•Any visible or invisible particle or gas

found in the air that is not part of the

original, normal composition.
Natural: forest fires, pollen,
dust storm

Unnatural: man-made; coal,

wood and other fuels used in
cars, homes, and factories for
energy
 Activities Pollutants Immediate effects Impacts

Transport Human
PM health
concentrati
on
Power
Production
Acidic Environmen
deposits t

Residences

Εutrophicati Materials
on deterioratio
Agriculture n

Agricultural
Industry Ozone
concentrati cultivation
on
GASEOUS
POLLUTANTS

PARTICULATE
POLLUTANTS
 Carbon Monoxide
•colorless, odorless
•produced when carbon does not burn in
fossil fuels
•present in car exhaust
•deprives body of O2 causing headaches,
fatigue, and impaired vision
 Sulfur Dioxide
•produced when coal and fuel oil
are burned
•present in power plant exhaust
•narrows the airway, causing
wheezing and shortness of breath,
especially in those with asthma
 Nitrogen Dioxide
•reddish, brown gas
•produced when nitric oxide
combines with oxygen in the
atmosphere
•present in car exhaust and
power plants
•affects lungs and causes
wheezing; increases chance of
respiratory infection
 Particulate Matter
•particles of different sizes and
structures that are released into the
atmosphere
•present in many sources including
fossil fuels, dust, smoke, fog, etc.
•can build up in respiratory system
•aggravates heart and lung disease;
increases risk of respiratory infection
 Ground Level Ozone
•at upper level, ozone shields Earth from sun’s
harmful UV rays
•at ground level, ozone is harmful pollutants
•formed from car, power and chemical plant
exhaust
•irritate respiratory system and asthma;
reduces lung function by inflaming and
damaging lining of lungs
Table 1: Sources, Health and Welfare Effects for Criteria Pollutants.
Pollutant Description Sources Health Effects Welfare Effects
Carbon Colorless, odorless Motor vehicle exhaust, Headaches, reduced mental Contribute to the formation of
Monoxide gas indoor sources include alertness, heart attack, smog.
(CO) kerosene or wood burning cardiovascular diseases,
stoves. impaired fetal development,
death.

Sulfur Colorless gas that Coal-fired power plants, Eye irritation, wheezing, Contribute to the formation of
Dioxide (SO2) dissolves in water petroleum refineries, chest tightness, shortness of acid rain, visibility impairment,
vapor to form acid, manufacture of sulfuric breath, lung damage. plant and water damage,
and interact with acid and smelting of ores aesthetic damage.
other gases and containing sulfur.
particles in the air.

Nitrogen Reddish brown, Motor vehicles, electric
Dioxide (NO2) highly reactive gas. utilities, and other
industrial, commercial, and
residential sources that
burn fuels.
Susceptibility to respiratory
infections, irritation of the
lung and respiratory
symptoms (e.g., cough, chest
pain, difficulty breathing).
Contribute to the formation of
smog, acid rain, water quality
deterioration, global warming,
and visibility impairment.

Ozone (O3) Gaseous pollutant Vehicle exhaust and
when it is formed in certain other
the troposphere. fumes. Formed from other
air pollutants in the
presence of sunlight.
Eye and throat irritation, Plant and ecosystem damage.
coughing, respiratory tract
problems, asthma, lung
damage.

Lead (Pb) Metallic element Metal refineries, lead Anemia, high blood pressure, Affects animals and plants,
smelters, battery brain and kidney damage, affects aquatic ecosystems.
manufacturers, iron and neurological disorders,
steel producers. cancer, lowered IQ.

Particulate Very small particles of Diesel engines, power Eye irritation, asthma, Visibility impairment,
Matter (PM) soot, dust, or other plants, industries, bronchitis, lung damage, atmospheric deposition,
matter, including tiny windblown dust, wood cancer, heavy metal aesthetic damage.
droplets of liquids. stoves. poisoning, cardiovascular
effects.
Table-2: Sources, Effects of Air Pollutants on Vegetables
Pollutants Sources Effects on Vegetables

Aldehydes Photochemical reactions The upper portions of Alfalfa etc. will be affected to Narcosis if
250 ppm of aldehydes is present for 2 hrs duration.

Ozone (O3) Photochemical reaction of hydrocarbon
and nitrogen oxides from fuel
combustion, refuse burning, and
evaporation from petroleum products.
Peroxy Acetyl The sources of PAN are the same as
Nitrate (PAN) ozone
All ages of tobacco leaves, beans, grapes, pine, pumpkins and
potato are affected. Fleck, stipple, bleaching, bleached
spotting, pigmentation, growth suppression, and early
abscission are the effects.
Young spongy cells of plants are affected if 0.01 ppm of PAN
is present in the ambient air for more than 6 hrs.

