AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT

Module II - Syllabus
• Effect of air pollutants on health, vegetation, animals
and materials and environment- Green house effect -
Indoor Air Pollution- Sources of indoor air pollutants-
Effects of indoor air pollution.

Course Outcome - CO2

• Describe the effect of air pollutants on vegetation,
animals, materials and human health.
 Adverse effect of air pollution
• Acute effects
– Short term exposure to high concentration of air
pollutant
– Fast effects on humans
• Chronic effects
– Continuous exposure to low concentration of air
pollutant
– Difficult to demonstrate as slow in action
 Factors affecting human health
• Nature of the pollutants
• Concentration of the pollutants
• Duration of exposure
• State of health of the receptor
• Age group of the receptor
 Effects of Air Pollution on humans
• Reduced lung functioning
• Irritation of eyes, nose, mouth and throat
• Asthma attacks
• Respiratory symptoms such as coughing and wheezing
• Increased respiratory disease such as bronchitis
• Reduced energy levels
• Headaches and dizziness
• Disruption of endocrine, reproductive and immune systems
• Neuro behavioural disorders
• Cardiovascular problems
• Cancer
• Premature death
 Effect of air pollution on human health
• Eye irritation- due to NOX, O3, PAN, smog,
particulates etc
• Nose and throat irritation – due to SO2, NOX,
insecticides, pesticides etc
• Gaseous pollutants like H2S, SO2, NO2- can cause
odour nuisance even at low concentrations
• Irritation of the respiratory tract – due to SOX, NOX,
O3, CO etc
• Increase in mortality and morbidity rate
• Pollens- can initiate asthmatic attack
• High concentrations of SO2, NO2, SPM and
photochemical smog- chronic pulmonary diseases
like bronchitis and asthma
• CO + hemoglobin - cardiovascular and pulmonary
diseases
• NO + hemoglobin – reduces oxygen carrying
capacity
• Hydrogen fluoride – Fluorosis and mottling of teeth
• Polycyclic organic compounds, aliphatic
hydrocarbons – cause cancer
• Dust particles – cause silicosis, asbestosis
• Heavy metals like lead may entered to lungs
cause poisoning- high concentration can damage
liver and kidney- can cause abnormality in fertility
and pregnancy- mental development of children
gets affected
• Exposure to radioactive isotopes- Iodine 131,
Phosphorous 32, Cobalt 60, Radium 226 – cause
anemia, leukemia, cancer, shortening of life span
and genetic defects,
Effect of air pollution on vegetation
 Air pollution effects on vegetation
• Necrosis – dead areas on a leaf structure
• Chlorosis – reduction or loss of chlorophyll leads to
yellowing
• Epinatsy – downward curvature of leaf due to high
growth on upper surface
• Abscission- dropping of leaf
 Effect of air pollution on plants
Pollutant Effects on plants
SO2 Bleaching of leaves, necrosis (killing of tissues)

O3 Premature aging, suppressed growth, necrosis,

bleaching, collapse of leaf
NO2 Suppressed growth, bleaching

Flourides Necrosis at leaf tip

Ethylene Leaf abscission (dropping of leaves), leaf epinasty,

(downward curvature of leaf due to higher rate of growth
on the upper surface)
PAN Suppressed growth, silvering of lower leaf surface

Chlorosis- reduction in the chlorophyll

Effect of air pollution on animals
• Accumulation of air pollutants in the
vegetation and forage ; and subsequent
poisoning of the animals, when they eat the
contaminated vegetation/forage
• Main pollutants responsible are :
– Fluorine :
• Cumulative poison under conditions of continous
exposure to sub acute doses
• Effects : lack of appetite, rapid loss of weight,
lameness, periodic diarrhea, muscular weakness,
wearing of teeth, death
• Cattle and sheep are the most susceptible to fluorine
toxicity
• Horses are quite resistant
• Poultry are most resistant
• Lead
– Chronic lead poisoning in animals that have
been grazing near smelters and lead mines
– Causes paralysis and difficulty in breathing,
complete loss of appetite, diarrhea
• Arsenic
– In acute cases, it cause severe salivation, thirst,
vomiting, irregular pulse and respiration,
abnormal body temperature and death in few
hours
– Chronic arsenic poisoning causes cough,
diarrhea, anemia, abortion, paralysis and death
 Effects on aquatic life
• Death of aquatic organisms.

