Sulfur dioxide – is a gas. It is invisible and has a nasty, sharp smell.

a. Reacts easily with other substances to form harmful compound e.g. sulfuric acid,
sulfurous acid and sulfate particles.
b. 99% of sulfur dioxide in air comes from human resources e.g. industrial activity –
coal, oil, gas, fossil fuels.
c. Affects human health when breathed in. Irritates the nose, throat, can cause
coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, or a tight feeling around the chest, as
well as asthma.

Nitrogen Oxide- are gases produced from high temperature combustion in the air. It can
cause respiratory ailments like asthma and eye irritation.

Particulates / Soots – are microscopic particles suspended in the air, are unburned
hydrocarbons and soot or carbon. They result from incomplete burning fuels.

a. Range in size from 10 to less than 2.5 microns in diameter = 1/70 width in human
hair.
b. Continuous exposure to particulate can cause wheezing, chest pain, coughing and
phlegm. In severe cases pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma, emphysema and
cardiovascular diseases.

Air pollution- is the presence of the substances in the air in amount to harmful to
humans, other animal and/or plants. There are over 100 identified air pollutants.

VOCs- are benzene and other aromatics that are formed from the production of
gasoline in order to improve its performance as fuel for vehicles.

Ozone- if formed from the reaction of VOCs and nitrogen oxides (NOs).

Oxides- naturally found in petroleum and coal.

Main categories of pollutants are:

1. Particulates are very fine solids, collectively referred to as total suspended

particulates(TSP)
2. Carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen and sulfur
3. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
4. Ozone