Environmental Pollution

The term environment was first discussed in UN Conference on Environment and Development held at Stockholm in the year 1972. Def: Pollution defined as an undesirable change in physical, chemical and biological characteristics of environment.

20.11.2010

Types of Pollution
Air Water Soil Noise Chemical Thermal Radioactive rays Solid Waste

2
Pollutant - A substance, which effects adversely or alters the environment by changing the growth rate of species, interferes with the food chain, or is toxic, or interferes with health, comfort amenities or property values of people.

Effects of Pollution on Personal level Regional / National Global level

Sources of Pollution in Personal level:

Low cost fuels like: Wood. Kerosene Coal Cow dung cakes

National/Regional level
Domestic Agriculture Industrial Commercial Solid waste etc

Global level
Ozone depletion Climate Change Global Warming Green House Effect Acid Rain Deforestation

Air Pollution
Def: Air Pollution may be defined as any atmospheric condition in, which certain substances are present in such concentrations that they can produce undesirable effects on man and his environment.

Sources of Pollutants
Use of low quality fuels for cooking and heating. -Poor Ventilated dwellings at work place -Passive smoking -Cottage Industry activities -Emission of gases from industries ex.oil refineries, textiles, pulp And paper, blowouts, municipal garbage

Outdoor pollution

Air Pollution in water

Syncrude processing plant at night reflected in tailings settling pond. Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada

 Syncrude is the largest producer of oil in Canada and supplies some thirteen percent of the countrys oil requirements. The company is located in the Athabasca Oil Sands in northeastern Alberta, Canada. The Athabasca Oil sands are the largest reservoir of crude bitumen in the world. Crude bitumen is a semi-solid form of crude oil. Syncrude is actually a joint venture between a number of very large companies. It has been said that Syncrude's Mildred Lake Plant produces more greenhouses gases than any other site in Canada.

Gas flare (lower left) at a nitrogen plant. Photographed in Trinidad. Nitrogen was first discovered by Daniel Rutherford and it is present in all living organisms. During processing, small amounts of natural gas typically too small to merit commercial recovery - are produced and burnt of in the form of a gas flare.

Air pollution from an oil refiner. The process of oil refining releases many different chemicals into the atmosphere resulting in substantial air pollution emissions and a notable odour. In addition to air pollution there are also wastewater concerns, risks of fire and explosion, and environmental noise health effects. in Aruba.

Layers of Atmosphere
Name of the layers of Atmosphere Altitude from sea level km Range of temperature Centigrade degrees

1.

Troposphere

0-12

+20 to -58

2.
3.

Stratosphere
Mesosphere

12-52
52-90

-58 to 0
0 to -97

4.

Thermo or ionosphere

90-700

-97 to 1200

Atmospheric pollutants broadly classified into i. Natural contaminants e.g. Natural fog, Pollen grains, bacteria, and products of volcanic eruption. ii. Aerosols e.g. Dust, smoke, mists, fog and fumes Iii. Gases and vapour Organic and inorganic

 Aerosols defined as colloidal system in which the dispersion medium is a gas and the dispersed phase is solid or liquid ex. dust, smoke, mist, fog, fumes The size of the aerosols particle varies. Generally range of the size is 0.01 microns or less up to about 100 microns.

 Mists: Mists means a light dispersion of minute water droplets suspended in the atmosphere. The formation of mist reduces the visibility. It is not possible to see the things beyond few meters. Fog: Fog refers to the visible aerosols. It is dispersion of water or ice in the atmosphere near earths surface reducing visibility less than halfkilo meter particles size 40-1.0 microns

Fumes: These are solid particles generated by condensation from the gaseous state, generally after volatilization from melted substances, and often accompanied by a chemical reaction such an oxidation Smoke: Smoke consists of finely divided particles produced by incomplete combustion. The size is of the particles is less than 1 micron. The size of particulates.

Coal smokes particles range from 0.2-0.01. Oil smoke particles from 1.0- 0.03. microns

 Dust: It is produced by crushing and grinding etc; of the organic material. They are generally over 20 microns in diameter. Although some are small. Fly ash, from chimneys varies from 3-80 microns. Cement 10-150-, and Foundry dust 1-200.

 Smog: The term smog was originally used in 1905 in London to denote a combination of smoke and fog. Smog is the combination of smoke and fog. (smoke+fog =smog) by 1944 smoke was known to cause glazing, silvering, bronzing and sometimes of the lower surface of leaf sensitive species resulting in serious losses. The fog does not contain hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and other harmful substances.

 The toxic substance smog is irritates the eyes and damage the lungs and also damage the plants and animals. It is impossible to eliminate from air, which cause air pollution in entirely in industrial nation. Many industries are installing antismoke devices. Power plants are installing filters and other devices to reduce air pollution, automobile manufacture have reduced the combustion in engines

 Now it is a serious problem of air pollution in the large cities of west. Smoke has been having both types soot and fly ash constitute particulate matters garbage. The polluted water has inorganic substances such as chlorides, fluorides, cadmium, mercury, and lead.

