Air Pollution and Control The Breath of Air

TOPIC
Air Pollution…

Comes From Many Sources

Smog hanging over cities is the most familiar and

obvious form of air pollution. But there are different
kinds of pollution — some visible, some invisible —
that contribute to global warming. Generally any
substance that people introduce into the atmosphere
that has damaging effects on living things and the
environment is considered air pollution.
Chemistry & Composition Atmosphere

It is of importance because of the interactions

between the atmosphere and living organisms. Atmospheric Chemistry

Atmospheric Composition Branch of atmospheric

science
Chemistry of the Earth’s
▪ Nitrogen, N - 78.084%
2
atmosphere & that of the other
planets is studied.

▪ Oxygen, O 2 – 20.946% Multidisciplinary field of

research
▪ Argon – 0.934% Draws on environmental
chemistry, physics,
Minor constituents: meteorology, computer
▪ CO , Ne, He, CH , Kr,
2 4
modeling, oceanography,
geology & volcanology and
H2, H2O(g) other disciplines.

Note: The mean mol. mass of - seeks to understand the causes of

air is 28.97 g/mol. acid rain, photochemical smog &
global warming.
Atmosphere Layers
Earth's atmosphere can be divided into five main layers. These layers are
mainly determined by whether temperature increases or decreases with altitude.

Exosphere
104 km

Thermosphere
up to 693 km

up to 85 km
Mesosphere

up to 51 km
Stratosphere

7 – 17 km
Troposphere
Atmosphere Layers
Other Layers
• part of the troposphere, near
the earth’s surface affected
through turbulent diffusion.
Planetary boundary
• defined by whether the
atmospheric gases are well-
mixed.
Homo/hetero-sphere
• forms the inner edge of the
magnetosphere, ionized by
Ionosphere solar radiation.

• 90% ozone is contained in

the stratosphere (15 -35 km)

Ozone Layer
Concept of Air Pollution

Air pollution and weather are linked in

two ways. One concerns the influence
that weather conditions have on the
dilution and dispersal of air pollutants.
The second connection is the reverse
and deals with the effect that air pollution
has on weather and climate.

Air is never perfectly clean. Volcanic ash,

salt particles, pollen and spores, smoke,
and windblown dust are all examples of
“natural air pollution.” One of the most
tragic air-pollution episodes occurred in
London in December 1952, when more
than 4000 people died.
Concept of Air Pollution

Air
•airborne particles and gases that occur
Pollutants in concentrations that endanger the
health and well-being of organisms or
disrupt the orderly functioning of the
environment.
•primary pollutants, which are emitted directly
Pollutants
2 categories from identifiable sources

•secondary pollutants, which are produced in the

atmosphere when certain chemical reactions take
place among primary pollutants
•Photochemical smog, a noxious mixture of gases and
Smog particles, is produced when strong sunlight triggers
photochemical reactions in the atmosphere.

•Ozone is the major component of photochemical smog.

Concept of Air Pollution

Economic activity, population growth,

meteorological conditions, & regulatory efforts
to control emissions all influence the trends in
air pollution. The Clean Air Act of 1970
mandated the setting of standards for four of
the primary pollutants—particulates, sulfur
dioxide, carbon monoxide, & nitrogen oxides—
as well as the secondary pollutant ozone.

The most obvious factor influencing air

pollution is the quantity of contaminants
emitted into the atmosphere. Two of the most
important atmospheric conditions affecting
the dispersion of pollutants are (1) the
strength of the wind and (2) the stability of the
air.
 Concept of Air Pollution
•formed when sulfur & nitrogen oxides
produced as by-products of combustion and
industrial activity are converted into acids
during complex atmospheric reactions.

Acid

Acid Precipitati

Snow
Rain
producing water that is toxic the damaging effects of acid
to fish, acid precipitation has precipitation on the environment
also detrimentally altered include the lowering of pH in
complex ecosystems. thousands of lakes.
Acid Deposition

Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide emissions react with water vapor in
the atmosphere and form acids that return to the surface as either dry or
wet deposition
pH scale
How Acid Deposition Develops
 Effects of Acid Deposition

Declining Aquatic Animal Populations

Thin-shelled eggs prevent bird reproduction
Because calcium is unavailable in acidic soil
Forest decline
Ex: Black forest in Germany (50% is
destroyed)
Air Pollutants & Sources
diesel-burning engines and
Carbon Monoxide
produced by the incomplete
burning of carbon-
containing fuels, such as
petrol, coal and wood.
Sulphur dioxide
produced by burning of
fossil fuels (e.g. fuel oil and
coil). A large proportion is
produced by power stations
and metal smelters which
burn sulphur-containing
coal, and also by the
manufacturing industries
which burn fuel oil.
Nitrogen oxides
produced by petrol- or
coal/oil furnaces. Ozone
produced by the reaction of
oxygen gas with free atoms of
oxygen which are formed from
the reactions between nitrogen
oxides and hydrocarbons in
sunlight.
Major Air
Pollutants
Particulates
produced by refuse
incineration, factories, diesel
vehicles, construction sites,
Hydrocarbons and coal/charcoal burners.
Particulates are solid or
formed from the liquid particles which are so
evaporation of materials small that they remain
such as petrol, diesel and suspended in the air for a
solvents when exposed to long period of time.
air.
Formation of Photochemical Smog
Effects of Air Pollutants

Interferes with photosynthesis, Acid rain: soil, buildings &

carbohydrate production materials, forest & aquatic life.

Cancer, asthma, birth defects,

eye & respiratory system prolonged exposure to high CO
irritation, and genetic mutation. concentrations, unconsciousness,
convulsions and death would
occur; severe effects on the baby
contribute to sick building
of a pregnant woman.
syndrome indoors

It is important to remember that air pollutants are transboundary ,

i.e. they know no borders and travel easily from their sources
towards other locations spreading pollution throughout the world.
Air Pollution Effects..
Methods of Air Pollution Control

Mechanical Collectors
(dust cyclone) NOx Control
Pollution
Electrostatic Precipitators VOC abatement
Control
Baghouses Acid Gas/SO2 control
Devices
Scrubbers Mercury Control

The following items are commonly used as pollution control devices by

industry or transportation devices. They can either destroy contaminants
or remove them from an exhaust stream before it is emitted into the
atmosphere.
Methods of Air Pollution Control
(Some things you can do for CLEAN air)

Reduce Waste

Conserve Energy

Eliminate Toxic
Chemical Use at
Home

Limit Your Family Size

 Thank You!
The roots of education arebitter, but the fruit is sweet.
Aristotle