UNIT II

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

AIR POLLUTION
 Learning Objective

This lecture will help you understand

What is environmental pollution
Classification of air pollutants
Sources of air pollution
Effects of air pollution
Control of air pollution
Reduction of air pollution at source
 Environmental Pollution

Any undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological

characteristics of any component of the environment which can cause
harmful effects on various forms of life or property
 Atmospheric Chemistry

The atmospheres innermost layer consist mostly of nitrogen and

oxygen.
Atmosphere is divided into several spherical layers, each one is
characterized by abrupt changes in temperature as a result of
differences in the absorption of incoming solar energy.
About 75-80% of the earths air mass is found in the troposphere, the
atmospheric layer closest to the earths surface.
This layer extends only 17 km above sea level at the equator and 8 km
over the poles.
Atmospheric Chemistry
 Chemical composition of the atmosphere

Nitrogen 78%
Oxygen 21 %
Water vapour 0.01 -0.4 %
Carbon dioxide 0.038 %
Argon < 1%
Other gases Trace amounts
Stratosphere:
The atmospheres second layer is the stratosphere, which extends 17-
48 km above the earths surface.
Ozone in the atmospheres second layer filters out most of the suns
UV radiation that is harmful to us and most species.
Stratospheric ozone is produced when oxygen molecules interact with
UV radiation emitted by the sun.
3O2 + UV 2O3
This global sunscreen of ozone prevents 95% of the suns harmful
UV radiation from reaching the earths surface.
 The UV filter of ozone in the lower stratosphere allows us and other
forms of life to exist on land and help protect us from sunburn, skin
and eye cancer, cataracts and damage to our immune systems.
 Air pollution

Air pollution is an atmospheric condition in which certain

substances are present in concentrations which can cause undesirable
effects on man and his environment.
Gaseous pollutants include oxides of sulphur, oxides of nitrogen,
carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds etc.
Particulate pollutants include smoke, dust, soot, fumes, aerosols,
liquid droplets etc.
Radioactive pollutants include radon-222, iodine- 131,
strontium-90 etc.
 Types of air pollution

Outdoor air pollutants come mostly from natural sources and burning
fossil fuels in motor vehicles and power and industrial plants.
Indoor air pollutants come from infiltration of polluted outdoor air and
chemicals used or produced inside buildings.
 Classification of air pollutants

