What is Air Pollution?

Air pollution is caused by the presence of pollutatns in the air

There are several main cause of air pollution which are commonly
discussed. These include:
a) dust

b) carbon monoxide
c) CFC
d) lead

There are many effect of air pollution such as:

a) haze
b) acid rain
c) Greenhouse effect/global warming
d) Lung cancer
e) allergy
f) respiratory diseases
 Outdoor Air Pollution

Haze
Haze is a type of large-scale outdoor pollution. It is caused by chemical
reactions between pollutants derived from different sources. Cities are often
centers of these types of activities

The rate of smog pollution depends on the following variables:

a) geographical location,
b) temperature,
c) wind,
d) weather factors.
However, sometimes this does not happen and the pollution can build up to
dangerous levels too.
Acid rain
Another consequence of outdoor air pollution is acid rain.

When a pollutant, such as sulfuric acid combines with droplets of water

in the air, the water (or snow) can become acidified .

The effects of acid rain on the environment can be very serious. It

damages plants by destroying their leaves, it poisons the soil, and it
changes the chemistry of lakes and streams.

Damage due to acid rain kills trees and harms animals, fish, and other
wildlife.
Greenhouse Effect

The Greenhouse Effect, also referred to as global warming, is

generally believed to come from the build up of carbon dioxide gas in
the atmosphere.

Carbon dioxide is produced when fuels are burned. Plants convert

carbon dioxide back to oxygen, but the release of carbon dioxide from
human activities is higher than the world's plants can process.

The situation is made worse since many of the earth's forests are being
removed, and plant life is being damaged by acid rain

The layer traps heat close to the surface of our earth. Changes of even
a few degrees will affect us all through changes in the climate and even
the possibility that the polar ice caps may melt
 WATER POLLUTION

Water pollution is caused by domestic

wastes, and agriculture wastes that are
discharged directly to the river.
 Sources of water pollution

(a) Discharge of untreated sewage and

domestic waste into river
(b) Discharge of industrial waste
(c) Discharge of industrial waste
(d) Oil spillage
 EUTROPHICATION

Eutrophication occurs as a result of

abundant supply of fertilisers or sewage, in
lakes, ponds and river.

Fertilisers and sewage contain high

supply of phosphates and nitrates.
 Phosphates and nitrate, promote rapid
growth of algae. This phenomenon we call
as eutrophication.
 Effect of Eutrofication

When the algae grow rapidly, cover up

the surface of river, ponds or lake, it
prevents the sunlight from reaching the
plants in the lower depths of the water.
As a result the plant die
 The aerobic bacteria will decompose the
dead plants and increase the usage of
oxygen in the water.
This will increases the B.O.D (Biochemical
Oxygen Demand) of the water.
 Biochemical Oxygen Demand (B.O.D)

B.O.D is the amount of oxygen taken

up by the microorganism that decompose
the organic waste matter in water

B.O.D high- water is more polluted

B.O.D low- water is less polluted.
 Thermal Pollution

Thermal pollution is a harmful increase

or decrease in the average temperature of a
body of water caused by human activity.
It is the result of excess heat that is
released into the water or air.
 Causes of Thermal Pollution

Use of water as a cooling agent

Deforestation of shorelines
Soil erosion
Burning of fossil fuels
 Use of Water as a Cooling Agent

When water is used as a cooling agent,

especially in power plants and industries,
the water that is taken from the environment
is usually returned at a higher temperature.

This causes the water in the particular

environment to have a higher temperature
than before.
 Deforestation

The deforestation of shorelines causes the

land around the shorelines to lack trees and
plants that provide shade for the water.

As a result, the water is exposed to direct

sunlight and is warmed up to around 10C.
 Soil Erosion

Soil erosion causes the water to be muddy

and contain mud suspensions. It causes the
water to be darker in colour and will trap
more heat than clear water which can
reflect heat off its surface.
 Burning of Fossil Fuels

The burning of fossil fuels produces heat in

excess which will increase the temperature
of the water that is near the area of where
the heat is produced.
 Effects of Thermal Pollution

Decrease in oxygen content in the water

Killing of organisms in the water
Disruption of the food chain
Sensitivity of organisms
 Decrease in Oxygen Content in the Water

The decrease in O2 solubility in the water

causes the organisms in water that depend
on oxygen to suffer from a lack of O2 that
will interfere in their natural processes.
It may include changes in metabolic rates
and processes and also changes in the
reproductive processes of organisms in the
water as well as immunity to diseases.
 Killing of Organisms in the Water

Because of the sudden change in

temperature, organisms living in the water
may not be able to adapt to the changes in
the temperature and will die gradually or
immediately.
 Disruption in the Food Chain

