This document discusses air pollution, including its definition, causes, effects, and methods of control. It defines air pollution as the excessive discharge of undesirable foreign substances into the air that adversely affect air quality and harm human, plant, and animal life. It identifies various air pollutants and classifies them as either primary or secondary pollutants. Sources of air pollution include both natural sources like volcanoes and fires as well as man-made sources such as industry, vehicles, and deforestation. The document outlines the negative effects of air pollution on health, animals, plants, materials, and the climate. It concludes with discussing various methods to control air pollution, such as using filters, precipitators, and planting more

1. AIR POLLUTION
Excessive discharge of undesirable
foreign substances into the
atmospheric air thereby adversely
affecting the quality of air and
causing damage to human, plants
and animal lives.
Presentation submitted by: Gagan Arora
Project Guide: Dr. Tanuja Nautiyal

2. Air Pollutants
• Particulates – Dust,
Smoke, Fly Ash
• Carbon monoxide (CO)
• Carbon dioxide (CO2)
• Ammonia (NH3)
• Sulphur dioxide (SO2)
• Nitrogen Oxides (NxOy)
• Hydrogen Cyanide
• Hydrogen Sulphide
• Hydrogen fluoride
• Chlorine
• Phosgene
• Asbestos
• Aldehydes
• Radiations
• Hydrocarbons

3. Classification of Air Pollutants
Primary Air Pollutants
• The poisonous gases and
undesirable chemicals
which cause air pollution.
• Carbon particles from
unburned fuel, Ammonia
(NH3), Sulphur dioxide
(SO2), Hydrocarbons,
Oxides of nitrogen,
Oxides of carbon, Lead.
Secondary Air Pollutants
• Derived from Primary Air
Pollutants
• In bright sunlight nitrogen,
nitrogen oxides, oxygen and
hydrocarbons –
photochemical reaction –
powerful oxidants – Ozone,
Aldehydes, Sulphuric acid,
Peroxy acetyl nitrate (PAN),
Peroxides, etc.
• They form photochemical
Smog

4. Sources of Air Pollution
Natural
• Natural contaminants
(fungi, spores, cysts, bacteria,
methane, dust, etc.)
• Carbon monoxide from
Methane Gas
• Volcanic Eruptions
• Forest fires
• Electric storms and Solar
flares
• Salt spray from oceans
• Dust storms
Man Made
• Rapid industrialization
• Automobile Revolution
• Deforestation

5. Classification of Pollutants
Gases
• Oxides of Sulphur
• Oxides of Nitrogen
• Oxides of Carbon
• Carbon dioxide
• Ozone
• Hydrogen Sulphide
• Chlorofluoro Carbons
• Hydrogen fluoride
• Hydrocarbons
• Photochemical oxidants
• Aerosols
Particulates
• Dust
• Smoke
• Fog
• Smog
– London Smog
– Los Angels Smog
• Fly Ash
• Soot
• Fumes
• Natural Particulates

6. Effect of Air Pollution
• On Human Health
– Irritate respiratory tract
– Irritate eyes, nose and throat
– Lead particles cause Lead Poisoning
– Cadmium particles – Cardio vascular disease,
Kidney and Liver damage
– Nickel particles – respiratory damage
– Mercury – Central nervous system, kidney and
brain
– Radioactive substances affect future generations

7. Effect of Air Pollution Contd...
• On Animals
– Feeding particulate coated plants (fluorine,
lead, arsenic) – Arsenic Poisoning
– Lead Poisoning – Bronchitis, Lack of appetite
in pet animals

8. Effect of Air Pollution Contd...
• On Plants
– Spraying Pesticides, Organic manure and
agricultural applications – affect growth of plants
– Destroy chlorophyll formation – disturb
photosynthesis
– SO2 – decreases chlorophyll content – causes
Chlorosis
– NO2 – permanent leaf fall
– Ozone – Necrosis - dead area on leaf – damages
the leaves

9. Effect of Air Pollution Contd...
• On Materials
– Corrosion
– Abrasion
– Deposition
– Chemical attack on surface
Acid Rain

10. Effect of Air Pollution Contd...
• On Climate
– Increase in CO2 – increase temperature of
atmosphere – ice and polar glaciers melt –
flooding of coastal towns – change rainfall
pattern – agricultural output changes
– Depletion of Ozone layer – increase
penetration of harmful UV rays on earth – skin
diseases, sunburns, inactivation of RNA, DNA
and protein molecules

11. Control of Air Pollution
• Planting more trees
• Reducing vehicle exhausts
• Using less polluting fuels
• Using mass transport
• Removal of particulate matter using electrostatic
precipitator, cyclone filter, etc.
• Industrial area should be cited far away from
residential area.
• Suitable chemical methods applied to remove
hydrocarbons
• Multi stage combustion process – suggested to
remove oxides of nitrogen

12. Control of Air Pollution Contd...
• Activated carbon, charcoal, commercial
zeolite and pulvarized lime stones can be
used to remove polluting gases by
absorption methods
• Use of tall chimneys reduces –
concentration of air pollutants at ground
level

13. Cyclone Collector

14. Cottrell Electrostatic Precipitator

15. Summary
Definition
Air Pollutants
Classification
Primary Air Pollutants
Secondary Air Pollutants
Sources of air pollution
Natural
Man made
Classification of Pollutants
Gases
Particulates
Effects of Air Pollution
On human health
On Animals
On Plants
On Materials
On Climate
Control of Air Pollution
Cyclone Collector
Cottrell Electrostatic Precipitator