1[1].AirPollution Introduction R1

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August 11, 2010 IST,JNTUH, Hyderabad 1

INTRODUCTION


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What is Air Pollution?

Air is the ocean we breathe. Air supplies us with oxygenwhich is essential for our bodies to live. Air is 99.9%nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor and inert gases. Humanactivities can release substances into the air, some of whichcan cause problems for humans, plants, and animals.

One type of air pollution is the release ofparticles into theair from burning fuel for energy. Diesel smoke is a goodexample of this particulate matter. The particles are verysmall pieces of matter measuring about 2.5 microns or about

.0001 inches. This type of pollution is sometimes referred toas "black carbon" pollution. The exhaust from burning fuelsin automobiles, homes, and industries is a major source ofpollution in the air.


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Another type of pollution is the release ofnoxious gases, such as sulfur dioxide,carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, andchemical vapors. These can take part in

further chemical reactions once they are inthe atmosphere, forming smog and acidrain.

Pollution also needs to be considered insideour homes, offices, and schools. Some ofthese pollutants can be created by indooractivities such as smoking and cooking.


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Definition One of the formal

definitions of airpollution is asfollows The

presence in theatmosphere of one

or morecontaminants insuch quality and forsuch duration as isinjurious, or tends

to be injurious, tohuman health orwelfare, animal or

plant life.


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Also defined asany

atmosphericcondition inwhich certainsubstances arepresent in suchconcentrationsthat they canproduceundesirable

effects on manand hisenvironment


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Also defined aspollution

referred totroposphere,within whichmost of the

pollutants have afairly limited lifespan before theyget washed outby rain, removedby reaction ordeposited on theground


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UNPOLLUTED AIRThe gaseous composition of unpolluted air

The Gases Parts per million (vol) Nitrogen 756,500

Oxygen 202,900

Water 31,200

Argon 9,000

Carbon Dioxide 305

Neon 17.4

Helium 5.0

Methane 0.97-1.16 Krypton 0.97

Nitrous oxide 0.49

Hydrogen 0.49

Xenon 0.08

Organic vapours ca.0.02


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History of Air Pollution


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1272 - King Edward I of England bans use of sea coal

1377 1399 - Richard II restricts use of coal

1413 1422 - Henry V regulates/restricts use of coal

1661 - By royal command of Charles II, John Evelyn of theRoyal Society publishes Fumifugium; or theInconvenience of the Air and Smoke dissipated; togetherwith Some Remedies Humbly Proposed

1784Watts steam engine; boilers to burn fossil fuels(coal) to make steam to pump water and move machinery

Smoke and ash from fossil fuels by power plants, trains,ships: coal (and oil) burning = smoke, ash

1907 - Formation of the predecessor to the Air & WasteManagement Association

1930 - 1950s - Air Pollution Episodes


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1955 First Federal Air Pollution Control Act - funds forresearch (USA)

1960 Motor Vehicle Exhaust Act - funds for research

(USA) 1963 Clean Air Act (USA)

-Three stage enforcement-Funds for state and local agencies

1965 Motor Vehicle Air Pollution Control Act (USA)-Emission regulations for cars to begin in 1968

1967 Air Quality Act (USA)-Criteria documents-Control technique documents

1970 Clean Air Act Amendments (USA)-National Ambient Air Quality Standards-New Source Performance Standards


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Air Pollution Episodes Period of poor air quality, up to several

days, often extending over largegeographical area.

Winter: cold, stable weather conditionstrap pollutants close to sources and

prevent dispersion. Elevated

concentrations of range of pollutantsbuild up over several days

Summer: hot and sunny weather.Pollutants emitted within the U.K. orEurope transported long distances,reacting with each other in sunlight to

produce high levels of ozone, & otherphotochemical pollutants.


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Meuse Valley-Belgium, 1930

63 died (mostly elderly) Sore throats, shortness of breath, cough, phlegm, nausea,

vomiting

SO2, sulfur dioxide

H2O

SO4 sulfuric acid mist

Cattle, birds and rats died

Got little news coverage

Fumigation of a valley floor caused by an inversion layer

that restricts diffusion from a stack


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Donora, PennsylvaniaOct. 1948 Monongahela River Valley

Industrial townsteel mill, sulfuric acid plant, freight yard,etc.