Effects on global and regional environment

• Acid rains, ozone depletions, global warming

Economic effects of air pollution
• Corrosion :
– Corrosion of metals; Main pollutant is SO2
– SO2 + O2 H2SO4
– Deposition of H2SO4 on metal parts of building roofs,
railway tracks, overhead wires, metal on bridges, and
other structures cause enormous loss due to
corrosion
• Damage to building materials
– Acid deposition reacts with limestone, marble, and
other building materials to cause deterioration and
disfigured the building materials
• Damage to paints and protective covering
– Damage by SO2, O3, H2S and aerosols
• Damage to textile dyes and textile fibres
– Fading and deterioration of natural and synthetic
textile fibres is caused by SOX, NOX and O3
• Rubber cracking
– Cracking of tyres and various forms of electrical
insulation – caused by ozone and PAN
• Deterioration of leather and paper
– SO2 – cause leather to lose its strength and ultimately
disintegrate
– Impurities in a paper absorb SO2 and covert it to
H2SO4 in the presence of moisture- makes paper
extremely brittle and decreases its folding resistance
• Effect on glasses and ceramics
– Long exposure of air pollutants for years showed a
change in their surface appearance
• Damage to objects of art and architecture
– Acid rain – effects on the Tajmahal, Belur
Temple, Cleopatra’s needle, Statue of Liberty,
paintings, antique costumes and other art
objects
• Increased transportation costs in period of smog
• Loss due to reduction in tourists traffic due to
effects of air pollutants on art treasures and tourist
centres
• Expenditure due to the adoption of technical
measures
• Expenditure in connection with the administrative
organization of pollution control
• Electric cables and electricity poles – power leakage
occurs due to the deposition of particles which are
good conductors of electricity on insulators on
electric poles
Acid Rain

Cultural and
heritage
damage
Damage to
structures
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
• The indoor environment represents an important
microenvironment in which people spend a large
part of their time each day.

• Pollutants can be 5-100 times greater than outdoors

• Most common:
– Radon, cigarette smoke, carbon monoxide,
nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, pesticides, lead,
cleaning solvents, ozone, and asbestos
• The major sources of indoor air pollution worldwide include
combustion of solid fuels indoors, tobacco smoking,
outdoor air pollutants, emissions from construction
materials and furnishings, and improper maintenance of
ventilation and air conditioning systems.
• About half of the world’s population, largely in developing
countries, relies on traditional fuels such as biomass (wood,
agricultural residues and animal dung), charcoal and coal as
the primary source of domestic energy.
• Use of solid fuels in open or poorly ventilated stoves for
cooking and heating exposes an estimated three billion
people to high concentrations of PM and gases that are
some 10–20 times higher than levels commonly found in
international health guidelines (including the WHO air
quality guidelines).
Sources and Impact of indoor air pollution
Smoke
• Smoke can be caused from cigarette
smoke, smoke from fireplaces,
stoves and cooking fires.
• Risks: Lung cancer, prolonged
exposure to smoke can aggravate
and may even cause asthma or other
chronic respiratory conditions.
• Prevention: Eliminate all indoor
cigarette smoking and keep home
well-ventilated to prevent the build-
up of smoke from indoor fires. Have
chimneys and flues regularly cleaned
and maintained.
•
2. Mold
• Origin: Mold is an allergen that
can also be harmful to anyone
who is exposed to it for lengthy
periods of time. Mold typically
grows in damp, warm and dark
conditions.
• Risks: Asthma, allergic
reactions and other chronic
respiratory conditions.
• Prevention: Keep your home as
dry as possible and maintain a
humidity level below 50%.
Check for leaky pipes and
water drips.
•
3. Carbon monoxide
• Origin: A colorless, odorless gas that results from the
burning of fossil fuels. Carbon monoxide can be emitted
from cigarettes, defective furnaces and other heating devices
as well as from automobiles.

