Air Environment

Group 5
 Air is always around us, though we have never seen it
but always felt its presence. Air can be felt when the
leaves of the trees rustle and the clothes hanging on the
cloth wires swag. The pages of a book start fluttering
when the fan in the room is switched on. The wind makes
the kite fly. During storm the wind blows with high speed
which can also uproot trees and blow off rooftops. In
earlier times, air was thought to be one single substance
but now it is known that air is a mixture of many gases.
Oxygen and nitrogen are the significant components of
air that play an important role in the survival of life on
earth.
 Air
Air is the Earth's atmosphere. Air around us is a mixture
of many gases and dust particles. It is the clear gas in
which living things live and breathe. It has an indefinite
shape and volume. It has no colour or smell. It
has mass and weight. It is a matter as it has mass and
weight.
 Physical Characteristics of Air
• air is invisible

• air is odorless

• air takes up space

• air has weight or mass

 What is air usually made of?

78% Nitrogen
21% Oxygen
0.9% Argon
0.04% Carbon Dioxide
0.06% Other Gases
 Importance of Air

• Air is a essential supply of energy to all living being

• Air supports water cycle
• Air helps in pollination of crops
• Air maintains temperature on the earth surface
• Air helps in transport
• Wind power (electricity)
Air based on It’s Atmosphere
 Troposphere
The troposphere is the lowest portion of Earth's
atmosphere, and is also where all weather takes place. It
contains approximately 75% of
the atmosphere's mass and 99% of its water
vapor and aerosols. The chemical composition of the
troposphere is essentially uniform, with the notable
exception of water vapor.
 Stratosphere

Within this layer that the highest

concentrations of ozone molecules reside. In the
stratosphere, ozone molecules(three oxygen
atoms bonded together) that prevent some of the
Sun’s most intense rays from reaching the Earth’s
surface.
 Mesosphere
• The mesosphere is directly above the
stratosphere and below the thermosphere. It
extends from about 50 to 85 km (31 to 53 miles)
above our planet. Temperature decreases with
height throughout the mesosphere.
 Thermosphere
The thermosphere is the fourth layer of the earth's
atmosphere which lies directly above
the mesosphere (middle layer) and directly below
the exosphere (top layer). The name Thermosphere is
taken from the Greek word thermos which means
heat. There is an extremely low concentration of oxygen,
and gas particles are very thin and spread out over long
distances. Gases that do exist in the thermosphere are
mostly ionized, meaning the molecules of gases are
gaining or losing charged particles.
 Exosphere

The exosphere is the highest and top layer of the

Earth's atmosphere. It starts at 500 kilometers high and
marks the edge of space. There are very
few molecules in this layer. This means that it has the
lightest atmospheric gases such as hydrogen, helium,
carbon dioxide and atomic oxygen near the base of
exosphere. The air is less heavy there.
 Air Quality Index
An air quality index (AQI) is a number used
by government agencies to communicate to the public
how polluted the air currently is or how polluted it is
forecast to become. As the AQI increases, an increasingly
large percentage of the population is likely to experience
increasingly severe adverse health effects. Different
countries have their own air quality indices, corresponding
to different national air quality standards.
 Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999
The Philippines Clean Air Act of 1999 (Republic Act No. 8749) outlines
the government’s measures to reduce air pollution and incorporate
environmental protection into its development plans. It relies heavily on
the polluter pays principle and other market-based instruments to promote
self-regulation among the population. It sets emission standards for all
motor vehicles and issues pollutant limitations for industry. Emission limit
values are laid down by The Department of Environment and Natural
Resources, Philippines as ‘Implementing Rules and Regulations for
Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999’. These rules and regulations shall apply to
all industrial emissions and other establishments which are potential
sources of air pollution.
 What is Air Pollution?
Air pollution is the introduction of particulates, biological molecules, or
other harmful materials into Earth's atmosphere, causing diseases,
allergies, death to humans, damage to other living organisms such as
animals and food crops, or the natural or built environment. Air pollution
may come from anthropogenic or natural sources.
Anthropogenic factors constitute the primary deterministic causes of
species declines, endangerment and extinction: land development,
overexploitation, species translocations and introductions, and pollution.
The primary anthropogenic factors produce ecological and genetic effects
contributing to extinction risk.
 Where does pollution come from?
• There are four main types of air pollution sources:

• mobile sources – such as cars, buses, planes, trucks, and trains

• stationary sources – such as power plants, oil refineries, industrial facilities, and
factories
• area sources – such as agricultural areas, cities, and wood burning fireplaces
• natural sources – such as wind-blown dust, wildfires, and volcanoes
 What are Pollutants?

• A substance that pollutes something, Specially Water

or the atmosphere.
 Two types of pollutant

1.PRIMARY POLLUTANT is an air pollutant emitted directly from a source.

