Module 4

Definition
Pollution is the effect of undesirable changes in our
surroundings that have harmful effects on plants,
animals and human beings.
Pollutants include Solid, Liquid and Gaseous substances
present in greater than natural abundance, produced
by human activity, which have a detrimental effect on
human health.
Classification of Pollutants
1. Degradable or Non-persistent pollutants: these can be
rapidly broken down by natural processes. Ex. Domestic
sewage and discarded vegetables
2. Slowly degradable or Persistent pollutants: these remain
in the environment for many years in an unchanged
condition and takes decades or longer to degrade.
Example:- DDT (pesticide) and most plastics.
3. Non-degradable pollutants: cannot be degraded by
natural processes, very difficult to eradicate and continue
to accumulate. Example- lead, mercury and nuclear
waste.
History of Air Pollution
 Started with the early use of firewood as a means of
cooking and heating.
 Hippocrates mentioned in 400 BCE
 With increased use of coal especially in urban areas
 In 1273, King Edward I made the first anti pollution law
restricting people using coal for domestic heating.
 In 1300, any act was passed banning use of coal, with
capital punishment for defying the law.
 Pollution became serious problem during Industrial
Revolution.
 In 1952, “London Smog” resulted in more than 4000 deaths
due to accumulation of air pollutants over the city for five
days.
 In the 19th century, a black form of peppered moth
appeared in industrial areas, which is a classic case of
pollution leading to adaptation.
Types and Sources of Air pollution
Sources of Pollution:
 Volcanoes- which release ash, dust, sulphur and other
gases.
 Forest fires- accidently caused by lightning
 Dust storms
 Emission from vehicles, industries
Primary pollutants
1. Carbon oxides (CO & CO2)
2. Nitrogen oxides
3. Sulphur oxides
4. Volatile organic compounds (hydrocarbons)
5. Suspended particulate matter
Secondary Pollutants
The pollutants produced in the atmosphere when
certain chemical reactions take place among the
primary pollutants are called Secondary pollutants.
Example:- sulphuric acid, nitric acid and carbonic acid.
Carbon monoxide
A colourless , odourless and toxic gas when natural gas,
coal or wood are incompletely burnt.
Vehicular exhausts are the largest single source of carbon
monoxide.
Its not persistent pollutant.
It can be cleared if no new carbon monoxide is
introduced in the atmosphere
Sulphur oxide:- produced when sulphur containing fossil
fuels are burnt.
Nitrogen oxides:- produce secondary air pollutants such
as ozone ( harmful at lower levels of the atmosphere,
but not in the stratosphere). Found in vehicular
exhausts.
Hydrocarbons:- group of compounds consisting of
carbon and hydrogen atoms. They evaporate from fuel
supplies. Get washed out of air when it rains and run
into surface water.
 Particulate matter: small pieces of solid material
( smoke particles from fires, bits of asbestos, dust
particles and ash from industries) disperse in the
atmosphere.
 Repeated exposure cause them to accumulate in the
lungs.
Lead:- major air pollutant, largely unmonitored and is
emitted by vehicles. Leaded petrol primary source of
air borne lead emissions in Indian cities.
Acid rain
 contains high levels of sulfuric
or nitric acids
 contaminate drinking water and
vegetation
 damage aquatic life
 erode buildings
 Alters the chemical equilibrium
of some soils
Sources of Indoor pollution
 Efficient insulation
 Bacteria
 Molds and mildews
 Viruses
 animal dander
 plants
 house dust
 Mites
 Cockroaches
 pollen
What’s in smog
 particulates (especially
lead)
 nitrous oxides
 potassium
 Carbon monoxide
 Other toxic chemicals
Effects of Air Pollution on Living Organisms
 Due to Air pollution: Lung cancer, asthma, chronic bronchitis,
emphysema
 Cigarette smoking is responsible for the greatest exposure to
carbon monoxide. It impairs perception and thinking, slows
reflexes, causes headache, drowsiness, dizziness and nausea.
 Vehicular traffic: headache, drowsiness, blurred vision, in large
doses can cause death.
 Volatile organic compounds like benzene, formaldehyde & toxic
particulates ( lead and cadmium) cause mutations, reproductive
problems or cancer.
 Repeated inhalation of ozone ( component of photochemical
smog) causes coughing, chest pain, breathlessness & irritation
of the eye, nose and throat.
Effect of Air pollution on Plants
 Crops get damaged
 Breaks down the waxy coating that helps prevent
excessive water loss and leads to damage from
diseases, pests, droughts and frost.
 Prevents photosynthesis and plant growth, reduces
nutrient uptake and causes the leaves to turn yellow,
brown or drop off altogether.
 Higher concentration of sulphur dioxide, makes the
flower buds stiff and hard.
Effects of Air pollution on Materials
 Air pollution breaks down exterior paint on cars and
houses.
 Discoloured irreplaceable monuments, historic
buildings, marble statues and other heritage sites.
Effects of Air pollution on Stratosphere
 The upper stratosphere consists of considerable amounts of
ozone called ozone layer, which extends upto 60 kms above
the surface of the earth.
 It is most dense between 20 and 25 km from the earths
surface.
 Ozone layers consists of other atmospheric gases along
with ozone.
 In the densest portion, there is only 1 ozone molecule in
100,000 gas molecules.
 Therefore, any small change to ozone concentration can
produce dramatic effects on the living organisms on earth.
Ozone depletion
Effects on human health: sunburn, cataract, ageing of the
skin, skin cancer, weakens the immune system by
suppressing the body’s resistance to certain infections like
measles, chickenpox, malaria, etc.,
Effect on Food production:- UV radiation affects the ability of
plants to capture light energy during photosynthesis. This
reduces the nutrient content and growth potential of
plants.
Phyto and zooplankton:- damaged by UV radiation. The
breeding period is shortened by changes in radiation. As
plankton is the basis of marine food chain, any change in
their number and species composition influences fish and
shellfish production.
Effect on Climate
 Atmospheric changes induced by pollution contribute
to global warming.

