ENVIRONMENTAL

SCIENCE
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
a) Water Pollution: Introduction – Water Quality Standards, Sources of Water Pollution, Classification
of water pollutants, Effects of water pollutants

b) Air Pollution: Composition of air, Structure of atmosphere, Ambient Air Quality Standards,
Classification of air pollutants, Sources of common air pollutants like PM, SO2, NOX, Auto exhaust,
Effects of common air pollutants

c) Noise Pollution: Introduction, Sound and Noise, Noise measurements, Causes and Effects
d) Solid Waste: Generation and management
e) Bio-medical Waste: Generation and management
f) E-waste: Generation and management

Lecture 7 Dr. Hemanta Medhi

Air Pollution
Oxygen is of utmost importance for survival
Presence of unwanted and undesirable foreign particles and gases
Mostly due to industrialization, urbanization, overpopulation
Composition of Atmospheric Air
Atmospheric air is a mixer of various gases, water vapour, and fine particulate matters.
Major gases; Minor gases and Trace gases
 Structure of Atmosphere
On the basis of altitude and temperature change, the atmosphere can be divided as:

1. Troposphere:
 Negative Lapse rate = -6.5 degree C/km
 Extends upto about 8-16 km

2. Stratosphere
Temperature increases with altitude
high ozone concentration

3. Mesosphere
Temperature decreases
Low ozone concentration

4. Thermosphere
Temperature raises in this layer
Ionization of elements like oxygen and
nitric oxide take place

5. Exosphere
Extends upto 1600 km
Very high temperature
Ambient Air Quality Standards
Ambient Air Quality Standards
 Classification of Air Pollution
1. As per origin of pollutants
 Primary air pollutants (oxides of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur, hydrocarbons and
particulate matter which includesmoke, dust, fumes etc)
 Secondary air pollutants (aldehydes, ketones peroxyacyl nitrate (PAN), ozone, sulphur
trioxide)

2. As per the state of matter

 Gaseous air pollutants (CO, CO2, NO2, SO2)
 Particulate air pollutants (dispersed air borne solid and liquid particles remain for a very
long time in suspension)
1. Dust
2. Mist
3. Fumes
4. Smoke
5. Aerosols
6. Fog
7. Flyash
8. Soot
9. Photochemcal smog

3. As per the presence in environment

 Indoor air pollutants (Cleaning agents, paints)
 Outdoor air pollutants (Automobile, Industrial pollutants)