PROF. NAVEED ASLAM DOGAR : M.SC (CHEMISTRY), M.PHIL (ENV.SCIENCES), M.

PHIL(CHEMISTRY),
PH.D(SCHOLAR), CSS(2010), 0322-4976417

LECTURE NO. 04

 AIR POLLUTION CAUSES, EFFECTS AND SOLUTIONS

 GLOBAL & REGIONAL AIR POLLUTION PROBLEMS
 OZONE DEPLETION & MONTREAL PROTOCOL
 ACID RAIN

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 main sources of air pollution are:

 Fossil fuel burning

 Power plants
 Chemical industries
 Other common industries
 Cultivation activities
 Volcanic eruption
 Forest fires
 Decomposition of organic matter
 Natural gas emission

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.

EXAMPLES: sulphur dioxide, sulphur trioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon

monoxide,hydrocarbons, ammonia, compound of fluorine and radioactive materials.

The primary pollutants are converted into secondary pollutants by reactions in the
atmosphere.

EXAMPLES: sulphuric acid, nitrogen monoxide, carbonic acid, hydrofluoric acid,

peroxyacetyl-nitrate (PAN), ozone, aldehydes, ketones and peroxybenzol.

AIR POLLUTANTS THEIR SOURCES & EFFECTS

1. Carbon Monoxide: It is a colourless, odourless and highly toxic gas, which is

three times lighter than air and soluble in water sources.
PROF. NAVEED ASLAM DOGAR : M.SC (CHEMISTRY), M.PHIL (ENV.SCIENCES), M.PHIL(CHEMISTRY),
PH.D(SCHOLAR), CSS(2010), 0322-4976417

Sources

 Volcanic eruptions, natural gas emission and oxidation of methane in the

atmosphere.

 Burning of fuel in various types of transportation (e.g., motor vehicles, railways

and aircraft) is the major source (75%) of CO in the atmosphere.

 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.

 Incomplete combustion and dissociation of CO2 at high temperature also

produces CO.

Effects

 It causes suffocation if inhaled.

 It binds blood haemoglobin more strongly than oxygen. Thus it removes oxygen
from normal respiration.

 The CO poisoning can be reversed by giving high pressure oxygen.

 Inhaling of high concentration of CO results in headache, fatigue,

unconsciousness and eventually death if inhaled for longer period.

2. Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)

The gases nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are represented by NOx

Sources

 Bacterial action produces NOx mainly NO

 NOx are produced by combustion of coal, oil, natural gas and gasoline. Both are
produced by the oxidation of nitrogenous compounds present in fossil fuel.
 The burning of fuel in internal combustion engine also produces NO.
 Nitrogen dioxide is produced when nitric oxide reacts with oxygen.

The residence time of NO and NO2 in the atmosphere are 4 and 3 days respectively.

Effects

 Photochemical reactions convert NOx to HNO3, which is carried down in either

rainfall or as dust. This is called acid rain.
PROF. NAVEED ASLAM DOGAR : M.SC (CHEMISTRY), M.PHIL (ENV.SCIENCES), M.PHIL(CHEMISTRY),
PH.D(SCHOLAR), CSS(2010), 0322-4976417

3. Sulphur Oxides, SOx

Sources

 Most of sulphur dioxide is produced by volcanoes (67%).It is also produced by

oxidation of sulphur containing gases produced by decomposition of organic
matter.

 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

 Hydrocarbons usually methane is accelerating green house Effect so causing

Global Warming
5. Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM)

Sources

 Includes a variety of particles and droplets (aerosols) that can be suspended in

atmosphere for short to long periods.

 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.

 It is mainly due to chemical reactions among nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons

in the presence of sunlight.

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

 Paint, Smelters (metal refineries), lead manufacture, storage batteries, leaded

petrol,

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

 Paint, Smelters,  Chromium manufacture, Chromium plating

Effects

 Perforation of nasal septum, chrome holes, etc.

PROF. NAVEED ASLAM DOGAR : M.SC (CHEMISTRY), M.PHIL (ENV.SCIENCES), M.PHIL(CHEMISTRY),
PH.D(SCHOLAR), CSS(2010), 0322-4976417

HOW TO CONTROL AIR POLLUTION?

 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.

CONTROL MEASURES IN INDUSTRIAL SECTOR

 Emission rates should be restricted to permissible levels by each and every

industry

 Incorporation of air pollution control equipment in design of plant layout must

be made mandatory

 Continuous monitoring of the atmosphere for pollutants should be carried out to

know the emission levels.