 Atmospheric constituents like water vapour, carbon

dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxides and CFCs trap heat
in the form of infra red (IR) radiation near the earths
surface, which is known as greenhouse effect.
Adverse effect of global warming
 Polar ice caps will melt causing a rise in ocean levels and
flooding of coastal areas.
 If a sea level rises by 3 m, Maldives will disappear completely
beneath the waves.
 Will lead to fall in agricultural produce
 Change in distribution of solar energy will lead to change in
habitat. A productive agricultural area will suffer sever droughts,
while deserts will receive abundant rainfall, which could bring
about changes in the species of natural plants, agricultural crops,
insect, livestock and microorganisms.
 In polar regions, vast amounts of methane are trapped beneath
frozen soil of Alaska. When permafrost melts, the methane
released can accelerate the process of global warming.
Control measures for Air Pollution
Two fundamental approaches used: Preventive
technique and Effluent control.
1. Building of higher smoke stacks
2. Location of industries after considering the
topography and wind directions.
3. Substitution of raw materials that cause more
pollutions.
4. Having proper equipment/devices in place for
removal of pollutants from gases before they escape.
Air Quality Monitoring
National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP)
determines the present air quality status and trends
and to control and regulate pollution from industries
and other sources to meet the ambient air quality
standards.
NAMP has a network of 342 operating stations across
the country.
4 air pollutants (SO2, NO2, suspended particulate
matter & respirable suspended particulate
matter(RSPM/PM10) have been indentified for regular
monitoring at all the locations.
Legal aspects of air pollution
control in India
 The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act was
legislated in 1981.
 The Act provided for the prevention, control and
abatement of air pollution.
 After Bhopal Gas tragedy, Environment Protection Act
(EPA) was passed in 1986.
 This act conferred enforcement agencies to take
punitive powers to restrict any activity that could harm
the environment.
The Central Motor Vehicles Act
1939
 Amended in 1989, this act was formed to regulate
vehicular pollution.
 Exhaust emission rules for vehicle owners were
notified in 1990 and the mass emission standards for
vehicle manufacturers were enforced in 1991 for the
first time.
 Mass emission norms were revised in 2000
 Transport vehicles require a Pollution Under Control
(PUC) certificate, renewable each year after the first
two years of vehicle registration.