Air Pollution

Presented by
Ruparel Hardik Jnyanesh Vimal Anand : : : : : 10 11 18 31 59

Presentation outline
What is pollution? Kinds of air pollution sources Sources of air pollutants Kinds of air pollutants Effects of air pollutants Green house effect and global warming Acid rain Indoor air pollution Control measures

This is what earth looks like

Pollution - Definition:
Any addition to air, water, soil etc that
threatens the health, survival of humans or other

living organisms
1. Natural - volcanic eruption 2. Anthropogenic - burning coal

Types of Sources:
1.

Point source - single, identifiable source e.g. smokestack, drainpipe etc

2.

Non-point source dispersed source, e.g. runoff from pesticides, fertilizers

Non-point sources

Point source

Key environmental problems

Population growth
Resource use without preventing pollution and

reducing waste
Degrading habitats and reduction of biodiversity
Poverty Failure of govt. to encourage earth sustaining economic

development

The Atmosphere
Gases that envelop the Earth and are held here by gravity regulates

temperature.
Major gases: 78.08% nitrogen 20.95% oxygen 0.93% argon 0.03% carbon dioxide Trace amounts of water vapor (close to surface) 0.01% by volume near

poles to 5% near equator and many others hydrogen, neon, helium, krypton, ozone and methane

Composition of Air

Layers of the atmosphere

Major sources & Types of air pollution

Air pollution : Definition

Presence of one or more chemicals in the atmosphere in sufficient quantities and duration to cause harm to humans etc.

Air pollution - Facts

Air pollution results from human activities such as burning fossil fuels (oil, coal,

and gasoline) to create electricity and power automobiles, and manufacture industrial
products such as chemicals and plastic. The air pollutants are particulates, HC, CO2, CO, NO, NO2, SO3 - source may

be industrial, autos, etc.

The increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere contributes to the warming of

the global climate, the so-called "greenhouse effect."

The increased Chloro fluoro-carbons in the atmosphere has been depleting

stratospheric ozone.

Sources of Air pollution

Natural:
Volcanoes, Fumaroles and Hot springs
Decay from marshes and bogs Increase ozone due to thunderstorms, fires.

Sources of Air pollution

Man made:
Stationary sources - Those that are fixed in location.

Point sources e.g. smoke stacks, 14% air pollution from plants generating electricity; Fugitive sources e.g. construction sites, exposed areas; Area sources e.g. dense urban community or agricultural area
Mobile sources - Those that move while polluting, e.g. trucks, cars, busses

etc.
60% of air pollution from motor vehicles. 80-88% in major cities!

Main categories of Air pollutants

Main categories - Air pollutants

Primary: Those emitted directly into the air;

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) Carbon monoxide (CO) Nitric oxide (NO) Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
Secondary: Those that form as a result of a chemical reaction of the

primary pollutant with a natural component of the environment.;

Sulfuric Acid Nitric acids.

Effects of Air pollution

Effects of Air pollution

Reduces visual range & atmospheric clarity, less contrast, less visibility

Damages vegetation, including leaves, needles, fruit, growth rate,

reproduction, hardiness.

Crop losses 1.9-5.4 bn/yr and 150,000-350,000 deaths/yr. Degradation of human health, from mild problems e.g. eye irritation getting severe, respiratory disease asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, cancer.

CO, carbon monoxide released from incomplete combustion, cigarettes, combines with hemoglobin and reduces bloods ability to carry oxygen.

Can overload or break down the natural defenses such as hair in our nose,
sticky mucus in the lining of the upper respiratory tract causing diseases like lung cancer, asthma, chronic bronchitis etc.

Effects of Air pollution

Smoking is responsible for the greatest exposure to carbon monoxide.

Exposure to air containing even 0.001% of carbon monoxide for several

hours can cause collapse, coma and even death.

CO is attached to blood hemoglobin reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of blood. This impairs perception and thinking, slows reflexes and causes headaches, drowsiness, dizziness and nausea and blurred vision.

Nitrogen oxides and suspended particles both irritates lungs, aggravate asthma or chronic bronchitis and increase respiratory infections.

Sulphur dioxide irritates respiratory tissues and chronic exposure causes bronchitis.

It also affects photosynthesis, respiration and other metabolisms.

Green House Effect

Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)

Some greenhouse gases occur naturally in the atmosphere, while others result from

human activities.

Naturally occurring greenhouse gases - water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone.

Carbon dioxide is a product of burning fossil fuel and wood.

