MODULE I

AIR POLLUTION
• Transfer of harmful and/or of Natural/Synthetic materials into the atmosphere as a
direct/indirect consequences of human activity (OECD).
• Types of Air Pollution

•Personal air exposure

It refers to exposure to dust, fumes and gases to which an individual exposes himself when he indulge
himself in smoking

•Occupational air exposure

It represents the type of exposure of individuals to potentially harmful concentration of

aerosols, vapors, and gases in their working environment.

•Community air exposure

This is most serious, complex, consists of varieties of assortment of pollution sources,

meteorological factors, and wide variety of adverse social, economical, and health effects.
 Source of Air Pollution
•Natural Sources--Volcano, forest fire, dust storms, oceans, plants and trees

•Anthropogenic Sources --created by human being

1.Stationary sources

• Point sources -Industrial processing, power plants, fuels combustion etc.

• Area sources -Residential heating coal gas oil, on site incineration, open
burning etc.

2. Mobile sources

• Line sources -Highway vehicles, railroad locomotives, channel vessels etc.)

Air Pollutant ---Any substance occurring in the atmosphere that may have
adverse effects on humans, animals, plant life, and/or inanimate materials.
 SOURCES OF AIR POLLUTION
CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO SOURCE TYPES
Classified into two
1. Natural sources
• it include wind blown dust, pollens volcanic ash and gases, smokes and gases from Forest fires
2. Antroprogenic sources
• these sources are created due to human activities.
• Combustion, incineration, various types of industries, vehicular emission are main sources
• The most important of these with regard to quantity is combustion
• Combustion of fossil fuels results in emission of a variety of pollutants into the atmosphere
such as sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matters etc.
• Incineration of solid combustible wastes gives a wide variety of pollutants depending on waste
composition and combustion conditions like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate
matters , hydro carbons etc.
• The next main anthropogenic source of air pollutants are chemical and metal industries

• In iron and steel industry, air pollution originates from large scale high temperature processing
of coal and iron ore. Significant emissions are dust, fumes, H2S, SO2 etc.

• In non metallic industries like cement , glass etc. operations of crushing, mining, transport ,
storage results in emission of large quantities of hazardous dust

• In chemical industries the sources associated are raw material processing, reaction products,
purification etc.
• Some of the pollutants emitted are NO2, H2S, NH3,S03, Hydrocarbons etc.

• Petroleum refining operations emits pollutants like oxides of sulphur, H2S at various stages of
refining process.

• Pulp and Paper waste industries, food processing industries are the other main industrial
sources of air pollution
CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO NUMBER AND SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION

Classified as

1.Stationary sources

• Point sources -Industrial processing, power plants, fuels combustion etc.

• Area sources -Residential heating coal gas oil, on site incineration, open burning etc.

2. Mobile sources

• Line sources -Highway vehicles, railroad locomotives, channel vessels etc.)

 EMISSION SOURCES IN INDIA
• Two types
1. Urban source 2. rural source
• Rural sources are those mainly emitted from burning of biofuels like wood, dry cattle dung,
vegetable wastes etc.
• Burning of these generates pollutants like NO2,SO2, CO and hydrocarbons
• The effect is less, because these emissions are localized and have little effect on the
environment beyond premises
• Urban source include combustion of fossil fuels and their products
• In addition, major industries and automobiles are major urban sources
• Before 1990’s factories were major sources of urban air pollution
• But Over the past 25 years the air pollution scenes in urban area have changed
• Now the major contributors are not factories but motor vehicles.
• Motor vehicles contribute to 65-70 % of urban pollution.
• Delhi is an example
 EFFECT OF ANTHROPOGENIC SOURCES ON AIR POLLUTION
• Pollutant emission from natural sources are much greater than anthropogenic sources.
• Even though the effect of anthropogenic sources are much higher than natural
• Pollutants from natural sources are distributed throughout the world and eventually sink
into ocean or soil
• Thus atmosphere can clean itself from pollutants over course of time
• On the other hand anthropogenic source pollutants are concentrated on specific locations
such as urban areas and reach High levels in the atmosphere.
• Thee concentration of these pollutants are such high that the environment cant clean itself
• Thus the effect of anthropogenic sources are much higher towards air pollution
 AIR POLLUTION EPISODES
1. MEUSE VALLEY, 1930
• The 1930 Meuse Valley fog killed 60 people in Belgium due to a combination of industrial air
pollution and climatic conditions in December that year
• The area in the Meuse Valley where the incident occurred is densely populated as well as having
many factories
• There were several thousand cases of illness over the period of two or three days with the sixty
deaths occurring at the same time
• SYMPTOMS - Sore throats, shortness of breath, , phlegm, nausea, vomiting
• The investigators were of the opinion that the incident caused mainly due to sulphur dioxide or
oxidation product of that compound.
• Fluorine intoxication was also questioned at that time
• Cattle, birds and rats died
2.DONORA, PENNSYLVANIA—OCT. 1948