EQUIPMENT TO CONTROL AIR POLLUTION

 Air pollution can be reduced by adopting the following approaches:

 Ensuring sufficient supply of oxygen to the combustion chamber and adequate

temperature so that the combustion is complete thereby eliminating much of
the smoke consisting of partly burnt ashes and dust.

 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.

 There is a protective layer of ozone between 15 km to 60 km above the

surface of the earth. The thickest layer of ozone is present at 23 km above
the surface of the earth.

 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

OTHER SOURCES OF OZONE DEPLETION

 CCl4
 CF4
 Halons
 Hydro Chloro fluoro carbons (HCFC)
 Methyl Halides
SOME IMPORTANT FACTS
1. Ozone layer is capable of filtering UV radiations between 215-300 nm
wavelength
2. Thickness of ozone is measured by DU(Dobson unit)
3. Average thickness of ozone layer is 230 DU
EFFECTS OF OZONE DEPLETION
 Sunburns
 Skin cancer
 Immune system suppression
 Eye cataract
 Reduction in crop yield
 Decrease in forest productivity
 Disruption in aquatic food chains and food webs
 Increase in photochemical smog
 Increase in acid deposition
 Degradation of outdoor paints and plastics
 DNA breakage

OZONE DEPLETION POTENTIAL (ODP)

PROF. NAVEED ASLAM DOGAR : M.SC (CHEMISTRY), M.PHIL (ENV.SCIENCES), M.PHIL(CHEMISTRY),
PH.D(SCHOLAR), CSS(2010), 0322-4976417

Measure of destructive effects of ozone depletion substance with respect to reference

substance that is CFC
HOW TO PROTECT THE OZONE LAYER?
Scientists are still worried about the gradual decrease of the ozone layer, by the oxides
of Nitrogen and Chlorofluoro carbons.
Nitrogen oxides present in the atmosphere can be removed by:
(a) Reduction Method (b) Scrubbing Method
As far as, chlorofluoro carbons are concerned, the usage of these chemical must be
banned as aerosol spray propellants, or other aerosol spray propellants must be
discovered which should not have the destructive effect on ozone layer.

OZONE DEPLETION & MONTREAL PROTCOL

"Perhaps the single most successful international agreement to date has been the
Montreal Protocol." -Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations

 The Montreal Protocol, finalized in 1987, is a global agreement to protect the

stratospheric ozone layer by phasing out the production and consumption of
ozone-depleting substances (ODS).

 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.

 A great deal of work continues to ensure protection of the ozone layer,

particularly in developing countries.
PROF. NAVEED ASLAM DOGAR : M.SC (CHEMISTRY), M.PHIL (ENV.SCIENCES), M.PHIL(CHEMISTRY),
PH.D(SCHOLAR), CSS(2010), 0322-4976417

 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.

 These amendments introduced additional control measures and regulated

additional ODS.

 The Montreal Protocol’s Scientific Assessment Panel estimates that

implementation of the Montreal Protocol may allow the ozone layer to return to
its pre-industrial levels by 2060-2075.

 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.

 HFCs are widely used alternatives to hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs),

chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other ODS that are being phased-out under the
Montreal Protocol. If adopted, the amendment would reduce HFCs through 2050
by more than 90 gigatons of CO2-equivalent emissions, which is about 2 years of
current global anthropogenic emissions of all greenhouse gases. .

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:

 Burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity.  Two thirds of SO2 and one

fourth of NOX in the atmosphere come from electric power generators.
 Vehicles and heavy equipment.
 Manufacturing, oil refineries and other industries.

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. 

Forms of Acid Deposition

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

DIAGRAM SHOWING DRY & WET DEPOSITION

Measuring Acid Rain

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.

EFFECTS OF ACID RAIN

 Acidification of soil and rocks

 Damaging effect on plantation
 Useful bacteria may be effected adversely
 Poor crop yield
 Biodiversity loss
 Deforestation
 Damage terrestrial ecosystem
 Corrosion of metals
PROF. NAVEED ASLAM DOGAR : M.SC (CHEMISTRY), M.PHIL (ENV.SCIENCES), M.PHIL(CHEMISTRY),
PH.D(SCHOLAR), CSS(2010), 0322-4976417

 Skin irritation
 Damage of buildings, marble stone, fabrics and fading in the colors of dyes

REMEDIES

 Treatment of industrial exhaust

 Restrictions of fossil fuel burning