smog , current scenario in all over the world, causes, effects and remedies

1. SMOG
1. Introduction of smog?
2. History of smog?
3. Differences between smog and fog?
4. Types of smog?
5. Causes of smog?
6. Effects of smog?
7. Current scenario in world?
8. How to tackle smog?
9. Challenges to tackle?
10. Remedies of smog?

2. 1) Introduction of smog.
 Smog is a kind of air pollution, originally named for the mixture of smoke and fog
in the air. Smog also consist of some dangerous and harmful gases, like
 PM2.5 and PM10
 Sulfur dioxide
 Ground level ozone
 Nitrogen dioxide
 Carbon monoxide
 Chlorofluorocarbons
 It is especially harmful for senior citizens, children and people with heart and
lungs conditions such as emphysema, bronchitis, and asthma.
“IN 2012 around 7million people died- one in eight of total
global deaths as a result of air pollution exposure. This finding
more than double previous estimates and confirms that air
pollution is now the world’s largest single environment health
risk. (World Health Organization)”
 Smog annually occurred in winter all over the world approximately, it really in
worst condition over the last few years. Smog has grows way worse owing to
poor air quality and high amount of pollution caused by vehicles and factories.
Rapid industrialization has worsely destroyed air quality condition.
 Experts say the use of fossil flues in factories and in vehicles across the borders
of big emitters and more reliance on coal will give perish impacts across the
globe.
 Emerging primarily as a result of the Industrial Revolution, industrial smog is perhaps
often portrayed as huge gray smokestacks coming out chimneys of factories.
Apparently, this is a logically depiction given that the main source of industrial smog was
from the burning of coal for heat and energy. As a result, the main pollutant of industrial
smog is sulfur dioxide-a compound largely responsible for acid precipitation.
 PM2.5 particles are released from running vehicles, factory production, stubble burning
in agriculture, construction processes, and residential coal burning. Natural events like
forest fires and dust storms also release these particles.

3.  Although new research says no level of PM2.5 is healthy, the recommended levels are 5
µg/m³. In highly polluted countries, incremental steps of 10, 15, 25 and 35 µg/m³ were
recommended by the WHO.
2. History of smog?
“Even if smog were a risk to human life, we must remember that life in
nature without technology is wholesale death”. (Ayn Rand)
 This term was coined in 1905 by Dr Henry Antoine Des Voeux to describe a “smoky
fog” in the skies of London. Around the 1950s, the term gained widespread usage to
describe the air conditions around London and Los Angeles. In 1987, the WHO
published it’s on global air quality guidelines for the first time.
 Smog firstly observed in London during the industrial revolution.
 It was the usual that falls over London mixed together with smoke and exhaust from
nearby factories and homes. It was the fog/smog in history. It is generally formed in
winter under calm, stable, and generally in moist condition.
 The term is now applied to all form of severe air pollution particularly in urban areas
that restrict visibility and people suffer from breathing problem.
Great smog of 1952

4.  Great smog of London
 Severe pollution event that affected British capital of London in early December
 Sustain from 5 to 9 December 1952
 12,000 dead
 200,000 injured
 Early on 5th of December 1952 the London sky was clear
 The weather was considerably colder than usual
 People of London were burning large amounts of coal and smoke bellowed from
the chimneys
 The winds were light and the air near the ground was moist
 Hence, cold stagnant air trapped under a layer of warm air
 The resultant fog that was a persistent smog blanketed London for few days until
the weather changed
 Air pollution reached a crisis in the 19th century with the spread of the industrial
revolution and the rapid growth of the metropolis. The increase of domestic fires
and factory furnaces meant that polluted emissions surged considerably. It was at
this time that the fog-laden atmosphere of London portrayed vividly in the novels of
Charles Dickens and Arthur Conan Doyle emerged.
 The fogs of London could last a week, and fog-related deaths were reported on
gravestones in the early 19th century.
 Despite the deterioration of public health little was done to check the smog, given
the plethora of jobs that new industry provided and the comforts afforded by
domestic coal fires.