Nitrogen dioxide High temperature combustion of coal, oil, Irregular, white or brown collapsed lesion on intercostals
(NO2) gas, and gasoline in power plants and tissue and near leaf margin. Suppressed growth is observed
internal combustion engines. in many plants.

Ammonia & Sulfur Thermal power plants, oil and petroleum Bleached spots, bleached areas between veins, bleached
dioxide refineries. margins, chlorosis, growth suppression, early abscission, and
reduction in yield and tissue collapse occur.

Chlorine (Cl2) Leaks in chlorine storage tanks,
hydrochloric acid mists.
Hydrogen fluoride, Phosphate rock processing, aluminum
Silicon industry, and ceramic works and
tetrafluoride fiberglass manufacturing.
Pesticides & Agricultural operations
Herbicides
Particulates Cement industries, thermal power plants,
blasting, crushing and processing
industries.
Mercury (Hg) Processing of mercury containing ores,
burning of coal and oil.
If 0.10 ppm is present for at least 2 hrs, the epidermis and
mesophyll of plants will be affected.
Epidermis and mesophyll of grapes, large seed fruits, pines
and fluorosis in animals occur if 0.001 ppm of HF is present
for 5 weeks.
Defoliation, dwarfing, curling, twisting, growth reduction and
killing of plants may occur.
Affects quality of plants, reduces vigor & hardness and
interferences with photosynthesis due to plugging leaf
stomata and blocking of light.
Greenhouse crops, and floral parts of all vegetations are
affected; abscission and growth reduction occur in most of
the plants.
 Provide a reactive surface for gases and
vapours in the formation of secondary
pollutants
 Particles also diffuse light reducing visibility
 Come from stack emissions, dusty processes,
unsealed roads, construction work and many
other sources

13
 Dusts
 large solid particles
 Fume
 solid particles (metallic oxides) formed by
condensation of vapours from a chemical reaction
process or physical separation process
 Mist
 liquid particles formed by condensation of
vapours or chemical reaction.
SO3 + H2O H2SO4
 Smoke
 solid particles formed as a result of incomplete
combustion of carbonaceous materials.

14
1st smog related deaths were in
London in 1873; death toll 500
people; can you imagine how much
worse the atmosphere is now?!
Limits visibility
Decreases UV radiation
Yellow/black color over cities
Causes respiratory problems and
bronchial related deaths
Air sampling and analysis

Classificaction - LOCATION OF SAMPLING

ambient
Source
Classificaction – TYPE OF SAMPLE COLLECTED
gaseous
particulate

Classificaction- DURATION OF SAMPLING

continous sampling
Intermediate sampling
 How long to sample?

Grab Sampling
•~1-minute

STEL Sampling (Short-term exposure limit)

•15-minute exposure

TWA Sampling(Time weighted average)

•8-hour exposure (typical personal sampling time)

