Composition of Breathing Natural Air

Sr Non-reactive Gases Reactive Gases

(Conc. %) (Conc. %)

1 Nitrogen, N2 78.08 Methane, CH4 0.0002

2 Oxygen, O2 20.95 Carbon monoxide, CO 0.00001
3 Argon, A 0.93 Non-methane HCs, 0.000002
4 Carbon dioxide, CO2 0.035 Ammonia, NH3 0.006
5 Neon, Ne 0.002 Nitric oxide, NO 0.002
6 Helium, He 0.0005 Sulfur dioxide, SO2 0.001
7 Krypton, Kr 0.0001 Ozone, O3 0.05
8 Hydrogen, H2 0.00005 Nitrogen dioxide, NO2 0.0005
9 Xenon, Xe 0.000009    
10 Nitrous oxide, N2O 0.000001    
Greenhouse gases: Carbon dioxide, water vapors, some trace gases like
methane, di-nitrogen oxide, ozone are called greenhouse gases since
they maintain the thermal structure of earth by allowing to incoming
solar radiation and by containing some outgoing radiation from earth.
The warming effect, which is produced by these gases on earth surface
is called Greenhouse Effect.
Human activities substantially increased these naturally occurring
substances, particularly after Industrial Revolution.
After World War II, many man-made greenhouse gases are emitted in
the air, especially chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs). Earlier, there was zero
CFCs, HFCs and other man-induced gases.
Rise of both the naturally occurring and man-made greenhouses raise
global temperature, which results in melting of polar ice, increase in
humidity, rise in sea level etc.

Fossil fuel combustion and deforestation are main sources of CO2. The
combustion account for 5Gt CO2/year while deforestation contributes
1.8 Gt CO2/year.

Heat potential of many trace gases are greater than CO2. For instance,
methane heating potential is 23 times greater than CO2.

Main sources of methane gas emissions are enteric fermentation of

ruminants, wetlands such as swamps, marshes, rice field, biomass
burning, coal mining, leakages of natural gas during transmission and
distribution.
Air Pollutant: Any substance in air that harms plants,
animals, humans or any material is called air pollutant. It
may be solid particle, liquid droplet or gas. There are many
air pollutants. However, followings are major air pollutants
1. Carbon Monoxide (CO)
2. Lead
3. Particulate Matter (PM2.5)
4. Sulfur Oxides (SOx)
5. Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
6. Tropospheric Ozone (O3)
In USA, these are called Criteria Air Pollutants
 Carbon Monoxide
It is a colorless, tasteless, odorless, non-carcinogen & the most widely
distributed air pollutant.
CO is emitted during the combustion of fossils fuel such as coal,
liquid petroleum and natural gas in -------
 kitchens, boilers, furnaces, kiln,
 Coal-fired, oil fired, gas-fired power plants for electricity
generation,
 internal combustion engines (petrol, diesel, locomotive engines)
 generators for electricity in homes, etc. etc.
 Effects CO on Human Health

Sr Conc. Exposure

1 9 ppm Maximum permissible limit for 8 hours.

2 35 ppm Maximum permissible limit for 1 hour.

4 200 ppm headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea after 2-3 hrs.

Frontal headaches within 1-2 hours. Life

5 400 ppm
threatening after 3 hours.

Dizziness, nausea and convulsions in 45 minutes.

6 800 ppm
Unconsciousness in 2 hours. Death in 2-3 hours.

Headache, dizziness and nausea in 20 minutes.

7 1600 ppm
Death within 1 hour
GILGIT: A newly-married couple from Islamabad died of
suffocation in a hotel room in Karimabad, Hunza, on Friday
night.
Both were residents of Islamabad, identified as Syeda Fatima,
29, an assistant director at the ministry of foreign affairs, and
her husband, Syed Shoaib Hassan, 31, an engineer by profession.
They got married last week in Islamabad and had arrived in
Hunza. The couple was living in a hotel in Karimabad. On
Friday night the couple went to sleep in their room while turning
the gas heater on. On Saturday morning, the couple was found
dead in their room.
Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2018
Particulate Matter: Tiny finely divided droplets or particles of
solids or liquid that remain suspended in the atmosphere, are
called Particulate Matter (PM).
PM is a complex mixture of different chemical and physical
characteristics. So, it causes different effects on human health
including cancer and other toxic effects.
Currently, PM are classified into 3 groups, due to health effects
associated with the particle size.
1. Coarse Particles: PM of > 2.5 µm in aerodynamic diameter
2. Fine Particles: PM of < 2.5 µm in aerodynamic diameter
3. Ultra-fine Particles: PM of < 0.1 µm in aerodynamic diameter
Finer particles
have greater
impact on
human health
compared to
larger
particles
In 1987, USEPA promulgated standards for PM10
In 1997, a Standard for PM2.5 was added since the fine particles are
rather more dangerous than larger ones.
Coarse particles are mainly emitted by
 Mechanical break-up of large solid particles,
 Fugitive dust form roads and highways,
 Industrial activities such as, grinding, mixing, milling etc.,
 earth’s crustal materials such as wind-blown dust from
agricultural process,
 uncovered soil, unpaved roads,
 non-combustible materials in combustion process such as fly
ash.
WHO report 2015 listed 1,600 cities in 91 countries and ranked them
according to the levels of PM10 and PM2.5.
Delhi has the highest level of the airborne PM2.5 with 153 µg/m3. WHO
guideline is 25 µg/m3.
13 of the top 20 cities were in India, 3 cities (Karachi, Peshawar,
Rawalpindi) were from Pakistan, One city each from Iran, Qatar, Turkey
and Bangladesh.
No Chinese city was ranked in top 20 most polluted cities, despite thick,
gray smog filling its cities and millions of residents were commuting behind
surgical masks few years back.
Development of environmental laws, their promulgation and enforcement
improved substantially the quality of Chinese atmosphere.
Beijing reported 56 µg/m3 of PM2.5.
Human Exposure Pathways:
----- Inhalation of lead containing air
----- Ingestion of food, beverages and water
 

 Dust in homes with paint containing lead

 Dust in the vicinity of smelters, paint industry,
 Dust in the vicinity of battery recycling sites
 Tap water with leaded pipes
 Products containing lead such as
 cosmetics,
 surma,
 some lipsticks,
 traditional medicines,
 toys and trinkets,
 spices,
 food colors,
Sulfur Oxides and Nitrogen Oxides: These two gases in air are
mainly responsible for Acid Rain.
Naturally rain is slightly acidic. Its pH is 5.6. However, SOx and
NOx make the rain more acidic, that is, they decrease the pH of
rain.
SOx combines with moisture of air and form Sulphuric Acid and
NOx combines with moisture of air and form Nitric Acid and
make the rain more acidic.
Acid Rain has been one of the worst air pollutants in many part
of the world, which was mainly due to the use of high sulfur fossil
fuel. Developed countries has almost removed sulfur from their
fuel. But developing countries are struggling to remove it.