AIR

POLLUTION
ATMOSPHERE
A gaseous envelope surrounding the earth and
extends 500 kms above the earths surface
The composition of the atmosphere is as
follows:
ATMOSPHERE
Protects the earth from cosmic radiations
Provides life sustaining oxygen, macronutrients
like nitrogen and carbon dioxide needed for
photosynthesis
Screens dangerous UV radiations from the sun
Maintains the heat balance of the earth by
absorbing the re-emitted radiation of the earth
Medium of carriage of water from the oceans to
the land in the hydrological cycle
STRUCTURE OF THE
ATMOSPHERE
4 MAJOR ZONES:
Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Thermosphere
STRUCTURE OF THE
ATMOSPHERE
Troposhere
Layer of air nearest to ground where temperature
decreases with height
Temperature drops from 15C to 56.5C at 11,000 m
asl
Most of the weather occurs

Statosphere
Sometimes called as ozone layer
layer of air above the troposphere where temperature
increases with height
Temperature rises to -2.5C at 50,000 m asl
STRUCTURE OF THE
ATMOSPHERE
Mesosphere
Layer of air above stratosphere where temperature
decreases with height
Temperature drops to 90C at 90,000 m asl
Coldest layer of the atmosphere

Thermosphere
Sometimes called as ozone layer
layer of air above the mesosphere where temperature
increases with height
The air becomes less and less dense as we reach space
HOW SOLAR ENERGY WARMS
THE ATMOSPHERE
WHAT IS OZONE?
Ozone is a natural gas composed of three atoms of oxygen. It
chemical symbol isO3.
It is blue in color and has a strong odor.

2 Types:

Good Ozone
occurs naturally in the
upper Stratosphere

Bad Ozone
ground level ozone
found in the
troposphere, the layer
that forms the
immediate atmosphere
OZONE LAYER
a layer in the stratosphere containing a relatively
high concentration of ozone
protects the earth from the suns UV Rays
OZONE DEPLETION
is simply the wearing out (reduction) of the amount
of ozone in the stratosphere
AIR POLLUTION

AIR POLLUTION
Definedas the presence of one or
more contaminants in such quantities
and duration, which is detrimental to
the health of plants, animals,
property.
AIR POLLUTION

AIR POLLUTION
Canbe caused both by natural and
man-made sources

Natural sources Man-made sources

Volcanic eruptions Industry
Forest and wild fires Transport
Plan and animal decay Agriculture
Sand storms
Radio active materials
Electric storms
Pollen and fungal spores
Bacteria
Marsh gas
AIR POLLUTION

AIR POLLUTION
Natural Sources
AIR POLLUTION

AIR POLLUTION
Man-made Sources
AIR POLLUTION

CLASSIFICATION OF AIR POLLUTANTS

Primary Pollutants
Those emitted into the atmosphere
Carbon Monoxide
Nitrogen Oxides
Sulfur Oxides
Hydrocarbons
AIR POLLUTION

CLASSIFICATION OF AIR POLLUTANTS

Secondary Pollutants
Interaction between the Primary
Pollutants
Ozone

Smog
Acyl Nitrate
AIR POLLUTION

CLASSIFICATION OF AIR POLLUTANTS

Organic Pollutants
Hydrocarbons, Aldehydes, Ketones,
Alcohols, etc.
Inorganic Pollutants
Carbon Oxides, Nitrogen, Sulfur,
Halogen Compounds, etc.
AIR POLLUTION

CLASSIFICATION OF AIR POLLUTANTS

Gaseous Pollutants
Freely mix with air and do not
settle
Particulate Matter
Fine solid dust or liquid droplets
Smoke, fumes, fog, smoke, sprays,
etc.
AIR POLLUTION

Outdoor air pollutants

Affects ambient air quality
Includes:
Primary and secondary pollutants
Particulate matter
Volatile organic compounds
AIR POLLUTION

Indoor air pollutants

Poor ventilation can lead to a build-
up of air pollutants (CO, NO2) from
faulty gas heaters and cookers
CO and Benzene from cigarette
smoke
Volatileorganic compounds from
synthetic furnishings, vinyl flooring
and paints
AIR POLLUTION
IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTION
ON MAN AND ENVIRONMENT
Major Impacts
Global Warming
Acid Rain
Ozone layer depletion
Damage to materials, vegetation and animals
Reduction in visibility
Impacts on human health and activities
IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTION
ON MAN AND ENVIRONMENT
Global Warming
Increasein the average
temperature of the earth
Attributed mainly to the
emissions of carbon
dioxide and other
greenhouse gases in
increasing quantities into
the atmosphere
IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTION
ON MAN AND ENVIRONMENT
Acid Rain
Precipitation becomes more acidic when
converted to sulphuric and nitric acids
caused by gaseous atmospheric
pollutants (sulphur and nitrogen oxides)
What produces sulphur and nitrogen
oxides?
Burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas)
Added with water vapor, it becomes
sulphuric and nitric acids
IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTION
ON MAN AND ENVIRONMENT
Acid Rain
Example: Effects of Acid Rain in Taj
Mahal (Agra)
Large numbers of power plants and
industries in the area
Contains serious levels of sulphur and
nitrogen oxides
It reacted with the marble (calcium
carbonate of Taj Mahal affecting its
wonderful structure
IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTION
ON MAN AND ENVIRONMENT
Acid Rain
Example: Effects of Acid Rain in Taj Mahal
(Agra)