5. 3. Differences between smog and fog?
smog Fog
1. Formed when organic
compound and nitrogen
oxides chemically react with
sunlight.
Fog is formed when moist air is cooled
When warm water in the air cools quickly,
the droplets change from invisible to visible
This is called fog
2. Smog is formed when water
droplet condensed around
pollutant. So, Smog = Fog +
Smoke.
Fog is condensed water vapor on tinny
nuclei or pollutant, thus fog is basically
suspended tinny water droplets floating in
air.
3. Smog is highly polluted
atmosphere having
suspended particles, liquid
droplets and gases reacting
with the suspended media,
it is seen in big cities. Often
smog has light fog as well
due to the presence of
temperature inversion.
The droplets scatter light equally at all
optical wavelengths and that makes its
appearance as white. The nuclei are
basically dust but in cities, thousands of
other kinds of particles are there.
4. Cause chocking and other
health problems.
Disperse light and reduce visibility
5. We say, in big cities, thick
fog is always a mixture of
fog and smog. Smog is
blackish in nature usually
but its color may change
depending upon the color of
other pollutants and
scattering present in the
atmosphere.
Fog is a pure natural phenomena caused
by a combination of air temperature and
humidity. It is not harmful.

6. 5 : Types of smog?
1. Sulfurous smog / industrial smog
 Sulfurous smog is also called “London smog,” (first formed in London).
 Sulfurous smog results from a high concentration of SULFUR OXIDES in the air
and is caused by the use of sulfur-bearing fossil fuels, particularly coal (Coal was
the mains source of power in London during nineteenth century. The effects of coal
burning were observed in early twentieth century).
 This type of smog is aggravated by dampness and a high concentration of
suspended particulate matter in the air.
 Industrial smog forms in an area with high water vapors and high level of sulfur
emission usually from burning fuel.
 Sulfur particles dissolve into water droplets to form sulfuric acid in the atmosphere
while coal soot darkness the skies.
 Industrial smog cause breathing difficulties in human and also cause acid rain which
damage every living and non living things even stones and metals.
Reaction 
SO2 + OH  HOSO4
HOSO2 + O2  HO2 + SO3
C + O2  CO2
2C+O2  2CO
S + O2  SO2
2SO2 + O2  2SO3
SO3 + H2O  H2SO4
2NH3 + H2SO4  (NH4)2SO4

7. 2. Photochemical smog
 Photochemical smog is also known as “Los Angeles smog”.
 Photochemical smog occurs most prominently in urban areas that have large
numbers of automobiles (Nitrogen oxides are the primary emissions).
 Photochemical (summer smog) forms when pollutants such as nitrogen oxides
(primary pollutant) and organic compounds (primary pollutants) react together in
the presence of SUNLIGHT. A gas called OZONE (Secondary pollutant) is formed
(Nitrogen Dioxide + Sunlight + Hydrocarbons = Ozone (Ozone in stratosphere it is
beneficial, but near the earth’s surface it results in as it is a greenhouse gas)
 The resulting smog causes a light brownish coloration of the atmosphere, reduced
visibility, plant damage, irritation of the eyes, and respiratory distress.
 It is the haze created when sunlight reacts with primary pollutants like nitrogen
oxides and volatile organic compounds that can be found in fossil fuels emissions
from automobiles factories and power plants.
Reaction 

8. 6. Causes of smog?
 Human made causes
 Fossil fuels burning (coal and natural gas)
 Excessive consumption
 Excessive waste production
 Burning of agricultural material
 Constructive activities
 Increase in level of PM2.5 and PM10 in air
 Ground level ozone and fine particles release in the air due to complex
photochemical reaction
 Diesel runs vehicles industrial plants and activities and heating due to
human activities.
 Natural causes.
 Fog
 Low wind speed
 Stagnation of fog and smoke due to winter
 Temperature ( humidity)
 Sunlight reaction with gases and fine particles
 Radioactive amounts of some specific plant life.
6 : Effects of smog?
Effects of smog is so devastating not only for humans also for others
living and non-living things.
 Effects on humans.
 Headache

9.  Eyes, nose and throat irritation
 Coughing and wheezing
 Lung damage or lung cancer
 Allergies on skin
 Birth defects
 Severe condition of asthma
 Risk of developing rickets
 Effects on plants and animals (biodiversity)
 Smog also inhibits plant growth and can cause widespread damage to
crop and forests
 Plants may suffer because they are typically very sensitive to their
natural condition and their growth action it destroyed plant life
 Animals also suffer because smog contaminate their respiratory
system
 Animals are as sensitive to the effects of air pollution as humans are
 Animals are especially vulnerable because they have respiratory systems
that are much more sensitive than humans
 The effects of air pollution on animals include lung damage, heart problems,
inflammation, and cancer
 Animals may also suffer from the effects of pesticides sprayed on crops or
lawns
 Animals are also at risk from poor air quality because they cannot protect
themselves as humans do
 Air pollution causes congenital disabilities and other health issues for animals

