Air Pollutants: Types, Sources, Effects and Control of Air Pollutants
- 1. Types of Air Pollutants: An air pollutant is known as a substance in the air that can cause harm to humans and the environment. ...
- 2. Sources of Air Pollution: Sources of air pollution refer to the various locations, activities or factors which are responsible for the releasing of pollutants in the atmosphere. ...
- 3. Effects of Air Pollutants: ...
- 4. Control of Air Pollution: ...
What are some common examples of air pollutants?
Natural Sources of Pollution:
- Dust: Dust is also considered as a pollutant of the air. It usually has a high dose of pollen grains which also are considered as dust. ...
- Natural Gas: Among the air pollutants list, natural gases will be one. ...
- Crackers: Burning of crackers is yet another type of air pollution that is prevalent. ...
What are the five sources of air pollution?
natural sources– such as wind-blown dust, wildfires, and volcanoes Mobile, stationary, area, and natural sources all emit pollution into the air. Mobile sources account for more than half of all the air pollution in the United States and the primary mobile source of air pollution is the automobile, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
What are the five causes of air pollution?
Top 10 Causes of Air Pollution
- Particulate Matter. Air pollution is characterised by the presence of particulate matter in the air of the atmosphere.
- Poisonous Gas. ...
- Emission from Vehicles. ...
- Combustion of Fossil Fuels. ...
- Pollution From Air Conditioners. ...
- Dust & Dirt. ...
- Household Pollution. ...
- Pollution from Natural Events. ...
- Deforestation. ...
- Pollution from Factories. ...
What are some possible sources of air pollution?
What are the Main Sources of Air Pollution?
- Vehicle Exhaust Pollution. In large cities across the country, ozone and nitrous oxides from vehicle emissions rise to the top of air quality concerns and take their place with the ...
- Proximity to Highways. ...
- Deadly Diesel Exhaust. ...
- Ship Exhaust Pollution. ...
- Indoor Air Pollution. ...
- Emissions Inventory for Port Alberni. ...
What is the meaning of air pollutants?
Air pollutants are substances in air that could, at high enough concentrations, harm human beings, animals, vegetation or material. Air pollutants may thus include forms of matter of almost any natural or artificial composition capable of being airborne.
What are the 5 main air pollutants?
The common air pollutants are:Particulate matter (PM10 and PM2. ... Ozone (O3)Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)Carbon monoxide (CO)Sulphur dioxide (SO2)
What are the 4 air pollutants?
Six Most Common Air PollutantsCarbon Monoxide.Nitrogen Dioxide (EPA)Ozone (EPA)Particulate Matter.Lead (EPA)Sulfur Dioxide.Six Common Pollutants (EPA)
What are the 8 major air pollutants?
Major air pollutants include carbon monoxide (CO), ammonia (NH3), nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), particulate matter (PM), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and volatile organic compounds (VOC).
Which air pollutant is most harmful?
Ultrafine Particles (UFPs) UFPs are the most dangerous particulate matter because their tiny size makes them extremely inhalable.
Which is the largest air pollutant?
Carbon-monoxide is a major air pollutant.
What are the 2 main types of air pollution?
Types of air pollution. The most common and harmful pollutants outdoors include: particulate matter. nitrogen dioxide.
What is the most common source of air pollutants?
Most human-made air pollution comes from burning fossil fuels for transportation, electricity, and industry. Common pollutants produced by engines that burn fossil fuels are carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and particulates.
What are main pollutants?
These six pollutants are carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen oxides, ground-level ozone, particle pollution (often referred to as particulate matter), and sulfur oxides.
What are the 10 types of air pollution?
Sources and Effects of 10 Common Air PollutantsCarbon Monoxide (CO)Lead (Pb)Ozone (O3)Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)Particulate Matter (PM)Carbon Dioxide.Methane.More items...
What are the main air pollutants and their effects?
The gaseous criteria air pollutants of primary concern in urban settings include sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide; these are emitted directly into the air from fossil fuels such as fuel oil, gasoline, and natural gas that are burned in power plants, automobiles, and other combustion sources.
What is air pollution and its effects?