• The 1948 Donora smog was a historic air inversion that resulted in a wall of smog
that killed 20 people and caused respiratory problems for 6,000 people of the 14,000
population within 14hrs

• Sixty years later, the incident was described by The New York Times as "one of the
worst air pollution disasters in the nation's history

• Hydrogen fluoride and sulfur dioxide emissions from U.S. Steel's Donora Zinc Works
and its American Steel & Wire plant were the main pollutants
• The situation became more severe due to temperature inversions produced by
meteorological conditions and geographical charateristics.(a situation in which
warmer air aloft traps pollution in a layer of colder air near the surface)

• The health effects were mainly symptoms affecting the lung, and in particular, upper
respiratory symptoms such as nasal discharge, constriction of the throat, or sore
throat
3.Poza Rico, Mexico 1950

• Single source– high sulfur crude oil

• Main Pollutant- Hydrogen sulfide (H2S)

• An early morning malfunction of the waste gas flare resulted in the release of large
quantities of unburned hydrogen sulfide into the atmosphere.

• The unburned gas, aided by a low-level temperature inversion and light early
morning breezes, was carried to the residential area adjacent to the plant area.

• Within a matter of 3 hours, 320 persons were hospitalised and 22 were killed.

• Considered as forerunner of Bhopal Gas tragedy

4. DECEMBER 1952 GREAT LONDON SMOG
• It is the major episode in the history of air pollution

• The death toll was 4000 in 5 days

• The great London smog started on 4 dec 1952 and ended on 9th dec

• extensive use of coal as fuel for space heating and electric production resulted in
higher levels of particulate Matter and SO2, which turned the fog as black

• The build up of pollutants combined with the fog resulted in essentially zero visibility.

• Within a matter of three days, the pollutants were concentrated enough to cause deaths

• The maximum daily SO2 concentration recorded at that time was1.34 ppm
( standard SO2 conc. in clean dry atmosphere is 0.0002 ppm) and smoke levels were 4.46
 5. BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY
• Occurred In the mid night of 2nd - 3rd December 1984

• Source-Union Carbide pesticide plant

• Main pollutant-Methyl Isocyanate

• About forty tons of toxic gases had leaked from the Carbides Bhopal plant and spread
throughout the city more than 2,000 died immediately (one fourth of actual figures) and
as many as 300,000 were injured.

• In addition, about 7,000 animals were affected, of which about 1000 were killed

• Among the survivors, most of them still suffer agonizing pain from the disastrous effects
of the massive poisoning while there are still apprehensions of the future generations being
affected
OTHER MAJOR EPISODES
6) Kuwait oil fires -1991

7) Yokkaichi astma -1960-1972

8) Melbourne dust storm-1983

9) Malaysian haze-2005
 AIR POLLUTANTS
• Any substance occurring in the atmosphere that may have adverse effects on humans, animals,
plant life, and/or inanimate materials

• 2 types
Primary air pollutants

 Materials that are emitted directly from identifiable sources or when released pose health risks in their
unmodified forms

 Eg. Carbon monoxide ,Sulphur dioxide, Nitrogen oxides, Hydrocarbons, Particulate matteR

• Secondary air pollutants

 Primary pollutants interact with one another, sunlight, or natural gases to produce new, harmful compounds.

 They are formed from chemical and photochemical reactions in the atmosphere.

 Eg. Ozone , PAN (peroxy acetyl nitrate), Photochemical smog , Aerosols and mists (H2SO4)
 Primary Air pollutants
1. Carbon Monoxide

• Produced by burning of organic material (coal, gas, wood, trash, etc.)

