AIR POLLUTION

Castillo, Bea Cubias, JG Orellano, Jonavick Supan, I-ris Sze, Mark

AIR
Air supplies us with oxygen we breathe, which is essential to live. Dry air

Nitrogen (78.09%) Oxygen (20.95%) Argon (0.93%) Carbon Dioxide (0.039% as of 2010) other trace gases (0.003%). Water Vapor in varying amounts (up to 2%)

WHAT IS AIR POLLUTION?

Air pollution is a release into the atmosphere of any substances, which are harmful both to the human and animal health as well as the health of the wider environment. Due to industrial revolution, air pollution became an issue of serious concern only in the last 200 years or so.

PRINCIPAL AIR POLLUTANTS

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) s Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) s Carbon Monoxide (CO) s Ammonia (NH3) s Ozone (O3) Others

VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants) Airborne Particles

SULFUR DIOXIDE
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is corrosive to organic materials and it irritates the eyes, nose and lungs; therefore it is quite a dangerous air pollutant. Sulfur is contained within all fossil fuels, and is released in the form of sulfur dioxide during fossil fuel combustion.

SOURCES OF SULFUR DIOXIDE

Power Generation

Power generation is the largest industry for global SO2 emissions, which is mainly due to this industrys use of vast amounts of fossil fuels, especially coal.
Just like power generation, manufacturing industry generates its own SO2 emissions through its use of fossil fuels. Production of non-ferrous metals (ex. aluminium, copper, lead) generates SO2 emissions both through the use of fossil fuels an dspecificity of the industrial process involved. Refineries and residential & commercial sector are another significant sources of sulfur dioxide emissions.

Industry

Non-ferrous metals

Other Industries

NITROGEN OXIDES

There are two main nitrogen oxides:

Nitric Oxide (NO) Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2).

While fossil fuel combustion produces both NO2 and NO, almost 90% of the total NOx combustion product is released in the form of NO which is then converted to NO2 in the air.

SOURCES OF NITROGEN OXIDES

Road Transport Power Generation Deforestation & Savannah Fires Industry (excl. refineries) Shipping

CARBON MONOXIDE
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a by-product of incomplete fossil fuel combustion. Highly Toxic Gas

SOURCES OF CARBON MONOXIDE

Deforestation & Other Wildfires Biofuel Combustion Road Transport Residential & Commercial Sector Agriculture Waste Burning

AMMONIA

Ammonia (NH3) is a pungent, hazardous caustic gas.

SOURCES OF AMMONIA

Agriculture

livestock farming & animals waste, is the main source of ammonia emissions.

OZONE
Ozone (O3) is a poisonous gas. It is one of the main components of the photochemical smog which is damaging to human and animal health.

SOURCES OF OZONE

Troposphere

where it occurs both naturally and as a product of anthropogenic emissions.

Stratosphere

where it occurs naturally and protects the Earth from harmful ultraviolet sunlight, andT

VOCS

Organic compounds which easily evaporate and enter the atmosphere.

POPS

Compounds which are resistant to degradation and persistent in the environment.

AIRBORNE PARTICLES

Very small fragments of solid or liquid nature suspended in the air.

EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTANTS

Ozone Depletion
Damages humans, animals, trees and many more Causes short-term acute effects and long-term chronic effects

SULFUR DIOXIDE EFFECTS

Irritation of eyes, nose, throat; damage to lungs when inhaled Acute and chronic asthma Bronchitis and emphysema (as a result of synergy between SO2 and airborne particles)

Lung cancer

NITROGEN DIOXIDE EFFECTS

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD (narrowing of the airways) Emphysema (as part of COPD) Pulmonary edema (accumulation of excessive fluid in the lungs) Infant and cardiovascular death At higher concentrations, may cause lung cancer and bacterial infections

CARBON MONOXIDE EFFECTS

Toxicity of the central nervous system and heart Headaches, dizziness, nausea and unconsciousness Loss of vision Decreased muscular coordination Abdominal pain Severe effects on the baby of a pregnant woman Impaired performance on simple psychological tests and arithmetic; loss of judgment of time In cases of prolonged exposure to high CO concentrations, unconsciousness, convulsions and death would occur

OZONE EFFECTS
Burning nose and watering eyes Tightening of the chest Coughing, wheezing and throat irritation Rapid, shallow, painful breathing Susceptibility to respiratory infections Inflammation and damage to the lining of the lungs Aggravation of asthma Fatigue Cancer

AMMONIA EFFECTS
On the respiratory system : Nose & throat irritation and burns (their severity increasing with the increased ammonia concentrations) Swelling of the throat and airways; airways destruction Pulmonary edema Chronic lung disease Cough Asthma Lung fibrosis Inhaling large amounts of ammonia can be fatal