Air pollution consists of chemicals or particles in the air that can harm the health of humans, animals, and plants. It also damages buildings. Pollutants in the air take many forms. They can be gases, solid particles, or liquid droplets. Sources of Air Pollution.
What are the 7 types of air pollution?
Most Common Types of Air PollutantsSulfur Oxides (SOx) Toxic gases produced by the volcanic activity, industrial processes, and burning of fossil fuels. ... Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) ... Carbon monoxide (CO) ... Carbon dioxide (CO2) ... VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) ... Particulate Matter (PM) ... Hg in Gaseous Form. ... Radioactive Pollutants.More items...
What are the 7 criteria air pollutants?
The criteria air pollutants include particle pollution, ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lead. These pollutants can harm your health and the environment, and cause property damage.
What are the major types of pollutants?
Pollutants with the strongest evidence for public health concern include particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulphur dioxide (SO2). Health problems can occur as a result of both short- and long-term exposure to these various pollutants.
What are the 2 main types of air pollution?
There are two main types of air pollutants: primary and secondary. Most air pollutants come from burning fossil fuels. Some come from burning forests. Some are due to the evaporation of chemicals.
What are Air Pollutants?
Pollutants are the substances which cause pollution; air pollution is caused by air pollutants.
What are the particles that pollute the air by being suspended?
Particulate Pollutants. The particles that pollute the air by being suspended can be defined as particulate pollutants. These particles are results of some anthropogenic processes like vehicles, industries, construction sites/activities, etc. or natural sources like pollen, volcanic eruptions, natural gaseous precursors, etc.
What are the particles in the air called?
or natural sources like pollen, volcanic eruptions, natural gaseous precursors, etc. The solid and liquid particles suspended in our air are called aerosols.
What is fly ash?
Fly Ash. Fly Ash is particles of oxides and other heavy metals. The majority of them are aluminum silicate (in large amounts), silicon dioxide (SiO2), and calcium oxide (CaO). Thermal power plants are a major source of Fly Ash pollutants. Its deposition in agricultural fields can cause heavy metal contamination of crops and vegetables.
What is the NP?
Nanoparticles (NP) Nanoparticles have diameters less than 100 Nanometers (10-9). NP is responsible for the formation of dust clouds, Ozone depletion, environmental hydroxyl radical concentration, and stratospheric temperature changes.
What is SO2 gas?
Sulphur dioxide (SO2) Pungent smelling colorless gas produced from mostly volcanic activities, industrial processes, and production of sulphuric acid. Respiratory issues, premature deaths, and death of certain nerves when inhaled.
What causes SMOG?
Caused due to the reaction between oxygen and nitrogen at high temps such as in combustion engines and industries. Aggravates Ashtamatic conditions and other respiratory issues in humans. Plays a major role in the formation of SMOG, acid rain (nitric acid), and the greenhouse effect.
What are some examples of air pollutants?
Examples of toxic air pollutants include. benzene, which is found in gasoline; perchloroethylene, which is emitted from some dry cleaning facilities; and. methylene chloride, which is used as a solvent and paint stripper by a number of industries.
What are the health effects of air pollutants?
Hazardous air pollutants, also known as toxic air pollutants or air toxics, are those pollutants that are known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health effects, such as reproductive effects or birth defects, or adverse environmental effects.
How to recover sorbed gas?
After the sample has been collected on the solid sorbent, the tube is sealed and transported to the analytical laboratory. To recover the sorbed gas, two techniques may be used. The tube may be heated while an inert gas is flowing through it. At a sufficiently high temperature, the absorbed molecules are desorbed and carried out of the tube with the inert gas stream. The gas stream may then be passed through a preconcentration trap for injection into a gas chromatograph for chemical analysis. The second technique is liquid extraction of the sorbent and subsequent liquid chromatography. Sometimes a derivatization step is necessary to convert the collected material chemically into compounds which will pass through the column more easily, e.g. conversion of carboxylic acids to methyl esters. Solid sorbents have increased our ability to measure hydrocarbon species under a variety of field conditions. However, this technique requires great skill and sophisticated equipment to obtain accurate results. Care must be taken to minimize problems of contamination of the collection medium, sample instability on the sorbent and incomplete recovery of the sorbed gases.
What are the effects of air pollution on the respiratory system?