• Automobiles biggest source (80%)
• Cigarette smoke another major source
• Toxic because binds to haemoglobin, reduces oxygen in blood
• Not a persistent pollutant, combines with oxygen to form CO2
2. Sulphur Dioxide
• Produced by burning sulphur containing fossil fuels (coal, oil)

• Coal-burning power plants major source

Reacts in atmosphere to produce acids

• One of the major components of acid rain

When inhaled, can be very corrosive to lung tissue

3. Nitrogen Oxides
• Produced from burning of fossil fuels
Contributes to acid rain, smog
• Automobile engine main source
new engine technology has helped reduce, but many more cars
4. Hydro Carbons
• Hydrocarbons - organic compounds with hydrogen, carbon
• FORMED From incomplete burning or evaporated from fuel supplies
Major source is automobiles, but some from industry
• Contribute to smog

5.Particulates
• Particulates - small pieces of solid materials and liquid droplets (2.5 mm and 10 mm)
• Examples: ash from fires, asbestos from brakes and insulation, dust
• Easily noticed: e.g. smokestacks
• Can accumulate in lungs and interfere with the ability of lungs to exchange gases.
Those working in dusty conditions at highest risk (e.g., miners)
 Secondary Air pollutants

1. Ozone
• Ozone (O3) is a highly reactive gas composed of three oxygen atoms.

• It is both a natural and a man-made product that occurs in the Earth's upper atmosphere
(the stratosphere) and lower atmosphere (the troposphere).

• Tropospheric ozone – what we breathe -- is formed primarily from photochemical

reactions between two major classes of air pollutants, volatile organic compounds (VOC)
and nitrogen oxides (NOX).
2.PAN
• Smog is caused by the interaction of some hydrocarbons and oxidants under the
influence of sunlight giving rise to dangerous peroxy acetyl nitrate (PAN).

3.Photochemical smog
• Photochemical smog is a mixture of pollutants which includes particulates, nitrogen
oxides, ozone, aldehydes, peroxyethanoyl nitrate (PAN), unreacted hydrocarbons, etc.
• The smog often has a brown haze due to the presence of nitrogen dioxide.
• It causes painful eyes.

4. Aerosols and mists (H2SO4)

• Aerosols and mists are very fine liquid droplets that cannot be effectively removed
using traditional packed scrubbers.

• These droplets can be formed from gas phase hydrolysis of halogenated acids (HCl,
HF, HBr), metal halides, organohalides, sulfur trioxide (SO3), and phosphorous
pentoxide (P2O5)
MODULE 2
 Air pollution effects : On living and non living beings
Human Health Effects

•Exposure to air pollution is associated with numerous effects on human health, including
pulmonary, cardiac, vascular, and neurological impairments.

•The health effects vary greatly from person to person. High-risk groups such as the elderly,
infants, pregnant women, and sufferers from chronic heart and lung diseases are more
susceptible to air pollution.

•Children are at greater risk because they are generally more active outdoors and their
lungs are still developing.

•Exposure to air pollution can cause both acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) health
effects.
•Acute effects are usually immediate and often reversible when exposure to the pollutant
ends. Some acute health effects include eye irritation, headaches, and nausea.

•Chronic effects are usually not immediate and tend not to be reversible when exposure to
the pollutant ends. - Some chronic health effects include decreased lung capacity and lung
cancer resulting from long-term exposure to toxic air pollutants.
Effects on Human respiratory system
•Both gaseous and particulate air pollutants can have negative effects on the lungs.

•Solid particles can settle on the walls of the trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles.

•Continuous breathing of polluted air can slow the normal cleansing action of the lungs
and result in more particles reaching the lower portions of the lung.

•Damage to the lungs from air pollution can inhibit this process and contribute to the
occurrence of respiratory diseases such as bronchitis, emphysema, and cancer
 EFFECT OF PARTICULATE MATTER ON HUMAN HEALTH
• the toxic effect of particulate matters are grouped into three categories
1.Intereference of inert particles with clearing mechanism of respiratory track
2. Particles act as a carriers of adsorbed toxic gases such as SO2 and produce synergistic effects
3. Particles may be intrinsically toxic because of their physical and chemical characteristics
• Some of the toxic particulates are lead, cadmium, nickel, mercury etc.
Lead
• Poisonous effects of lead have long been recognized
• Lead poisoning results in convulsions, coma, severe irreversible brain damage and even
death
• Inhaled lead is far more serious than ingested lead
• High lead level in blood may even cause behavioural disorders in children
Cadmium
• Cadmium is a potential health hazard due to its presence in urban atmosphere via cigarette
smoke
• Cadmium inhibits performance enzymes and there by producing hypertension, sometimes can
cause cardiovascular diseases