2.SECONDARY POLLUTANT is not directly emitted as such, but forms when

other pollutants (primary pollutants) react in the atmosphere.
 Primary Air pollutants

• VOcs (VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUND)

• CO (CARBON MONOXIDE)
• NOx (Nitrogen Dioxide)
• SO2 (Sulfur Dioxide)
• PM (Particulate Manner)
• Lead
 VOcs (VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUND)
- are organic compounds containing one or more carbon atoms that
have high vapour pressures and therefore evaporate readily to the
atmosphere.
• CO (CARBON MONOXIDE)

is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is slightly less dense than air. It is toxic
to hemoglobic animals (including humans) when encountered in concentrations above
about 35 ppm, although it is also produced in normal animal metabolism in low
quantities, and is thought to have some normal biological functions. In the atmosphere, it
is spatially variable and short lived, having a role in the formation of ground-level ozone.
 NOx (Nitrogen Dioxide)

is a generic term for the mono-nitrogen oxides NO and

NO2 (nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide). They are produced from
the reaction among nitrogen, oxygen and even
hydrocarbons (during combustion), especially at high
temperatures.
 SO2 (Sulfur Dioxide)

• Sulfur dioxide (also sulphur dioxide) is the chemical compound with the
formula SO
2. At standard atmosphere, it is a toxic gas with a pungent, irritating
smell. The triple point is 197.69 K and 1.67 kPa. It is released naturally
by volcanic activity.
• Sulfur dioxide was used by the Romans in winemaking when they
discovered that burning sulfur candles inside empty wine vessels kept
them fresh and free from vinegar smell.
 Atmospheric particulate matter
• also known as particulate matter (PM) or particulates – are microscopic
solid or liquid matter suspended in the Earth's atmosphere.

• The term aerosol commonly refers to the particulate/air mixture, as

opposed to the particulate matter alone.

• Sources of particulate matter can be man-made or natural. They have

impacts on climate and precipitation that adversely affect human health
• Best example for this is our hair and sand.
 Lead

• is a chemical element in the carbon group with

symbol Pb (from Latin: plumbum) and atomic number 82. It is a
soft,malleable and heavy post-transition metal. Freshly cut, solid lead has a
bluish-white color that soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed to
air; the liquid metal has shiny chrome-silver luster.

• If ingested or inhaled, lead and its compounds are poisonous to animals and
humans. Lead is a neurotoxin that accumulates both in soft tissues and the
bones, damaging the nervous system and causing brain disorders. Excessive
lead also causes blood disorders in mammals. Lead poisoning has been
documented since ancient Rome, ancient Greece, and ancient China.
 Secondary Pollutant
• NHO3 (nitric acid )

• H2SO2 (Sulfuric acid)

• O3 (Ozone)
 nitric acid (HNO3)

• A colorless, highly corrosive liquid that may give off suffocating brown fu
mes of nitrogen dioxide on exposure to air.Traces of nitric acid may be fou
nd in rainwater during a thunderstorm. Commercially prepared nitric
acid is a powerful
oxidizing agent used in photoengraving and metallurgy; in the manufactu
re of explosives, fertilizers, dyes, and drugs;
and occasionally as a cauterizing agent for the removal of warts.
• Historically known as aqua fortis which means “strong water”
 Sulfuric acid(H2SO2)

• Sulfuric acid is a diprotic acid and shows different properties depending upon
its concentration. Its corrosiveness on other materials, like metals, living
tissues or even stones, can be mainly ascribed to its strong acidic nature and, if
concentrated, strong dehydrating and oxidizing properties. Sulfuric acid at a
high concentration can cause very serious damage upon contact, since not only
does it cause chemical burns via hydrolysis, but also secondary thermal
burns through dehydration. It can lead to permanent blindness if splashed
onto eyes and irreversible damage if swallowed. Accordingly, safety precautions
should be strictly observed when handling it.
 Acid Deposition

• Combination of nitric acid (HNO3) and Sulfuric acid(H2SO2).

• acid deposition is a broad term that includes any form
of precipitation with acidic components, such as sulfuric or
nitric acid that fall to the ground from the atmosphere in wet or dry
forms. This can include rain, snow, fog, hail or even dust that is acidic.
• Acid deposition is a general name for a number of phenomena, namely
acid rain, acid fog and acid mist.
 O3 (Ozone)

• a colorless unstable toxic gas with a pungent odor and powerful

oxidizing properties, formed from oxygen by electrical
discharges or ultraviolet light. It differs from normal oxygen (O2)
in having three atoms in its molecule (O3).
• It can be produced through sun and Nitrogen dioxide. And if it is
combined to VOcs it will form Smog.
 Green house Effect

