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Lecture No.04 Env - Sci
Lecture No.04 Env - Sci
PHIL(CHEMISTRY),
PH.D(SCHOLAR), CSS(2010), 0322-4976417
LECTURE NO. 04
AIR POLLUTION
“The contamination of air with dust, smoke, harmful gases and other harmful substances
which lead adverse effects on life and quality of life is called air pollution.”
The air pollutants are of two types, that is, primary and secondary pollutants.
Those pollutants which are directly added into environment are called primary
pollutants.
The primary pollutants are converted into secondary pollutants by reactions in the
atmosphere.
Sources
Other sources are forest fires, combustion of fossil fuel and agricultural products.
An industry in which any type of fuel is burnt in air is also source of CO. These
include iron and steel, petroleum, cement, brick-kilns, paper and pulps, etc.
Effects
It binds blood haemoglobin more strongly than oxygen. Thus it removes oxygen
from normal respiration.
The gases nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are represented by NOx
Sources
The residence time of NO and NO2 in the atmosphere are 4 and 3 days respectively.
Effects
Sources
SO2 is produced due to combustion of coal (containing 1-9%S), crude oil and
other fossil fuel in power plants and petroleum industry, etc
Effects
Both SO2 and SO3 have pungent odour and are very irritant and suffocating.
They form sulphate aerosols in atmosphere through various reactions.
These aerosols cause severe respiratory troubles particularly among older people.
SO2 is the major source of acid deposition in the atmosphere.
4. Hydrocarbons
Sources
Large quantities of hydrocarbons are emitted by different trees and plants in the
atmosphere.
Paddy fields produce a significant amount of methane in the atmosphere.
Effects
Sources
Human sources for SPM include burning coal in power and industrial units,
burning diesel and other fuels in vehicles, agriculture, unpaved roads,
construction, etc.
Effects
PROF. NAVEED ASLAM DOGAR : M.SC (CHEMISTRY), M.PHIL (ENV.SCIENCES), M.PHIL(CHEMISTRY),
PH.D(SCHOLAR), CSS(2010), 0322-4976417
Health effects include nose and throat irritation, lung damage, bronchitis, asthma,
reproductive problems and cancer.
Environmental Effects include reduced visibility and acid deposition. Acid
deposition may lead to damaged trees, soils and aquatic life in lakes.
6. Photochemical smog
Sources
It is a brownish smoke that frequently forms on clear, sunny days over large
cities with significant amounts of automobile traffic.
Effects
Health effects include breathing problems, cough, eye, nose and throat irritation,
heart diseases, reduced resistance to colds and pneumonia.
Environmental effects involve damage to plants and trees. Additionally, Smog
reduces visibility.
7. Lead
Sources
Effects
Lead accumulates in the body and brain leading to nervous system damage and
mental retardation (especially in children), digestive and other health problems.
Lead containing chemicals are known to cause cancer in test animals.
It can harm wildlife
8. Chromium:
Sources
Effects
The atmosphere has several built-in self cleaning processes such as dispersion,
gravitational settling, flocculation, absorption, rain-washout, etc to cleanse the
atmosphere. However, control of contaminants at their source level is a desirable
and effective method through preventive or control technologies.
To use mechanical devices such as scrubbers, cyclones, bag houses and electro-
static precipitators in manufacturing processes. The equipment used to remove
particulates from the exhaust gases of electric power and industrial plants. Wet
scrubber can additionally reduce sulphur dioxide emissions.
OZONE DEPLETION
Ozone is produced in the atmosphere due to industrial process. The concentration of
ozone (O3) greater than 0.1 ppm is regarded as harmful. In the atmosphere oxygen is
converted into the ozone by absorbing sunlight.
As a matter of fact, ozone absorbs harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. Ultraviolet
PROF. NAVEED ASLAM DOGAR : M.SC (CHEMISTRY), M.PHIL (ENV.SCIENCES), M.PHIL(CHEMISTRY),
PH.D(SCHOLAR), CSS(2010), 0322-4976417
rays can cause cancer in the human beings and also are detrimental to the
organic matter necessary for life.
In 1980, the scientists observed that there is a hole in the ozone layer of the
atmosphere. That hole was observed near Antarctica. The presence of the hole
in the ozone layer indicates that the concentration of ozone in the atmosphere
is decreasing day by day.
SOURCES OF OZONE DEPLETION
Oxides of Nitrogen NOx
Oxides of nitrogen destroy the ozone present in the atmosphere and they themselves
are regenerated. NOx destroy ozone as follows:
NO + O3 NO2 + O2
NO2 + O NO + O2
Nuclear Tests
When nuclear tests are conducted high temperatures are produced. These high
temperatures allow the atmosphere nitrogen to combine with the atmospheric oxygen
to form oxides of nitrogen. These oxides of nitrogen destroy the ozone in the same
manner as described before.
