AIR POLLUTION

Air pollution is the presence of chemicals or compounds in the air which are usually not present and which lower
the air quality for breathing or damage other conditions supporting life and causes diseases, allergies, deaths to
human people. These compounds are commonly known as air pollutants which comprises of the gases and
particles in the atmosphere that harm organisms and affect climate.
Being sick is pretty lousy, isn't it? If you know someone who has a cold, you tend to steer clear of them because
you don't want to catch their germs. Every time that person coughs or sneezes, their germs get put into the air
and are then free to travel to the next person. Can you imagine trying to contain something like that in the air? It
would be pretty difficult because, not only are the germs invisible, but they expand outward as they enter the air.
We don't think of germs as air pollution, but it really is the same idea.

SOURCES OF AIR POLLUTION

When we talk about air pollution there are a number of ways which acts as a source of air pollution, be in indoor
activities, outdoor activities or natural activities. All of the sources have one thing in common i.e. they pollute the
air. An air pollutant is a substance in the air that can have adverse effects on humans and the ecosystem. The
substance can be solid particles, liquid droplets, or gases. A pollutant can be of natural origin or man-made.
Pollutants can be easily categorized into 2 sections:1.

Primary Pollutants
Primary pollutants are those that cause direct harm or that can react to form harmful substances in the
atmosphere.
Example: Emission of gases from motor vehicles.

2.

Secondary Pollutants
Secondary pollutants are those harmful substances that are created from the reactions between
primary pollutants and the components of the atmosphere.
Example: Creation of Smog by mixing smoke with sulphur dioxide

Also, there are couple of ways using which pollution enters the air which can be categorized as written below:

Point Source Pollutants

Point source pollution is when the air pollutants come from a single source of origin, such as
smokestacks at a single factory.

Non-Point Source Pollutants

Non-point source pollution is when the air pollutants come from many sources, such as all of the cars

CAUSES OF AIR POLLUTION

Anything people do that involves burning things (combustion), using household or industrial chemicals
(substances that cause chemical reactions and may release toxic gases in the process), or producing large
amounts of dust has the potential to cause air pollution.
The common most sources of air pollution which is prevalent are:

Traffic

Power Plants

Industrial Plants and Factories

As air pollution can be caused by either man-made or natural sources, lets have a look at some of the causes
and sources of air pollution:
Air Pollution Cause
NATURAL

Air Pollution Source

Volcanic activities

Magma and toxic gases

Winds and air currents

Dust or dirt from bare areas of land

Methane formed through anaerobical (in the absence of oxygen) degradation
of plant and animals

Wildfires

Wood and other materials from soil

Microbial decaying processes

Organic matter from living organisms and any chemical or biological material
introduced in environment

Radioactive decay processes

Earths crust materials which decay emitting radon gas

Increasing temperatures

Volatile materials existent in nature (e.g., dissolved carbon dioxide from

oceans and seas)

ANTHROPOGENIC (MANMADE)
Mining & Smelting
Mine tailing disposal

Natural mineralogical deposits

Foundry activity

Raw metallic materials; natural mineralogical deposits

Industrial processes

Raw materials used and manufactured products; also fossil fuels (e.g.,
petroleum) usually stored at the sites

Transportation

Fossil fuels (e.g., gasoline, diesel and other petroleum products) used in
combustion engines

Construction & Demolition

Building materials including piping and paints

Coal Power Plants & Heating of

Buildings

Fossil fuels (e.g., petroleum products, coal)

Waste incineration

Various waste chemicals incinerated

Landfill disposal practices

Various types of wastes

Agriculture

Pesticides/insecticides/herbicides sprayed

Controlled burning

Wood and other burnt materials

Military activities

Toxic gases; fuel for airplanes, helicopters, ships, rockets, etc.

Smoking

Toxic gases and particulate matter from tobacco burning

Storage and use of household

products

Organic solvents (VOCs), Pb (from paints)

Dry cleaned clothes

Chlorinated solvents (PCE) or petroleum solvents used by the dry cleaner

COMMON AIR POLLUTANTS

An air pollutant is a substance in the air that can have adverse effects on humans and the ecosystem. The
substance can be solid particles, liquid droplets, or gases. However, in most cases air pollutants cannot be seen
or smelled and still exist in high enough amounts to be of health hazard.
The most common air pollutants are:

Sulfur Oxides (SOx) - particularly sulfur dioxide, a chemical compound with the formula SO2. It is
produced in volcanic activities, burning of fossil fuels and industrial processes. It also combines with
other toxic gases to create acid rain which is a big concern for environmentalists.
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) - particularly nitrogen dioxide which is emitted from high temperature combustion
processes. It is also produced during thunderstorms.
Carbon Monoxide (CO) - highly toxic gas which is produced from incomplete combustion of natural gas,
wood, coal etc. It is also highly emitted by vehicles when vehicle get exhausted.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) - common source for outdoor air pollutant. Includes methane which
contributes to global warming and other organic solvents such as benzene, acetone, toluene etc
generated through many human activities such as industrial processes, waste disposals, household
product handling and storage, etc.
Particulate Matter (PM) - tiny particles of solid or liquid suspended in a gas. Includes toxic metals and
organic compounds adsorbed on it originating both from natural sources (volcanoes, wildfires) and
anthropogenic activities (such as burning of fossil fuels, mining, foundry, etc.)
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) - harmful to the ozone layer and is released by a variety of devices such as
airconditioners, referigerators etc.
Ammonia (NH3) - emitted from agricultural processes which is a very hazardous gas.

Radioactive Pollutants - produced through both natural (radioactive decay) and anthropogenic
processes (nuclear explosions, war explosions, etc.)

TYPES OF AIR POLLUTION

If we categorize the air pollution in 2 main sections, we will get:
Indoor Air Pollution

Outdoor Air Pollution

Lets have a look at what comprises in the 2 major classification of air pollution.

INDOOR AIR POLLUTION

Lets assume you live in a city, you might think your home is the cleanest place you can bebut you're
most probably wrong. Outside, though the air may seem polluted, it's constantly moving and (in theory
at least) pollutants are continually being diluted and dispersed. Inside, your home is packed with all
kinds of chemicals that generate pollution every time you use them.
The various ways via which you can get air pollution inside your homes are:

Detergents
Household Cleaners
Aerosols Spray
Shoe Polish
Paints
Glue
Markers
Coal , wood, charcoal, dung or crop wastes are used to fire stove which is not properly
ventilated will release harmful carbon monoxide gas.
Heating of water using geyser , stove or kettle can evaporate VOC chemicals into the air
Steam of ironing clothes can also evaporate VOC chemicals into the air
Shower curtains could release VOCs if it is made of plastic called PVC
Radon gas can get accumulated
Air blown via air-conditioners
Dry Cleaning of clothes as they use organic solvents to remove stains and dirt.
Storage of items which may contain volatile chemicals
Printers can pollute air as organic chemicals are volatized from the ink due to the heating
Vapour Intrusion
Tobacco Smoke
Cooking
Biological Contamination such as pollen
Chimneys
Carpet

OUTDOOR AIR POLLUTION

Outdoor air pollution is present everywhere whether it is the cities, urban or rural areas. The amount of
air pollution may differ as in across various areas. Some important and common types that have great
effect on the air of the environment and they also take part in spreading different types of dangerous
diseases.
The various ways via which you can get outdoor air pollution are:

Smog - Known as the smoke present in the atmosphere after emitting from different sources is
combined with the fog present in the air. Basically different types of factories or the industries
are responsible for the formation of the smog. When the industries do their production from
different materials, they can use different types of chemicals for the cleaning, refining or some
kind of production processes, as a result these chemicals can produce different types of toxic
materials that can emits in the form of the smoke from the chimney.
Living in the smog is equal to the living with smokers.
Green House Effect - Formed due to the contamination of several important gases with the air.
it is characterized when the gases called as greenhouse gases when move upward and
combine with the atmosphere and then return back to the earth and destroy different types of
things such as crops, plants, human lives, livestock etc. These gases are basically six in
number and they are; methane, sulphur, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen and ozone.
Accidental Air Pollution - Defined as the type of air pollution that is generated due to the
different types of fuel consumption by the vehicles or when the forest are burnt different types

of gases are evolved that are mixed with the air and pollute the air. Some times this pollution is
also spread due to the plant leakage or different types of blasts in the furnaces of the
manufacturing plants.
Industrial Air Pollution - characterized due to the working of the thermal plants and also the
different plants that are used to manufacture different types of fertilizers or pesticides. The
reactions that are used to produce different types of building material such as cement or steel
etc also encourage the production or toxic materials for producing air pollution.
Transport related Air pollution - characterized due to the smoke emitting by different types of
vehicles used for transportation. As fuel such as petrol or diesel burnt in the engine can emit
different types of poisonous gases in the form of smoke.
Particle Pollution - consists of solid and liquid particles made up of ash, metals, soot, diesel
exhaust, and chemicals. Particle pollution is produced by the burning of coal in power plants
and other industries, and by the use of diesel fuel in passenger vehicles, cargo vehicles, and
heavy equipment. Wood burning is a source of particle pollution, as are many of today's
agricultural practices.
Acid Rain - When rain falls through polluted air, it can pick up some of the pollution and turn
more acidicproducing what's known as acid rain. When acid rain accumulates in lakes or
rivers, it gradually turns the entire water more acidic. 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.