• the trapping of the sun's warmth in a planet's lower atmosphere due to

the greater transparency of the atmosphere to visible radiation from the
sun than to infrared radiation emitted from the planet's surface.
 Smog

• is a kind of air pollution, originally named for the mixture of smoke and
fog in the air. Classic smog results from large amounts of coal burning in
an area and is caused by a mixture of smoke and sulfur dioxide. In the
1950s a new type of smog, known as Photochemical Smog, was first
described.
Smog kills thousands in England - Dec 04, 1952
 Acid Fog
• Acid Fog or The Veil is a poisonous gas created by the Mountain Men. It is first shown in Earth
Kills. The Grounders have a warning system where they blow a horn to alert others of the fog.
• While listening to a radio transmission from the Mountain Men, Raven Reyes and Chancellor
Griffin discover that the Mountain Men have been deploying the fog as a weapon, which they
refer to as the Veil.
• the Acid Fog is assumed to be part nerve part sulfur mustard vesicant (military chemical
warfare agents). Exposure to these chemicals can cause Paralysis, skin blisters and burns,
and respiratory effects.
• Symptoms may include loss of consciousness, convulsions, cessation of respiration, Flaccid,
Paralysis copious nasal and oral secretions. Intense bronchoconstriction. Decontaminate
within 2min to prevent tissue damage.
 Acid Mist

• A mist containing a high concentration of acid or particles of any toxic che

mical, such as carbon tetrachloride or silicontetrachloride. Such chemical
s are often used by industry and stored in tanks that may leak their conte
nts into residentialareas, becoming especially dangerous if the toxic subst
ance mixes with fog. Inhalation of acid mists may irritate themucous me
mbranes, the eyes, and the respiratory tract and seriously upset the chem
ical balances of the body.
 Causes of Air pollution

• Burning of Fossil Fuels: Sulfur dioxide emitted from the combustion

of fossil fuels like coal, petroleum and other factory combustibles is one
the major cause of air pollution. Pollution emitting from vehicles
including trucks, jeeps, cars, trains, airplanes cause immense amount of
pollution.
• Carbon Monoxide caused by improper or incomplete combustion and
generally emitted from vehicles is another major pollutant along with
Nitrogen Oxides, that is produced from both natural and man made
processes.
Agricultural activities

Ammonia is a very common by product from agriculture related activities

and is one of the most hazardous gases in the atmosphere. Use of insecticides,
pesticides and fertilizers in agricultural activities has grown quite a lot. They
emit harmful chemicals into the air and can also cause water pollution.

Exhaust from factories and industries

Manufacturing industries release large amount of carbon monoxide,
hydrocarbons, organic compounds, and chemicals into the air thereby depleting
the quality of air. Manufacturing industries can be found at every corner of the
earth and there is no area that has not been affected by it. Petroleum refineries
also release hydrocarbons and various other chemicals that pollute the air and
also cause land pollution.
Mining operations
Mining is a process wherein minerals below the earth are extracted using
large equipments. During the process dust and chemicals are released in the air
causing massive air pollution. This is one of the reason which is responsible for
the deteriorating health conditions of workers and nearby residents.

Indoor air pollution

Household cleaning products, painting supplies emit toxic chemicals in the
air and cause air pollution. Have you ever noticed that once you paint walls of
your house, it creates some sort of smell which makes it literally impossible for
you to breathe.
 Effects of Air pollution

• Respiratory and heart problems

The effects of Air pollution are alarming. They are known to create several respiratory
and heart conditions along with Cancer, among other threats to the body. Several
millions are known to have died due to direct or indirect effects of Air pollution.
Children in areas exposed to air pollutants are said to commonly suffer from pneumonia
and asthma.
• Global warming
Another direct effect is the immediate alterations that the world is witnessing due
to Global warming. With increased temperatures world wide, increase in sea levels and
melting of ice from colder regions and icebergs, displacement and loss of habitat have
already signaled an impending disaster if actions for preservation and normalization
aren’t undertaken soon.
• Acid Rain
Harmful gases like nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides are released into the
atmosphere during the burning of fossil fuels. When it rains, the water
droplets combines with these air pollutants, becomes acidic and then falls on
the ground in the form of acid rain. Acid rain can cause great damage to
human, animals and crops.
• Eutrophication
Eutrophication is a condition where high amount of nitrogen present in some
pollutants gets developed on sea’s surface and turns itself into algae and
adversely affect fish, plants and animal species. The green coloured algae that
is present on lakes and ponds is due to presence of this chemical only.
 Effect on Wildlife

• Just like humans, animals also face some devastating affects of air
pollution. Toxic chemicals present in the air can force wildlife species to
move to new place and change their habitat. The toxic pollutants deposit
over the surface of the water and can also affect sea animals.
 Depletion of Ozone layer