Air pollutants cause many respiratory diseases, both acute and chronic. Acute diseases include a range from mild irritations to inflammation to allergic reactions to impaired lung function to complete respiratory failure depending on the level of exposure.
How do air pollution problems vary?
Air pollutant problems vary greatly in their spatial scales. Some are very local in character, with the environmental impact of the pollution restricted to the immediate vicinity of, for example, a road or a factory. Other problems are regional in character as a result of the long-range transport of pollutants such as acid deposition and tropospheric ozone. Similarly, pollutant impacts may vary on different temporal scales. Some impacts, for example, are the result of an accidental release of large pollutant concentrations, which may cause an immediate impact on biodiversity, and from which there may be a slow and gradual recovery, whereas others are the result of an accumulation of pollutant deposition over years or even decades.
Why is the dividing line between particulate and aerosol clear?
The dividing line between the particulate/aerosol classes, and the gaseous classes is clear enough because of the phase difference. However, the position of the dividing line between the particulate and the aerosol classes is less obvious, since it is based on whether or not a second phase stays in suspension in air.
What are air pollutants?
Air pollutants are airborne substances (either solids, liquids, or gases) that occur in concentrations high enough to threaten the health of people and animals, to harm vegetation and structures, or to toxify a given environment.
What is air toxic?
Hazardous air pollutants, known as “ air toxics”, are chemical compounds suspected of causing cancer and other chronic human health risks. Air pollutant hazard primarily focuses on the human toxicity of a chemical compound. The toxicity to other species is also of concern. For example, some species are sensitive to substances ...
How to collect gaseous samples?
By use of pressure–volume relationships, it is possible to remove a known volume from the tank for subsequent chemical analysis. Another means of collecting gaseous samples is the collapsible bag. Bags made of polymer films can be used for collection and transport of samples. The air may be pumped into the bag by an inert pump such as one using flexible metal bellows, or the air may be sucked into the bag by placing the bag in an airtight container which is then evacuated. This forces the bag to expand, drawing in the ambient air sample.
What is NIEHS Doing?from niehs.nih.gov
Over its 50-plus year history, NIEHS has been a leader in air pollution research. In 1993, NIEHS researchers published the landmark Six Cities Study, which established an association between fine particulate matter and mortality. The institute continues to fund and conduct research into how air pollution affects health and the population groups who are most affected.
What county is NIEHS in?from niehs.nih.gov
NIEHS also helps residents of Imperial County, California track air pollution through a network of 40 community-run monitors. In this county, long-term improvements in air quality were associated with significant lung-function improvement in children.
What is the health challenge of 2020?from niehs.nih.gov
In 2020, a major public health challenge was confluence of the COVID-19 pandemic and wildfires across the western U.S. Building on a well-established connection between air pollution and respiratory-tract infections, a study linked wildfire smoke with additional COVID-19 cases and deaths.
What are CFCs used for?from nationalgeographic.org
chemical compound mostly used in refrigerants and flame-retardants. Some CFCs have destructive effects on the ozone layer.
What is traffic related air pollution?from niehs.nih.gov
Traffic-Related Air Pollution (TRAP), from motor vehicle emissions, may be the most recognizable form of air pollution. It contains most of the elements of human-made air pollution: ground-level ozone, various forms of carbon, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and fine particulate matter.
How does air pollution affect the lung?from niehs.nih.gov
Air pollution can affect lung development and is implicated in the development of emphysema, asthma, and other respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). PM and nitrogen oxide are linked to chronic bronchitis.
What are the main causes of air pollution?from who.int
Industry, transportation, coal power plants and household solid fuel usage are major contributors to air pollution. Air pollution continues to rise at an alarming rate, and affects economies and people’s quality of life. Air pollution threatens the health of people in many parts of the world.
What are the pollutants that are considered a criteria?
These pollutants (known as "criteria pollutants") are found all over the United States. They are particulate matter (often referred to as particle pollution), ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lead.
What is a hazardous air pollution?
Hazardous Air Pollutants. Toxic air pollutants, also known as hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), are those pollutants that are known or suspected to cause cancer, other serious health effects (including reproductive effects or birth defects), or adverse environmental effects. EPA is working with state, local, and tribal governments ...
What are some examples of HAPs?
