AIR POLLUTION

INTRODUCTION

Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals,

particulate matter, or biological materials that cause
harm or discomfort to humans or other living
organisms, or damages the natural environment into
the atmosphere
 SOURCES OF AIR POLLUTION
URBANISATION

INDUSTRIALISATION

MOTORIZATION
MOTORIZATION

NOX

SOX

CO

SMOKE (etc)
 INDUSTRIALISATION

FERROUS METALLURGICAL
INDUSTRIES

NON-FERROUS METALLURGICAL
INDUSTRIES
 FERROUS INDUSTRIES
Carbon monoxide

Carbon dioxide

Sulphur dioxide

Phenol

Fluorine

Cyanide

Particulate matter etc.

 NON-FERROUS INDUSTRIES
Al
During Hall-Heroult process

Fluorine ,fluorides ,sodium vapours are emitted as fumes

EFFECT:
Destroy the vegetation around the plant site

CONTROL:
Introduction of electrostatic precipitators

EXAMPLE: BALCO(Korba) have the only gas cleaning

facility capable of protecting the environment
 NON-FERROUS INDUSTRIES
Cu,Pd,Zn

Carbon monoxide

Carbon dioxide

Sulphur dioxide

Particulate matter etc.

EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION

Formation of Photochemical Smog

Formation of Acid Rain

Depletion of Ozone

Global Warming
SMOG
 HISTORY OF SMOG

 Name comes from a mix of “Smoke” and

“Fog”
 First observed in London during the
industrial revolution
 There are 2 types of smog: Industrial
Smog (London) and Photochemical Smog
(Los Angeles)
 INDUSTRIAL SMOG
Source:
Pollution from the burning of coal and oil that contains sulfur

Consists mainly of: Sulfur Dioxide, Sulfur Trioxide, soot and ash
(particulate matter) and sulfuric acid
Effects:
It can cause breathing difficulties in humans

EXAMPLE:
London December 1952
4000 people died of respiratory problems
Followed by additional 8000 deaths in the following
months
CONTROL:
Alkaline Scrubbers reduce SO2 and SO3 levels; electrostatic precipitators
reduce particulates.
 PHOTOCHEMICAL SMOG
Source:
Mainly automobile pollution
Contains: Nitrogen Oxides, Ozone, Alkanals, Peroxyacyl Nitrates (PANs),
plus hundreds of other substances

Effects:
PANs cause eyes to water and can damage plants, O3 irritates eyes and
deteriorates rubber and plants, NOx causes acid rain.

EXAMPLE:
 First observed in Los Angeles in the 1940s
 Manila and Mexico City also experience this kind of smog
CONTROL:
Catalytic Converters change NO to N2, Lean burning engines reduce Nox,
but create more CO and Hydrocarbons.
 THERMAL INVERSIONS
EXAMPLE:
In London, 1952, a thermal inversion lasting several days
resulted in the deaths of several thousand people, most
severely affecting the very old and young
FORMATION OF ACID
RAIN
 EXAMPLE

Due to pollutants released

from the mathura refinery
FORMATION OF
OZONE
OXYGEN IN THE ATMOSPHERE

O
UV
O2 + radiation +

O +
O2 O3 (ozone)
 O +
UV + O3
(ozone) O2

O + O3 O2 + O2
(ozone)

+
O + O2 O3
(ozone)
heat
DYNAMIC EQUILIBRIUM

creation of ozone

breakdown of
ozone
 THE OZONE DEPLETION PROCESS

Cl
C

F
Cl
UV F
C
+ radiation
F Cl +
F
Cl- “free
radical”
 THE OZONE DEPLETION PROCESS

+ +
Cl- O3
ClO O2
“free radical” (ozone)

+ +
O
ClO Cl- O2
“free radical”
 ANTHROPOGENIC OZONE DEPLETION

creation of ozone

breakdown of
ozone
 Previously a balance
CO2 from human &animals=CO2 taken by trees
O2 given out by trees=O2 used by human &animals

Natural
greenhouse
gas

SOLAR
Sun

RADIATION

Natural
greenhouse
gas
 Less heat escape to space

More heat is trapped causing

Increase in global warming
greenhouse gas
due to human
activity

SOLAR
Sun

RADIATION

Increase in
greenhouse gas
due to human
activity
E
F
F
E
C
T
Melting Glaciers – Mt.