ES 200 - Module 3

· Anthrosphere - part of the earth's spheres that is inhabited by humans.

· Great Smog of 1952 - occured in London, also referred to as Big Smoke,

biggest air pollution event in London. Cold weather, windless conditions,
anticyclone, pollutants from use of coal - all led to formation of a layer of smog.
Neglected at first.

· Bhopal Gas Tragedy - Methyl Isocyanate, Union Carbide - safety regulations

ignored to cut costs

· NAAQS - National Ambient AIr Quality Standards

· Six critera as indicators for outdoor air quality are used - SO2, NO2, Lead,
CO, Ozone, Particulate Matter (PM10 or PM2.5 - the number indicates the
maximum size (diameter) of the particle)

· Tetraethyl lead - anti-knocking agent in gasoline - has been now phased out
completely because of the lead air pollution.

· Antiknocking agent raises octange number of the fuel and reduces engine
knocking (when vehicle doesn't not start correctly in response to ignition.

· Primary and Secondary Sources of air pollutants - directly emit the pollutant,
or emit substances which can later react in the atmosphere to form pollutants.

· PM2.5 - combustion particles, metals, organic compounds

· PM10 - dust, pollen mold

· The Nuclei mode (particle size < 0.1 μm) consists primarily of combustion m) consists primarily of combustion
particles emitted directly into the atmosphere and particles formed in the
atmosphere by gas-to-particle conversion. They are usually found near highways
and other sources of combustion. Because of their high number concentration,
especially near their source, these small particles coagulate rapidly.

· The accumulation mode (0.1 μm) consists primarily of combustion m < particle size < 2.5 μm) consists primarily of combustion m) includes
combustion particles, smog particles, and coagulated nuclei-mode particles . The
smog particles are formed in the atmosphere by photochemical reactions.
Particles in this mode are small but they coagulate too slowly to reach the coarse-
particle mode. Hence, they have a relatively long lifetime in the atmosphere and
they account for most of the visibility effects of atmospheric aerosols.

· The coarse-particle mode (particle size > 2.5 μm) consists primarily of combustion m) consists of windblown
dust, large salt particles from sea spray, and mechanically generated
anthropogenic particles such as those from agriculture and surface mining.
Because of their large size, the coarse particles readily settle out or impact on
surface, so their lifetime in the atmosphere is only a few hours.
· Path for particulate matters in our body - Trachea > Main Bronchus,
Bronchus, Bronchiolus, Terminal Bronchiolous, Respiratory bronchiolous, Alveolar
duct, Alveolus

· Particles are deposited in the lungs by one of four different ways:

interception, impaction, sedimentation, and diffusion.

· PAH - Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

· Indoor/personal exposures can be quite different than outdoor exposures

and show a different temporal variation.

· In India, about 80-95% of the population uses solid fuel, which contributes to
a great extent to household air pollution.

· NAMP - National Air Monitoring Program

· 1981 - Air Prevention and Control of Pollution Act

· Particle mass concentration = Delta(m)/(Q.t) - where Delta m is the change

in mass through filter cartridge, Q is the flow meter reading, and t is the time

· SMPS - Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer, for counting the number of particles

· Sizing of particles - Inertial impactors, Optical particle counters, Electrical

mobility

· Particle mass measurement - Collected particles are measured using

precision microbalance

· MOUDI - Micro-Orifice Uniform Deposit Impactor