• Ozone exists in earth’s stratosphere and is responsible for protecting

humans from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Earth’s ozone layer is
depleting due to the presence of chlorofluorocarbons, hydro
chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere. As ozone layer will go thin, it will
emit harmful rays back on earth and can cause skin and eye related
problems. UV rays also have the capability to affect crops.
 Solutions for Air Pollution

• Use public mode of transportation

Encourage people to use more and more public modes of transportation to reduce
pollution. Also, try to make use of car pooling. If you and your colleagues come from the
same locality and have same timings you can explore this option to save energy and
money.
• Conserve energy
Switch off fans and lights when you are going out. Large amount of fossil fuels are burnt
to produce electricity. You can save the environment from degradation by reducing the
amount of fossil fuels to be burned.
• Understand the concept of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
Do not throw away items that are of no use to you. In-fact reuse them for some other
purpose.
• Emphasis on clean energy resources
Clean energy technologies like solar, wind and geothermal are on high these
days. Governments of various countries have been providing grants to
consumers who are interested in installing solar panels for their home. This
will go a long way to curb air pollution.
• Use energy efficient devices
CFL lights consume less electricity as against their counterparts. They live
longer, consume less electricity, lower electricity bills and also help you to
reduce pollution by consuming less energy.
 How to Improve Indoor Air Quality

1. Keep your floors fresh.

• A. Suck it up. By using a vacuum with a HEPA filter you can reduce concentrations
of lead in your home. You can also get rid of other toxins, like brominated fire-
retardant chemicals (PBDEs) as well as allergens like pollen, pet dander, and dust
mites.
• B. Mop it up. Mopping picks up the dust that vacuuming leaves behind. You can skip
the soaps and cleaners and just use plain water to capture any lingering dust or
allergens.
• C. Keep it out. Put a large floor mat at every door. People track in all sorts of
chemicals via the dirt on their shoes. A door mat reduces the amount of dirt,
pesticides, and other pollutants from getting into your home.
2. Keep a healthy level of humidity - Dust mites and mold
love moisture. Keeping humidity around 30%-50% helps
keep them and other allergens under control.
• A. Use an exhaust fan or crack open a window when
cooking, running the dishwasher, or bathing.
• B. Don't overwater houseplants.
• C. Vent the clothes dryer to the outside.
• D. Fix leaky plumbing to prevent moisture-loving
mold.
• E. Empty drip pans in your window air conditioner
and dehumidifier.
3. Make your home a no-smoking zone - Probably the
single most important aspect of indoor air pollution is
second and cigarette smoke.
• If you want to stop smoking, support groups,
nicotine-replacement therapy, and
other medications can help. Find a method that
works for you, get some support (friends, family,
fellow quitters, counseling), and think positive.
Focus on your reasons for quitting -- not on your
cravings.
4. Test for radon - Whether you have a new or old home,
you could have a radon problem. This colorless, odorless
gas significantly raises the risk of lung cancer. Radon is
the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. today.
If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your
risk of lung cancer is especially high.
• Testing is easy, inexpensive, and takes only a few
minutes. If you discover a radon problem, there are
simple ways to reduce levels of the gas that are not too
costly. Even high radon levels can be reduced to
acceptable levels.
scent with a clean kitchen or clean clothes. But synthetic
fragrances in laundry products and air fresheners emit dozens of
different chemicals into the air.
• Look for fragrance-free or naturally-scented laundry
products.
• Switch to mild cleaners that don't include artificial
fragrances.
• Stop using aerosol sprays -- deodorants, hair sprays, carpet
cleaners, furniture polish, and air fresheners.
• Let in fresh air. Open windows so toxic chemicals don't build
up in your home.
• Use sliced lemons and baking soda to get a clean scent in the
kitchen.
• Bring nature indoors. Any room is prettier with a fern, spider
plant, or aloe vera. It’s also healthier. NASA research shows
that indoor plants like these act as living air purifiers
THANK YOU 
 Group 5

• Magboo, Shanne
• Ilao, Vincent
• Balitaan, Jeanette
• de Villa, Christine
• Davies, John Rhyss
 Quiz Ozone layer
Lead
1. what is the highest portion of atmosphere? Primary pollutant
2. what element in air have .9%? Thermo
3. rain that can cause great damage to human, Smog
animals and crops.
Sulfur Dioxide
4. a mixture of many gases and dust particles?
Air
5. a chemical compound of SO?
Acid Rain
Argon
Exosphere
 Ozone layer
6. combination of smoke and fog. Lead
7. what is the greek word means heat? Primary pollutant
8. pollutant emitted directly from a source. Thermos
9. chemical element from Latin: plumbum Smog
10. responsible for protecting humans Sulfur Dioxide
from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Air
Acid Rain
Argon
Exosphere
• 11-15. give 5 layers of atmosphere.