Air Pollution= The presence of one or more contaminant such as gas, dust, mist,

odour, smoke & smog etc in the atmosphere to such extent that they are injurious to
all living being & environment.
Composition of Air =
The average composition of air-
O2 20.90%
N2 78.10%
CO2 0.04%
And rest of 0.96% includes O3,Ar,Kr,Co,He,NH3 & H2O vapours etc
Sources of Air Pollution =1.Natural - Dust storms, volcanoes, foods, lightning, etc.

2.Man-made - industrial activities, automobile exhausts,

Agricultural, domestic conditions etc.
Types of Air Pollutant
1. Primary Pollutants =directly emitted from the sources into atmosphere which
includes-Gaseous Pollutants, Particulates.
In Sulfur dioxide- in nitrogen oxide - volatile organic compounds -
Industrial process 9.2% industrial process 4.8 % industrial process 44.1%
Transportation 4.4% Transportation 55.5% Transportation 41.7%
Fuel combustion - 86.3% miscellaneous 1.3% miscellaneous 7.2%
Fuel combustion 38.5% Fuel combustion 6.6%

Gaseous Pollutants = Cox, NOx, HCx, SOx etc

Particulates = Dust, Smoke, Smog, Fly ash, Lead dust, Asbestos dust etc.
2. Secondary Pollutant = Derived from the primary pollutants through chemical or
photo-chemical reaction.e.g.-PAN (peroxiacetylnitrate), Photo-chemical smog etc.
Carbon Monoxide - Colourless.Odourless & tasteless gas.
Not soluble in water. - Carbon monoxide (CO) is a highly toxic
gas that forms during the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing materials.
Sources of CO - Natural Process e.g. Volcanic action, Industrial Process,
Agriculture process, Transport vehicles,
Effects of CO - heart disease ,lung diseases ,central nervous system, Reduce
oxygen carrying capability of blood.,
CO + Hemoglobin-----Carboxy-haemoglobin,
Headache, Visual Difficulties, Paralysis, Laziness etc,
Effects of CO2 - Respiratory Disorder,Suffocation,Green House Effect or Global
Warming
Control of CO Pollution - Modify the internal combustion engine. To develop the
exhaust system. To develop the substitute fuel in spite of gasoline. By using
pollution-free power sources. By using catalytic converter. Removed from the
atmosphere by soil microorganisms.

Nitrogen Oxide (NO) - It represent NO & NO2.Colourless & Odorless gas.

Reddish-brown in colour.Pungent suffocating odour.Reaction involved in the
formation of NO & NO2 are- N2 + O2 ---- 2NO & 2NO + O2 ---- 2NO2
 Sources of NO Natural gas. Natural bacterial action. Photochemical reaction
(Natural process).Power plants. Traffic rush. Waste disposal. Domestic heating
etc.

Health Effect of NO - Decreases in lung function. Increase in respiratory

symptoms. Increase in hospital admissions asthma. Increase in mortality
conflicting results. Causes acid rain.Suppression of immune system.

Control of NO - By using catalytic converter. By scrubbing process in which

NO2 & NO is converted into N2O3.

Sources of sulphur Oxide - Combustion, Transportation, Power plants, Heaters,

Petroleum refineries, Paper mills, volcanic eruption, Ocean spray.

Effects of So - Causes Asthma, Cardiac disease, Damage to crops, Eyes irritation,

Throat problem, Corrosion to metal, Acid rain.

Control of So - By chemical scrubber process

2CaCO3 + SO2 + O2 -- 2CaSO4 + CO2.
By using low sulphur coal.
Sources of HC - Automobile emission, Human activity, Anaerobic decomposition
of organic matter in soil & sediment by bacteria's-
2CH2O ----- CH4 + CO2
Effects of HC - Irritation of eyes & throat, Causes Asthma, Carcinogenic in
nature, Injurious to plants, Inhibit the plants growth, Damage the leave tissue.
Control of HC - By controlling O3 & NO.

Ozone - a highly reactive gas that is a major component of photochemical smog.

It can - Cause and aggravate respiratory illness. Can aggravate heart disease.
Damage plants, rubber in tires, fabrics, and paints. Skin cancer.
Aerosols - Release from jet & airplane exhaust. Contain SO2 & NO2 &
fluorocarbon. Main cause of Ozone Depletion.
Particulates - Small fine solid particles & liquid droplets are collectively known as
Particulates. Size range 0.0002 to diameter of 500 . Life Period Few
seconds too few months.
Types of Particulates Dust, Smoke, and Smog - I London type ii Los-Angels
type, Fly ash, Asbestos dust, Lead dust.

