Air Pollution and Control

(Elective-I)

Contents of Unit-I
The Structure of the atmosphere,
Definition

and

scope

Pollution,
Scales of air pollution.

of

Air

Earths atmosphere:
1) provides essential
oxygen
2) provides medium
for sound
3) shields solar
radiation
4) has been
neglected

Earths great spheres

Lithosphere- The lithosphere contains
all of the cold, hard solid land of the
planet's crust (surface), the semi-solid
land underneath the crust, and the
liquid land near the center of the planet
HydrosphereThe
hydrosphere
contains all the solid, liquid, and
gaseous water of the plane

Biosphere-

The
biosphere
contains all the planet's living
things. This sphere includes all of
the microorganisms, plants, and
animals of Earth

Atmosphere-

The atmosphere
contains all the air in Earth's
system

Atmosphere
It is a mixture of gases that forms a layer
of about 500 km thick around the
earth.
- Bottom 10-15 km (Troposphere) are
most important part in terms of
Weather and Other aspects of
Biogeochemical cycle
- The lowest 600 meters of
Troposphere: Air Quality Studies

Composition of Air - 78%

nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 1% carbon

dioxide, water, other gases
Divided into four zones:
- Troposphere
- Stratosphere
- Mesosphere
- Thermosphere

Name of
region

Height
above the
earths
surface
km

Temperatur Major
e range
chemical
OC
species

Troposphere

0-11

15 to -56

O2, N2, CO2,

H 2O

Stratosphere

11-50

-56 to -2

O3

Mesosphere

50-85

-2 to -92

O2+and NO+

-92 to 1200

O+, O2+ and

NO+

Thermosphere 85-500

85 to 500 km

50 to 85 km

11 to 50 km
0 to 11 km

The structure of atmosphere

Definitions of air pollution

Air pollution is the introduction of

chemicals, particulate matter, or

biological materials that cause
harm or discomfort to humans or
other living organisms, or cause
damage to the natural environment
or built environment, into the
atmosphere.

Engineers joint council USA

Air pollution means the presence in the
outdoor atmosphere of one or more
contaminants, such as dust, fumes, gas,
mist, odour, smoke or vapour, in
quantities, with characteristics, and of
duration such as to be injurious to
human, plant or animal life, or which
unreasonably
interfere
with
the
comfortable enjoyment of the property

American Medical Association

An air pollution is the excessive
concentration of foreign matter in the
air which adversely affects the well
being of the individuals or causes
damage to property.

Definition based on composition of air

Gas Name

Chemical Formula Percent Volume

Nitrogen
Oxygen
*Water
Argon

N2
O2
H2O
Ar

78.08%
20.95%
0 to 4%
0.93%

*Carbon Dioxide

CO2

0.0360%

Neon
Helium
*Methane
Hydrogen

Ne
He
CH4
H2

0.0018%
0.0005%
0.00017%
0.00005%

*Nitrous Oxide

N2O

0.00003%

O3

0.000004%

*Ozone and others

 Another method of defining air pollution is

first to specify the composition of clean air
and then to classify all other materials or
increased amounts of those materials given in
composition of atmospheric air pollutants if
their presence results in damage to human
beings, plants and animals or materials.
Thus according to this definition CO,
hydrogen, water vapours, ozone in a
concentration greater than 0.04 ppm
(0.000004% by volume) would be air
pollutants.

IS definition [IS-4167 (1966)]

Air pollution is presence in ambient
atmosphere of substances, generally
resulting from the activity of man, in
sufficient concentration, present for a
sufficient time and under circumstances
which interfere significantly with the
comfort, health or welfare of persons or
full use or enjoyment of property.

Types of Air Pollution

Personal air exposure

It refers to exposure to dust, fumes

and gases to which an individual

exposes himself when he indulge
himself in smoking

Occupational air exposure

It represents the type of exposure

of individuals to potentially
harmful concentration of aerosols,
vapors, and gases in their working
environment.

Community air exposure

This is most serious, complex, consists
of varieties of assortment of pollution
sources, meteorological factors, and
wide variety of adverse social,
economical, and health effects.

Air pollution problems may occur on

three scales:
i. Micro scale
ii. Meso-scale and
iii. Macro scale.

 Micro-scale problems range from those

covering less than a centimeter to those
the size of a house or slightly larger (few
meters to 100s of meter).
Meso-scale air pollution problems are
those of a few hectares up to the size of a
city or county (local-to-regional ).
Macro-scale problems extend from
counties to states, nations, and in the
broadest sense, the globe (regional-tocontinental scale)

Objective Questions
Q1. IS _____________ gives definition of air
pollution.
Q2. The lowest _______m of troposphere are
important for ___________________________
studies.
Q3. The line separating troposphere and
stratosphere is known as __________________ .
Q4. Smoking causes ____________ type of
exposure.
Q5. Thickness of atmosphere is about __ km.

Q6. ______________ problems range from

those covering less than a centimeter to
those the size of a house or slightly larger.
Q7. _____________ air pollution problems
are those of a few hectares up to the size
of a city or county.
Q8. ____________ problems extend from
counties to states, nations, and in the
broadest sense, the globe.

Theory questions

Q1. give IS definition of air pollution.

Also define air pollution based on
composition of clean air..
Q2. Write a detailed note on Structure
of the atmosphere.
Q3. Explain various types of exposures
related to air pollution.
Q4. Explain different types of scales of air
pollution