10.  Some species are more vulnerable than others, including sea turtles and
whales who rely on their sense of smell to find food
 Effects on atmosphere
 Smog reduce the visibility that may cause accidents
 According to U.S environmental protection agency visibility is reduced from
414 km to around 30km in certain part of U.S
 Smog have highly worst effects on biosphere
 On Sunlight: Air pollution can reduce the amount of sunlight that reaches the
Earth because particles scatter and absorb solar radiation. Washington DC and
Los Angeles for example receive 10% less sunlight than they did at the beginning
of this century when air was relatively unpolluted.
 On Precipitation: Particulates such as soot and dust in urban air serve as
condensation nuclei that absorb tiny moisture droplets and can thus promote cloud
formation and increase rainfall.
 Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), black carbon (a component of PM),
troposphere ozone and methane contribute to both the warming of the climate as
well as air pollution.
 According to the Climate and Clean Air Coalition these three highly potent
pollutants are responsible for 30-40% of the global warming to date.
 They must be curbed alongside carbon dioxide (CO2) to limit global temperature
rise to 1.5 degrees C (2.7 degrees F) and prevent catastrophic climate impacts like
sea level rise and water insecurity.
 The U.S. Clean Air Act is responsible for reducing ozone by 22% and PM 2.5 by
40% between 1990 and 2017, demonstrating that sustained efforts to tackle air
pollution result in significantly cleaner air.
7. Current scenario in world?
“It is unacceptable that over 3 billion people – most of them women and children –
are still breathing deadly smoke every day from using polluting stoves and fuels in
their homes. If we don’t take urgent action on air pollution, we will never come close
to achieving sustainable development” (Dr Tedros Adhanom Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Director-General of WHO)
 Air pollution is the leading environmental risk to health. A recent World Bank
publication found that air pollution cost the globe an estimated $8.1 trillion in 2019,
equivalent to 6.1 percent of global GDP. 95 percent of deaths caused by air pollution
occur in low- and middle- income countries. In individual countries, the economic burden
of pollution associated with premature mortality and morbidity is also significant,
equivalent to 5 to 14 percent of countries' GDPs.

11.  Industrialization, use of pesticides and nitrogen-based fertilizers, crop residues in
agriculture, urbanization, forest fires, desert dust and inadequate waste
management have intensified environmental health risks and pollution especially
in low-and-middle-income-countries.
 Our growing population, increased urbanization, higher demands on transport
(particularly air transport), energy consumption and use of wood-burning heaters
all contribute to higher levels of air pollution.
 Climate change is closely linked with air pollution as the burning of fossil fuels is a
major contributor to both. Climate change is also predicted to affect air quality into
the future.
 If emissions are not reduced, data modeling indicates that there will be significant
increases in summer smog (ozone) after 2030, while an increase in the frequency
of droughts would lead to a rise in particle air pollution as a result of more
bushfires and wind-blown dust storms.
 Globally, the situation is more serious. The World Health Organization (WHO)
reports that almost 90 per cent of people living in the world’s cities are being
exposed to dangerous levels of pollution Outdoor and household air pollution
causes an alarming 7 million deaths worldwide.
 To compare the levels of pollution across the world, WHO has compiled a
database which analyses the concentration of fine particle pollution of 2.5
micrometers or fewer diameters (PM2.5) and the particulate pollution of 10
micrometers or fewer diameters (PM10). The concentration of air pollution is
measured in micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m³).
 Air pollution levels remain dangerously high in many parts of the world. New data
from the World Health Organization (WHO) released today, shows that 9 out of 10
people breathe air containing high levels of pollutants. Updated estimations reveal

12. an alarming death toll of 7 million people every year caused by ambient (outdoor)
and household air pollution.
 Each country has different causes for air pollution, including high rates of
construction and air traffic (Qatar), diesel generators and the burning of tyres and
plastics for fuel (Afghanistan), substandard gasoline and traffic congestion (Iran),
increased cars, factories and power plants (Egypt), the burning of coal (Mongolia),
oil and gas industries (UAE) and energy production and industrial emissions
(Bahrain).
8. How to tackle smog?
 How to tackle air pollution
o To alleviate the negative effects of atmospheric pollution on health, the World Health
Organization (WHO) and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) – made up
of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and 54 nations, among other
agencies – launched the Breathe Life initiative.

