Air Pollution Overview

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Questions and Answers

What are primary pollutants?

Pollutants that are dispersed by natural means

Pollutants that are emitted directly from their sources (correct)

Pollutants that include only gases

Pollutants that are formed chemically in the atmosphere

Which of the following is NOT a type of stationary source of air pollution?

Mobile sources (correct)

Point sources

Fugitive sources

Area sources

What is one significant consequence of air pollution mentioned?

It increases soil fertility

It primarily affects plants

It kills an estimated seven million people worldwide each year (correct)

It generates electricity

How are secondary pollutants formed?

From chemical reactions among primary pollutants and atmospheric constituents Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is considered a mobile source of air pollution?

Automobiles Signup and view all the answers

What type of pollutant includes substances like ash and carbon monoxide?

Particulate matter Signup and view all the answers

Which category does natural gas emission fall under?

Primary pollutants Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a fugitive source of air pollution?

Dust from dirt roads Signup and view all the answers

What is one example of a pollutant that can contribute to air pollution?

Sulfur trioxide Signup and view all the answers

How does good ozone influence the environment?

It blocks harmful radiation from the Sun. Signup and view all the answers

What effect do dark-colored particles have on Earth's temperature?

They absorb heat from the Sun. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a source of indoor air pollution?

Cooking gas Signup and view all the answers

What can cause both outdoor and indoor air pollution?

Automobile exhaust Signup and view all the answers

What climatic effect can white-colored particles have in the atmosphere?

Reflect sunlight and reduce global temperatures Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is NOT a major cause of air pollution in Bangladesh?

Solar panels Signup and view all the answers

What leads to indoor air pollution primarily in older buildings?

Leaky structures Signup and view all the answers

What size particles are classified as PM10?

Substances of 10 micrometres or smaller Signup and view all the answers

Which type of factory emits the highest annual tons of PM10?

Cement factory Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of households in Bangladesh use solid fuel, contributing to air pollution?

72% Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature of the Brick Production and Brick Kiln Building (Control) Act of 2013?

It regulates emissions from brick kilns Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the Clean Air Act that has yet to be passed in Parliament?

To combat air pollution Signup and view all the answers

Which initiative is taken by the DoE to monitor brick kilns in Bangladesh?

A GIS database Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a method to help stop air pollution?

Increasing industrial production Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes weather from climate?

Weather is what happens over short time periods Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of climate in the context presented?

The average weather over long periods. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accurately describes climate change?

A significant change in climate over time. Signup and view all the answers

Which greenhouse gas is NOT mentioned as a major contributor to global warming?

Sulfur dioxide Signup and view all the answers

What event marked 2016 in terms of global climate?

Highest CO2 concentration in 800,000 years. Signup and view all the answers

How does the rise in average global temperature correlate with greenhouse gases?

Rising temperatures result from increased GHG concentrations. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes climate variability from climate change?

Climate change is a long-term trend. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is incorrect regarding climate expectations?

Climate change refers to minor fluctuations. Signup and view all the answers

What is the crucial factor in determining significant climate change?

Underlying level of climate variability. Signup and view all the answers

What is global warming primarily caused by?

A buildup of greenhouse gases Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an effect of global warming?

Formation of new mountain ranges Signup and view all the answers

What geographic characteristic makes Bangladesh particularly vulnerable to climate change?

Flat and low-lying topography Signup and view all the answers

How much has the temperature in Bangladesh increased since 1960 during the hot season?

0.24°C per decade Signup and view all the answers

Between 1985 and 2009, what trend was observed regarding cyclonic storms in the Bay of Bengal?

Increased frequency Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of Bangladesh's land might be lost if sea levels rise by 1 meter?

17.5% Signup and view all the answers

What factor significantly contributes to the high population density in Bangladesh, making it vulnerable to climate change?

Reliance on climate-sensitive sectors Signup and view all the answers

What is a key consequence of rising temperatures due to global warming?

Melting of glaciers and ice caps Signup and view all the answers

What is the expected increase in temperature in Bangladesh by 2100?

3 – 3.5°C Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an adaptation strategy for drought in Bangladesh?

Construction of cyclone shelters Signup and view all the answers

By what year is a sea level rise of 88cm to 1m expected in Bangladesh?

