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Air-Pollution.pdf

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AbdulmajetMohamed

The document discusses air pollution and the Earth's atmosphere. It begins by describing the major regions of the atmosphere - the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere. Most weather occurs in the troposphere, where air pollutants are also found. It then discusses what air is made of and defines air pollution. The major sources of air pollution are described as urban/industrial sources like power plants, transportation, construction, etc. and natural sources like dust storms, forest fires, and decaying organic matter. The effects of air pollution on human health, plants, the economy and atmosphere are outlined. Tips for reducing air pollution and the Air Quality Index are also summarized.

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Air Pollution
Air-Pollution.pdf
The Earth’s Atmosphere
Major Region of the Atmosphere Troposphere • Nearest to earth, 11 miles thick at the equator, 5 miles thick at the poles. • The rate of temperature drop is about 6.4 degree/1000 meters • Tropopause • Very cold layer at the top of troposphere is known as tropopause. Stratosphere • This zone starts at the top of the troposphere. It is 31 miles long. It is characterized by a rising temperature as the altitude increases. Temp peaks up to the upper limit of the stratosphere because of the presence of ozone layer. Mesosphere • Extends roughly to 50 miles and its temp drops to between -80 and -90 degree celsius at the mesopause, a thin zone where the temp stabilizes and soon starts to rise again the thermosphere is ascended. Thermosphere • Temp is very high in this region.
Importance of Troposphere • Most of the weather is formed in the troposphere. • Almost all the air pollutants emitted from near surface sources are transported, dispersed, transformed and removed on this part of the lower atmosphere.
What is Air? • The Earth’s atmosphere is a mixture of gases that we call air. • The gases that make up the atmosphere exist as molecules. • Of the three principal repositories for pollutants in the environment-the atmosphere, the oceans and the land-the atmosphere is the most susceptible to degradation.
Composition of Air Constant gases • Nitrogen-78.08% • Oxygen-20.95 • Argon, Ne, He, Kr, Xe Variable gases • Water vapour (4%), CO2, CH4, Hydrogen, Nitrous Oxide, CO, Ozone, Flurocarbon
What is Air Pollution? • Air pollution is an atmospheric condition in which substances are present at concentrations higher than their normal ambient levels to affect humans, animals, vegetation, or materials significantly. • Air pollution is the excessive concentration of foreign materials in the air which adversely affects the well-being of the individual and causes damage to property (American Medical Association)
Sources of Air Pollution 1. Urban and Industrial sources A) Power generation • Conventional fossil fuel power plants are the major source of air pollution. Vast quantities of PM including fly ash (SiO2), iron and aluminum oxides from coal, and heavy metals from oil are emitted from power plant stacks. • Major pollutants are CO, CO2, SO2, NOx, HC and VOC.
1. Urban and Industrial sources B) Industrial Facilities • These include mining, refining, manufacturing, smelting, pulp and paper, chemical, metallurgical, pharmaceutical and other industries that emit a wide variety of gaseous and particulate matter in the atmosphere. • Industrial air pollution comes from manufacturing products from raw materials, such as iron from ore, gasoline from crude oil etc.
1. Urban and Industrial sources C) Transportation • Includes automobiles, buses, trucks, airplanes, boats etc. which are all mobile sources. • Major pollutants come from transportation sources are CO, CO2, NO, SO2, HC and VOCs.
1. Urban and Industrial sources D) Process Emissions • These include furnaces and other processes used for heating homes, office, commercial buildings, fireplaces, stoves, backyard barbecue grills (Polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs] ) and open burning of refuse and leaves. • The major pollutants emitted to the atmosphere are CO, CO2, NO, SO2, HC, VOC and PM.
1. Urban and Industrial sources E) Construction Activities • These include land clearing, demolition, digging, grinding, pulverization, paving, painting and other construction related activities. Pollutants emitted to the atmosphere are dust and other PM, HC, VOC and so on.
2. Agricultural and other Rural Sources a) Dust Blowing • Ploughing, tilling and harvesting lead to considerable amounts of dust blowing in the wind. b) Slash Burning • Land clearing by burning of forests, straw, wild grass, and agricultural waste products constitute a major source of smoke and haze in the countryside.
2. Agricultural and other Rural Sources C) Soil Emissions: cropland are usually treated with heavy applications of fertilizers containing nitrates and phosphates. Treated soils emit Nitrogen Oxides that are produced by microbial activity in the topmost soil layer. D) Pesticides: Applications of pesticides to croplands through spraying by aircraft may result in their transport to residential areas. E) Decaying wastes: Release ammonia, methane and noxious vapors to the atmosphere. Large cattle and hog farms constitute major sources of air pollution.