Sources of Dust - Crushing & grinding of inorganic & organic material, Vehicles,
Factories, and Combustion process etc.
Effects of Dust - Respiratory disease, Silicosis.
 Smoke - Tiny particles of carbon, ash, oil etc. Produced by incomplete
combustion of fuel.
Sources & Effect of Smoke - Automobile engine, Furnace, Rail roads etc,
Carcinogenic in nature.
Smog Smoke +fog, Produced by combustion of coal & domestic heating,
Causes severe lungs problem, Throat irritation, It can be two type-
A. London type smog - It also called Industrial or Classical smog. Reducing in
nature. Consists of sulphur compound, smoke & fly ash etc. Creates Lungs &
heart disease. London smog of 1952 4000 dead outright, 8000 within 3 months;
another event followed in 1956 Donora, PA 1948, 20 deaths outright, 50 more
within weeks
Smog=smoke+ fog
B. Los-Angeles type smog - Also called Photochemical smog. Formed through
chemical reaction with sunlight. Oxidizing in nature. Consists PAN, NOx, HCs, CO
& O3 etc. Causes irritation of eyes, damage vegetation & reduce visibility etc. (Ozone
is the chief ingredient of Photochemical smog).
Asbestos dust - Main sources are mining, processing & manufacture of asbestos
gaskets & building material. Disease Asbestosis.
Sources & Effects of Lead dust Lead, Mining, Auto-exhaust, Lead paints &
batteries etc, Lead Poisoning,
Fly ash - It is smaller ash particles. Produce from the combustion process.
Effects of Particulate matters - Reduce Visibility. Lung & throat diseases etc
Impacts of Air Pollutants on the Environment (Forests- Leaching of nutrients,
Release of aluminum into solution, Rapid changes in soil chemistry, reduced
growth and diebacks of plants and animals. Increased plant vulnerability to
natural enemies. Increased soil erosion. Increased flooding. Increased
sedimentation of waterways.)
Control of Air Pollution - Emission from automobiles and vehicles may be
minimized by cleaning the exhaust gases after combustion through catalyst.
by using Tall Stacks or Chimney.
by using Cyclone Collector

Smoke can be reduced or eliminated by installing Cottrell Electrostatic

Precipitator.
 Zoning- The industrial zoning should be done.
Clause Process-(i) 2H2S + 3O2 ..> 2H2O + 2SO2
(ii) 2H2O + 2SO2 ..> 2H2O + 3S
Growing More Trees
SO2 pollutant can be controlled by-
(a) By liquid NH3 (b) Cairox Method-
KMnO4 + SO2 + KOH...> MnO2 + K2SO4 + H2O
(c) Lime-water wash-
Ca (OH)2 + SO2 .> CaSO3 + H2O
Smog - Coined from Smog fog, Prevalent in London, Produced by combustion
of coal & domestic heating, Causes severe lungs problem, Throat irritation.
Photochemical Smog - This is oxidizing in nature. Only formed due the
presence of O3, NO2 & hydrocarbons etc.
NO2 + U.V.light --- NO + O
O + O2 + M ---- O3 + M
O3 + NO ----- NO2 + O2
Mechanism - RH + O -- RHO
RHO + O2 --- RHO3
RHO3 + RH --- Aldehyde & Ketones
RHO3 + O2 --- RHO2 + O3
RHO3 + NO ---- (RHNO2 + O2) PAN (Peroxiacetyle-nitrate)
Effects of Photochemical smog - Eyes irritation, adversely affects vegetation,
Cracks the stretched rubber.
Acid Rain - First introduced by Robert Angus in 1872. The presence of excessive
acid in rain water is called Rain Water. Mixture of H2SO4 + HNO3.
Causes of Acid Rain - Oxides of Sulphur SO2 & SO3
Oxides of Nitrogen NO & NO2
Oxides of Carbon - CO & CO2
Produced from Industries, Power plants & automobiles etc.
Mechanism of Acid Rain - Oxides of Carbon -
CO2 + H2O --- H2CO3
Oxides of Sulphur - Oxides of Nitrogen
SO2 + H2O + O2 --- H2SO4 NO + O3 ----- NO2 + O2
 SO2 + H2O ------ H2SO3 NO2 + O3 ---- NO3 + O2
SO3 + H2O ----- H2SO4 NO3 + NO2 --- N2O5 (Nitrogen-Pent oxide)
N2O5 + H2O ---- 2HNO3
If HCl gas is present HCl (g) + H2O ---- HCl (aq)
Effects of Acid Rain - Aquatic Biota, Terrestrial ecosystem, Buildings, Human
beings.
Green House Effects = Certain naturally occurring gases, such as carbon dioxide
(CO2) and water vapor (H2O), trap heat in the atmosphere causing a greenhouse effect.
Burning of fossil fuels, like oil, coal, and natural gas is adding CO2 to the atmosphere.
Causes of Green-house effects - Presence of pollutants CO2, Hydrocarbons e.g.
CH4, CFCs etc.
Effects of Green-house - Raise the ocean & Sea level, Melt the polar ice, Initiate
the Volcanoes & earth quakes, Desertification, Draught problem, and Increase the
soil erosion. Reduce the humidity & productivity of soil, Disappear some species
due high temperature, Affects the ecosystem,
Control of Greenhouse Awareness, Reduce the consumption of fossil fuel such
as coal & petroleum etc, Environmental education etc.
Ozone Depletion - Main cause of the ozone depletion is the chlorofluorocarbon.
Produced from industries, power plants, automobiles etc.
Mechanism of ozone depletion - CCl2F2 + H ---- Cl + CClF2