Chloroflouro Carbons: (CFC’s)
Chlorofluoro carbons such as Freon-I (CFCl 3) and Freon-2 (CF2Cl2) are used as aerosol
spray propellants.
These fluoro chloro carbons are also used as refrigerants and fire fighting agents.
These compounds are chemically inert and do not react with the other substances.
These 1compounds enter into the stratosphere and absorb ultraviolet radiations. By
absorbing ultraviolet radiations chlorofluoro carbons break down and form atomic
chlorine. Atomic chlorine destroy the ozone in the same way as NOx do.
Cl + O3 ClO + O2
ClO + O Cl + O2
PROF. NAVEED ASLAM DOGAR : M.SC (CHEMISTRY), M.PHIL (ENV.SCIENCES), M.PHIL(CHEMISTRY),
PH.D(SCHOLAR), CSS(2010), 0322-4976417
"Perhaps the single most successful international agreement to date has been the
Montreal Protocol." -Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations
The stratospheric ozone layer filters out harmful ultraviolet radiation, which is
associated with increased prevalence of skin cancer and cataracts.
The United States ratified the Montreal Protocol in 1988 and has joined its four
subsequent amendments.
The United States has been a leader within the Protocol throughout its existence,
and has taken strong domestic action to phase out the use of ODS such as
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons.
Over two million tons of ODS have been phased out under the Montreal
Protocol since its inception.
Through the Protocol's Multilateral Fund, over $3 billion has been used to help
lesser-developed countries make the transition out of ODS The Montreal
Protocol has been amended four times since 1987.
The United States continues to work with its partners from all over the world to
ensure that progress moves forward on protection of the stratospheric ozone
layer.
In April 2015, the United States, Mexico and Canada jointly submitted an
amendment proposal to the Montreal Protocol that includes provisions to phase
down the production and consumption, and eliminate byproduct emissions of
hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), potent greenhouse gases with global warming
potential (GWP) thousands of times that of carbon dioxide.
ACID RAIN
Acid rain, or acid deposition, is a broad term that includes any form of precipitation with
acidic components, such as sulfuric or nitric acid that fall to the ground from the
atmosphere in wet or dry forms. This can include rain, snow, fog, hail or even dust that
is acidic.
What Causes Acid Rain?
Acid rain results when sulfur dioxide (SO 2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) are emitted
into the atmosphere and transported by wind and air currents.
PROF. NAVEED ASLAM DOGAR : M.SC (CHEMISTRY), M.PHIL (ENV.SCIENCES), M.PHIL(CHEMISTRY),
PH.D(SCHOLAR), CSS(2010), 0322-4976417
The SO2 and NOX react with water, oxygen and other chemicals to form sulfuric
and nitric acids.
These then mix with water and other materials before falling to the ground.
While a small portion of the SO2 and NOX that cause acid rain is from natural
sources such as volcanoes, most of it comes from the burning of fossil fuels.
The major sources of SO2 and NOX in the atmosphere are:
Winds can blow SO2 and NOX over long distances and across borders making acid rain a
problem for everyone and not just those who live close to these sources.
Wet Deposition
Wet deposition is what we most commonly think of as acid rain. The sulfuric and nitric
acids formed in the atmosphere fall to the ground mixed with rain, snow, fog, or hail.
Dry Deposition
Acidic particles and gases can also deposit from the atmosphere in the absence of
moisture as dry deposition. The acidic particles and gases may deposit to surfaces
(water bodies, vegetation, buildings) quickly or may react during atmospheric transport
to form larger particles that can be harmful to human health. When the accumulated
acids are washed off a surface by the next rain, this acidic water flows over and through
the ground, and can harm plants and wildlife, such as insects and fish.
The amount of acidity in the atmosphere that deposits to earth through dry deposition
depends on the amount of rainfall an area receives. For example, in desert areas the
ratio of dry to wet deposition is higher than an area that receives several inches of rain
each year.
PROF. NAVEED ASLAM DOGAR : M.SC (CHEMISTRY), M.PHIL (ENV.SCIENCES), M.PHIL(CHEMISTRY),
PH.D(SCHOLAR), CSS(2010), 0322-4976417
Acidity and alkalinity are measured using a pH scale for which 7.0 is neutral. The lower a
substance's pH (less than 7), the more acidic it is; the higher a substance's pH (greater
than 7), the more alkaline it is. Normal rain has a pH of about 5.6; it is slightly acidic
because carbon dioxide (CO2) dissolves into it forming weak carbonic acid. Acid rain
usually has a pH between 4.2 and 4.4.
Skin irritation
Damage of buildings, marble stone, fabrics and fading in the colors of dyes
REMEDIES