Nickel
• Adverse effects of nickel are caused mainly due to nickel carbonyl.
• Nickel carbonyl is formed in tobacco smoke
• Poisoning cause respiratory damage problems

Mercury
• Mercury is present only in small proportion in atmosphere.
• Physiological effects of mercury poisoning include neurological damages and even death. It
can even affect functioning of brain
• Other toxic particulates are beryllium, asbestos etc.
 EFFECT OF AIR POLLUTANTS ON HEALTH
Pollutant Description Sources Health Effects
Carbon Colorless, odorless gas Motor vehicle exhaust, indoor Headaches, reduced mental alertness, heart
Monoxide sources include kerosene or attack, cardiovascular diseases, impaired
(CO) wood burning stoves. fetal development, death.

Sulfur Colorless gas that Coal-fired power plants, Eye irritation, wheezing, chest tightness,
Dioxide dissolves in water vapor to petroleum refineries, shortness of breath, lung damage.
(SO2) form acid, and interact with manufacture of sulfuric acid and
other gases and particles smelting of ores containing sulfur.
in the air.

Nitrogen Reddish brown, highly Motor vehicles, electric utilities, Susceptibility to respiratory infections,
Dioxide reactive gas. and other industrial, commercial, irritation of the lung and respiratory
(NO2) and residential sources that burn symptoms (e.g., cough, chest pain, difficulty
fuels. breathing).
Ozone (O3) Gaseous pollutant when Vehicle exhaust and certain other Eye and throat irritation, coughing,
it is formed in the fumes. Formed from other air respiratory tract problems, asthma, lung
troposphere. pollutants in the presence of damage.
sunlight.

Lead (Pb) Metallic element Metal refineries, lead smelters, Anemia, high blood pressure, brain and
battery manufacturers, iron and kidney damage, neurological disorders,
steel producers. cancer, lowered IQ.

Particulate Very small particles of Diesel engines, power plants, Eye irritation, asthma, bronchitis, lung
Matter (PM) soot, dust, or other industries, windblown dust, wood damage, cancer, heavy metal poisoning,
matter, including tiny stoves. cardiovascular effects.
droplets of liquids.
 EFFECT OF AIR POLLUTANTS ON ENVIRONMENT
Pollutant Description Sources Environment Effects

Carbon Monoxide Contribute to the formation of smog.

(CO)
Sulfur Dioxide Contribute to the formation of acid rain, visibility impairment,
(SO2) plant and water damage, aesthetic damage.

Nitrogen Dioxide Contribute to the formation of smog, acid rain, water quality
(NO2) deterioration, global warming, and visibility impairment.

Ozone (O3) Plant and ecosystem damage.

Lead (Pb) Affects animals and plants, affects aquatic ecosystems.

Particulate Matter Visibility impairment, atmospheric deposition, aesthetic

(PM) damage.
 EFFECT OF AIR POLLUTANTS ON VEGETATION
Pollutants Sources Effects on Vegetation

Ozone (O3) Photochemical reaction of All ages of tobacco leaves beans, grapes, pine, pumpkins and potato
hydrocarbon and nitrogen are affected. Fleck, stipple, bleaching, bleached spotting,
oxides from fuel combustion, pigmentation, growth suppression, and early abscission are the
refuse burning, and evaporation effects.
from petroleum products.
Peroxy The sources of PAN are the Young spongy cells of plants are affected if 0.01 ppm of PAN is
Acetyl same as ozone present in the ambient air for more than 6 hrs.
Nitrate
(PAN)
Nitrogen High temperature combustion of Irregular, white or brown collapsed lesion on intercostals tissue and
dioxide coal, oil, gas, and gasoline in near leaf margin. Suppressed growth is observed in many plants.
(NO2) power plants and internal
combustion engines.
Particulates Cement industries, thermal Affects quality of plants, reduces vigor & hardness and interferences
power plants, blasting, crushing with photosynthesis due to plugging leaf stomata and blocking of
and processing industries. light.
Ammonia & Thermal power plants, oil and Bleached spots, bleached areas between veins, bleached margins,
Sulfur petroleum refineries. chlorosis, growth suppression, early abscission, and reduction in yield
dioxide and tissue collapse occur.

Chlorine Leaks in chlorine storage tanks, If 0.10 ppm is present for at least 2 hrs, the epidermis and mesophyll
(Cl2) hydrochloric acid mists. of plants will be affected.