Examples of HAPs include benzene, which is found in gasoline; perchloroethylene, which is emitted from some dry cleaning facilities; and methylene chloride, which is used as a solvent and paint stripper by a number of industries.
What Is Air Pollution?
Air pollution refers to the release of pollutants into the air—pollutants which are detrimental to human health and the planet as a whole. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), each year air pollution is responsible for nearly seven million deaths around the globe. Nine out of ten human beings currently breathe air that exceeds the WHO’s guideline limits for pollutants, with those living in low- and middle-income countries suffering the most. In the United States, the Clean Air Act, established in 1970, authorizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to safeguard public health by regulating the emissions of these harmful air pollutants.
What is the difference between smog and soot?
Smog (sometimes referred to as ground-level ozone) occurs when emissions from combusting fossil fuels react with sunlight. Soot (also known as particulate matter) is made up of tiny particles of chemicals, soil, smoke, dust, or allergens—in the form of either gas or solids—that are carried in the air. The sources of smog and soot are similar.
What are the most common pollutants in the air?
Almost 200 of them are regulated by law; some of the most common are mercury, lead, dioxins, and benzene. “These are also most often emitted during gas or coal combustion, incinerating, or—in the case of benzene—found in gasoline,” Walke says.
How does air pollution affect climate?
“Air pollution in the form of carbon dioxide and methane raises the earth’s temperature,” Walke says. “Another type of air pollution, smog, is then worsened by that increased heat, ...
Why is ragweed pollen worse?
Pollen allergies are worsening because of climate change. “Lab and field studies are showing that pollen-producing plants—especially ragweed—grow larger and produce more pollen when you increase the amount of carbon dioxide that they grow in,” Knowlton says. “Climate change also extends the pollen production season, and some studies are beginning to suggest that ragweed pollen itself might be becoming a more potent allergen.” If so, more people will suffer runny noses, fevers, itchy eyes, and other symptoms.
How can we reduce air pollution?
“Make good choices about transportation. When you can, walk, ride a bike, or take public transportation.
How many people died from air pollution in 2019?
According to the most recent State of Global Air report —which summarizes the latest scientific understanding of air pollution around the world—4.5 million deaths were linked to outdoor air pollution exposures in 2019, and another 2.2 million deaths were caused by indoor air pollution. “Despite improvements in reducing global average mortality ...
Why is the EPA calling these pollutants “criteria” air pollutants?
EPA calls these pollutants “criteria” air pollutants because it sets NAAQS for them based on the criteria, which are characterizations of the latest scientific information regarding their effects on health or welfare. "). These pollutants are found all over the U.S.
What are the EPA standards for air quality?
The Clean Air Act requires EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) National Ambient Air Quality Standards National Ambient Air Quality Standards established by EPA for six "criteria" pollutants in outdoor air. NAAQS are currently set for carbon monoxide, lead, ground-level ozone, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide. for six common air pollutants (also known as " criteria air pollutants Criteria Air Pollutants These pollutants are particulate matter, photochemical oxidants (including ozone), carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides and lead. EPA calls these pollutants “criteria” air pollutants because it sets NAAQS for them based on the criteria, which are characterizations of the latest scientific information regarding their effects on health or welfare. "). These pollutants are found all over the U.S. They can harm your health and the environment, and cause property damage.
What is the EPA's air toxics strategy?from epa.gov
The following document provides a summary of EPA’s Air Toxics Strategy to more effectively identify and address existing, emerging, and future air toxics issues in the U.S. Identifying air toxics issues and appropriate approaches for addressing them requires strong communication, coordination and collaboration between EPA, our regulatory partners, and stakeholders, as well as sound technical information and analyses to support technical and policy solutions. A focus of the strategy is to provide structure to the Air Toxics Program so that we can more effectively address air toxics issues, including environmental justice issues associated with air toxics in communities.
What is considered a major air source?from sciencedirect.com
An air toxic source is designated as “major” if it emits 10 or more tons per year of any of the listed toxic air pollutants or 25 or more tons per year of a mixture of air toxics. In addition to releases from stacks and vents, these emission totals include equipment leaks and releases during transfer. Area sources are those facilities that emit < 10 tons per year of a single air toxic or < 25 tons per year of a combination of air toxics [5].
