LECTURE 3

AIR POLLUTION

EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION

In this section, the main emphasis will be on the effects of those pollutants
which cause community wise problems and particular attention is focused on
these six pollutants namely: particulates, sulphur oxides, carbon monoxide,
nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons.

Adverse effects of air pollution may be divided into two classes:

 Acute and Chronic effects

Acute effects results from short term exposure to air pollutants at high
concentrations while chronic effects become evident only after continuous
exposure to low levels of air pollution.

A review of some acute air pollution episodes

Location Conditions and causes Symptoms and effects

Meuse valley, Belgium, Inversion, smoke, SO2 60 excess deaths,
Dec. 1930 (9.6-38.4 ppm), H2SO4 thousands ill, eye and
mist nasal irritation, cough
Donora, U.S.A., Inversion and fog, SO2 20 excess deaths, 6000
Oct. 1948 (0.5-2 ppm), smoke, zincof town’s 14000
particles H2SO4 mist population became ill,
irritation of eyes, nose
and respiratory tract,
breathlessness, nausea
Poza Rica, Mexico, Shallow inversion, fog 22 excess deaths, 320
Nov. 1952 and calm conditions. H2S hospitalised, irritation of
release due to burner the respiratory tract
failure
London, England Dec., Low temperature Estimated 4000 deaths,
1952 inversion, thick fog, thousands hospitalised
stagnant air, smoke and for respiratory and heart
SO2 (1.4ppm) diseases, chronic
accumulation bronchitis.
Health Effects

Respiratory Effects

Particulates: Particulate matters inhaled are deposited in various regions of

the respiratory system depending on the particle size. Particles above 10 μm are
mostly retained in the nose. Those below 10 μm generally pass through the
upper respiratory system deep into your lungs, and some may even get into
your blood stream. Numerous studies have linked particle pollution exposure
to a variety of problems, including increased respiratory symptoms, such as
irritation of the airways, coughing, or difficulty breathing, decreased lung
function; aggravated asthma; development of chronic bronchitis; irregular
heartbeat; nonfatal heart attacks; and premature death in people with heart or
lung disease. Environmental effects of particulate matter include visibility
reduction, aesthetic damage etc.

Particles from toxic metals may constitute great health hazard. Toxic metals
such as lead, cadmium, nickel and mercury have been known to cause
widespread health hazards.

Major toxic metals and their effects

Element Sources Health effects

Lead Auto exhaust (from gasoline), paints, Neurotoxin, affects
storage batteries, pipes blood system,
behavioural disorders,
death
Cadmium Coal, zinc mining, incineration of Cardiovascular disease,
plastic containers, refining of metals, kidney disease
tobacco smoke
Nickel Combustion of coal, diesel and Respiratory symptoms,
residual oils, tobacco smoke, lung cancer
chemicals and catalyst, steel and non-
ferrous alloys manufacture
Mercury Combustion of fossil fuels, Nerve and brain
evaporation from ore mining, damage, kidney damage
 exhausts from metal smelters

Gaseous pollutants

Gas Health effects

Sulphur dioxide Causes irritation of eyes and respiratory tracts
Lung cancer and obstruction of breathing
Incidence of respiratory infection in children
Absorption of SO2 on small particulates
SO2 leads to formation of H2SO4 which is 20 times more
irritant than SO2
Carbon monoxide The combination of CO and haemoglobin leads o
formation of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) reducing the
oxygen carrying capacity of the blood, thereby affecting
the brain.
High concentration can cause death
Oxides of nitrogen NO2 causes irritation of lungs
(NO and NO2) Increase in acute bronchitis in school children
Damage of lung tissues
NO2 in combination with hydrocarbons cause
photochemical smog
Hydrocarbons Most of the hydrocarbons are carcinogenic to lungs
Inhalation causes irritation of respiratory tract
Effects on vegetation

Air pollutants cause damage to plant tissues. For instance exposure of SO 2 at

concentration 0.3 to 0.5 ppm for several days causes bleached spots, chlorosis
(loss of chlorophyll leading to yellowing of leaves), chronic injury to spinach.
NO2 causes reduced yield in citrus plants, suppressed growth of tomatoes,
spots of mild necrosis on cotton and bean plants.

Effects on Materials

Particulates such as soot, dust and fumes soil painted surfaces, fabrics and
buildings. The most notorious pollutant responsible for metallic corrosion is
sulphur dioxide. It has been reported that corrosion of hard metals such as
steel begins at annual mean concentrations of 0.02 ppm. Many priceless
marble sculptures and buildings have suffered damage in the last 30 years as a
result of increased SO2 in the atmosphere.

Global Effects

1. Global warming

Effects

i. Thermal extreme effects: heat waves, exhaustion

ii. Effect on the respiratory organs: persons with chronic diseases like
asthma, bronchitis, cardiovascular diseases
iii. Weather instability and natural calamities: examples landslides,
drought, flooding
iv. Incidence of water-borne diseases due to water shortage and
contamination
v. Sea level rise
vi. Agricultural productivity: reduced rainfall, increased pests, decreased
soil fertility, decreased faming land
vii. Food shortages and malnutrition

2. Ozone depletion

Causes of ozone depletion

Human activity: release of halogenated hydrocarbons, CFCs which are used

as refridgerants, solvents, foam production etc. They are usually stable
under normal conditions in the troposphere.

Effects

i. Skin damage and cancer

ii. Effects on eye especially increased cataract cases worldwide
iii. Affects plants and aquatic system by impairing with photosynthesis

3. Acid rain
Most oxides of sulphur and nitrogen are emitted from tall stacks at power
plants in order to increase the dispersion and dilution of the stack gases.
This may protect nearby communities from the immediate effect of air
pollution, discharge from tall chimneys allows the pollutants to be carried
for long distance in the atmosphere. The pollution in its effect is” air
mailed” to other regions and even to other continents. It is estimated that
50% of the acid rain in eastern Canada comes from the USA, and about 25
% of the acid rain in the New England originates from Canadian sources. In
addition, acid rain in Norway is believed to come mostly from industrial
areas in Great Britain and continental Europe.

Effects

i. Damage to aquatic life: reproduction is the most sensitive stage in

the life cycle. Eggs and fry of many fish species are killed at pH 5.0.
ii. Deterioration of buildings and monuments
iii. Mobilization of toxic metals