Risk Assessment
•24-hour

Real Time
•continuous sampling
AIR SAMPLING CALCULATION
An air sample requires three basic measurements:
Amount of pollutant collected
Flow of air through the medium
The run time in minutes.
Flow rate *time(in minute)=volume through filter in
cubic meter
Concentration in microgram per cubic meter or in ppm
GASEOUS POLLUTANTS PARTICULATE POLLUTANTS
SAMPLING- EQUIPMENTS SAMPLING- EQUIPMENTS
1. ADSORBERS EQUIPMENTS WORKING WITH
2. ABSORBERS- SCRUBBERS FOLOWING PRINCIPLES
3. CONDENSORS SEDIMENTATION
FILTRATION
4. PLASTIC CONTAINER
IMPINGEMENT
PERCIPITATION
THERMAL PRECIPITAION
ELECTROSTATIC
PRECIPITATION
HIGH VOLUME SAMPLER
ABSORPTION SAMPLING
Gaseous pollutants are absorbed in a solvent when both the pollutant and
absorbent are in close contact
Liquid react with the gaseous pollutant to form a non gaseous pollutant
ALKALINE FOR ACIDIC GASES
ACIDIC SOLUTION FOR ALKALINE GASES
OILS FOR HYDROCARBONS
ADSORPTION SAMPLING
Gaseous pollutants are adsorbed on the solid surface of activated carbon, silica
gel, activated alumina and molecular sieve
As the surface area increases the adsorption increases
CONDENSATION SAMPLING
The conversion of a vapour or gas to a liquid
Method used to collect the radioactive gases, hydrocarbons and non reactive
vapors
Air pollutant can be trapped by condensation reaction
As the gaseous pollutant pass through the different temperature range of
condensers where the temperature is below the boiling point the gaseous pollutant
will trap in the liquid
FILTRATION
Technique used in the collection
of air pollutants of size smaller
than 10 micro meter in diameter
The particulates are removed
from the air sample by suction
apparatus through a porous filter
where particulates are deposited
The glass fiber filter of porous
size less than 0.1 micro meter is
used in high volume sampler
Sampling period: 24 hours
Air volume sucked: 2000 cubic
meter
Particulate concentration: micro
gram per cubic meter
IMPINGEMENT
Based on the inertial technique
in which particles are collected
from the high velocity air steam
directed toward the obstacles
placed across the path of air
stream
Particulates collide with the
obstacle and air changes its
direction
If the obstacle are adhesive
surface then particles are
impacted on it and this is known
as dry impingement
If obstacle is wet by any liquid
then it is called wet impingement
PRECIPITATION
Precipitation are two types---
•Thermal precipitation
•Electrostatic precipitation
THERMAL PRECIPITATION :-
Thermal precipitation is based on
the principle that the particles
move towards the lower
temperature region when
subjected to a strong
temperature gradient
The temperature gradients are
normally of the order of 3000 ° C
per centimeter
This technique is used to
collect the particle of size 0.001
micrometer with high efficiency
Impinger Tube
 ELECTROSTATIC
PRECIPITATION:-
Theses precipitators are an
electrically charged to force
radioactive particulates to migrate
out the air steam onto a collection
surface
In this precipitators two
electrodes are used positive and
negative
When the air stream with
particulates pass through the
electrodes particles pick up
negative charge and migrate
towards inner post of the
precipitators where got
discharged and deposited on the
positive electrodes
SEDIMENTATION
• Used to collect settle able
particulate that settle out of
the atmosphere as a result
of the gravitation force
• Particulate pollutant
having size of 10 mirco
meter can be collected with
99% efficiency
• The sampler consists of
simple dust jar fitted with a
funnel
• A liquid is added to
collector to prevent the
solids blown out from the jar
by air
• Collected dust is
evaporated to dryness and
then weighed in mg
• Sampling period is 30 days
High Volume Sampler
Particulates – Hi Vol Sampler
 most commonly used particle sampling method
 analysis is gravimetric - filter is weighed before
and after the analysis on an analytical balance,
and difference is particulates collected
 A standard high volume sampler collects
particles in the size range from 0.1 - 100m
Particulates – Hi Vol Sampler
 airflow is measured by a small flow meter
(calibrated in m3 air/minute)
 particulate concentration measured is referred
to as the Total Suspended Particles (TSP), =
combination of settleable particles and
suspended particles
 expressed as g/m3 for a 24hour period –
normally as part of 6 day cycle
Stack sampling /source sampling
Steps in stack sampling
Determination of gas composition
Determination of moisture content
Determination of temperature
Determination of velocity- to establish gas flow rate & required
for fixing isokinetic conditions
In circular stacks, traverse points are located at the center
of equal annular areas across two perpendicular diameters

Figure 2

In case of rectangular stacks, the area may be divided in to

12 to 25 equal areas and the centers for each area are fixed.

Figure 3
Isokinetic condition*- velocity in stack =velocity at top of probe
nozzle at the sample point.

*Required only for particulate sampling

 Analysis of air pollutants

Analysis of air
pollutants

Chemical Instrumental Biological

method method method
 CHEMICAL METHODS

Gravime Volumetric Instrumental method

tric method • Emission m spectroscopic method

method • Acidic & alkaline

• Absorption spectroscopy
• X ray diffraction method
method
• Particulate • Mass spectroscopy
• Oxidation &
matter- • Polarography
reduction method
impinger/ele • Microscopy
• Precipitation
ctrostatic
method • Refractometric method
precipitator
• Colorimetric • Thermal conductivity
method • Radioactivity
• Nephlerometric • AAS
method • Sound absorption
• Chromatographic • Automatic sampling and analysis
method
Method Principle Application-
pollutant analysed

Emision Each element has Beryllium,sodium,po

spectroscopy unique emission tassium
spectrum

Absorption Absorption of Benzene

spectroscopy radiation of
spectrum

X ray difraction Crystal difraction Crystalline

patterns is used substances-mineral
dust
Mass spectroscopy Gas is ionised by Cl2,N,O2
means of electric
discharge if collided
with +ve ions
subject to
simultanious action
Method Principle Application-
pollutant analysed
Microscopy Microscope is used Oil,ammonium
to study the small carbonate,nitrate
size particles
Refractometric Determining Limited application
method refractive index of due to lack of
sustances sensitivity

Thermal Conductivity is Limited application

conductivity tested before and due to lack of
after removing sensitivity to gases
particulate
constituents

Sound absorption Influence of sound Best accuracy and

method on particle sensitivity
Method Principle Application-
pollutant analysed

Automatic recording Sampling and SO3

analysis done
continuously

AAS use the absorption Mercury,arsenic etc

of light to measure
the concentration of
gas phase atoms
Polarography Ratio between Lead,cadmium,titani
current and um,copper,etc
Potential difference
is used to identify
the substance
Biological method
concentration of
pollutants ar identified by the effect of
pollutants on animals and plants