Study on Air

Pollution
Air Pollution Control and Technology
by:

Uday Shankar Sahay

 Introduction
• Atmosphere: The composition (%) of fresh (pure) air by volume:
 Gaseous envelope surrounding a celestial body (earth)
Component Percent
 It consists of a mixture of gases (air): vital for the propagation of life processes
Nitrogen 20.946
• Atmospheric pollution:
The presence of substances in air in concentrations sufficient to cause harmful
Oxygen 78.084
effects on the health of animals & man, vegetation & property or to interfere with Argon 0.934
the enjoyment of life & property
 Pollution: means to make (air) impure or unwholesome Total 99.964
(Presence of dust, smoke, fumes, mist, odour or gases (including oxides of carbon,
Neon 0.0018
sulphur & nitrogen) in quantities or of a duration that unreasonably alters the average Helium 0.0005
(acceptable purity) condition of the atmosphere)
Krypton and methane 0.0001
Hydrogen and Nitrous oxide 0.00005
• The composition:
 Change of season,
 Altitude &
Xenon 0.000008
 Solar activity Variable components:
• Oxygen: highly reactive (oxidation) Vapour 0-5
 Exerts marked influence on various geochemical cycles Carbon dioxide 0.01-0.1 (average 0.032)
 Most of the atmospheric oxygen: photosynthesis & ultraviolet radioactivity
 Expired air: concentration reduced to 16.4%
Ozone 0-0.01
concentration of CO2 increased to 4.24% Sulphur dioxide 0-0.0001
concentration of other gases: unaltered
Classification of air pollutants
• There are many types of pollutants in the atmosphere Pollutants are classified in a number of ways to understand their effects on health
and ecology and to develop appropriate strategies to control them:
(1) Source of emission,
(2) Physio-chemical characteristics &
(3) Effects on life processes

Sources of air pollutants

Natural Man-Made
• Geochemical contamination, • Incineration: wood, coal, petroleum products,
• Photochemical reactions, • Industrial: oxides of sulphur & nitrogen, carbon monoxide, smoke, fly
• Change in climatic conditions, ash. metal fumes & fluorides into the atmosphere
• Volcanic eruptions, • Oil refineries
• Gaseous discharge from marshes & swamps, • Agricultural, textile, paper industries by products
• Forest fires • Dust particles: milling, crushing /grinding
• Dust, fog & radiation fall-outs • Drug wastes
• Microbial agents • Organic/inorganic vapours
Effects of pollutants
• Direct impact on animal and human health and the Non-irradiated pollutants (carbon monoxide) may not always be associated
biodiversity of the planet with obvious clinical symptoms.
• Toxic gases and substances in the atmosphere cause:
Air pollution from zinc and lead: significant deaths of cattle and horses in
• deformation, Germany, studies show

• Promotes aging, Arsenic: bloody diarrhea, vomiting and excessive thirst in animals
• Whitening of the leaves
Smog: Various respiratory problems in animals
• Necrosis in plants
Lead contamination: grinding of teeth and laryngeal paralysis (roaring) in
• Degree of damage: cattle
• Dosage of additives and
Fluorosis: Cattle and sheep reared near brick kilns and iron/steel aluminum
• Duration of exposure plants and ceramic plants Soil (0.1-1.0 g/kg) Water (25 mg/l in some parts of
India) Air (volcanic eruptions and soil dust particles) Conditions: Lameness,
• Loss of valuable plant materials, especially in industrial
stained teeth, brittle bones and reduced milk production in dairy cattle
areas
• Damage to physical structures, monuments and Metallic pollutants: Induce anaemia & emaciation in animals
buildings. For example: Damage to the Taj Mahal
Microbial air pollution
• In Humans:
• A sneeze can release up to 10,000-10,00,000 droplets
• Microbes isolated from animals and humans live in the
environment for different periods of time
• Some organisms may not live longer than a few minutes
(Leptospira in a dry atmosphere),
• Withstands adverse environmental conditions for up to
28 years (spores of Bacillus anthracis in the soil)
• Brussels sprouts can be kept in the ground for about a
month
• Exposure to sunlight destroys many environmental
microorganisms (Mycobacterium spp)
• Soil: Mycobacteria can live up to 6 months
• Various microbes are transported in the air
• Weather conditions (temperature, humidity, solar radiation)
• The amount of particulate and gaseous pollutants has a large effect on
differences in microbial load and type
• Most of the microflora in the atmosphere comes from the soil or the
mixing of animal/human activities in animal housing.
• Microbes are adsorbed on dust particles
• Long distances are transported in favorable weather conditions (high
wind speed), especially during disease outbreaks
• A large number of organisms (many of them pathogens) can be
transmitted through the air in an area.
• Animals with respiratory diseases release microorganisms when
sneezing and coughing
Measurement of air contamination
• The microbial load of moving air is determined to assess the level of contamination in a building or specific area
• Several techniques are used such as:
1. Sedimentation
2. Impaction
3. Impingement
4. Precipitation
5. Filtration
6. Sieve cascade sampler

Methods of air sampling

1. Sedimentation:
• Allow atmospheric air to settle on the surface of the agar plate for at least 10 minutes
• It prevents suspended particles from settling in the air
2. Impingement:
• A collection of atmospheric particles in a liquid medium
• Air is sucked through the glass instrument into the liquid at a specified rate
• Microbial load: determined by examining the liquid
Methods of air sampling
3. Impaction:
• Accumulation of atmospheric particles on the surface of a solid/semi-solid agar medium
• An air centrifuge is used
• Flow of air on the sides of a rotating cylinder covered with a medium
• Suitable for large particles
• For air quality testing, many prefer a more familiar device called an intermediate sampler
• Air is drawn through a slot on the rotating cultivation plate below the device
• Flow rate one cuft (28.3 cucm)/min
• The rotation speed is set to 0.5, 2 or 6 minutes/round

4. Filtration:
• Microorganisms are captured on a filter (cotton, glass wool or paper) or a membrane filter
• Membrane filter technology is preferred for this purpose
• Air is filtered through a membrane
• Particles (along with microbes) are absorbed on this membrane
• The membrane is then placed on paper saturated with the appropriate medium and incubated
Control of air pollution
• Minimize generation and release of pollutants near animals or human settlements
• Control of dust particles: improvement of hygienic conditions in houses
• Frequent washing of floors and equipment: control of dust in buildings
• Pollinators: used effectively
• Proper ventilation: quick removal of dirty gases and particulate emissions
• Filters can be installed to control the entry of external contaminants
• Use of laminar airflow system in closed rooms/stalls
• Allows air to flow unidirectionally through cellulose acetate filters
Thank You