3. Natural Sources A) Wind erosion: Wind erosion of bare soils and desert lands by strong winds or by dusts devils can result in major dust storms. Dust particles consist mainly SiO2. Also, may contain traces of heavy metals. B) Forest Fires: emit large amounts of smoke, CO, CO2, NOx and HC.
3. Natural Sources C) Sea Spray: by wave breaking in strong winds is the major source of salt particles in the atmosphere. D) Soil microbial process: These include aerobic and anaerobic respiration of natural soils and vegetation resulting the emissions of nitric oxide, methane, hydrogen sufide and ammonia to the atmosphere.
3. Natural Sources E) Natural decay of organic matter: these include the decay of vegetation and other organic matter, which emits mainly methane, hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. F) Lightning: A large amount of nitric oxide is produced during lightning which may then participate in photochemical reactions creating ozone.
Air Pollution sources in an urban setup Small sources such as boilers, generators, light industries. Point sources such as major industrial sites Mobile sources such as on-road motor vehicles, train, steamers, air crafts, Area sources such as waste deposits and places where open burning of waste materials from agriculture, forestry and land clearance occur Local biogenic and natural sources such as deserts and eroded areas Transboundary air pollution from distance sources comprising emissions from fixed, mobile and other sources.
Air Pollution Types • Primary pollutants: emitted directly from sources without undergoing any chemical or physical transformation. • Secondary Pollutants: formed in the atmosphere due to chemical reactions among primary pollutants and normally present atmospheric constituents.
Gaseous Pollutants Sulfur Compounds • Primary Pollutants: SO2, SO3, H2S • Secondary Pollutants: H2SO3, sulphate ions, NH4SO4 Nitrogen Compounds • Primary Pollutants: NO, N2O, NO2, NH3 • Secondary pollutants: HNO3, nitrate, and ammonium ion.
Inorganic Carbon Compounds • Primary pollutants: CO, CO2 Organic Carbon Compounds • Primary pollutants: CH4, terpenes, isoprene • Secondary pollutants: organic nitrates, peroxides
Principal pollutants and sources of air pollution
Effects of Air Pollution
Effects on Human Health • The prime factors affecting human health are: • Nature of pollutants • Concentration of pollutants • Duration of exposure • State of the health of the receptor • Age group of the receptor • Eye irritation • Nose and throat irritation • Irritation of the respiratory tract • Increase in mortality and morbidity rate • Fine Particles can travel up to the placenta of an unborn baby
Health Effects • Increases the risk of premature birth and low birth weight • Can permanently damage the brain of the babies in the womb • Asthmatic attacks • Chronic pulmonary diseases like bronchitis and asthma are aggravated by a high concentration of SO2, NO2, PM, and photochemical smog. • Cardiac diseases • Additional stress on patients suffering from cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases • Cancer • IQ Reduction
Effects on plants • SO2: necrosis in interveinal areas and skeletonized leaves • Ozone: premature aging and suppressed growth, the collapse of leaves, necrosis, and bleaching • Fluorides: necrosis at leaf tip. • Nitrogen dioxide: suppressed growth, leaf bleaching • Ethylene: leaf abscission
Effects on Economy Air pollution damage to property covers a wide range: corrosion of metals, soiling and eroding of building surfaces, fading of dyed materials, rubber cracking, spoiling or destruction of vegetation, effects on animals, and interference with production and services.
Effects on Atmosphere Visibility Reduction ➢Reduction in visibility caused by the absorption and scattering of light by airborne particles. ➢Widespread regional hazes are often caused by air pollution dispersed over large regions. ➢Natural aerosols and the associated fogs, rain, snow, windblown dust, and natural hazes can reduce the visibility to a few tens of meters.
Tips for clean air • Walk or ride a bike • Shop by phone or mail • Ride public transit • Telecommute • Accelerate vehicle speed gradually • Keep your car tuned • Replace car air filter • Keep tires properly inflated • Drive new car • Select products that have low amounts of VOCs • Look for paints labeled zero VOCs • Paint with a brush, not a sprayer • Store solvents in airtight containers • Turn off light when you leave room • Use energy saving fluorescent bulbs • Use fan instead of air conditioning
Tips for clean air • Use a programmable thermostat that automatically turns off the AC • Insulate your water heater • Avoid rigorous physical activities on days with unhealthy air • Drive slowly on unpaved roads • Choose recycled products • Reuse paper bags • Limit dry cleaning • Reduce consumption of electricity
Air Quality Index (AQI) A way of transforming complex air quality measurements into a single number or descriptive term. Describes both the measured air quality and the publicly perceived air quality at any given time. An index for reporting daily air quality. Tells how clean or polluted air is. Expresses what associated health concerns should be aware of. Focuses on health effects that can happen within a few hours or days after breathing polluted air.
