. Methane is
highly flammable and may form explosive mixtures with air. Methane is
also an asphyxiant and may displace oxygen in an enclosed space.
Asphyxia or suffocation may result if the oxygen concentration is
reduced to below 19.5% by displacement.
Military resources, such as nuclear weapons, toxic gases, germ
warfare and rocketry
Natural sources:

Dust from natural sources, usually large areas of land with little or no
vegetation
Methane, emitted by the digestion of food by animals, for example cattle
Radon gas from radioactive decay within the Earth's crust. Radon is a
colorless, odorless, naturally occurring, radioactive noble gas that is
formed from the decay of radium. It is considered to be a health hazard.
Radon gas from natural sources can accumulate in buildings, especially
in confined areas such as the basement and it is the second most
frequent cause of lung cancer, after cigarette smoking.
Smoke and carbon monoxide from wildfires
Vegetation, in some regions, emits environmentally significant amounts
of Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on warmer days. These VOCs
react with primary anthropogenic pollutantsspecifically, NOx, SO2, and
anthropogenic organic carbon compounds to produce a seasonal
haze of secondary pollutants.[19] Black gum, poplar, oak and willow are
some examples of vegetation that can produce abundant VOCs. The
VOC production from these species result in ozone levels up to eight
times higher than the low-impact tree species.[20]
Volcanic activity, which produces sulfur, chlorine, and ash particulates

Permissible Exposure Limit


Pollutant
(PEL)1)

Acetaldehyde 200 ppm

Acetic Acid 10 ppm

Acetone 1000 ppm

Asbestos 0.1 fiber/cubic centimeter

Benzene 1 ppm

Bromine 0.1 ppm

Cadmium 5 g/m3

Carbon dioxide 5000 ppm


Solutions for Air Pollution
1. Use public mode of transportation: Encourage people to use more and

more public modes of transportation to reduce pollution. Also, try to make

use of car pooling. If you and your colleagues come from the same locality

and have same timings you can explore this option to save energy and
money.

2. Conserve energy: Switch off fans and lights when you are going out.

Large amount of fossil fuels are burnt to produce electricity. You can save

the environment from degradation by reducing the amount of fossil fuels to


be burned.

3. Understand the concept of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle: Do not throw

away items that are of no use to you. In-fact reuse them for some other
purpose. For e.g. you can use old jars to store cereals or pulses.

4. Emphasis on clean energy resources: Clean energy technologies

like solar, wind and geothermal are on high these days. Governments of
various countries have been providing grants to consumers who are

interested in installing solar panels for their home. This will go a


long way to curb air pollution.
5. Use energy efficient devices: CFL lights consume less
electricity as against their counterparts. They live longer, consume
less electricity, lower electricity bills and also help you to reduce
pollution by consuming less energy.

P
Tier Date CO THC NMHC NOx HC+NOx PM
[#/km]

Diesel

Euro October
2.72 - - - 0.97 0.14 -
1 1994

Euro January
1.0 - - - 0.7 0.08 -
2 1998

Euro January
0.64 - - 0.50 0.56 0.05 -
3 2000

Euro January
0.50 - - 0.25 0.30 0.025 -
4 2005

Euro September
0.500 - - 0.180 0.230 0.005 -
5a 2009

Euro September
0.500 - - 0.180 0.230 0.005 61011
5b 2011
Euro September
0.500 - - 0.080 0.170 0.005 61011
6 2014

Petrol (Gasoline)

Euro October
2.72 - - - 0.97 - -
1 1994

Euro January
2.2 - - - 0.5 - -
2 1998

Euro January
2.3 0.20 - 0.15 - - -
3 2000

Euro January
1.0 0.10 - 0.08 - - -
4 2005

Euro September
1.000 0.100 0.068 0.060 - 0.005* -
5 2009

Euro September
1.000 0.100 0.068 0.060 - 0.005* 61011
6 2014

CONTROL MEASURES
The atmosphere has several built-in self cleaning processes such as dispersion,
gravitational settling, flocculation, absorption, rain-washout, etc to cleanse
the atmosphere. However, control of contaminants at their source level is a
desirable and effective method through preventive or control technologies.
Source control: Some measures that can be adopted in this direction are:
1. Using unleaded petrol
2. Using fuels with low sulphur and ash content
3. Encouraging people to use public transport, walk or use a cycle as
opposed to private vehicles
4. Ensure that houses, schools, restaurants and playgrounds are not
located on busy streets
5. Plant trees along busy streets as they remove particulates, carbon
dioxide and absorb noise
6. Industries and waste disposal sites should be situated outsdide the
city preferably on the downwind of the city.
7. Catalytic converters should be used to help control emissions of
carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons
Control measures in industrial centers

1. Emission rates should be restricted to permissible levels by each


and every industry
2. Incorporation of air pollution control equipment in design of plant
layout must be made mandatory
3. Continuous monitoring of the atmosphere for pollutants should be
carried out to know the emission levels.

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