IntroGaur, R. (2008). Basic environmental engineering.

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• Air (containing oxygen) is a vital requirement for

sustaining life. Initially on the atmosphere of earth
there was no oxygen and even then the life was there.
Slowly the oxygen requiring organisms developed with
the evolution of oxygen and at present there is about
21% oxygen in the atmosphere and almost every
creature consumes it for its metabolism. Fortunately
nature has the process of photosynthesis in which the
green plants produce oxygen (O2 )in presence of
sunlight and consume carbondioxide (CO2 ).
 The clean dry air has following average
composition:-
Component By volume By weight
Nitrogen 78.084% 75.51%
Oxygen 20.946% 23.15%
Argon 0.934 % 1.28%
Carbon dioxide 0.033% 0.046%
Neon 18.180 ppm 12.50 ppm
Helium 5.240 ppm 0.72 ppm
Krypton 1.190 ppm 2.90 ppm
Xenon 0.087 ppm 0.36 ppm
Nitrous oxide 0.500 ppm 1.50 ppm
Methane 2.0 ppm 1.2 ppm
Hydrogen 0.5 ppm 0.03 ppm
Ozone 0.01 ppm
air pollution pollutants(De, Anil Kumar. Environmental Engineering, New Age International Ltd, 2009.
ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/sct/detail.action?docID=424087

• air pollution means any solid, liquid or

gaseous substances present in the
atmosphere in such concentrations that may
tend to be injurious to human beings or other
living creatures or plants or property or
enjoyment
 Kothari, D., Singal, K. C., & Ranjan, R. (2016). Environmental science and engineering. Retrieved from http://ebookcentral.proquest.com

• Classification for Sources of Air pollution

Sources of air pollution can be classified in to
natural and manmade activities. Natural
source pollutants are a part of evolutionary
ecosystem, hence they never reach to a level
that are dangerous to life. However, human
activities produce air pollutants to such an
extent that exceed the natural cleaning
process
pollutant
Primary and secondary pollutants(De, Anil Kumar. Environmental Engineering, New Age International Ltd, 2009. ProQuest Ebook

Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/sct/detail.action?docID=424087 .
In general, air pollutants, emitted from natural and
anthropogenic sources, can be broadly classified under two
categories —Primary and Secondary pollutants. The primary
pollutants are those that are emitted directly from the sources.
These are: Inorganic gases – SO2 , NO, CO, CO2 , H2 S. HF.
Olefinic and Aromatic hydrocarbons; Radioactive compounds.
The Secondary pollutants are those that are formed in the
atmosphere by chemical reactions among primary pollutants
and atmospheric constituents. Examples are: SO3 , NO2 , PAN
(Peroxyacyl nitrate), O3 , aldehydes, ketones, various nitrate
and sulphate salts.
• The five major primary pollutants are: Carbon
monoxide CO Nitrogen Oxides, NOx Sulphur
dioxide, SO2 Hydrocarbons, HC and Particulate
matter
Kothari, D., Singal, K. C., & Ranjan, R. (2016). Environmental science and engineering. Retrieved

from http://ebookcentral.proquest.com
• Carbon monoxide (CO) It is a colorless, odorless
and toxic gas produced when coal, wood and
natural gas do not burn completely due to
deficiency in oxygen supply. Burning of fossil fuel
in vehicles is the largest source of CO. It can be
minimized by providing catalytic convertors with
two wheelers and cars. CO is not a persistent
pollutant as natural processes convert it into
other compounds that are not harmful.
• Sulphur oxides The oxides of sulphur or SO2
and SO3 produced by burning fossil fuel (coal)
containing sulphur. Few industrial process like
production of paper and smelting of metals
release SO2. Even at low levels SO2 is known
to increase daily mortality and hospital
admissions.
 prob
• It is estimated that during the 1952 London smog
episode 25,000 metric tons of coal, with an average
sulfur content of 4%, was burned. The mixing depth
(the height of the inversion layer or cap over the city
that prevented the escape of pollutants) was about 150
m over an area of about 1200 km 2. What was the
approximate SO2 concentration after the coal was
burned? Peirce, J. J., Vesilind, P. A., & Weiner, R. (1998).
Environmental pollution and control. Retrieved from
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• Nitrogen oxides There are several oxides of nitrogen i.e.
N2O, NO, N2O3 and N2O5 which are collectively called as
NOx. These are released by motor vehicles and thermal
generation stations using fossil fuels like coal and oil.
Nitrogen oxides play significant role, being a source of
producing secondary air pollutants that are more
dangerous to all living organisms. Short-term exposure to
NO2 can cause respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
• Expressing the Concentration of Gaseous Air
Pollutants Gaseous air pollutant
concentrations can be expressed in two ways:
as micrograms per cubic meter of air (ILtg/m
3) and as parts per million (ppm), where
• Particulate Small solid particles and liquid
droplets are collectively termed particulates.
They originate both from natural and man-
made sources. Every year natural sources
discharge 800–2,000 million tonnes and man-
made sources 200–500 million tonnes of
particulates. Among manmade sources, fly ash
from thermal power plants deserve mention
• Hydrocarbons and Photochemical Smog Natural processes, particularly
trees emit large quantities of hydrocarbons in air. Methane, CH4 is a
major hydrocarbon. It is generated in large quantities by bacteria
formed by anaerobic decomposition of organic matter in water
sediments and soil.
• Domestic animals (cattle, buffaloes, etc.) contribute about 85 million
tonnes of methane to the atmosphere each year. Automobiles are
significant sources of hydrocarbons.
• In presence of ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and
hydrocarbon participate in photochemical reactions (in presence of
sunlight).
• Photochemical smog occurs in coastal cities in winter climate e.g., in
Los Angeles, USA which have the heaviest vehicular traffic.
• Particulates range in size from 0.0002 µ (about
the size of a molecule) to 500 µ (1 µ = 10–6
metre). The number of particles in the
atmosphere vary from several hundred per
cm3 in clean air to more than 100,000 per
cm3 in highly polluted air (urban/industrial
area).
 effects Kothari, D., Singal, K. C., & Ranjan, R. (2016). Environmental science and engineering. Retrieved from
http://ebookcentral.proquest.com

• EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION ON LIVING ORGANISMS Gaseous pollutants when

enter in human system it irritate respiratory tract, cause sneezing and coughing
which expel contaminated air and mucus. Prolonged exposure to air pollutants
(including cigarette smoking) can cause break down of natural defence system
causing diseases like asthma, bronchitis and lung cancer. Oxides of carbon
There are two common oxides of carbon, CO and CO2. Generally, air pollutants
only irritate respiratory system, but action of carbon monoxide on human body
is seriously damaging. Inhalation of CO with air reaches into blood stream
through lungs, where it attaches to hemoglobin’s natural function of carrying
oxygen to cells in different parts of the body. Oxygen deficiency impairs
thinking and vision, causes headache, dizziness and nausea, may lead to coma
and death. Sulphur dioxide When any fossil fuel containing sulphur (like coal)
burns, it produces SO2, which in presence of solar radiations oxidized to SO3.
When SO3 mix with water vapour present in the atmosphere sulphur acid
(H2SO4) is produced.
• S + O Æ SO2 2SO2 + O2 Sunlight 2SO3 SO3 + H2O H2SO4
This sulphuric acid produced in the atmosphere reaches
to earth with rain or snow. This natural activity is called
‘Acid Rain’ that has several adverse environmental
effects. Acid rain ruins plants and forest, increases acidity
of lakes and rivers which damage aquatic life, slowly
defaces building and monuments. Supreme court took
note of possible disfiguring white marble Taj Mahal and
passed an order to shift foundries out of Agra. Inhalation
of SO2 can be corrosive to lungs and cause symptoms of
bronchitis.
• Nitrogen oxide The main product of fuel combustion is NO, which is oxidized to NO2 by oxygen.
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) adsorbs ultraviolet light from solar radiation, initiates photo chemical
reactions in the atmosphere and produce ‘smog’ –An environmental hazard. Nitrogen dioxide
(NO2) is toxic to human beings, can irritate lungs, aggravate asthma or bronchitis and also
increases susceptibility to respiratory infection like common cold and influenza. Bad ozone Ozone
is good in stratosphere 15 to 30 km above the earth’s that protects from UV radiations. Close to
earth ozone is bad, it is an air pollutant. Ozone on the ground is produced by the action of
sunlight on nitrogen oxide (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) emitted as vehicular
exhaust. In Delhi, ozone exceeds safe limit. It induces asthma allergy, damages immune system.
Children suffer more because their breathing zone is lower. More the vehicle, more the chest
problems. Indian cities are fast turning into gas chambers. Suspended particulate matter (SPM)
SPM aggravate bronchitis and asthma. Longtime exposure damage lung tissues and develop
chronic respiratory disease. Workers exposed to asbestos dust damage tissue lining of their
abdomen and develop cancer. Also inhalation of Silica (SiO2) dust causes ‘Silicosis’. Coal miners
exposed to coal dust suffer from ‘Black Lung’. Several volatile organic compounds like benzene
and formal-dehyde and toxic tiny particles of lead and cadmium cause reproductive problems
and cancer. Inhaling of excessive smog cause coughing, chest pain, irritation in eyes, nose and
throat.
• Air pollution and vegetation:  The direct use of
pesticides affect the growth of metabolic activities
by destroying chlorophil and also by disrupting
photosynthesis.  Rise of ozone causes Necrosis i.e.
Damaging the leaves  The rise of NO2 causes
Abscission i.e. Premature fall of leaves - results in
reduction in crop production  Rise in SO2 causes
chlorosis i.e. Yellowing of the leaves  Thus the air
pollution has qualitative and quantitative effects on
the plants
• Air pollution and animals:  When the animals
during grazing consume the particulate coated
plants mainly with fluorine, lead, arsenic they
get affected, resulting into illness or poisoning
or even death.  The pets also suffer due to
the lung diseases  When animals are fed with
oil cakes or grass, the remains of insecticides/
pesticides settled on vegetation, harm the
digestive system very severely.
• EFFECT ON NON-LIVINGS  Effect on metals: 
Corrosion or abrasion of metals  The acid
gases like O3, SO2 , NO2 , affect the strength
of the textile  The building material gets
affected by SO2 and acid rains.  SO2 and acid
gases affect the quality of paper and leather 
The paints get decoloured by SO2 and H2S
• Effect on climate:  Carbon cycle is broken ( as
forests are cut consumption of CO2 )  CO2 is
heavy gas and has capacity to absorb the heat.
Rise of CO2has caused the global warming 
The release of CFC gases have made an impact
on ozone layer due to the ozone depletion,
cosmic rays reaches to earth increasing
temperature of earth