2100 Signup and view all the answers

What climate change impact is characterized by increased frequency and intensity, along with rising salinity?

Cyclone/storm surge Signup and view all the answers

Which adaptation strategy is specifically mentioned for improving conditions in flash flood-prone Haor areas?

Swamp vegetation plantation Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated as a significant concern as a result of climate change impacts in Bangladesh?

Reduced agricultural productivity Signup and view all the answers

What does mitigation in the context of climate change refer to?

Activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions or enhance their sinks Signup and view all the answers

What is one expected change in rainfall patterns by 2100 in Bangladesh?

20% increase in northern regions Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Air Pollution

Air pollution occurs when harmful or excessive quantities of substances are introduced into Earth's atmosphere.
Pollutants include gases (sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons), particulate matter (smoke, dust, fumes, aerosols), and radioactive materials.
Air pollution is a mixture of solid particles, liquid particles, and gases suspended in the air.
Air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year.
WHO data shows that 9 out of 10 people breathe air containing high levels of pollutants.

Sources of Air Pollution

Sources are categorized by location:
- Stationary sources: These have a fixed location, including point sources (e.g., smoke stacks of power plants) and area sources (e.g., urban communities with industrialization). Fugitive sources are also categorized as stationary sources, and pollute by being carried by wind from locations like agricultural areas, dirt roads, and mines.
- Mobile sources: Sources that move while emitting pollutants, such as automobiles, trucks, buses, ships, and trains.

Sources of Air Pollution Based on Origin

Natural sources: Natural gas emissions, discharges during storms, pollens, microorganisms.
Manmade sources: Transportation (motor vehicles, aircraft, railway engines), industrial processes (petroleum, steel, paper industries, power plants, mining), agriculture (pesticides, herbicides, agricultural burning), and other sources (solid waste, forest fires, nuclear explosions).

Primary Pollutants

Emitted directly from sources.
Examples include particulate matter (ash, smoke, dust, fumes, mist, spray), inorganic gases (sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, nitric oxide, ammonia, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen fluoride), aromatic hydrocarbons, and radioactive compounds.

Secondary Pollutants

Formed in the atmosphere through chemical interactions among primary pollutants and normal atmospheric constituents.
Examples include sulfur trioxide, nitrogen dioxide, tropospheric ozone, aldehydes, ketones, various sulfate and nitrate salts.

What else causes air pollution?

Ozone can be good or bad based on its location in the atmosphere
- Good ozone in the upper atmosphere blocks harmful solar radiation.
- Bad ozone near the ground is harmful and is created when sunlight reacts with chemicals (like from fossil fuels)

How Air Pollution Affects Earth's Climate

Some pollutants reflect sunlight while others absorb it.
Dark-colored particles absorb heat, increasing temperature.
Light-colored particles reflect heat, decreasing temperature.

How Air Pollution Affects Human Health

Pollutants: Particulate matter (PM 2.5, PM 10), Nitrogen oxide (NOx), Sulfur dioxide (SO2), Carbon monoxide (CO).
Impacts: Breathing problems, asthma, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases, impact on liver and spleen, irritation of eyes, nose, and throat, cardiovascular diseases, headache and anxiety, irritation of eyes, nose, and throat, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, cardiovascular disease

Indoor Air Pollution

Indoor air pollution comes extensively from cooking gas, heaters, fireplaces, wood or coal burning stoves, smoking, household products (detergents, waxes, polishes, air fresheners, pesticides, glues, paints, hair sprays, oven cleaners, permanent press fabrics, synthetic fibers).
Cleaning activities like dusting and vacuum cleaning contribute to indoor pollution.
Outdoor air pollution can also become indoor pollution, especially in older/leaky buildings.

Bangladesh Perspective

High air pollution-related deaths.
Reduction in GDP due to pollution.
Major causes are brick kilns, vehicular emissions, and construction sites.
Number of vehicles and brick kilns in Dhaka have increased from 2010 - 2018.
Other significant sources of pollution from industrialization, urbanization and infrastructure construction.
A huge amount of air pollution from industrial emissions, vehicle emissions, waste burning, solid particles (10 micrometres or smaller; PM10), and household use of solid fuel. The sources of the PM 10 includes brick kilns, cement, steel, and ceramic factories. 72% of the nation uses solid fuel for their households.

