ES 635: (Air Pollution Science and Engineering)

Q1)What is meant by ambient air quality standards?

Ans: Ambient air quality criteria, or standards, are concentrations of pollutants in the air, and
typically refer to outdoor air. The criteria are specified for various reasons, including for the
protection of human health, buildings, crops, vegetation, and ecosystems, as well as for
planning and other purposes.
Q2)Difference between NAAQS and AQI
The National Air Quality Index (AQI) was launched in 2014 to measure air quality and rate
it in six categories (ranging from good to severe). Know more about the Air Quality Index in
the linked article.
 The NAAQS was more technical in nature and was not easy for the common man to comprehend. It was
with the idea of making air quality levels more understandable to the general public that the AQI was
formulated.
 The AQI was launched keeping in mind the idea of ‘One Number-One Colour-One Description’.
 Another difference between both standards is that while the NAAQS 2009 considers 12 pollutants, the
AQI covers 8 major pollutants.
 AQI includes all the NAAQS pollutants except benzene, benzopyrene, arsenic, and nickel.
 The measurement of air quality for AQI is based on the eight pollutants for which short-term (up to 24-
hourly averaging period) National Ambient Air Quality Standards are prescribed and the worst reading
in these pollutants represents the AQI for that city.
Note:- Carbon dioxide is not considered an air pollutant in both AQI and NAAQS.
Q3) What is Aerodynamic Diameter?
Ans: Aerodynamic diameter means the diameter of a sphere of unit density that behaves
aerodynamically the same as the particle of the test substance. It is used to predict where
particles of different sizes and densities may be deposited in the respiratory tract.
Q4) What are the terminal settling velocity, drag force, and mobility of a 2.5-μηι-
diameter iron-oxide sphere settling in still air? The density of iron oxide is 5200 kg/m3
[5.2 g/cm3].
Ans:
Q5) Calculate the aerodynamic diameter for a quartz particle with de = 20 μπ and
p =2700kg/m3.
Ans:

Q6) What is the gravitational settling velocity at standard conditions of a 100-μιη-

Is the diameter sphere having a density of 8000 kg/m3?
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19) How do plants help to reduce environmental pollution?

Plants improve air quality through several mechanisms: they absorb carbon dioxide and
release oxygen through photosynthesis, increase humidity by transpiring water vapor through
microscopic leaf pores, and passively absorb pollutants on the external surfaces of leaves and
on the plant root-soil system.
20) How do plants cause pollution?
Ans: While plants, due to their fixed life and wide distribution, are among the first victims of
air pollution, they can also be a source of secondary pollution. During high heat, they emit
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as terpenes, one of the precursor gases of
ozone.