Air Pollution

Why Air Pollution?

• Main cause: Combustion
Fuel (C,H,S,N,Pb,Hg,ash) + Air (N2 + O2)
CO2, CO, NOx, SOx, Pb, Hg, SPM,
RSPM(PM10, PM2.5), VOCs
Coal: 600 MT
Crude Oil based products: 135 MT
Natural gas: 35 NBCM
Biomass: 400-500 MT
(NOX,SPM/RSPM)
 Why Air Pollution contd..
Usage/handling of Chemicals: paint,
varnishes, perfumes, CFCs, petrol
pumps, etc.

Cement handling, insulation on winding

of motors/alternators/transformers
 Sources of Air Pollution
Why Air Quality?
1.Point source
Stacks of thermal power stations, brick kilns, lime kilns, boilers etc.

2. Area source
Cluster of point sources, spill of chemicals, crude/product spills in ocean etc.

3. Line source
Car, scooter, train, aircraft: white line in sky behind a jet plane-linear contrails?
 Combustion processes
1. Electricity generation
Capacity: 2,75,912 MW

2. Transport : 18 % of total energy

Liquid fuels : 97.5% of total in sector
(petroleum products)

Electricity : 1.0% of total in sector

3. Industry : coal, petroleum products, electricity

4. Domestic sector : biomass, petroleum products, electricity
5. Agriculture : electricity, petroleum products
 Total Installed Capacity: as on 31.07.2016)

Fuel MW %age
Total Thermal 1,91,664 69.5
Coal 167,708 60.8

Sector Gas MW
22,962 %age8.3
State Sector Oil 96,015
994 34.80.4
Central Sector 73,671 26.7
Hydro 41,997 15.2
Private Sector 1,06,226 38.5
Nuclear 5,780 2.1
Total 2,75,912
RES 36,471 13.2
Total 2,75,912
 Type of Pollutants
Why Air Quality?
1. Primary pollutants
pollutants which are being emitted into the air directly by point/area/line
sources.
Examples: CO, NOx, SOx, Pb, Hg, As, SPM, RSPM (PM10& PM2.5), VOCs

2. Secondary pollutants
pollutants which are getting formed from primary pollutants in the
atmosphere. Some of the reactions are catalyzed by sun light.
Examples: acid rains, smog, O3, H2O2, formaldehyde,
peroxy acetyl nitrate (PAN)
 Agencies responsible for monitoring
state of air pollution in India
The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution)
Act, 1981

Centre-Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change

Central pollution control board (CPCB)

State pollution control boards (SPCB)/committees

National Green Tribunal (NGT)- Independent body

Set procedure : ambient air, industry wise norms

FIR against the firm/sealing of the industry
 National Ambient
Air Quality
Standards
(NAAQS)
in India, 1994

Environmentally
Sensitive areas (ESA):
landscape, wild life &
historical importance

Now industrial,
residential, rural and
other areas have been
merged

* annual mean of 104 measurements in a year

** 24/8 h values should be met 98% of time in a year
NATIONAL AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS:2009

18.11.2009
 Particulate Matter
Suspended Particulate Matter
Fine Particulate Matter
 What is Particulate Matter?
• Particulate matter, or PM, is the term for particles
found in the air, including dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and
liquid droplets.
• These small particles can remain suspended in the
air for long periods of time.
• Some particles are large or dark enough to be seen
as soot or smoke. Others are so small that
individually they can only be detected with an electron
microscope.
 Types of Fine Particulate Matter
• Primary Particles
– These particles are emitted directly from air pollution sources such as
power plants, factories, automobile exhaust, construction sites,
unpaved roads, wood burning etc.

• Secondary Particles
– Formed in the atmosphere indirectly when gases from burning fuels
react with sunlight and water vapor and are chemically transformed into
particles, secondary pollutants: solid/liquid
 What are PM10 and PM2.5 ?
PM10 is used to describe particles of 10 micrometers or less
and PM2.5 represents particles of 2.5 micrometers or less
in aerodynamic diameter
Hair cross section (70
μm)

Human Hair (70 µm diameter) PM10 PM2.5

(10µm) (2.5 µm)
Sources of Particulate Matter PM10
and PM2.5
India
 Indian Emission Standards (4-Wheeled Vehicles)
Standard Reference Date Region

India 2000 Euro 1 2000 Nationwide

Bharat Stage II Euro 2 2001 NCR*, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai
2003.04 NCR*, 10 Cities†
2005.04 Nationwide
Bharat Stage III Euro 3 2005.04 NCR*, 10 Cities†
2010.04 Nationwide
Bharat Stage IV Euro 4 2010.04 NCR*, 10 Cities†
* National Capital Region (Delhi)

† Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad,

Ahmedabad, Pune, Surat, Kanpur and Agra
Emission norms (PM) for Heavy Diesel Vehicles
Norms CO( g/km) HC (g/km) NOx (g/km) PM(g/km)

1991Norms 14 3.5 18

1996 Norms 11.2 2.4 14.4

India stage 4.5 1.1 8.0 0.36

2000 norms

Bharat
4.0 1.1 7.0 0.15
stage-II

Bharat
2.1 1.6 5.0 0.10
Stage-III

Bharat
1.5 0.96 3.5 0.02
Stage-IV

Entry fee for commercial vehicles and non-registration of SUVs of 2000 CC + in Delhi
TREND OF PM10 LEVELS IN DELHI
Reason: CNG
40
20
Health Effects of Particulate Matter
• Impact depends on particle size, shape
and composition
• Large particles trapped in nose
• Particles >10 μm removed in
tracheobronchial system
• Particles <0.5 μm reach lungs but are
exhaled with air
• Particles 2 – 4 μm most effectively get
deposited in lungs
 Health Effects from Particulate Matter
• Many scientific studies have linked breathing PM to a
series of significant health problems, including:
– aggravated asthma
– increase in respiratory symptoms like coughing and difficult
or painful breathing
– chronic bronchitis
– decreased lung function
– premature death
 Other Effects of PM
• Visibility Impairment
– PM is the major cause of reduced visibility (haze).
• Aesthetic Damage
– Soot, a type of PM, stains and damages stone and other
materials, including objects such as monuments and statues.
• Plant Damage
– PM can form a film on plant leaves interfering with
photosynthesis and plant growth
 Particulate Matter and Taj
The deposition of
PM on the
shimmering
white marble of
the Taj Mahal
imparts yellow
tinge to the
marble surface
Determination of PM10 and PM2.5
as per BIS code 5182-2006
PM10/PM2.5 Calculations
 Carbon Monoxide
• Most abundant air
pollutant
• Produced by incomplete
combustion
– insufficient O2
– low temperature
– short residence time
– poor mixing
• Major source (~ 77%) is
motor vehicle exhaust
 TYPICAL LEVELS OF CO

Concentration Source
0.1 ppm Natural atmosphere level
0.5 to 5 ppm Average level in homes

5 to 15 ppm Near gas stoves in homes

Exhaust from automobiles with catalytic

100 to 200 ppm
converters

5,000 ppm Exhaust from a home wood fire

Undiluted warm car exhaust without

7,000 ppm
a catalytic converter
 Emission norms (CO) for Heavy Diesel
Vehicles
Norms CO( g/km) HC (g/km) NOx (g/km) PM(g/km)

1991Norms 14 3.5 18

1996 Norms 11.2 2.4 14.4

India stage 4.5 1.1 8.0 0.36

2000 norms
Bharat
4.0 1.1 7.0 0.15
stage-II
Bharat
2.1 1.6 5.0 0.10
Stage-III
Bharat
1.5 0.96 3.5 0.02
Stage-IV
 Sulfur Oxides (SOx)
• SO2, SO3, SO4-2 formed during combustion
of fuel containing sulfur
• H2S released is converted to SO2
• 10 Tg/yr natural sources
• 75 Tg/yr anthropogenic sources
 Sulfur Dioxide: Health Effects
• High concentrations of SO2 can result in
temporary breathing impairment.
• Longer-term exposures to high concentrations of
SO2, in conjunction with high levels of PM,
include respiratory illness, alterations in the
lungs' defenses, and aggravation of existing
cardiovascular disease
• Short-term exposures of asthmatic individuals to
elevated SO2 levels may result in reduced lung
function.
Sulfur Dioxide: Environmental Effects
• Acid Rain ● Decreased Visibility
 Europe

North America

East Asia

India
Trends of SO2 levels in World, China and India
In India increasing
 Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx)
• Primarily NO and NO2
• NO3, N2O, N2O3, N2O4, N2O5 are also
known to occur
• Thermal NOx created by oxidation of
atmospheric N2 when T > 1000 K
• Fuel NOx from oxidation of N in fuel
Emission norms (NOx) for Heavy Diesel Vehicles
Norms CO( g/km) HC (g/km) NOx (g/km) PM(g/km)

1991Norms 14 3.5 18

1996 Norms 11.2 2.4 14.4

India stage 4.5 1.1 8.0 0.36

2000 norms

Bharat
4.0 1.1 7.0 0.15
stage-II

Bharat
2.1 1.6 5.0 0.10
Stage-III

Bharat
1.5 0.96 3.5 0.02
Stage-IV
 Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx)