Population14,000

Steep hills surrounding the valley

Oct 26temperature inversion (warm air trapping cold airnear the ground)

Stable air, fog, lasted 4.5 days

Environs of Donora, Pennsylvania. Horseshoe curve of

Monongahela River is surrounded by mountains. Railroadtracks are located on both sides of the river. Low-lyingstretch of Monongahela valley between railroad and river isnatural trap for pollutants.


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Poza Rico, Mexico 1950

Single source high sulfur crude oil Hydrogen sulfide (H2S)

Flare went out

Inversion in valley

22 sudden deaths, 320 hospitalized All ages

Forerunner of Bhopal


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December 1952 Great London Smog Cold front, Londoners burned soft coal

Factories, power plants

Temperature inversion

5 days of worst smog city had ever seen Publictransportation stopped

Indoor concerts had to be cancelled because no one couldsee the stage, etc

Weekly death registered from diseases of the lungs andheart in the London Administrative County around the time

of the severe fog in December, 1952. Total death in Greater London and air pollutants levels

measured during the fog of December 1952


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Seveso, Italy --Dioxin

July 10, 1976, north of Milan

A valve broke at the Industrie Chimiche

Meda Societa Azionaria chemical plant

Cloud of 2,3,7,8 tetrachlorodibenzo-para-

dioxin (TCDD) traveled southwest through

Seveso toward Milan

Contaminant of herbicide


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Bhopal, India Dec. 3, 1984 Union Carbide pesticide plant leak kills up to 2,000 with

up to 350,000 injured and 100,000 with permanentdisabilities

Methyl isocyanate (MIC)used as an intermediary inmanufacture of Sevin (Carbaryl)

CO + Cl = phosgene

Phosgene + methylamine = MIC

MICirritant to the lungs---edema, fluid (cause of death,

bronchospasms, corneal opacity Hydrogen cyanide?

Sabotage or industrial accident?


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World-wide Air Pollution Episode

November 27-December 10, 1962 Thousands of excess deaths in many cities including

NYC, London, Boston, Paris

New Orleans Oct-Nov 1958 asthma deaths.


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Hundreds Troubled by 'World Trade Center Cough NYC fire fighters,

school workers have 9/11 breathing problems, new studies say


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Types of Air Pollution Personal air exposure

-It refers to exposure to dust, fumes and gases to

which an individual exposes himself when he

indulge himself in smoking

Occupational air exposure

-It represents the type of exposure of individuals to

potentially harmful concentration of aerosols,

vapors, and gases in their working environment.


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Community air exposure

-This is most serious, complex, consists of varieties

of assortment of pollution sources, meteorologicalfactors, and wide variety of adverse social,

economical, and health effects.


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Sources of Air PollutionA. Natural: From natural sources Ex:

Volcanoes, Storms etc

B. Anthropogenic: From Manmade sources

Ex: Industrial, Mobile etc.


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Classification of Air Pollutants

A. Based origin

1.Primary Pollutants: Pollutants which are directlyemitted in to the atmosphere and found there in the form

in which they were emitted. Ex. Sulfur oxides (SOX),Nitrogen oxides (NOX), Hydrogen Carbon (HC) etc.

2.Secondary Pollutants: Pollutants which are formed inthe atmosphere by chemical or photochemical reactions

involving primary pollutants. Ex. Ozone (O3

), Peroxy

acetyl nitrate (PAN) etc.


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Primary Air Pollutants

y

Five major materials released directly intothe atmosphere in unmodified forms.

-Carbon monoxide

-Sulfur dioxide

-Nitrogen oxides

-Hydrocarbons

-Particulate matter


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Carbon Monoxide Produced by burning of organic material

(coal, gas, wood, trash, etc.)

Automobiles biggest source (80%)

Cigarette smoke another major source

Toxic because binds to hemoglobin,reduces oxygen in blood

Not a persistent pollutant, combines withoxygen to form CO2

Most communities now meet EPAstandards, but rush hour traffic canproduce high CO levels


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Sulphur Dioxide Produced by burning sulfur containing fossil fuels

(coal, oil)

Coal-burning power plants major source

Reacts in atmosphere to produce acids

One of the major components of acid rain

When inhaled, can be very corrosive to lung tissue

London-1306 banned burning of sea coal

-1952 killer fog: 4,000 people died in 4 weeks tied to sulfur compounds in smog


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Nitrogen Oxides Produced from burning of

fossil fuels

Contributes to acid rain,smog

Automobile engine mainsource

New engine technologyhas helped reduce, butmany more cars


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Hydrocarbons Hydrocarbons - organic compounds with

hydrogen, carbon

From incomplete burning or evaporatedfrom fuel supplies

Major source is automobiles, but somefrom industry

Contribute to smog

Improvements in engine design havehelped reduce


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Particulates Particulates - small pieces of solid materials

and liquid droplets (2.5 mm and 10 mm)

Examples: ash from fires, asbestos frombrakes and insulation, dust

Easily noticed: e.g. smokestacks

Can accumulate in lungs and interfere withthe ability of lungs to exchange gases.