Legal and Policy Initiatives

Bangladesh Environmental Conservation Act (1995) and Environment Conservation Rules (1997).
Amendments in 2002, 2003, and 2010 on pollution regulations, restricting automobiles sales and production of harmful items . Also, regulations on vehicular exhaust emissions.
The Brick Production and Brick Kiln Building Act (2013) and amendments in 2019. Promotion of using cleaner kiln technology.
The Clean Air Act is needed. Air quality observation stations.
Need more comprehensive and immediate government action.

How to Stop Air Pollution

Recommendations included using public transport, walking, and bicycling.
Supporting clean energy.
Removing old vehicles.
Promoting public awareness.
Planting more trees and vegetation.
Replacing processes that don't pollute the air.
Prevent toxic substances from entering the air.

Climate Change

Weather refers to current conditions (temperature, pressure, precipitation, winds).
Climate is the average weather over long periods (years or decades).
Climate change occurs when climate doesn't remain constant. A significant change depends on the underlying level of climate variability.
Global warming refers to rising average temperatures due to increased greenhouse gases.
Climate change is a broader term encompassing temperature and precipitation variations.

How Global Warming Works

Natural Greenhouse Effect: Some heat is trapped by atmospheric gases (e.g., CO2, CH4), warming the Earth.
Human Enhanced Greenhouse Effect: Increased human activities release more greenhouse gases, trapping more heat.

Major Greenhouse Gases

Sources are primarily from anthropogenic activities.
Examples include carbon dioxide, CFCs, methane, nitrous oxides, and ozone.

Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Breakdown of emissions by gas type.
- Carbon Dioxide is the largest emitter at 65%, followed by Forestry and land use.
Breakdown of emissions by economic sector.
- Electricity and Heat production is the largest at 25% followed by Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use at 24%.

The Rise in Average Global Temperature

Directly linked to the rise in concentration of CO2 and other GHGs in the atmosphere.
2016 was the warmest year on record, 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels.

Effects of Global Warming

Changes in climate patterns.
Increased temperature.
Rising sea levels.
Melting glaciers and ice caps.
Changes in the biosphere (habitats, species, water supply).

Bangladesh's Vulnerability to Climate Change

Most vulnerable country due to flat, low-lying topography.
High population density.
Dependence on sensitive sectors, particularly agriculture and fisheries.
Poor infrastructure and socioeconomic conditions.

Past and Future Climate Change Scenarios in Bangladesh

Past: Temperature increases, changes in rainfall patterns, cyclone frequency, sea level rise.
Future: Increased temperature, increasing rainfall in certain areas, rising sea levels, extreme temperature and drought in the North and North-western regions by 2100.

Climate Change Impacts in Bangladesh

Increased frequency and intensity of cyclones, larger flooding magnitudes.
Spreading droughts.
Erratic rainfall.
Increasing riverbank and coastal erosion.
Water logging and permanent inundation.

Hazards Bangladesh Faces

Drought, cyclones, storm surges, floods, waterlogging, and bank erosion.

Adjusting to Climate Change

Mitigation: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing sinks (e.g., reforestation).
Adaptation: Adjusting to climate change impacts.

Adaptation Measures for Specific Hazards

Drought: Rice cultivation with minor irrigation, digging ponds for water reservoirs, using less water-consuming trees, More vegetation, Homestead Garden, Crop Diversification
Flash Floods in Haor Areas: Crop diversification, Swamp vegetation plantation, Canal re-excavation.
Coastal Areas: Cyclone shelter centers, climate-smart house design, salt-tolerant crops, afforestation.

Other Recommendations

Be Energy-efficient: Use energy-efficient lightbulbs, encourage the use of solar, wind, and biomass power sources.
Institutional Initiatives: support for research that develop salinity-tolerant rice species, other crops, and mangrove plantation techniques.
Also investigate the NAPA measures from 2009 (Adaptation) into different sectoral policies of the government.

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Description

This quiz explores the fundamental concepts of air pollution, including its definition, types of pollutants, and significant health impacts. It also delves into the various sources of air pollution, categorizing them by location. Test your knowledge on air quality and its global implications.