Hydrogen Phosphate rock processing, Epidermis and mesophyll of grapes, large seed fruits, pines and
fluoride, aluminum industry, and ceramic fluorosis in animals occur if 0.001 ppm of HF is present for 5 weeks.
Silicon works and fiberglass
tetrafluoride manufacturing.
 Effect of air pollution on environment

• Acid rain

• Eutrophication

• Haze

• Ozone depletion

• Global climate change

Acid Rain
• Acid rain is precipitation containing harmful amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids.
• These acids are formed primarily by nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides released into the
atmosphere when fossil fuels are burned
• In the environment, acid rain damages trees and causes soils and water bodies to acidify,
making the water unsuitable for some fish and other wildlife.
• It also speeds the decay of buildings, statues, and sculptures that are part of our national
heritage.
Eutrophication
Eutrophication is a condition in a water body where high concentrations of nutrients (such
as nitrogen) stimulate blooms of algae, which in turn can cause fish kills and loss of plant and
animal diversity

Air emissions of nitrogen oxides from power plants, cars, trucks, and other sources
contribute to the amount of nitrogen entering aquatic ecosystems.

Haze
Haze is caused when sunlight encounters tiny pollution particles in the air.
Haze obscures the clarity, color, texture, and form of what we see
Some haze-causing pollutants (mostly fine particles) are directly emitted to the atmosphere
by sources such as power plants, industrial facilities, trucks and automobiles, and
construction activities.
Ozone Depletion
• Ozone is a gas that occurs both at ground-level and in the Earth's upper atmosphere, known as the
stratosphere.
• At ground level, ozone is a pollutant that can harm human health.
• In the stratosphere, however, ozone forms a layer that protects life on earth from the sun's harmful
ultraviolet (UV) rays.
• But this "good" ozone is gradually being destroyed by man-made chemicals referred to as ozone-
depleting substances, including chlorofluorocarbons, hydro chlorofluorocarbons, and halons.
• Thinning of the protective ozone layer can cause increased amounts of UV radiation to reach the
Earth, which can lead to more cases of skin cancer, cataracts, and impaired immune systems.
• UV can also damage sensitive crops, such as soybeans, and reduce crop yields.
Global climate change.
• The Earth's atmosphere contains a delicate balance of naturally occurring gases that trap
some of the sun's heat near the Earth's surface.

• This "greenhouse effect" keeps the Earth's temperature stable.

• Unfortunately, evidence is mounting that humans have disturbed this natural balance by
producing large amounts of some of these greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and
methane.

• As a result, the Earth's atmosphere appears to be trapping more of the sun's heat, causing
the Earth's average temperature to rise - a phenomenon known as global warming.

• Many scientists believe that global warming could have significant impacts on human
health, agriculture, water resources, forests, wildlife, and coastal areas.
 Effect of air pollutants on Materials
• Damage caused to materials exposed in the atmosphere constitutes one of the most
important direct effects of acidifying air pollutants

• For most materials the impacts fall into four categories:

• Discoloration

• Material loss/ Corrosion

• Structural failure
1) Corrosion of metals due to SO2 in presence of oxygen and moisture
2) H2SO4 reacts with lime stone, marble and of the building materials to cause
deterioration
3) Soiling and eroding of building materials
4) SO2,O3,H2S and aerosols damage protective coating and paint of the surface
5) Particulate matter cause damage to building, corrosion is increased
6) Particulate matter causes fading of metal surfaces
 Effect of air pollutants on Animals

• When contaminants combine with moisture in the air, the result is acidic precipitation,
also called acid rain.

• Acid rain can contaminate or kill plants, which in turn may be ingested by wildlife.

• It can also have more dangerous and long term effects.

• Likewise, changes in acidity in water resources can cause fish kill.
•
• Pollution may muddy landscapes, poison soils and waterways, or kill plants and
animals
• Along with humans, animals ranging from tiny microbes to large mammals are also
dependent on oxygen that is derived from the air.

• When contaminated air is inhaled for breathing oxygen, several harmful gases are also
inhaled along with it.

• These harmful gases are believed to affect animals in the same manner as they affect
humans.

• Experts also suggest that the particulate matter that the animals inhale over a prolonged
period can get accumulated in their tissues and damage their organs in the long run.

• Other than inhaling the harmful contaminants directly, animals can also come in contact with
these contaminants from the food that they eat and by absorption through their skin.

