Air Resources

AIR RESOURCES
The Great Smog of London
Friday 5 December
to Tuesday 9
December 1952
Closer to home …
Source: Mint Lounge

Is Air a Resource?
• Definition- A resource is a
source or supply from
which benefit is produced
• How are air resources

different than water, ocean
or land resources?
Composition of Air
• Sulfur dioxideSO2 - 1.0 ppm

• Nitrous oxide N2O - 0.5 ppm
• Ozone O3 - 0 to 0.07 ppm
• Nitrogen dioxide NO2 - 0.02 ppm
• Iodine I2 - 0.01 ppm

• Carbon monoxide CO - 0 to trace (ppm)
• Ammonia NH3 - 0 to trace (ppm)
Changes in Air Composition
Changes in Air Composition
What according to you causes
poor air quality?
Air Pollution
Types of Pollutants Effects of Pollution
• Carbon dioxide CO2 • Atmospheric aerosol
• Carbon monoxide CO loading
• Heavy metals • Acid rain
• Nitrogen oxides • Eutrophication
• Sulphur oxides • Haze
• Particulate matter • Ozone depletion
• Ozone • Crop and forest damage
• Indoor pollution • Reduced human health
Carbon Dioxide CO2
• Source/s-
Natural processes and
human activities that
burn fossil fuels
• Effect/s- Greenhouse
effect, ocean
acidification
Carbon Monoxide CO
• Source/s- Natural processes, industry, incomplete
combustion of carbon-based fuels. The major sources
are motor vehicles and cook-stoves.
• Effect/s- Toxic to humans as it binds to haemoglobin in
red blood cells and inhibits binding of oxygen.
Heavy Metals
• Source/s-
• Lead- combustion of fuels containing lead additives,
smelting, mining
• Mercury- burning of fossil fuels, smelting of ores and
metals, cement manufacturing and waste incineration.
• Effect/s- human health due to heavy metal poisoning

Particulate Matter
• Source/s– refers to tiny particles from diesel emissions,
power plants, industrial facilities, domestic cooking and
heating, agricultural burning, land clearing, forest fires
and windblown dust.
• Effect/s- haze, lung disease
Other
• Nitrogen oxides- emitted from motor vehicles, coal-fired
power plants and industrial processes. Form ozones, haze
and acid rain.
• Sulphur oxides– emitted from burning of coal and other

fossil fuels. Effects human health and forms haze and acid
rain.
• Toxic pollutants– manufactured chemicals emitted from

chemical plants, industrial manufacturing facilities, municipal
and medical waste incineration, and motor vehicles.
Surface Ozone
• Source/s– formed in the air when nitrogen oxides mix with
compounds from motor vehicles, chemical processes, etc. in
the presence of heat and sunlight. Different to ozone in the
ozone layer!
• Effect/s- Ozone at the

earth surface forms
haze and harms human
health
Indoor Pollution
• Contaminants in the air inside a building
• Source/s- building materials, pressed wood products and
furniture, central heating and cooling systems, personal care
or household cleaning products, painting colours, solvents,
heating or cooking appliances, tobacco smoke, pets, office
machines and a variety of other products used in daily
activities
• Effects/s- human health
In-class Activity
• Work in groups of 4; choose one state in the country
• Do online research to gather information about 2-3
major problems associated with air pollution in your
chosen state. For each of the problems:
1. Name the type of pollutants
2. Name the source of the pollutants
3. Describe the effect of each pollutant on the
environment and humans
4. Describe ways to reduce the pollution
5. Name the stakeholders
Outcome
- Global
Climate
Change
• Global climate change could have significant

impacts on human health, agriculture and food
security, water resources, forests, wildlife, and
coastal areas
Outcome- Haze
• Caused when sunlight encounters tiny pollution
particles in the air
• Some particles directly emitted from power plants,
industrial facilities, trucks and automobiles, and
construction activities
• Others formed when gases (e.g. sulfur dioxide and
nitrogen oxides) form particles when carried on wind
Outcome- Atmospheric Aerosol Loading
• Aerosols affect cloud formation
and patterns of atmospheric
circulation, such as the monsoon
systems in tropical regions
• Aerosols also change how much

solar radiation is reflected or
absorbed in the atmosphere 2006 data
• Sources- coal fired power plants,

stubble-burning, cook stoves
Outcome- Acid Rain
• Precipitation containing nitric and sulfuric acids
released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels are
burned
• Acids fall as wet precipitation (rain, snow, or fog) or
dry precipitation (gas and particulates)
• Damages trees, soils, water bodies, buildings,
statues, sculptures
Outcome- Eutrophication
• Occurs in water bodies; high concentrations of
nutrients stimulate blooms of algae that reduce
oxygen levels and can cause fish kills and loss of
plant and animal diversity.
• Air emissions of nitrogen oxides from power plants,
cars, trucks, and other sources contribute to the
amount of nitrogen entering aquatic ecosystems.
Outcome- Stratospheric Ozone Depletion
• Function: reduces penetration of the sun's UV rays
• Gradually being destroyed by man-made ozone-
depleting substances, including CFC’s, HFC’s and halons
used in some coolants, foaming agents, fire
extinguishers, solvents, pesticides, and aerosol
propellants
• Reduced ozone layer can lead to more cases of skin
cancer and cataracts, damage sensitive crops, reduce
crop yields
Outcome- Crop and Forest Damage
• Surface ozone can lead to reductions in agricultural
crop and forest yields, reduced growth and
survivability of tree seedlings, and increased plant
susceptibility to disease, pests and other
environmental stresses (such as harsh weather)
• Crop and forest damage can also result from acid
rain and from increased UV radiation caused by
ozone depletion.
Outcome- Reduced Human Health
• Lung, cardiovascular &
respiratory diseases
• Irritations of the eyes, nose, and
throat, skin allergies
• Premature deaths
• Premature and underweight
babies
• Sick Building Syndrome-
Headaches, dizziness, nausea,
lethargy, inability to concentrate,
mental fatigue
Economic Costs of Air Pollution
• In India, air pollution cost US$55.39b (8.5% of GDP in
2013)
• Treatment of medical conditions
• Absence from work
• Less food security e.g. reduced crop yields
• Impact on potable water
• How to mitigate air pollution?

• Reduced vehicle, industrial, agricultural emissions
• Change industrial and agricultural practices
• Alternative energy sources
• Cleaner cook stoves
Sociocultural Costs of Air Pollution
• Reduced community interactions
• Loss of important buildings, monuments, statues,
other structures

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AIR RESOURCES

The Great Smog of London

Source: Mint Lounge

• How are air resources

• Sulfur dioxideSO2 - 1.0 ppm

• Iodine I2 - 0.01 ppm

• Effect/s- human health due to heavy metal poisoning

• Sulphur oxides– emitted from burning of coal and other

• Toxic pollutants– manufactured chemicals emitted from

• Effect/s- Ozone at the

• Global climate change could have significant

• Aerosols also change how much

• Sources- coal fired power plants,

• How to mitigate air pollution?

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