Air Quality Index for Bangladesh
Thank You

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Air-Pollution.pdf

  • 4. Major Region of the Atmosphere Troposphere • Nearest to earth, 11 miles thick at the equator, 5 miles thick at the poles. • The rate of temperature drop is about 6.4 degree/1000 meters • Tropopause • Very cold layer at the top of troposphere is known as tropopause. Stratosphere • This zone starts at the top of the troposphere. It is 31 miles long. It is characterized by a rising temperature as the altitude increases. Temp peaks up to the upper limit of the stratosphere because of the presence of ozone layer. Mesosphere • Extends roughly to 50 miles and its temp drops to between -80 and -90 degree celsius at the mesopause, a thin zone where the temp stabilizes and soon starts to rise again the thermosphere is ascended. Thermosphere • Temp is very high in this region.
  • 5. Importance of Troposphere • Most of the weather is formed in the troposphere. • Almost all the air pollutants emitted from near surface sources are transported, dispersed, transformed and removed on this part of the lower atmosphere.
  • 6. What is Air? • The Earth’s atmosphere is a mixture of gases that we call air. • The gases that make up the atmosphere exist as molecules. • Of the three principal repositories for pollutants in the environment-the atmosphere, the oceans and the land-the atmosphere is the most susceptible to degradation.
  • 7. Composition of Air Constant gases • Nitrogen-78.08% • Oxygen-20.95 • Argon, Ne, He, Kr, Xe Variable gases • Water vapour (4%), CO2, CH4, Hydrogen, Nitrous Oxide, CO, Ozone, Flurocarbon
  • 8. What is Air Pollution? • Air pollution is an atmospheric condition in which substances are present at concentrations higher than their normal ambient levels to affect humans, animals, vegetation, or materials significantly. • Air pollution is the excessive concentration of foreign materials in the air which adversely affects the well-being of the individual and causes damage to property (American Medical Association)
  • 9. Sources of Air Pollution 1. Urban and Industrial sources A) Power generation • Conventional fossil fuel power plants are the major source of air pollution. Vast quantities of PM including fly ash (SiO2), iron and aluminum oxides from coal, and heavy metals from oil are emitted from power plant stacks. • Major pollutants are CO, CO2, SO2, NOx, HC and VOC.
  • 10. 1. Urban and Industrial sources B) Industrial Facilities • These include mining, refining, manufacturing, smelting, pulp and paper, chemical, metallurgical, pharmaceutical and other industries that emit a wide variety of gaseous and particulate matter in the atmosphere. • Industrial air pollution comes from manufacturing products from raw materials, such as iron from ore, gasoline from crude oil etc.
  • 11. 1. Urban and Industrial sources C) Transportation • Includes automobiles, buses, trucks, airplanes, boats etc. which are all mobile sources. • Major pollutants come from transportation sources are CO, CO2, NO, SO2, HC and VOCs.
  • 12. 1. Urban and Industrial sources D) Process Emissions • These include furnaces and other processes used for heating homes, office, commercial buildings, fireplaces, stoves, backyard barbecue grills (Polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs] ) and open burning of refuse and leaves. • The major pollutants emitted to the atmosphere are CO, CO2, NO, SO2, HC, VOC and PM.
  • 13. 1. Urban and Industrial sources E) Construction Activities • These include land clearing, demolition, digging, grinding, pulverization, paving, painting and other construction related activities. Pollutants emitted to the atmosphere are dust and other PM, HC, VOC and so on.
  • 14. 2. Agricultural and other Rural Sources a) Dust Blowing • Ploughing, tilling and harvesting lead to considerable amounts of dust blowing in the wind. b) Slash Burning • Land clearing by burning of forests, straw, wild grass, and agricultural waste products constitute a major source of smoke and haze in the countryside.
  • 15. 2. Agricultural and other Rural Sources C) Soil Emissions: cropland are usually treated with heavy applications of fertilizers containing nitrates and phosphates. Treated soils emit Nitrogen Oxides that are produced by microbial activity in the topmost soil layer. D) Pesticides: Applications of pesticides to croplands through spraying by aircraft may result in their transport to residential areas. E) Decaying wastes: Release ammonia, methane and noxious vapors to the atmosphere. Large cattle and hog farms constitute major sources of air pollution.
  • 16. 3. Natural Sources A) Wind erosion: Wind erosion of bare soils and desert lands by strong winds or by dusts devils can result in major dust storms. Dust particles consist mainly SiO2. Also, may contain traces of heavy metals. B) Forest Fires: emit large amounts of smoke, CO, CO2, NOx and HC.