Gases and Vapours CO CO2 SO2 H2S NOx CFCs Halogens Lead Photochemical Oxides

Carbon monoxide
Sources
It is poisonous gas Emission of gas from automobiles Internal combustion of engines Effects
It is easily enters the blood through respiratory system, headache, fatigue, drowsiness, coma and death, Impairment psychomotor system. 1976 causes air pollution in London

Carbon dioxide
Sources Emission from Automobiles Burning of low cost fuels Burning of fossil fuels Effects Increase global temperature. Disturbs the ozone layer of the upper atmosphere. Melts the snow of ice-caps Rises sea level and submerging the coastal cities.

Hydrogen Sulphide releases from

Sources By products of the industries. Petroleum processing Rayon manufacture Paper and pulp making Jute making It has Odour Mexico 1950 caused 22 deaths

Sulphur dioxide

It produced in small quantities. It is more toxic. New York city emits nearly 2 million tons per year due to burning of coal. Great Britain average emission is nearly 6 million tons per year. 1952 London's great smog Irritation of respiratory system, diminished lung function, asthma, TB Plants are injured.

Nitrogen dioxide
Sources
Main from of oxides emission of gas from combustion of fuels, natural gas, petrol and coal, nitrogen fertilizers (rural area). Accumulation gas only cities and industrial areas. Effects Nasal irritation, breathing discomfort Increases global temperature.

Treatment methods
Collection of gaseous air Pollutants: Grab sampling Absorption in liquids Adsorption on solids Freeze-out sampling

Collection of particulate pollutants Sedimentation High volume filtration Tape sampler Impingement Electrostatic precipitation Thermal precipitation

Air Quality Meter AQ100 E-Instruments Class 1

High volume sampler

Control Methods
Control of air pollution Source Correction Method Raw Material changes e.g. from coal to power Equipment modification Particulate control measure Emission of Particulate matter Gravitational chambers Cyclone separator

 Fabric filters Electrostatic precipitator Wet collectors (scrubbers like venture scrubber, packed bed towers, spray towers) Selection of particulate control depends on particle size, concentration, efficiency and cost of equipment, space requirement and maintenance factor

Gaseous Pollutant Control Absorption: Common absorbing solvents are water, NAOH, Sodium Sulphite, Calcium hydroxide. Adsorption: Activated carbon, activated alumina, silica gel and molecular sieves are used in this method

 Combustion: (Incineration) methods adopted for burning of unwanted odorous gas, toxic and relative gases, to result in harmless and odour less products. Temperature, time and turbulence are the important factors to be considered in the selection of the method. Condensation: Freezing of valuable vapours for recovery control of pollutants by dispersion.

Air Pollution episodes

700 years ago insufferable smoke caused to the Queen of England 300 years ago coal caused allergy to Queen Elizabeth 1875 cattle death in London 1930 20 deaths in Meuse valley 1984 Methyl-iso-cynate at India The disaster at the beginning of December, 1930 a thick mist lay over large parts of Belgium. On December 3rd, 4th and 5th several thousand cases of acute pulmonary attacks occurred in the densely populated valley. The Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology Year 1937 Volume 19, Pages 126-137 The Meuse east of Liege, and there were 60 deaths

In and Outside of the residential Area -Human beings and animals suffer from respiratory and other diseases - Croplands loses fertility - Seedlings are unable to grow - Yield from Crops reduces - Plants suffer from deficiency diseases - Damage to culturally valuable buildings, monuments and natural sites The British Parliament passed an Act in 1273 for bidding of burning of coal in London. King Edward I issued a proclamation prohibiting use of coal as a fuel during sessions of the English Parliament. 1963 Clean Air act is first national legislation US . President Nixon signed Clean Air Act on 31st December 1970. (rewrite with set of amendments) EPA set up national standards and regulations to prevent and control pollution. Primary Standards to protect Human Health Secondary Standards Welfare protection of materials, crops, climate, visibility and personal comfort.

 Halogens damage Ozone layer UV rays directly reaches to earth due to ozone layer depletion

Green Houses Gases percentage increase, which lead to Global warming H2S04 & HNO3 mix in rain water, which results Acid Rain Acid rain damage land, forest and water

Effect on Health
Asthmatic attacks Hypertension

Respiratory infection
Headache Lung cancer etc cont

WHO estimates 100 to 150 million people suffer from asthma around the globe

15 to 20 million people asthmatics in India. US spends US $ 6 billion Britain spends US $ 1.8 billion Australia spends US $ 460 million Malaysia spends US $15.56