How many pollutants are there in the US?from sciencedirect.com
The United States presently lists 187 hazardous air pollutants. Most of these are carcinogenic, mutagenic, and/or toxic to neurological, endocrine, reproductive, and developmental systems. Actually, this list includes many > 189 chemical compounds. For example, the coke-oven emission category includes thousands of chemical species, and the metals are listed as metals and their compounds. The EPA published a list of source categories issued maximum achievable control technology (MACT) standards for each category over a specified timetable. The next step beyond MACT standards was to begin to address chronic health risks that would still be expected if the sources meet these standards, that is, residual risk reduction. The first step was to assess the health risks from air toxics emitted by stationary sources that emit air toxics after the technology-based, that is, MACT, standards are in place. The residual risk provision sets additional standards if MACT does not protect public health with an “ample margin of safety” and additional standards if they are needed to prevent adverse environmental effects.
Why are airborne contaminants harmful?from nps.gov
These airborne contaminants are especially harmful, because they are long-lasting and do not break down in the environment, can build up in tissues of organisms, and have toxic effects. Mercury, PCBs, and pesticides can enter the food chain in areas impacted by air pollution. The National Park Service is concerned about these ...
What are the contaminants in fish?from nps.gov
If local fish advisories warn about contaminants that concentrate in the fatty portion of the fish (PCB, pesticides, dioxins, PBDEs), then try to consume less fatty fish or fish that feed on the bottom of lakes or streams as they may have lower levels of these harmful contaminants.
What is BCA II?from sciencedirect.com
Bovine carbonic anhydrase isoform II (BCA II) has been immobilized onto KIT-6 nanoporous silica nanoparticles having a diameter of < 100 nm. Structural studies by circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy have found that immobilized enzyme is highly stable even at very high concentrations of denaturants. The melting temperatures ( Tm) of soluble and immobilized BCA II have been found to be 64.7°C and 71.9°C, respectively. Further immobilized enzyme has pronounced stability against pH and thermal deactivation. Immobilized BCA II has been strongly recommended for industrial-scale applications, particularly in CO 2 capturing of large amounts [88]. A large amount of CA has been obtained through DNA recombinant technology by using CA DNA from thermophilic bacterium Sulfurihydrogenibium yellowstonense and expressed in Escherichia coli and labeled as SspCA (α-CA). This enzyme has been immobilized onto the surface of magnetic Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles (MNP) through carbodiimide. Here, various growth parameters for culturing E. coli leading to maximum enzyme production have been intensely optimized. Both enzyme stability and storage time have improved significantly during immobilization and most importantly immobilized enzyme can be easily recovered once it has undergone catalysis through application of a magnet or electromagnetic field [89]. A bioreactor based on continuous biocatalytic hydration of CO 2 has been performed by using CA from Rhodobacter sphaeroides immobilized onto electrospun polystyrene/poly (styrene- co -maleic anhydride) (PS/PSMA) nanofibers in the form of cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEA). The CA-CLEA has a storage stability of 60 days at 4°C with 60 reuses, without any performance loss. A large amount of enzyme can be produced by enhanced cell growth of R. sphaeroides with the addition of organic substances like carotenoid, bacteriochlorophyll, porphyrin, and coenzyme Q10 in the growth medium. Immobilized enzyme has been produced in an environmentally friendly manner, which has further added momentum for its greater usage in large-scale plants [90]. The conversion of CO 2 into biocarbonate was performed in a biomimetic nanoconfiguration by using immobilized CA onto carboxylic acid group-functionalized mesoporous silica (HOOC-FMS). The enzyme immobilization led to a slight change in conformational structure of the enzyme. This can easily be compensated for with a large amount of enzyme loading, which provides higher enzymatic activity as well as higher immobilization efficiency of > 60%. This work has provided a novel platform for converting CO 2 into biocarbonate, which can easily be incorporated into other biosynthetic processes [91].
What are some examples of air pollutants?from epa.gov
Examples of toxic air pollutants include. benzene, which is found in gasoline; perchloroethylene, which is emitted from some dry cleaning facilities; and. methylene chloride, which is used as a solvent and paint stripper by a number of industries.
