Outlines:

1.Introduction
2.Types of Air Pollution
Primary Pollutant
Secondary Pollutant
3.Sources of Air Pollution
Man Made Sources
Natural Sources
4. Causes Of Air Pollution
5. Effect Of Air Pollution
Human Body
Material & Animal
6. Solution For Air Pollution
7. Conclusion
 INTRODUCTION
Air pollution is the contamination of air due to the presence
of substances in the atmosphere that are harmful to
the health of humans and other living beings, or cause damage
to the climate or to materials.
There are many different types of air pollutants, such as gases
(including ammonia, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous
oxides, methane, carbon dioxide and chlorofluorocarbons)
and biological molecules.
Air pollution can cause diseases, allergies, and even death to
humans; it can also cause harm to other living organisms such
as animals and food crops, and may damage
the natural environment (for example, climate change, ozone
depletion or habitat degradation) or built environment (for
example, acid rain).
Productivity losses and degraded quality of life caused by air
pollution are estimated to cost the world economy $5 trillion
per year but, along with health and mortality impacts, are
an externality to the contemporary economic system and most
human activity, albeit sometimes being moderately regulated
and monitored.
Several international and national legislation and regulation
have been developed to limit the negative effects of air
pollution Local rules, when properly executed, have resulted
in significant advances in public health.
 TYPES OF AIR POLLUTION
A large number of contaminants may pollute the air in a large
variety of forms.
Almost any toxic chemical could make its way into the
atmosphere to pollute the air that we breathe. Aerosol particles
(clouds of liquid and solid particles in a gas) that are found in
the air may also contain pollutants.
The chemical compounds that lower the air quality are usually
referred to as air pollutants. These compounds may be found in
the air in two major forms:

There are two types of air pollutants:

Primary Air Pollutants are the ones that are emitted directly
into the atmosphere from identifiable sources, such as power-
generating plants, factories or vehicles;
There are six primary air pollutants:
• Carbon monoxide
• Nitrogen oxides
• Sulfur dioxide
• Volatile organic compounds
• Particulate matter
• Ammonia.

• Secondary air pollutants are the ones that are produced

as a result of chemical reactions between primary pollutants
and other elements in the atmosphere, such as ground-level
ozone, nitric acid, and peroxyacyl nitrates (PAN).
Important secondary pollutants include:
• Ground-level ozone
• Peroxyacyl nitrates
Indoor air pollution
• Indoor Air Quality refers to the quality of air within and
around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the
health and comfort of the people who are living in the
building.
Indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the
air are the primary cause of deteriorating indoor air quality.
Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant levels by
not bringing in enough outdoor air to dilute emissions from
indoor sources and by not carrying indoor air pollutants out of
the area.
 SOURCES OF AIR POLUTTION
 There are various locations activities or factors
which are responsible for releasing pollutants into
the atmosphere:
 These sources are classified into two major categories:
1. Man-made Sources
2. Natural Sources

