Air Pollution. Lecture

Air Pollution
What is Air Pollution?

Air pollution refers to any physical, chemical or biological change in the
air. It is the contamination of air by harmful gases, dust and smoke which
affects plants, animals and humans drastically.
There is a certain percentage of gases present in the atmosphere. An
increase or decrease in the composition of these gases is harmful to
survival. This imbalance in the gaseous composition has resulted in an
increase in earth’s temperature, which is known as global warming.
Types of Air Pollutants
There are two types of air pollutants:
Primary Pollutants
The pollutants that directly cause air pollution are known as primary
pollutants. Sulphur-dioxide emitted from factories is a primary pollutant.
Secondary Pollutants
The pollutants formed by the intermingling and reaction of primary
pollutants are known as secondary pollutants. Smog, formed by the
intermingling of smoke and fog, is a secondary pollutant.
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 the
workers and people living in the nearby areas.
Domestic Sources
The household cleaning products and paints contain toxic chemicals that
are released in the air. The smell from the newly painted walls is the smell
of the chemicals present in the paints. It not only pollutes the air but also
affects breathing.
Effects of Air Pollution
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. Many people die every year due to the direct or
indirect effects of air pollution.
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. Many areas are submerged underwater.
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.
Ozone Layer Depletion
The release of chlorofluorocarbons, halons, and hydrochlorofluorocarbons
in the atmosphere is the major cause of depletion of the ozone layer. The
depleting ozone layer does not prevent the harmful ultraviolet rays
coming from the sun and causes skin diseases and eye problems among
individuals.
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.
Air Pollution Control and Mitigation
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.
6. Sometimes controlling pollutants at the source is not possible. In
that case, we can have process control equipment to control the pollution.
7. A very effective way of controlling air pollution is by diluting the air
pollutants.
8. The last and the best way of reducing the ill effects of air pollution is
tree plantation. Plants and trees reduce a large number of pollutants in
the air. Ideally, planting trees in areas of high pollution levels will be
extremely effective

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Air Pollution

What is Air Pollution?

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