Before After
IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTION
ON MAN AND ENVIRONMENT
Ozone Depletion
occurswhen the natural balance
between the production and
destruction of stratospheric ozone is
disturbed in favor of removal
IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTION
ON MAN AND ENVIRONMENT
Ozone Depletion
Ozone: filters out incoming radiation
from the sun the cell-damaging
ultraviolet (UV) part of the spectrum
Causes:
Man-made emissions of Halogens like
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other
chemicals used in refrigeration,
aerosols and cleansing agents
IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTION
ON MAN AND ENVIRONMENT
Ozone Depletion
Consequences:
UVradiation can cause a variety of health
problems in humans (skin cancers, eye
cataracts, etc)
Affect the global climate
Damage the microscopic life in the surface of
oceans which is the basis of the worlds
marine food chain
Damage crops like rice and soya and
polymers use in paints and clothing
IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTION
ON MAN AND ENVIRONMENT
Ozone Depletion
In1985, large ozone hole was discovered in
Antarctica
MontrealProtocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone
Layer was made in 1987

Sep 17, 1979 Oct 6, 1998 Oct 1, 2016

From NASA Earth Observatory

IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTION
ON MAN AND ENVIRONMENT
Damage to materials
Materials: surface coatings and paints
Polymeric materials: rubber, plastics,
paper and textiles, metals and alloys,
leather and building materials
Inthe form of corrosion, abrasion,
deposition or direct chemical reaction
IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTION
ON MAN AND ENVIRONMENT
Damage to vegetation and animals
In the from of acid precipitation,
flourides, smog, ozone, organic
compounds
Damages like loss of chorophyll,
stunted growth, discoloration and
banding of leaves
IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTION
ON MAN AND ENVIRONMENT
Damage to vegetation and animals
Pollutants in plants are consumed by
animals
Acid deposition: reduces PH of water
bodies resulting to destruction of
flora and fauna
IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTION
ON MAN AND ENVIRONMENT
Reduction of visibility
Inthe form of heavy smoke, dust
storms, smog
Causes disruption of road and air
traffic
IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTION
ON MAN AND ENVIRONMENT
Effect on human beings
Respiratory illnesses: chronic
bronchitis, bronchial asthma, lung
cancer, etc.
Convulsions, coma, cardio vascular
diseases, kidney and liver damages,
etc.
IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTION
ON MAN AND ENVIRONMENT
Effect on human beings
Examples:
Bhopal Gas tragedy (Dec. 2, 1984,
India)
Worlds worst industrial disaster
Gas leak (30 tons of highly toxic gas
called methyl isocyanate
Deaths: estimates 3,800 to 16,000
IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTION
ON MAN AND ENVIRONMENT
Bhopal Gas Tragedy
IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTION
ON MAN AND ENVIRONMENT
Effect on human beings
Examples:
TheGreat Smog of London (Dec. 5-9,
1952)
4-day severe air pollution event
Sulphur particles mixed with fumes from
burning coal
Deaths: more than 12,000, hospitalized:
150,000
IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTION
ON MAN AND ENVIRONMENT
The Great Smog of London
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL

Government level prevention

Individual level prevention
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL

Government (or community) level prevention

Ordinance No. 0367-12

RA 8749 - Philippine Clean Air Act of New Comprehensive Anti-Smoking
1999 Ordinance
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL

Individual Level Prevention

Use public mode of transportation
Conserve energy
Reduce, re-use and recycle
Emphasis on clean energy sources
Use energy efficient devices
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
AIR POLLUTION
CHALLENGES
Common pollutants
Both visible and invisible pollution are harmful
Mostly affects public health

Toxic pollutants
Damage health and environment

CLIMATE CHANGE!
Affects both public health and the environment

Protecting stratospheric ozone layer

Reduce CFCs and other ozone depleting chemicals
AIR POLLUTION
CHALLENGES
CURRENT SITUATION
CURRENT SITUATION

Which country has the worst air

pollution? Clue: it's not China
CURRENT SITUATION
CURRENT SITUATION
CURRENT SITUATION
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!