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Air Pollution
Air Pollution
General
Definition
Air pollution may be defined as the presence
in the air (outdoor atmosphere) of one or
more contaminants or combinations
thereof in such quantities and of such
durations as may be or tend to be
injurious to human, animal or plant life,
or property, or which unreasonably
interferes with the comfortable
enjoyment of life or property or conduct
of business.
Air Pollutant
It is a substance or effect dwelling temporarily or
permanently in the air , which adversely alters the
environment by interfering with the health, the
comfort, or the food chain, or by interfering with the
property values of people.
A pollutant can be solid (large or sub-molecular), liquid
or gas .
It may originate from a natural or anthropogenic source
(or both).
It is estimated that anthropogenic sources have changed
the composition of global air by less than 0.01%.
However, it is widely accepted that even a small change
can have a significant adverse effect on the climate,
ecosystem and species on the planet.
Examples of these are acid rain, ozone in the lower
atmosphere, and photochemical smog.
Other Effects
Seriously injure vegetation at certain
concentrations. Effects include:
Bleaching or killing plant tissue.
Causing leaves to fall.
Reducing growth rate.
Sulfur Dioxide
Ninety-five percent of pollution related sulfur
oxide emissions are in the form of sulfur
dioxide (SO2), a heavy, colorless gas with an
odor like a struck match.
This gas combines easily with water vapor,
forming aerosols of sulfurous acid (H2SO3), a
colorless, mildly corrosive liquid.
This liquid may then combine with oxygen in
the air, forming the even more irritating and
corrosive sulfuric acid (H2SO4).
Other sulfur-containing
compounds
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas - rotten eggs.
Mercaptans - skunk spray or decayed
garbage. (Added in trace amounts to natural
gas, providing a leak-detecting warning odor.)
Other Effects
Increases in sulfur dioxide concentrations
accelerate the corrosion of metals, probably
through the formation of acids. (SO2 is a
major precursor to acidic deposition.) Sulfur
oxides may also damage stone and masonry,
paint, various fibers, paper, leather, and
electrical components.
Increased SO2 also contributes to impaired
visibility. Particulate sulfate, much of which
is derived from sulfur dioxide emissions, is a
major component of the complex total
suspended particulate mixture.