Atmospheric

Pollution

Many forms of atmospheric pollution

affect human health and the environment
at levels from local to global.
This contaminants are emitted from
diverse sources and some of them react
together to form new compounds in the
air.

What is Pollution?
Is the undesirable change in
the physical, chemical, and
biological conditions of the
environment.

What is Natural Pollution?

Are the pollution that is cause by
nature itself
Are pollution that is caused by
natural activities

Examples:
Forest fre
s
Re
leases larg
e
amount of
carbon
dioxide ,
nitrous
monoxide
and
particulate
s

Volcanic
s
e
i
t
i
v
i
t
c
A
nt of
u
o
m
a
e
g
r
la
Expels
es like
s
a
g
s
u
o
n
o
pois
, sulfur
e
id
x
io
d
n
o
carb
and

Nature itself can cope with the

pollutants that released from the
natural activities.
The amount of pollutants produced are
removed by mother nature readily
though dilution and assimilation

Pollution exist because the amount of

pollutants in the atmosphere had
reach a critical level that nature can
no longer cope with.

Different types of
Atmospheric Pollutants
There are two types of air
pollutants: gases and
particulates
Gases-The state in which a
substance has no defnite
shape or volume
Particulates- The solid and
liquid droplets suspended in
the air

Different Atmospheric
Pollutants, Sources and Impacts
Pollutants

Sources

Impacts

Sulfur
Dioxide

Fossil fuel
burning,
transportat
ion, and
other
combustion
activities

Acid
precipitatio
n and eye,
mouth and
throat
problems
in humans

Nitrous
Dioxide

Fossil fuel
burning,
transportat
ion, and
other
combustion
activities

Acid
precipitatio
n and
respiratory
problems
in humans

Carbon
Monoxide

Motor
vehicle
exhaust;
formed by
the
incomplete
combustion
of fossil
fuels

Can
destroy
ozone
formation,
can
combine
with blood,
and
interfere
with
oxygen
transport in
the body

Volatile
Organic
Compound
s

Volatile
solvents
like either,
acetone
and xylene,
industrial
processes,

Eye and
respiratory
irritation;
prolonged
exposure
can cause
leukaemia

Ozone

Formed
when
nitrous
oxide
reacts with
unburned
hydro
carbons

Particulates Fossil fuel

burning,
forest fre,

Harms
vegetation
s, health
hazards in
man at
ground
level,
accelerates
environme
ntal
temperatur
e
Allergic
reactions
and
respiratory
problems

How Pollutants are

Classifed?
Pollutants are classifed as
primary and secondary.
Primary Pollutants- Are those
directly emitted by identifable
sources
Secondary Pollutants- Are
products of the chemical
reaction among the primary
pollutants powered by solar
radiation.

 Heavy reliance on fossil

fuels that run the worlds
economy is considered as
the root cause of
atmospheric pollution
Combustion of fossil fuels
and the products refne from
them pose the most
signifcant threat to the
environment and to peoples

Effects of Air Pollution

In humans, the most affected by
pollution are the children, pregnant
women and elderly.
In plants, pollution can result in
stunted growth, decrease in the
number of young or seedling
produced.
In animals the most affected are the
wild life
In the natural environment, pollution
can cause as acid precipitation.

Three Categories of Impact

in Air Pollution
Acute- (short term)
This effects are usually immediate
and often reversible
Chronic- (long term)
This effects are usually not
immediate and tend to be
reversible
Carcinogenic
This effect can initiate changes in
the cells and tissues that lead to
uncontrolled growth

Acid Precipitation
Acid precipitation pertains to
any precipitation like rain,
fog, mist, snow, that is more
acidic (pH 5.6)
Such acidity is due to the
formation of carbonic acid, a
product of the chemical
reaction of carbon dioxide
with water

The Effect of Acid

Precipitation
Increased pH can cause the
massive release often
element aluminium by
replacement reactions
Death to many forms of
aquatic life
Forest decline since
increased acidity cause by
unbalanced growth

Acid Precipitation can

affect:
Plants
Work
s

Aquatic life

of ar
t