The difference between primary and secondary air pollutants is that primary air pollutants..?

1.primary pollutants enter the atmosphere directly, whereas secondary pollutants form from substances within the atmosphere 2.primary pollutants are the direct result of natural processes whereas secondary air pollutants are the result of human activity. 3.primary pollutants include ozone, whereas sulfur dioxide is an example of secondary air pollutants 4.primary pollutants are not harmful to humans whereas secondary air pollutants may be toxic to humans

Primary pollutants
1. Sulphur dioxide (S02) produced from burning of coal mainly in thermal power plants. It causes smog and acid rain.

2. A Nitrogen oxides (N02) causes smog and acid rain. It is produced from burning fuels including petrol, diesel and coal.

3. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a product by incomplete combustion of fuel such as natural gas, coal or wood.

4. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), released mainly from refrigeration. These gases combine with few other gases, which leads to a reduction of the ozone layer that protects the earth from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun.

5. Carbon dioxide (C02), a greenhouse gas emitted from combustion.

6. Suspended particulate matter (SPM), include smoke, dust and vapour that can remain suspended for extended periods and can introduced in the environment as primary as well as secondary pollutants.

7. Toxic metals, such as lead, cadmium and copper can enter to the environment through petrol, hair dye products, paints, batteries etc.

8. Volatile organic compounds (VOC), such as hydrocarbon fuel vapors and solvents.

9. Ammonia (NH3) emitted from agricultural processes.

10. Odors, such as from garbage, sewage, and industrial processes

11. Radioactive pollutants produced by nuclear explosions and war explosives, and natural processes such as radon.

Secondary pollutants
1. Particulate matter formed from gaseous primary pollutants and compounds in photochemical smog, such as nitrogen dioxide.

2. Ground level ozone (03) formed from NO-, and VOCs.

3. Peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) similarly formed from N02 and VOCs.