13. o This is a program that aims to “aims to mobilize cities and individuals to protect our
health and our planet from the effects of air pollution” and which has fixed the objective
of cutting by half the number of deaths linked to air pollution before 2030.
o Actions will be local and focused on improving transport, waste management, indoor
air quality, energy supply, industry, food and agriculture.
o The World Bank Group supports developing countries and development partners in
reducing pollution, implementing proper waste management, improving water and air
quality, and promoting clean development and a more circular economy for healthier
lives and better livelihood opportunities.
o Projects are aimed at improving air quality in several countries. In China, the World Bank
has been supporting Hebei Province to reduce concentration of air pollutants and increase
energy efficiency and clean energy use in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
o In Peru, a project is supporting air and water quality monitoring systems.
o In Lebanon, a project is helping to clean up the pollution in Lake Qaraoun.
o In Pakistan, the World Bank invests and supports policy reforms and pollution
management interventions through the Punjab Green Development program, a $200
million program approved in 2019.
o • Replacing diesel and gasoline-powered vehicles with electric vehicles. Shenzhen,
China, for instance, has switched from diesel-powered public transportation to an electric
bus fleet with an expected 48% reduction in CO2 emissions and significant reductions in
particulate matter.
o • Eliminating uncontrolled diesel emissions. Studies have found that reducing vehicle
fleet levels from the equivalent of Euro I to Euro IV can reduce fleet emissions by about
80% and moving up to Euro V standards further reduces the remaining emissions by
80%. This is a great step to remove air pollution and CO2 levels.
o • Preventing crop burning. Specific technologies and education can improve outcomes
for farmers without burning – creating win-win situations. Education and support for
agricultural extension programs in developing countries are key to their success. Poland,
for example, has largely phased out the practice of burning the stubble left after the wheat
harvest.
9. Challenges to tackle?
 Even if organizations like the EPA are working to reduce pollution, we need to identify
all major sources of contamination in order to identify an effective solution. Huge
amounts of contaminants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other
hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) come from industrial facilities.
 Local and international authorities need to implement and enforce stricter HAP and VOC
abatement standards to help reduce air pollution that comes from industrial settings. In
addition to this, the four major air pollution abatement challenges that the EPA has
identified are:
 Achieving High Health Standards for Common Air Pollutants

14.  Limiting the Effect on Global Climate
 Reducing Risks Associated with Air Pollutants
 Protecting the Ozone Layer
Future Air Pollution Abatement Difficulties
The future of air pollution levels is uncertain. Even though there seems to be widespread
awareness of the issue, many companies fail to prioritize or even address air pollution generated
by their facilities. Not only this, but other future air pollution abatement challenges include:
 Increasing Number of Industrial Facilities: Humans are multiplying at an alarming
rate, which also means more industrial facilities. Authorities have to find better regulation
techniques or more effective abatement mechanism that reduce the impact they have on
the environment.
 Little to No Mitigation Systems: The biggest issue with air pollution is that it shows no
signs of slowing down. At the same time, it’s estimated that only a small percentage of
industrial facilities around the world have a proper pollution abatement system, which will
continue to reduce air quality more and more.
 Accountability: Many companies fail to comply with environmentally-friendly practices
because they know they can get away with it. Governing bodies need to step in and
make sure that all parties that are not respecting the regulations set forth by the
established organizations must be held accountable for their actions.
10 Remedies of smog?
Tips Every Day to Reduce Pollution:
 Conserve energy - at home, at work, everywhere.
 Look for the ENERGY STAR label when buying home or office equipment.
 Carpool, use public transportation, bike, or walk whenever possible.
 Follow gasoline refueling instructions for efficient vapor recovery, being careful not to
spill fuel and always tightening your gas cap securely.
 Consider purchasing portable gasoline containers labeled “spill-proof,” where available.
 Keep car, boat, and other engines properly tuned.
 Be sure your tires are properly inflated.
 Use environmentally safe paints and cleaning products whenever possible.
 Mulch or compost leaves and yard waste.
 Consider using gas logs instead of wood.
 Choose a cleaner commute - share a ride to work or use public transportation.
 Combine errands and reduce trips. Walk to errands when possible.
 Avoid excessive idling of your automobile.
 Refuel your car in the evening when it’s cooler.
 Conserve electricity and set air conditioners no lower than 78 degrees.
 Defer lawn and gardening chores that use gasoline-powered equipment, or wait until
evening.

15.  Reduce the number of trips you take in your car.
 Reduce or eliminate fireplace and wood stove use.
 Avoid burning leaves, trash, and other materials.
 Avoid using gas-powered lawn and garden equipment.