Nitrous oxide (NO2) - by fertilizer use and released from decomposition of animal

wastes.

Methane (CH4) - by bacteria from sediments, swamps, and in flooded rice paddies.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), Freon (a refrigerant) deplete the ozone layer in the

upper atmosphere.
Halons, such as halocarbons, are released from fire extinguishers.

Water vapor in clouds reradiate heat back to Earth.

Green House Effect

Carbon dioxide and other gases allow light to pass, but trap heat in the

atmosphere much like glass in a greenhouse traps heat.

This greenhouse effect is thought to be responsible for global warming. Carbon dioxide contributes to only 56% of greenhouse heating. The average surface temperature of Earth is about 15C (59F). Global Warming increases the average temperature of the atmosphere,

oceans, and landmasses of Earth.

Green House Effect

Impact of Global warming

Extreme temperatures

Rise in sea level and change in precipitation

Injuries from storms and coastal flooding Interruption of power supply, contamination of drinking water

Drought
Food shortages due to shift in agricultural food production Air pollution Asthma, bronchitis, emphysema complications Strain on public health systems Increased need due to population migrations Unable to control spread of infectious diseases

Conserve Energy
Be energy-wise Explore alternatives Recycle as much as is possible. Take showers instead of baths. Check your taps. Check the lights Check your stove. Use less cooking water. Check the refrigerator.

Acid rain - Causes and Effects

Environmental Impact
Sterilization of lakes and forests.

Reduce the populations of small invertebrates and decomposers.

Reduce agricultural yields. Cause extensive structural damage by corroding marble, metal, and

stonework.
Degrade water supplies by leaching heavy metals from the soil into

drinking-water supplies.
Increases in lung cancer and colon cancer.

Acid Deposition

Acid Rain
The term acid rain is commonly used to mean the deposition of acidic

components in rain, snow, fog, dew, or dry particles.

The more accurate term is acid precipitation. It has a harmful effects on plants, aquatic animals, and infrastructure. Acid rain is caused by emissions of carbon dioxide, sulfur

dioxide and nitrogen oxides which react with the water molecules in the atmosphere to produce acids.

The main sources of these pollutants are vehicles and industrial and power-

generating plants.

The chemicals in acid rain can cause paint to peel, corrosion of steel structures such as bridges, and erosion of stone statues.

Effects of Acid Rain

Acidify lakes and disrupt the normal cycling of nutrients,
leaches metals out of rocks and soil,

kill fish, plants; stress and defoliate trees due to moss growth, insect attack, and loss of nutrients.

Acid rain - Causes

The principal cause of acid rain is sulfur and nitrogen compounds from

human sources, such as electricity generation, factories and motor vehicles.

Coal power plants are one of the most polluting.

What are the sources of indoor air pollution?

Sources of indoor air pollutants

building materials,
cigarette smoking, pesticides, volatile organics from paints,

furniture, rugs, insulation etc.

Sources of indoor air pollution

11 common pollutants 2-5 times

higher indoors than out air inside car 18 times more polluted than air outside 17% of commercial buildings have serious indoor air pollution problems - sick building syndrome

Are there any natural indoor air pollutants?

Radon gas accumulates in homes located

in areas built on granites, phosphates, shales. Synergistic effect with tobacco smoke; second leading cause of lung cancer Sources: soils, groundwater, building materials. Cannot be filtered out. Must be vented out.

Most dangerous indoor air pollutants

Cigarette smoke
formaldehyde radioactive radon 222 gas

asbestos
Others include: bacteria, fungi, dusts and

other particulates, pollen, CO2, CO, O3, NOx, SO2, building materials such as fiberglass, etc.

Suggestions for the future:

pollution prevention
full cost pricing i.e. shift costs to the

production of air pollutants improve energy efficiency reduce use of fossil fuels slow population growth

How serious is the problem of indoor air pollution?

People with respiratory ailments are

most affected Asbestos inhalation may cause: asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma. Asbestos workers, insulators pipe fitters, shipyard employees.

What are some of the symptoms of indoor air pollution?

Irritation of mucous membranes,
coughing,

dizziness,
nausea,

death.

General solutions:
switch from coal to cleaner fuels - use

natural gas reduce energy use, improve energy efficiency burn less coal, use lower sulfur coals. Coal gasification After burning the SO2 can be cleaned out by scrubbing taxing emissions

General solutions to indoor air pollution:

Ventilation: fans
source removal: no smoking source modification: more efficient

stove design. pollutant removal: filters education

Thank you