MAN- MADE SOURCES

These are mostly related to the burning of fuel.
Stationary sources include:
fossil-fuel power plants and biomass power plants both have
smoke stacks.
Burning of traditional biomass such as wood, crop waste and
dung. (In developing and poor countries, traditional biomass
burning is the major source of air pollutants. It is also the
main source of particulate pollution in many developed areas
including the UK & New South Wales. Its pollutants
include PAHs.)
Manufacturing facilities (factories)
The 2014 study found that in China equipment-, machinery-,
and devices-manufacturing and construction sectors
contributed more than 50% of air pollutant emissions.
Mobile sources include motor vehicles, trains
(particularly diesel locomotives and DMUs), marine vessels
and aircraft as well as rockets and re-entry of components
and debris.
Agriculture and forest management strategies using controlled
burns. Practices like slash-and-burn in forests like the
Amazon cause large air pollution with the deforestation.
Controlled or prescribed burning is a practice used in forest
management, agriculture, prairie restoration, and greenhouse
gas reduction. Foresters can use controlled fire as a tool
because fire is a natural feature of both forest and grassland
ecology.
Controlled burning encourages the sprouting of some
desirable forest trees, resulting in a forest renewal.
• Fumes from paint, hair spray, varnish, aerosol sprays and
other solvents. These can be substantial; emissions from
these sources was estimated to account for almost half of
pollution from volatile organic compounds in the Los
Angeles basin in the 2010s.
• Waste deposition in landfills produces methane.
• Nuclear weapons, toxic gases, germ warfare, and
rocketry are examples of military resources.
• Agricultural emissions and emissions from meat
production or livestock contribute substantially to air
pollution..
 NATURAL SOURCES
• Dust from natural sources, usually large areas of land
with little vegetation or no vegetation
• Methane, emitted by the digestion of food by animals,
for example cattle
• Radon gas from radioactive decay within the Earth's
crust. Radon is a colourless, odourless, naturally
occurring, radioactive noble gas that is formed from
the decay of radium. It is considered to be a health
hazard. Radon gas from natural sources can
accumulate in buildings, especially in confined areas
such as the basement and it is the second most
frequent cause of lung cancer, after cigarette smoking.
• Smoke and carbon monoxide from wildfires. During
periods of active wildfires, smoke from uncontrolled
biomass combustion can make up almost 75% of all
air pollution by concentration.
• Vegetation, in some regions, emits environmentally
significant amounts of volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) on warmer days. These VOCs
react with primary anthropogenic pollutants –
specifically, NOx, SO2, and anthropogenic organic
carbon compounds – to produce a seasonal haze of
secondary pollutants. Black gum, poplar, oak and
willow are some examples of vegetation that can
produce abundant VOCs. The VOC production from
these species result in ozone levels up to eight times
higher than the low-impact tree species.
• Volcanic activity, which produces sulfur, chlorine, and
ash particulates.
 CAUSES OF AIR POLLUTION
Following are the important causes of air pollution:
Burning of Fossil Fuels
The combustion of fossil fuels emits a large amount of
sulphur dioxide. Carbon monoxide released by incomplete
combustion of fossil fuels also results in air pollution.
Automobiles
The gases emitted from vehicles such as jeeps, trucks, cars,
buses, etc. pollute the environment. These are the major
sources of greenhouse gases and also result in diseases among
individuals.
Agricultural Activities
Ammonia is one of the most hazardous gases emitted during
agricultural activities. The insecticides, pesticides and
fertilisers emit harmful chemicals in the atmosphere and
contaminate it.
Factories and Industries
Factories and industries are the main source of carbon
monoxide, organic compounds, hydrocarbons and chemicals.
These are released into the air, degrading its quality.
Mining Activities
In the mining process, the minerals below the earth are
extracted using large pieces of equipment. The dust and
chemicals released during the process not only pollute the air,
but also deteriorate the health of people living in the nearby
areas.
 EFFECTS OF AIR POLUTION
The hazardous effects of air pollution on the environment
include:
Diseases
Air pollution has resulted in several respiratory disorders and
heart diseases among humans. The cases of lung cancer have
increased in the last few decades. Children living near
polluted areas are more prone to pneumonia and asthma.
Global Warming
Due to the emission of greenhouse gases, there is an
imbalance in the gaseous composition of the air. This has led
to an increase in the temperature of the earth. This increase in
earth’s temperature is known as global warming. This has
resulted in the melting of glaciers and an increase in sea
levels.
Acid Rain
The burning of fossil fuels releases harmful gases such as
nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides in the air. The water
droplets combine with these pollutants, become acidic and fall
as acid rain which damages human, animal and plant life.
Effect on Animals
The air pollutants suspend in the water bodies and affect
aquatic life. Pollution also compels the animals to leave their
habitat and shift to a new place. This renders them stray and
has also led to the extinction of a large number of animal
species.
 SOLUTION OF AIR POLLUTION
Following are the measures one should adopt, to control air
pollution:
Avoid Using Vehicles
People should avoid using vehicles for shorter distances.
Rather, they should prefer public modes of transport to travel
from one place to another. This not only prevents pollution,
but also conserves energy.
Energy Conservation
A large number of fossil fuels are burnt to generate electricity.
Therefore, do not forget to switch off the electrical appliances
when not in use. Thus, you can save the environment at the
individual level. Use of energy-efficient devices such as CFLs
also controls pollution to a greater level.
Use of Clean Energy Resources
The use of solar, wind and geothermal energies reduce air
pollution at a larger level. Various countries, including India,
have implemented the use of these resources as a step towards
a cleaner environment.
Other air pollution control measures include:
1. By minimising and reducing the use of fire and fire
products.
2. Since industrial emissions are one of the major causes of
air pollution, the pollutants can be controlled or treated at
the source itself to reduce its effects. For example, if the
reactions of a certain raw material yield a pollutant, then
the raw materials can be substituted with other less
polluting materials.
3. Fuel substitution is another way of controlling air
pollution. In many parts of India, petrol and diesel are
being replaced by CNG – Compressed Natural Gas
fuelled vehicles. These are mostly adopted by vehicles
that aren’t fully operating with ideal emission engines.
4. Although there are many practices in India, which focus
on repairing the quality of air, most of them are either
forgotten or not being enforced properly. There are still a
lot of vehicles on roads which haven’t been tested for
vehicle emissions.
5. Another way of controlling air pollution caused by
industries is to modify and maintain existing pieces of
equipment so that the emission of pollutants is
minimised.