• NO has few health effects, but is oxidized

to NO2
• NO2 irritates lungs and promotes
respiratory infections
• NO2 reacts with hydrocarbons in presence
of sunlight to produce smog
• NO2 reacts with hydroxyl radicals to
produce nitric acid – acid precipitation
 Photochemical Smog
hydrocarbons + NOx + sunlight →
photochemical smog (oxidants)

– ozone (O3)
– formaldehyde
– peroxyacetyl
nitrate (PAN)
(lachrymatory substance)
 Sun Protection Factor
Sunscreens: 4, 8, 15, 30, 45

The SPF of a sunscreen indicates the time period you can stay in the sun without burning based on your skin complexion.

Recommended SPF

Skin Type 1 hr 2 hr 3 hr 4 hr 5+ hr

Very Fair /
15 30 30 45 45
Extremely Sensitive
Fair / Sensitive 15 15 30 30 45
Fair 15 15 15 30 30
Medium 8 8 15 15 30
Dark 4 8 8 15 15

Note: Reapply sunscreen often, especially after swimming or sweating.

 Photochemical Smog
N2+O2=2NO
2NO+O2= NO2
NO2+photon= NO+O – photolysis for λ < 0.39 µm
O2+O+M = O3+M M may be N2 or O2 which are in abundant
O3+NO=NO2+O2
Photochemical smog-concentration profiles
 Ozone: Health Effects Human
• Increased incidents of respiratory distress.
• Repeated exposures to ozone:
– Increased susceptibility to respiratory
infection
– Lung inflammation
– Aggravation of pre-existing respiratory
diseases such as asthma.
– Decrease in lung function and increased
respiratory symptoms such as chest pain and
cough.
 Ozone: Environmental Effects
• Ozone also affects
vegetation and ecosystems
– reductions in agricultural and
commercial forest yields
($0.5 billion/yr in US alone)
– reduced growth and
survivability of tree seedlings
– increased plant susceptibility
to disease, pests, and other
environmental stresses
(e.g., harsh weather).
 AIR QUALITY INDEX
Are we affected by poor Air Quality (AQ)?
• The very young ones are at risk
– Lungs are not fully developed
– Faster breathing rate: more air volume/body weight
• The very old ones are at risk
– Undiagnosed lung or heart diseases
– Pollution can exacerbate these conditions
• Persons with chronic illnesses: Respiratory, circulatory, or cardiac diseases
• Yes, EVERYONE!
• Even healthy persons can be affected
when they exercise outdoors, or if the
concentration of pollutants is very high
 How do we know if Air Quality is poor?
AQI is an overall scheme that transforms
individual air pollutant (e.g. SO2, CO, PM10)
levels into a single number, which is a simple
and lucid description of air quality for the
citizens.

AQI relates to health impacts and citizens can

avoid the unnecessary exposure to air
pollutants;

AQI indicates compliance with National

Ambient Air Quality Standards;

AQI prompts local authorities to take quick

actions to improve air quality;

AQI guides policy makers to take broad

decisions; and

AQI encourages citizens to participate in air

quality management.
 Pollutants considered for AQI and air quality
standards

Pollutant SO2 NO2 PM2.5 PM10 O3 CO (mg/m3) Pb NH3

Averaging time (hr) 24 24 24 24 1 8 1 8 24 24

Indian Standard (µg/m3) 80 80 60 100 180 100 4 2 1 400

Development of Aggregate AQI
 Sub-indices to AQI

AQI = Max [I1, I2,..,In]

Internationally Accepted
Scheme
Air Quality Index

AQI
 AQI categories and range

Good Satisfactory Moderate Poor Very poor Severe

(0-50) (51-100) (101-200) (201-300) (301-400) (> 401)

[Colour, Category, AQI Number]

AQI categories and breakpoint concentrations with averaging times
(µg/m3 unless mentioned otherwise)

*One hourly monitoring (for mathematical calculation only)

 AQI: Health impacts
AQI Possible Health Impacts

Good minimal impact

Satisfactory minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people

breathing discomfort to the people with lung disease such as asthma and
Moderate
discomfort to people with heart disease, children and older adults

breathing discomfort to people on prolonged exposure and discomfort to people with

Poor
heart disease with short exposure

respiratory illness to the people on prolonged exposure. Effect may be

Very Poor
more pronounced in people with lung and heart diseases

respiratory effects even on healthy people and serious health impacts on people with
Severe
lung/heart diseases

The higher the AQI, greater the air pollution and health concerns