Air Pollution Lecture Notes PDF

Air Pollution Dr. Mohammad Suhail Khan Associate Professor Department of Public Health King Khalid University, Introduction ● WHO data show that almost all of the global population (99%) breathe air that exceeds WHO guideline limits . ● They contains high levels of pollutants, with low- and mi...

Air Pollution Dr. Mohammad Suhail Khan Associate Professor Department of Public Health King Khalid University, Introduction ● WHO data show that almost all of the global population (99%) breathe air that exceeds WHO guideline limits . ● They contains high levels of pollutants, with low- and middle-income countries suffering from the highest exposures. ● Air quality is closely linked to the earth’s climate and ecosystems globally. ● Policies to reduce air pollution, therefore, offer a winwin strategy for both climate and health. ● Lowering the burden of disease attributable to air pollution. ● ● ● Ambient (outdoor) air pollution in both cities and rural areas is causing fine particulate matter. Result in strokes, heart diseases, lung cancer, acute and chronic respiratory diseases. Around 2.4 billion people are exposed to dangerous levels of household air pollution. ● Using polluting open fires or simple stoves for cooking fueled by kerosene, biomass (wood, animal dung and crop waste) and coal. ● The combined effects of ambient air pollution and household air pollution is associated with 7 million premature deaths annually. ● ● ● Guideline update, recommendations on AQG levels are formulated, together with interim targets, for the following pollutants: PM2.5, PM10 Ozone, Nitrogen dioxide, Sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide What is air pollution? ● Air pollution is contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere. Sources of air pollution 1. Automobiles :Hydrocarbons Carbon monoxide Nitrogen oxides Lead Particulate matter Smoke a. b. c. d. e. f. 7. h. i. j. k. l. m. Industries :Smoke and ash Sulphur dioxide Nitrogen oxides Hydrogen fluoride & organic halides Carbon monoxide Hydrogen sulphide 1. a. b. c. d. e. 6. g. h. i. j. k. l. Domestic sources :Smoke Dust Sulphur dioxide Nitrogen oxide Carbon monoxide Miscellaneous:Burning refuse Incinerators Pesticide spray Natural sources e.g. dust, fungi, molds, bacteria Nuclear energy program Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) Pollutants can be grouped into two categories: 1) Primary pollutants, which are emitted directly from identifiable sources. 2) Secondary pollutants, which are produced in the atmosphere when certain chemical reactions takes place among primary pollutants. ● Air pollution occurs at two levels: 1. Indoor Air Pollution 2. Outdoor Air Pollution ● Primary and secondary air pollutants can be present at Indoor or Outdoor level or at both Primary Pollutants The major primary pollutants include: ● Particulate matter (PM) ● Carbon monoxide ● Sulfur dioxide ● Nitrogen oxides ● Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) ● Lead Secondary Pollutants ● ● ● ● ● Atmospheric sulfuric acid is one example of a secondary pollutant. Air pollution in urban and industrial areas is often called smog. Photochemical smog, a noxious mixture of gases and particles, is produced when strong sunlight triggers photochemical reactions in the atmosphere. The major component of photochemical smog is ozone. Although considerable progress has been made in controlling air pollution, the quality of the air we breathe remains a serious public health problem. SOME COMMON AIR POLLUTANTS ORGANIC AIR POLLUTANTS INORGANIC AIR POLLUTANTS CLASSICAL AIR POLLUTANTS Acrylonitrile Arsenic Nitrogen dioxide Benzene Asbestos Ozone and other photochemical oxidants Butadiene Cadmium Particulate matter Carbon disulfide Chromium Sulfur dioxide Carbon monoxide Fluoride Carbon monoxide 1,2-Dichloroethane Hydrogen sulfide Dichloromethane Lead Formaldehyde Manganese Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) Mercury Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) Nickel Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) Platinum Polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) Vanadium Styrene Tetrachloroethylene Toluene Trichlorethylene Vinylchloride