Air Pollution

Sources & effects

Definition – Air pollution
 Air pollution may be defined as the presence

one or more contaminants or combinations

thereof in air in such quantities and of such
durations as may be or tend to be injurious to
human, animal or plant life, or property, or
which unreasonably interferes with the
comfortable enjoyment of life or property or
conduct of business.
Air pollutant
 It is a substance or effect dwelling temporarily or
permanently in the air , which adversely alters the
environment by interfering with the health, the
comfort, or the food chain, or by interfering with
the property values of people.
 A pollutant can be solid (large or sub-molecular),
liquid or gas .
Air pollutant classification

• Gases - • Natural • Aerosols-

compounds of contaminants- • Dust, smoke,
Sulphur, • Pollen particles, mist, fumes,
nitrogen, carbon, bacteria's fogs
oxygen etc.
Sources of Air pollution
 Air Pollution may originate from a natural or
anthropogenic source or from both sources.
 E.g. of natural source – an erupting volcano,
accidental fire etc.
Man made sources
Man made
sources

Stationary Mobile
sources sources

Area
Point sources Line
sources sources

Fuel Incineration,
Industry, residential, Rail yard, Highways,
combustio industrial
Power plants railroads
n estates ports,
 Percentage of Manmade
Pollution
Source CO (%) SO₂ (%) HC(%) NO – Nox
(%)
TRANSPORTATIO 92 4 65 42
N
INDUSTRIES 4 32 26 21

POWER PLANTS - 48 - 32

SPACE HEATING 3 12 3 5

COMBUSTION 1 4 6 0
Industrial Sources
 Liquid soap factory
 Sulphuric Acid factory
 Plastic industry
 Acid manufacturing units
 Phosphate fertilized industry
 Inorganic chemical plants
 Metal industry
 Aluminum plants
Effects of air pollution
 Air pollutant affecting plants are – sulphur
oxide, Fluoride component, Ozone, Chlorine,
Ammonia, herbicides, smog etc.
 Forms of damage to the leaves –
1. Necrosis
2. Chlorosis
3. Abscission
4. Epinasty
 Dosage of air pollutant on Plants
Pollutant Dose Effect

1. Sulphur oxide Mild Interveinal chloriotic

bleaching of leaves
Sulphur oxide Severe Necrosis in interveinal areas
.
2. Ozone Mild Flakes on upper surfaces,
premature aging and
suppressed growth.
Ozone Severe Collapse of leaf, necrosis,
bleaching
3. Fluorides Cumulative Necrosis at leaf tip.
effect
4. Nitrogen oxide Mild Suppressed growth , leaf
bleaching
5. Ethylene Mild Epinasty, Leaf abscission
Economic losses -methods
 Building Materials- corroded and
disfigured by air pollutant by number of
way.
 Abrasion
 Chemical reaction
 Adsorption
 Corrosion
 Deposition and removal
 Effects on materials
Material effects Pollutant for exposure

Metals Loss of luster SO₂ , NO - NOx

Paints Discoloration SO₂ ,H₂S, SPM

Leather Bad gloss with no shine SO₂, CO₂

Paper Increase brittleness SO₂, CO₂, H₂S

Textile Decreases durability SO₂, CO₂

Dyes Bleaching action NO₂, CL₂,H₂S

Rubber Cracks, fatigue O₃, CO₂, CO

 Effects on Human body
Major Air Pollutant Effect
CO ( carbon Mono-oxide) Interferes the bloods ability to carry oxygen
(by combining with hemoglobin) to heart,
brain, tissues
Fatal for heart patient and new born babies
High dose – leads to Coma
Mild dose – headache & tiredness
O₃ (Ozone) Reacts with lung tissues, cause harmful
changes in breathing passage, decreases
lung working ability and cause cough & chest
pain.
Cause eye & throat irritation

SO₂ ( Sulfur Di Oxide) It constricts air passage, creates asthma and

breathing problem in children.
SPM ( Suspended Smaller particles are inhaled and settled in
particulate Matter) lungs leading to breathing problem and lung
cancer
Continued…….
Major Air Pollutant Effect

Pb ( Lead) Damage blood, brain , nerves, kidney,

reproductive organs, and immunity system

No₂, NO ( oxides of Respiratory Pathogens increase,

Nitrogen) Eye, throat, lung irritation

PAN (Peroxy acetyl Nitrate) Eye irritation, burning, sneezing, cough and
cold.
Health Effects of Nitrogen
Oxides
 Short-term exposure at concentrations greater
than 3 parts per million (ppm) can measurably
decrease lung function.
 Concentrations less than 3 ppm can irritate
lungs.
 Concentrations as low as 0.1 ppm cause lung
irritation and measurable decreases in lung
function in asthmatics.
 Long-term lower level exposures can destroy
lung tissue, leading to emphysema.

 Children may also be especially sensitive to

the effects of nitrogen oxides
Sulfur Dioxide
 Ninety-five percent of pollution related sulfur
oxide emissions are in the form of sulfur dioxide
(SO2), a heavy, colorless gas with an odor like a
struck match.
 Sulfur dioxide not only has a bad odor, it can
irritate the respiratory system.
 Exposure to high concentrations for short periods
of time can constrict the bronchi and increase
mucous flow, making breathing difficult.
 Children, the elderly, those with chronic lung
disease, and asthmatics are especially
susceptible to these effects.