What is air pollution

The result of emission into the air of hazardous substances at a rate that exceeds the capacity of natural processes in the atmosphere to convert, deposit, or dilute them

Factors that affect air pollution

Emissions (traffic, industrial, domestic) Geography (terrain) Weather conditions (rain, winds, humidity) Season Time of day Population density Indoor vs outdoor

Types of air pollution

Aerosols
Particulates solid phase
Dust Ash Fumes

Gases
COx SOx NOx PAH

Solid and liquid

Smoke (from combustion) Coastal aerosols

Liquid Aggregate gases (sulfate, nitrate)

Six primary or criteria air pollutants

Carbon monoxide (CO) Ozone (O3) Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) Sulfur oxides (SOx) PM2.5 and PM10 Lead (Pb)

Types of air pollution

Individual pollutants Reducing pollution (SO2)
Acid rain (fog) Corrosive, eroding

Photochemical pollution
Aldehydes, electrophilic HCs Oxidative, carcinogenic?

Mixtures and complex patterns

Types of Exposures:
Continuous Repeated Low High (acute)

Respiratory response (endpoints):

Macroscopic (e.g. coughing, FEV) Histological

Marked variability in responses - susceptibility

Combustion pollutants
VOCs NOx N-organics Halo-organics Metals CO

Sources of combustion
Tobacco Power plants Incinerators Automobiles Industry

Diesel pollutants
Particulate matter
C + PAHs + N-aromatics

Gases
NOx, CO, SOx

VOCs
formaldehyde, acrolein, aldehydes

Respiratory inflammation Cytotoxicity to airway cells

Indoor pollutants
Non-specific symptoms Household vs work space Sick building syndrome (20% exposed)
Cigarette smoke, combustion products Organic offgasing (glue, fabrics, furnishings) Biological agents (infections, allergens) Additional factors (stress, fatigue, diet, alcohol)

In the lungs
Site of deposition along tract Solubility in respiratory fluids Reactivity with membranes Infiltration (alveolar gas exchange) Level of exposure Duration of exposure Respiratory rate Pre existing conditions (heart, lung)

Absorption in lungs
As gas, directly into blood stream As particles, deposited onto bronchiolar and alveolar surface
Uptake by phagocytosis Trigger of inflammatory response Trigger of allergic response Lung tissue scaring

Particulate matter pollution

Properties - varied
Mixture of solid phase and absorbed materials (organic, inorganic and biological) Carbonaceous core 40-60%, C 7%

Sources
Combustion - oil and coal
Industry Automobiles

Tobacco smoke Biomass burning Metal smelters

NAAQS: PM10: 50ug/m3, annual 150ug/m3, 24h PM2.5 15ug/m3, annual 65ug/m3, 24h

Particulates - features
Physical size
Large Small ~10um Fine ~2.5um

Aerodynamic diameter (size equivalent of density=1)

Large - local irritation (>100um) Inhalable (<100um) Thoracic fraction (<20um)
Coarse PM10 Fine PM2.5 Ultrafine (<10um) (<2.5um) (<0.1um)

respirable

Chemical reactivity Shape (fibers) Water content

Urban Particulates
In the <2.5um range Large water content, trace metals, acid gases, organic chemicals, biological Rather uniform distribution Include diesel

Health effects of particulate pollutants

- starting at 10ug/m3 Eye irritation Respiratory tract infection Exacerbation of asthma Bronchial irritation Heart disease Possibly cancer (controversial) (diesel, TiO2, talc,
carbon black, toner black)

Elevated hospital admissions, mortality Causation(s) not fully understood

Gaseous pollutant features

Chemical reactivity (ozone) Solubility in water
Soluble
Ambient (NOx, SOx) Occupational (Hydrochloric acid, Ammonia)

Less soluble
H2S, ozone