Because of the sudden deaths in the

aquatic ecosystem, the food chain is
disrupted because there are many deaths at
all levels of the food chain.
This will cause some of the organisms to
not be able to find food to keep them alive.
It may also change the composition of the
ecosystem
 Disruption in the Food Chain (2)

The metabolic rate of organisms also rises

with increasing water temperatures,
resulting in even greater oxygen demand.
The life cycles of aquatic insects tend to
speed up in warm water. Animals that feed
on these insects can be negatively affected,
particularly birds that depend on insects
emerging at key periods during their
migratory flights.
 Sensitivity of Organisms

Because of the increase of heat, certain

plants may be more sensitive to toxic
wastes, parasites and diseases. This
causes them to die easily because they
cannot resist the effects of foreign
substances on their bodies.
 Solutions

Controlling the amount of water used as

coolants
Replanting the forest areas
Cooling water before returning it to the
environment
Using other sources of water
 Controlling the Amount of Water Used as
Coolants

By controlling the amount of water used as

coolant, we are reducing the impact of the
excess heat from the water cooling process
in industries to the environment.
The less heat is released back to the
environment, the less the effect will be.
 Replanting Forest Areas

By replanting the forest areas, the function

of the forest as a shade for the water will be
restored.
This will result in a lower amount of heat
being absorbed by the water and lower the
effects of thermal pollution.
 Cooling Water

By cooling water in cooling towers, the heat

from the water used to cool the products in
the industry will be removed or lessened
before the water is returned to the
environment. This will lower the effects of
thermal pollution of the water.
 Using Other Sources of Water

By using other available sources of water

like contaminated water that is of no use to
human life or the environment, the amount
of water taken from rivers and seas is
reduced. This will reduce the effect of
thermal pollution on the rivers and seas.
Some pictures showing the concept of
greenhouse effect
 This Is a real,
modern greenhouse
in RHS WISLEY
 THINNING
OF
OZONE
LAYER
By RAJ Corporation
 OZONE

Oxygen
Oxygen

Oxygen

Ozone O3
O O2 O3
 OZONE LAYER
The ozone layer is a layer in Earth's atmosphere
which contains relatively high concentrations of
ozone (O3).
This layer absorbs 93-99% of the sun's high
frequency ultraviolet light, and prevent them
from reaching the Earths surface.
It is mainly located in the lower portion of the
stratosphere from approximately 10 km to 50
km above Earth's surface.
 The stratosphere is the
second major layer of Earth's
atmosphere, just above the
troposphere, and below the
mesosphere.
The stratosphere is situated
between about 10 km
(6 miles) and 50 km
(31 miles) altitude above the
surface at moderate
latitudes, while at the poles it
starts at about 8 km (5 miles)
altitude.

view of stratosphere from airplane

 DEPLETION OF OZONE
Today, the ozone layer is becoming thinner because
of the destruction of the ozone gas.
The depletion of ozone is caused by the increasing
use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) which can break
down and destroy ozone molecules into other
elements.
Chrolofluorocarbon are widely used as a cooling
agent in refrigerators and air conditioners, in aerosol
sprays, polystyrene food container, and rubber
foams for making cushions, pillows, and mattresses.
Other pollutants such as halons, chlorine and
nitrogen oxides can also destroy the ozone.
 THE PROCESS OF OZONE
DEPLETION BY CFC

O The highly reactive chlorine atom that

O released will destroys the ozone by
reacting with the ozone to produce
Fluorine O Cl
Cl O chlorine monoxide and oxygen molecules
Free oxygen atom

Carbon
Cl
O O O
Chlorine Monoxide
Cl
ClChlorine

O
Ultraviolet radiation reacts with CFC OFree oxygen atoms in the atmosphere will break
by breaking the chlorine atom bond in the chlorine monoxide bond.As a result, a
Oxygen
the CFC chlorine atom is released and this chlorine atom
Ultraviolet Rays
can destroy more ozone molecules
 EFFECT OF OZONE
DEPLETION
On The Increase the temperature of the environment.
Changes in climate and weather patterns.
Environment Changes in wind direction.

The rate of photosynthesis decreases.

On Plants Disturbs ecological balance by destroying
aquatic organisms such as planktons.

On Human Cause skin cancer.

Damages eyesight and causes cataract.
Health Weakens the human immune system
 An increase of UV radiation would be expected
to affect crops. A number of economically
important species of plants, such as rice,
depend on cyanobacteria residing on their roots
for the retention of nitrogen. Cyanobacteria are
sensitive to UV light and they would be affected
by its increase.

It was found that the depletion

of the ozone layer occurred
over both the Artic and Antartic,
creating ozone holes. The ozone
hole in Antartic is found to be as
big as the continent of U.S.A.
ULTRAVIOLET RAYS