Air pollutants may occur in gaseous or particulate form and may be

organic or inorganic in nature.
On the basis of origin of pollutants they can be classified as
Primary pollutants: These are emitted directly from an identifiable
source eg: CO, oxides of nitrogen, oxides of sulphur, hydrocarbons,
radioactive substances
Secondary pollutants: These are formed by interaction of primary
pollutant with other primary pollutant or with some natural
constituent of atmosphere. Eg: ozone, peroxyacetyl nitrate,
photochemical smog etc.
 Types, sources and effects of major outdoor
air pollutants
Carbon monoxide (CO):
Odorless, colorless, poisonous gas
Created by incomplete combustion
Major human sources:
Cigarette smoking, incomplete burning of fossil fuels.
Health effects:
Reacts with hemoglobin in red blood cells and reduces the ability of
blood to bring oxygen to body cells and tissues.
This impairs perception and thinking, slows reflexes, causes
headaches, drowsiness, dizzines and nausea; can trigger heart attacks,
damages the development of fetuses and young children.
At high temperature, it causes collapse, coma, irreversible brain cell
damage and death.
Nitrogen dioxide:
Reddish brown irritating gas that gives photochemical smog its
browish color; in the atmosphere can be converted to nitric acid, a
major component of acid deposition.
Major human sources:
Fossil fuel burning in motor vehicles (49%) and power and industrial
plants.
Health effects:
Lung irritation and damage; aggravates asthma and chronic bronchitis;
increases susceptibility to respiratory infections such as flu and
common colds
Environmental effects:
Reduces visibility; acid deposition of nitric acid can damage trees,
soils and aquatic life in lakes.
Property damage:
Nitric acid can corrode metals and eat away stone on buildings,
statues, and monuments; nitrogen dioxide can damage fabrics.
Sulfur dioxide:
Colorless, irritating
Forms mostly from the combustion of sulfur contains fossil fuels such
as coal and oil;
In the atmosphere can be converted to sulfuric acid, a major
component of acid deposition.
Major human sources:
Coal burning in power plants (88%) and industrial processes.
Health effects:
Breathing problems for healthy people; restriction of airways in
people with asthma.
Environmental effects:
Reduces visibility; acid deposition of sulfuric acid can damage trees,
soils and aquatic life in lakes.
Property damage:
Sulfur dioxide and sulfuric acid can corrode metals and eat away stone
on buildings, statues, and monuments;
Sulfur dioxide can damage paint, paper and leather.
Suspended particulate matter: (SPM)
Variety of particles and droplets, small and light enough to remain
suspended in atmosphere for short periods to long periods cause
smoke, dust and haze.
Major human sources:
Burning coal in power and industrial plants (40%), burning diesel and
other fuels in vehicles (17%), agriculture, unpaved roads,
construction.
Health effects:
Nose and throat irritation, lung damage;
Shortens life;
Toxic particulates can cause mutations, reproductive problems,
cancer.
Environmental effects:
Reduces visibility.
Property damage:
Corrode metal;
Soils and discolors buildings, clothes, fabrics, and paints.
Ozone:
Highly reactive, irritating gas with and unpleasant odor that forms in
the troposphere as a major component of photochemical smog.
Major human sources:
Chemical reaction with volatile organic compounds and nitrogen
oxides to form photochemical smog.
Health effects:
Breathing problems; coughing; eye, nose and throat irritation;
Aggravates chronic diseases such as asthma, and heart disease;
Reduces resistance to colds and pneumonia.
Environmental effects:
Ozone can damage plants and trees;
Smog can reduce visibility.
Property damage:
Damages rubber, fabrics, and paints.
Lead:
Solid toxic metal and its compounds;
Emitted into the atmosphere as particulate matter.
Major human sources:
Paint, smelters (metal refineries), lead manufacture, storage
batteries, leaded gasoline.
Health effects:
Accumulates in the body; brain and other nervous system damage and
mental retardation.
Digestive problem
Some lead containing chemicals cause cancer in test animals.
Environmental effects:
Can harm wildlife
Carbon monoxide (CO)
Odorless, colorless, poisonous gas
Created by incomplete combustion
Generates headaches, drowsiness,fatigue, can result in death
Oxides of nitrogen (NOx, NO)
Emitted directly by autos, industry
Sulfur oxides (SOx)
SO2 - sulfur dioxide
Produced largely through coal burning
Responsible for acid rain problem
Particulate matter (dust, ash, salt particles)
Bad for lungs
Ozone O3
colorless gas
has a sweet smell
Shortness of breath.
Chest pain when inhaling deeply.
Wheezing and coughing.
Long-term, repeated exposure - large reductions in lung function,
inflammation of the lung lining, and increased respiratory
discomfort.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Solvents, i.e. degreasing, dry cleaning
Primary source: automobiles
Can cause smog, toxic to plants & animals
Photochemical Smog
This forms when sunlight hits various pollutants in the air and forms a mix
of detrimental chemicals that can be very dangerous.
A photochemical smog is the chemical reaction of sunlight, nitrogen oxides
(NOx) and volatile organic compounds(VOCs) in the atmosphere, which
leaves airborne particles
 Sources of Air Pollutants

Natural sources: volcanic eruptions, forest fires, sea salt

sprays, biological decay, pollen grain of flowers, spores etc.
Radio active minerals present in the earth crust are the sources
of radioactivity in the atmosphere.
Man made: Thermal power plants, industrial units, vehicular
emissions, fossil fuel burning, agricultural activities etc.
The major pollutants emitted in thermal power plant are fly
ash and SO2.
Fertilizer plants, smelters, textile mills, tanneries, refineries,
chemical industries, paper and pulp mill Other sources.
Automobile exhaust is another major source.
 Indoor air pollution

Important indoor air pollutant is radon gas.