• Risks: Carbon monoxide is an acutely toxic gas. Exposure

causes nausea, unconsciousness and eventually death.
• Prevention: Because the gas cannot be seen or smelled, a
carbon monoxide detector is needed to detect dangerous
levels. Keep the furnace, electrical appliances etc regularly
cleaned and inspected.
4. Radon
– Colourless, odorless, radioactive gas
– Forms naturally from the decay
(breaking down) of radioactive
elements, such as uranium, which are
found in different amounts in soil and
rock throughout the world. Radon gas
in the soil and rock can move into the
air and into underground water and
surface water. An invisible, radioactive
gas. Radon may be found in certain
rock formations underneath your home
and in some building materials.
– Long term exposure can cause lung
cancer
– Fix cracks in floor or walls to prevent
influx of radon
– Install ventilation fan in basement to
blow radon out.
5. Asbestos
– Roofing, flooring, insulation,
brakes
– Harmless unless disturbed or
deteriorates
– Can cause asbestosis
(scarring of lungs) and
mesothelioma (type of lung
cancer)
– Prevention: Asbestos needs to
be handled by trained
professionals because the
Plaque build up (scarring)
removal process can often
in lung with asbestosis
release harmful asbestos
fibers into the air.
6. Lead
– Old homes, toys, lead
crystal dishes
– Causes behavior &
learning problems,
slow growth, hearing
problems, headaches
7. Formaldehyde
– Pressed wood,
paneling, particle
board, glue,
deodorizers
– Respiratory irritation,
fatigue, skin rash,
known to cause cancer
8. VOC’s
– Paradichlorobenzene-
mothballs, insecticides
– PERC- dry cleaned clothes
– Benzene- paints,
cigarettes
– Causes respiratory
problems, headaches,
loss of coordination,
nausea, organ damage,
cancer
9. Ozone
• Origin: A gas caused by ultraviolet light and electricity,
especially indoor ionizers, interacting with the atmosphere.
Ozone is found in high concentrations at altitude but is also
present on the ground.
• Risks: Ozone can cause shortness of breath, chest pains and
asthma attacks. Ozone can also create toxic gases when it
interacts with other substances.
• Prevention: Reduce indoor ozone levels by keeping your
home well-ventilated. Limit exposure to “green” cleaning
products made with citrus and terpene extracts as these react
very quickly with ozone to create dangerous fumes.
SOURCES OUTSIDE BUILDING CAUSING INDOOR POLLUTION

Contaminated outdoor air

• pollen, dust, fungal spores
• industrial pollutants
• general vehicle exhaust
Emissions from nearby sources
• exhaust from vehicles on nearby roads or in parking lots, or
garages
• odours from dumpsters
• re-entrained (drawn back into the building) exhaust from the
building itself or from neighbouring buildings
• unsanitary debris near the outdoor air intake
SOURCES OUTSIDE BUILDING contd…
Equipment-HVAC system
• dust or dirt in ductwork or other components
• microbiological growth in drip pans, humidifiers, ductwork, coils
• improper use of biocides, sealants, and/or cleaning compounds
• improper venting of combustion products
• refrigerant leakage
Non-HVAC equipment
• emissions from office equipment (volatile organic compounds, ozone)
• emissions from shops, labs, cleaning processes
• elevator motors and other mechanical systems
Human Activities
• Smoking, cooking
• body odour
• cosmetic odours
Sick building syndrome
• Sick building syndrome (SBS) is a condition in which
people in a building suffer from symptoms of illness or
become infected with chronic disease from
the building in which they work or reside.
• Sick Building Syndrom is used to describe the condition
in which the building occupants experience acute health
discomforts that appear to be linked with to the time
spend in a building, but no specific illness or cause can
be identified.
• This is a condition affecting office workers, typically
marked by headaches and respiratory problems,
attributed to unhealthy or stressful factors in the
working environment such as poor ventilation.
Possible risk factors of Sick Building Syndrom
• psychological factors, such as stress or low staff morale
• improper use of display screen equipment
• poor lighting that causes glare or flicker on visual display
units (VDUs)
• poor standards of cleanliness in the working environment
• physical factors, such as electrostatic charges
• airborne chemical pollutants, such as those from cleaning
materials or furniture, or ozone produced by photocopiers
and printers
• airborne particles, such as dust, carpet fibres or fungal
spores
• high temperature or changes in temperature throughout
the day
• low humidity
• poor ventilation
Factors governing the indoor air quality problem
1)Air exchange rate
2) Indoor rate of removal of pollutants
3) Outdoor concentration of air pollutant
4) Infiltration and exfiltration rate.
• When there isn't an effective air exchange rate, which is the rate at
which outdoor air replaces indoor air, indoor pollutant levels can
increase.
• Air exchange rate is managed through natural and/or mechanical
ventilation.
• Natural ventilation occurs when air moves through opened doors
and windows by wind or temperature differences.
• Mechanical ventilation occurs when devices such as fans or air
handling systems distribute or move air.
• A proper air exchange rate it is vital for maintaining healthy indoor
air.