  • 17. 3. Natural Sources C) Sea Spray: by wave breaking in strong winds is the major source of salt particles in the atmosphere. D) Soil microbial process: These include aerobic and anaerobic respiration of natural soils and vegetation resulting the emissions of nitric oxide, methane, hydrogen sufide and ammonia to the atmosphere.
  • 18. 3. Natural Sources E) Natural decay of organic matter: these include the decay of vegetation and other organic matter, which emits mainly methane, hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. F) Lightning: A large amount of nitric oxide is produced during lightning which may then participate in photochemical reactions creating ozone.
  • 19. Air Pollution sources in an urban setup Small sources such as boilers, generators, light industries. Point sources such as major industrial sites Mobile sources such as on-road motor vehicles, train, steamers, air crafts, Area sources such as waste deposits and places where open burning of waste materials from agriculture, forestry and land clearance occur Local biogenic and natural sources such as deserts and eroded areas Transboundary air pollution from distance sources comprising emissions from fixed, mobile and other sources.
  • 20. Air Pollution Types • Primary pollutants: emitted directly from sources without undergoing any chemical or physical transformation. • Secondary Pollutants: formed in the atmosphere due to chemical reactions among primary pollutants and normally present atmospheric constituents.
  • 21. Gaseous Pollutants Sulfur Compounds • Primary Pollutants: SO2, SO3, H2S • Secondary Pollutants: H2SO3, sulphate ions, NH4SO4 Nitrogen Compounds • Primary Pollutants: NO, N2O, NO2, NH3 • Secondary pollutants: HNO3, nitrate, and ammonium ion.
  • 22. Inorganic Carbon Compounds • Primary pollutants: CO, CO2 Organic Carbon Compounds • Primary pollutants: CH4, terpenes, isoprene • Secondary pollutants: organic nitrates, peroxides
  • 25. Effects on Human Health • The prime factors affecting human health are: • Nature of pollutants • Concentration of pollutants • Duration of exposure • State of the health of the receptor • Age group of the receptor • Eye irritation • Nose and throat irritation • Irritation of the respiratory tract • Increase in mortality and morbidity rate • Fine Particles can travel up to the placenta of an unborn baby
  • 26. Health Effects • Increases the risk of premature birth and low birth weight • Can permanently damage the brain of the babies in the womb • Asthmatic attacks • Chronic pulmonary diseases like bronchitis and asthma are aggravated by a high concentration of SO2, NO2, PM, and photochemical smog. • Cardiac diseases • Additional stress on patients suffering from cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases • Cancer • IQ Reduction
  • 27. Effects on plants • SO2: necrosis in interveinal areas and skeletonized leaves • Ozone: premature aging and suppressed growth, the collapse of leaves, necrosis, and bleaching • Fluorides: necrosis at leaf tip. • Nitrogen dioxide: suppressed growth, leaf bleaching • Ethylene: leaf abscission
  • 28. Effects on Economy Air pollution damage to property covers a wide range: corrosion of metals, soiling and eroding of building surfaces, fading of dyed materials, rubber cracking, spoiling or destruction of vegetation, effects on animals, and interference with production and services.
  • 29. Effects on Atmosphere Visibility Reduction ➢Reduction in visibility caused by the absorption and scattering of light by airborne particles. ➢Widespread regional hazes are often caused by air pollution dispersed over large regions. ➢Natural aerosols and the associated fogs, rain, snow, windblown dust, and natural hazes can reduce the visibility to a few tens of meters.
  • 30. Tips for clean air • Walk or ride a bike • Shop by phone or mail • Ride public transit • Telecommute • Accelerate vehicle speed gradually • Keep your car tuned • Replace car air filter • Keep tires properly inflated • Drive new car • Select products that have low amounts of VOCs • Look for paints labeled zero VOCs • Paint with a brush, not a sprayer • Store solvents in airtight containers • Turn off light when you leave room • Use energy saving fluorescent bulbs • Use fan instead of air conditioning
  • 31. Tips for clean air • Use a programmable thermostat that automatically turns off the AC • Insulate your water heater • Avoid rigorous physical activities on days with unhealthy air • Drive slowly on unpaved roads • Choose recycled products • Reuse paper bags • Limit dry cleaning • Reduce consumption of electricity
  • 32. Air Quality Index (AQI) A way of transforming complex air quality measurements into a single number or descriptive term. Describes both the measured air quality and the publicly perceived air quality at any given time. An index for reporting daily air quality. Tells how clean or polluted air is. Expresses what associated health concerns should be aware of. Focuses on health effects that can happen within a few hours or days after breathing polluted air.