Air Pollution Overview

Air Pollution

• Types of Air Pollutants: Air pollutants are categorized into particulate matter and gaseous pollutants.
  • Particulate Matter: Includes aerosol, dust, mist, smoke, fumes, coal dust, ash, sawdust, cement dust, and grain dust.
  • Gaseous Pollutants: Include sulfur oxides, CO₂, hydrocarbons, H₂S, nitrogen oxides, CO (carboxyhemoglobin), O₃ (tropospheric and stratospheric), and acid rain.
• Greenhouse Effect: CO₂ strongly absorbs heat energy, reducing cooling and theoretically increasing global average temperatures.
• Incomplete Combustion: incomplete combustion of fossil fuels releases pollutants.
• Ozone (O₃): Ozone, a highly irritant and oxidizing gas, is formed by photochemical action of UV light on NO₂ in smog. Tropospheric ozone is harmful, while stratospheric ozone is beneficial as it filters UV radiation. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) can damage stratospheric ozone.
• Fluoride Toxicity (Fluorosis): Fluoride emissions from industries affect cattle, causing mottled and soft teeth, and bone lesions (osteofluoritic).
• Acid Rain: Acid rain occurs when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from air mix with water, forming acidic compounds. These compounds damage forests, freshwater ecosystems, and infrastructure (e.g., bridges). It has a pH less than 5.6.

Water & Soil Pollution

• Water and Soil Pollutants: Water and soil pollution includes various substances like:
  • Nitrates & Phosphates: Often from fertilizers and sewage. These cause algal blooms, which deplete oxygen in water and harm aquatic life.
  • Oils & Petroleum: Pollutes water sources
  • Volatile Organic Compounds: Pollute water sources
  • Metals: Heavy metals are a key pollutant in water sources.
  • Radioactive Contamination: Radioactive materials contaminate water and soil.
  • Pesticides: Pollute water and soil.
  • Low Mwt Chlorinated Hydrocarbons: Another pollutant in water sources.
  • Acids: Acids directly pollute water and soil.
• Algal Blooms: Excessive nitrates and phosphates cause algal blooms, depleting oxygen and harming aquatic life.
• Blue-Baby Syndrome: Ingested nitrates convert to nitrites, which reduce blood oxygen-carrying capacity, primarily affecting infants.
• Agent Orange: A herbicide used in the Vietnam War, it causes various health problems and environmental harm due to dioxin contamination, which is a component of the chemical

Sources of Air Pollutants

• Natural Pollutants: Examples include erupting volcanoes, dust storms, forest fires, and oceanic aerosols (salt).
• Anthropogenic Pollutants: Pollutants from human activities. Examples include combustion sources resulting in the formation of Nitrogen Oxides; industrial processes, and mining/drilling.
• Indoor Pollutants: Examples include heating, cooking, pesticides, tobacco smoke, and microbes from people or animals.

Environmental Effects of Pollution

• Greenhouse Effect: Increased CO₂, methane, CFCs, and nitrous oxide contribute to global warming.
• Acid Rain: Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides contribute to acid rain. These chemicals damage buildings, plants, and animal life.
• Vegetation: Polluted air and water affect plant life.
• Domestic Animals: Certain pollutants, like heavy metals, impact domestic animals' health.