• More importantly, animals are more vulnerable to this issue as compared to us humans, as
they are not well-equipped to protect themselves from it as we
• animals are exposed to air pollutants via three pathways:
1) inhalation of gases or small particles;
2) ingestion of particles suspended in food or water; or
3) absorption of gases through the skin.
• the three pollutants which are responsible for pollution in animal life are fluorine ,Arsenic
and lead
CONSEQUENCES OF THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT
The increase in the average temperature on Earth is changing living conditions on the
planet. Let's find out about the main consequences of this phenomenon:

1.Thawing of glacial masses

Glacial retreat also has its own consequences: a global rise in sea level and
the release of large methane columns are only some of them, however, they are all
dramatic for the planet.

2. Flooding of islands and coastal cities

As stated in the fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC, 2014), during the period 1901-2010 the global average
sea level rose 19 centimetres.

It is estimated that by 2100 the sea level will be between 15 and 90 centimetres
higher than it is now and will threaten 92 million people.
3. Hurricanes will be more devastating
•
The intensification of the greenhouse effect does not cause these extreme climatic
events, but it does increase there intensity.
• Hurricanes are connected with sea temperature — they only form over waters that
have a temperature of at least 26.51 ºC

4. Desertification of fertile areas

•
It is having a profound impact on the processes of soil degradation and is contributing
to the desertification of the most arid areas on the planet.

• Desertification destroys all the biological potential of affected regions, turning them
into barren and unproductive land.

• As recognised by the UN on the occasion of the World Day to Combat Desertification

in 2018, 30% of land has been degraded and lost its real value.
5. Impact on agriculture and livestock
Global warming has already altered the length of the growing season in large parts of
the planet.

Similarly, changes in temperatures and seasons are influencing the proliferation of

insects, invasive weeds and diseases that can affect crops.

The same is happening with livestock: climatic changes are directly affecting
important species in multiple ways: reproduction, metabolism, diseases, etc.
CONSEQUENCES OF THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT ON
HUMAN HEALTH
The greenhouse effect is also directly affecting human health :

•Food shortages

The United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) states that climate change is
raising serious doubts about food availability: in its last biennial report on the state of
world food and agriculture, it warns that a decline in agricultural production would result in
food shortages, most severely affecting sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

•The spread of diseases and pandemics

In addition to the problems derived directly from pollution, the World Health Organization
(WHO) states that global warming will cause infectious diseases such as malaria,
cholera or dengue to spread to many more areas of the planet.

On the other hand, extreme heat will increase and aggravate cardiovascular and respiratory
problems.
 METHODS TO PREVENT GREEN HOUSE EFFECT
The only method to prevent harmful green house effect is to prevent the emission of
green house gases

1.Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Buying products with minimal packaging will help to reduce waste.

By recycling half of your household waste, you can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide
annually.

2.Use Less Heat and Air Conditioning

Adding insulation to your walls and installing weather stripping or caulking around doors and
windows can lower your heating costs more than 25 percent, by reducing the amount of
energy you need to heat and cool your home.
3.Replace Your Light Bulbs

Wherever practical, replace regular light bulbs with compact florescent light (CFL) bulbs.

CFLs also last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs, use two-thirds less energy, and give off
70 percent less heat.

If every Canadian family replaced one regular light bulb with a CFL, it would eliminate 90 billion
pounds of greenhouse gases, the same as taking 7.5 million cars off the road.

4.Drive Less and Drive Smart

Less driving means fewer emissions. Besides saving gasoline, walking and biking are great
forms of exercise.

Explore the York Region Transit system and check out options for carpooling to work or school.

When you do drive, make sure your car is running efficiently.

5.Buy Energy-Efficient Products

Home appliances now come in a range of energy-efficient models, and compact

florescent bulbs are designed to provide more natural-looking light while using far less
energy than standard light bulbs.

6.Use Less Hot Water

Set your water heater at 120 degrees to save energy, and wrap it in an insulating blanket
if it is more than 15 years old.
Buy low-flow showerheads to save hot water and about 350 pounds of carbon dioxide
yearly.
7.Use the "Off" Switch
Save electricity and reduce global warming by turning off lights when you leave a room,
and using only as much light as you need.

And remember to turn off your television, stereo and computer when you're not using them

8.Plant a Tree

If you have the means to plant a tree, start digging.

Trees absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. A single tree will absorb approximately
one ton of carbon dioxide during its lifetime.

9. Encourage Others to Conserve

Share information about recycling and energy conservation with your friends, neighbours
and co-workers, and take opportunities to encourage public officials to establish programs
and policies that are good for the environment.