Responsible for large number of lung cancer deaths.
Can be emitted from building materials like brick, concrete,
tiles etc. which are derived from soil containing radium.
Also present in groundwater
Incomplete combustion of fuel CO.
Coal contains varying amounts of sulphur which on burning
produces sulphur dioxide.
Fossil fuel burning produces black soot.
 Effects of Air pollution

Effects on human health:

Carbon Monoxide is inhaled and
enters the blood stream where it
binds chemically to hemoglobin.
Hemoglobin carries oxygen to the
cells, but when CO binds to it,
hemoglobin is unable to bind with
oxygen, thereby reducing the
amount of oxygen delivered to all
tissues of the body.
This causes suffocation. Long
time exposure cause dizziness,
unconsciousness and even death.
 High concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO2) can result in
breathing problems. Short-term exposure has been linked to
wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath.
Like carbon monoxide, nitric oxide (NO) reduces the bloods
oxygen carrying capacity. NO2 reduces visibility, when
combined with water .
Asbestos, Beryllium, Mercury, Arsenic and radioactive
substances cause lung diseases and affect other vital organs
like kidney, liver, brain and some may also cause cancer.
Effects on plants:
Interferes with photosynthesis, Carbohydrate production
Damage to leaf tissue, needles and fruit
Reduction in growth rate or suppression of growth
Increased susceptibility to disease, pests, and adverse weather
It reduces crop yields and makes fruit smaller, lighter and less nutritious
Damage to leaf structure causes necrosis (dead areas), chlorosis, epinasty
(downward curling) and abscission (dropping of leaves).
Effect on aquatic life:
Air pollutants mixing up with rain can cause high acidity in
fresh water lakes.
Affects aquatic life especially fish.
Effects on materials:
Damages building materials (NO2,CO,SO2& aerosols)
Discoloration of paints (SO2 & H2S)
Corrosion ,tarnishing and strength loss in metals
(NO2,SO2,Acid & gases)
Embrittlement & discoloration of papers (SO2 ,acids & gases)
Cracking & strength loss of rubber & leather (O3 & oxidants)
 Control of Air pollution

Minimize activities which cause pollution like transportation

and energy production.
Modification of process and equipments.
Use of appropriate material.
Using low sulphur coal in industries.
Removing sulphur from coal.
Shifting to less polluting fuels.
Using non conventional sources of energy.
Using biological filters and bio-scrubbers.
Planting more trees
Reduction of pollution at source.
 Reduction of air pollution at source

Gaseous pollutants:
Reduced by physical adsorption on porous solid materials like
activated charcoal, silica gel etc.
Effluent gases can be absorbed in liquid absorbents, eg: SO2
absorbed in ammonia solution.
Combustion can be used to reduce pollution by burning the
pollutant in combustion equipment at optimal conditions of
oxygen and temperature.
 Particulate matter: Cyclones, Bag house filter, wet scrubbers,
electrostatic precipitators.
Cyclone Separators
The dust-laden gas is allowed to enter tangentially in the inlet.
A centrifugal force is generated by spinning the gas stream
This force throws the particulates on the walls of cyclone
which separates the particulate matter from the laden gas
The clean air goes upward and the dust particles are collected
at the bottom of the hopper.
10 micron size particle can be removed
Fabric / Bag filters
The bag houses consist of a group of bag filters suspended
from an overhead support
The gas stream is allowed to pass through the bags
The dust particles are trapped at the fabric surface and the
clean air is collected at the top.
The accumulated dust particles are collected at the bottom of
the bag house.
It removes particles as small as 0.1 micro meter
The bags are cleaned either by mechanical shakers or by
reverse air
Wet Scrubber
Wet precipitation is the basic principle
The air stream with particles is introduced at the bottom
Clean gas flows upward
Water is sprayed at the top by means of spray nozzles
The particulates are entrapped by the water and is collected at
the bottom
Particles of size 5 to 10 micro meter can be removed
Electrostatic precipitators:
Remove fine dust particles based on electrostatic principle
Dust gas sent between electrodes
Electric charge is imparted on particles
High voltage electric field ionizes the gas molecules in the air
& makes the particulate matter with negative charge
Negatively charged particles are attracted by the positively
charged electrode
Finally settled down at the bottom of ESP
Method is used to collect sub micron particles.
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