S me ti l tes e k


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Some particulates are knowncarcinogens

Those working in dustyconditions at highest risk (e.g.,miners)

Respirable SuspendedParticulate Matter (RSPM) -PM1 having size


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Secondary Pollutants

Ozone

PAN (peroxy acetyl nitrate)

Photochemical smog

Aerosols and mists (H2SO4)


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Ozone Ozone (O3) is a highly reactive gas

composed of three oxygen atoms.

It is both a natural and a man-madeproduct that occurs in the Earth'supper atmosphere (the stratosphere)and lower atmosphere (thetroposphere).

Tropospheric ozone what webreathe -- is formed primarily fromphotochemical reactions betweentwo major classes of air pollutants,

volatile organic compounds (VOC)and nitrogen oxides (NOX).


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PAN Smog is caused by the interaction of some hydrocarbons and oxidants

under the influence of sunlight giving rise to dangerous peroxy acetylnitrate (PAN).


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Photochemical smog Photochemical smog is a mixture of pollutants which includes particulates, nitrogen

oxides, ozone, aldehydes, peroxyethanoyl nitrate (PAN), unreacted hydrocarbons,

etc. The smog often has a brown haze due to the presence of nitrogen dioxide. Itcauses painful eyes.


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Aerosols and mists (H2SO4) Aerosols and mists are very fine liquid droplets that cannot be

effectively removed using traditional packed scrubbers. Thesedroplets can be formed from gas phase hydrolysis of halogenatedacids (HCl, HF, HBr), metal halides, organohalides, sulfur trioxide(SO3), and phosphorous pentoxide (P2O5).


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B. Based on ChemicalComposition

1.Organic Pollutants:Pollutants which are organic bynature Ex. Carbolic Acids,Alcohols, Ethers, Amines,

Hydrogen Carbon (HC) etc.2.Inorganic: Pollutants whichare inorganic by nature. Ex.Carbon monoxide(CO),Sulphur Oxides, Nitrogen

Oxides, Hydrogen Fluoride,Hydrogen Chloride, Metal,Metalloids, Ozone (O3) etc.


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C. Based on State of Matter

1.Particulates: Pollutants which are finely divided solidsand liquids Ex. Dust, Smoke, Fly ash, Mist, Spray etc.

2.Gases: Pollutants which are gases by nature. Ex.Carbon monoxide(CO), Sulphur Oxides, Nitrogen Oxides,

Hydrogen Fluoride, Hydrogen Chloride, Ozone (O3) etc.


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Regional air pollution

Urban air pollution

Indoor air pollution

Health impacts of air pollution


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Asia1

An estimated 487,000

premature deaths

occur eachyear due to outdoor airpollution.

China2

Environmental and healthcosts of air pollution in China

is

about 7 % of GDP [budgetdeficit in 2003 = 3.3% of GDP]5

Estimatesshows that thesecosts could rise to 13% ofChinas GDP by 2020

Bangkok

Health cost of air pollution $640 million $800 million by 2020

0

50

100

150

200

Mumbai Metro Manila Jakarta Kathmandu

Valley

S$millions(

p.a.

Mortality

Morbidity

Exposed to diesel exhaust6

Exposed to clean air6

Economic Implications of Health Impacts4

Health Costs of Air Pollution


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An estimated 487,000

premature deaths in Asia occureach year due to outdoor air pollution1

A total of 3,547 persons werekilled in international terrorist

attacks in 20012

Costs of Air Pollution


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9,979 Kg of CO2/year4,535 Kg of CO2/ year

Average home emit more than twice as much carbon dioxide as the average car1

Emissions from residential areas


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S A O


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RESPIRATORY

SYSTEMModern concernsrelate more to the

lung than the

respiratory tract


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Size matters particles need to be


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Documents

1[1].AirPollution Introduction R1