Types of SMOG

BS-SS-09

Fall-2022

Dr. Mujtaba Hassan

Assistant Professor

Department of Space Science IST,

Islamabad
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Smog is air pollution that reduces visibility. The term "smog" was first used in
the early 1900s to describe a mix of smoke and fog.
Today, most of the smog we see is photochemical smog.

Photochemical smog is produced when sunlight reacts with nitrogen oxides and

at least one volatile organic compound (VOC) in the atmosphere.

Nitrogen oxides come from car exhaust, coal power plants, and factory
emissions.

VOCs are released from gasoline, paints, and many cleaning solvents. When
sunlight hits these chemicals, they form airborne particles and ground-
level ozone—or smog.
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Ozone can be helpful or harmful. The ozone layer high up in the

atmosphere protects us from the sun’s dangerous ultraviolet
radiation.

But when ozone is close to the ground, it is bad for human health.

Ozone can damage lung tissue, and it is especially dangerous to

people with respiratory illnesses like asthma. Ozone can also
cause itchy, burning eyes.
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 Photochemical SMOG

To begin the chemical process of photochemical smog

development the following conditions must occur:

– Sunlight.

– The production of oxides of nitrogen (NOx).

– The production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

– Temperatures greater than 18 degrees Celsius.

If the above criteria are met, several reactions will occur

producing the toxic chemical constituents of photochemical
smog.
Photochemical SMOG
M is any non-reactive species that can take up the
energy released in reaction
RO2: organic peroxy radicals
 Classical SMOG
The typical London smog results from the accumulation of smoke from
coal burning, which has a high sulfur content.

It leads to the production of high concentrations of sulfuric acid in fog

droplets. These acidic particles, along with high densities of smoke,
inhibit the normal functioning of the lungs and can cause death.

Hydroxide is a diatomic anion with chemical formula OH−.

hydrogen sulfite is the ion HSO3
Sulfur trioxide (SO3) is generally a colorless liquid