AMMONIA EFFECTS
On the skin & eyes : Skin burns Skin conditions, ex. dermatitis Burning sensation in the eyes Ulceration & perforation of the cornea (can occur months after exposure); blindness Cataracts & glaucoma

EFFECTS OF VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS

Tiredness, vertigo, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, confusion, unconsciousness Anemia Bone marrow damage Liver damage Dysfunction of the central nervous system:

Behavioral problems Memory loss Disturbance of the circadian rhythm

Cardiovascular diseases

EFFECTS OF VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS

Cancer; specifically leukemia Abnormal changes in fetus development, birth defects VOCs also contribute to sick building syndrome indoors As facilitators in ozone formation, VOCs may indirectly contribute to respiratory problems

EFFECTS OF AIRBORNE PARTICLES

Short-term acute effects of exposure to airborne particles may include: Stuffy noses, sinusitis Sore throats Wet cough, dry cough, phlegm Head colds Burning eyes Wheezing; shortness of breath Chest discomfort or pain

EFFECTS OF AIRBORNE PARTICLES

General effects of exposure to airborne particles are: Increased respiratory symptoms (ex. irritation of the airways, coughing, difficulty breathing) Decreased lung function Aggravated asthma Chronic bronchitis Irregular heartbeat Nonfatal heart attacks Premature death in people with heart or lung disease

AIR POLLUTION EFFECTS ON ANIMALS

Acid rain (as a by-product of atmospheric pollution) may acidify lakes and streams and kill fish and aquatic plants Pollution may affect animals through plants on which they feed. For example, if a certain plant is negatively affected by air pollutants, this will also affect the animals that depend on this particular plant for food. Tropospheric ozone may damage animal lung tissue.

AIR POLLUTION EFFECTS ON TREES & PLANTS

Physical effects on trees & plants through exposure to specific air pollutants are: Ozone produces a speckle of brown spots, which appear on the flat areas of leaf between the veins Sulfur dioxide: larger bleached-looking areas Nitrogen dioxide: irregular brown or white collapsed lesions on intercostal tissue and near the leaf edge Ammonia: unnatural green appearance with tissue drying out

HERE IS HOW SULFUR DIOXIDE MAY AFFECT TREES & PLANTS:

Cell metabolism disruption (membrane damage, respiration and photosynthetic effects) Leaf injury and loss Reduced growth and reproduction Increase in susceptibility of plants to attacks by insect herbivores

PARTICULATE AIR POLLUTION EFFECTS ON PLANTS &

TREES Blocked stomata Increased leaf temperature Reduced photosynthesis Reduced fruit set, leaf growth, pollen growth Reduced tree growth Leaf necrosis and chlorosis, bark peeling

HOW TO PREVENT AIR POLLUTION

Use public transport for daily transportation Buying fuel efficient vehicles is another option that you have. Though indirectly, saving energy by resorting to energy saving appliances and not wasting electricity will also help in curbing air pollution. Lesser the energy requirement, lesser will be produced and this in turn, will lessen the amount of air pollution caused by power plants. You can also resort to technologically advanced air pollution control equipment systems such as use of filters to remove dust particles.

HOW TO PREVENT AIR POLLUTION

Use a thermostat in your homes so that your heater or air conditioner is automatically switched off when it's not required. Recycle paper, plastic, glass bottles, cardboard, and aluminum cans. (This conserves energy and reduces production emissions.)

Country

ISO codes

Annual mean PM10 ug/m3

Year

Number and location of Temporal stations coverage (%)

Philippines

PH

47

2007

3 stations in Metro Manila

NA

United States of America

US

18

2008

728 sites in 375 locations throughout the country

NA

Reference Environmenta l Management Bureau. National Air Quality Status Report (20052007), 2009. USEPA. Particulate matter. Local trends in particulate matter trends.

Country

City

Annual mean PM2.5

Year

Number and location

Temporal coverage

Philippines

Mean

21

2007

3 stations in Metro Manila

NA

United States of America

Mean

10.9

2008

728 sites in 375 locations throughout the country

NA

Reference Environmental Management Bureau. National Air Quality Status Report (20052007), 2009. USEPA. Particulate matter. Local trends in particulate matter trends.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?hl=en_G B&key=0AonYZs4MzlZbdG1BdDU0RVI3anhBWFF zZkFraGhEOHc&hl=en_GB&gid=1 http://www.buzzle.com/articles/ http://www.tropical-rainforest-animals.com/airpollution.html#ozone