According to WHO(World Health Organization) Air Pollution is contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or biological

agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere.

There are two types of pollutant (A pollutant is a substance or energy introduced into the environment that has undesired effects, or adversely affects the usefulness of a resource)

Primary pollutants Secondary pollutants

Primary pollutants are those that are emitted directly into the air from pollution sources. Examples Garbage burning gas emission from industries

Secondary pollutants are formed when primary pollutants undergo chemical changes in the atmosphere. e.g.:- ozone

ANTHROPOGENIC SOURCES IT INCLUDES: 1.STATIONARY SOURCE: IT REFERS TO AN EMISSION SOURCE THAT DOES NOT MOVE,ALSO KNOWN AS A POINT SOURCE. eg:factories,power plants and dry cleaners.

2.AREA SOURCES: IT IS USED TO DESCRIBE MANY SMALL SOURCES OF AIR POLLUTION LOCATED TOGETHER WHOSE INDIVIDUALS EMISSIONS MAY BE BELOW THRESHOLDS OF CONCERN,BUT WHOSE COLLECTIVE EMISSIONS CAN BE SIGNIFICANT. Eg:residential wood burners

mobile source of air pollution refers to a source that is capable of moving under its own power. In general, mobile sources imply on-road transportation, which includes vehicles such as cars, sport utility vehicles, and buses. In addition, there is also a non-road or off-road category that includes gas-powered lawn tools and mowers, farm and construction equipment, recreational vehicles, boats, planes, and trains.

MOBILE SOURCES

Agricultural

operations those that raise gases and particulate

animals and grow crops, can generate

emissions matter.
For

of

Agricultural Sources

example, animals confined to barn

or restricted area (rather than field grazing ), produce large amounts of manure. Manure emits various gases, particularly ammonia into the air.

This ammonia can be emitted from the

animal houses, manure storage areas, or from the land after the manure is applied. In crop production, the misapplication of fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides can potentially result in aerial drift of these materials and harm may be caused.

Although

industrialization and

the use of motor vehicles are

overwhelmingly significant pollution, there the to are most air important contributors

Natural sources

natural Sources of pollution as well Wild land fires, dust storms, and volcanic activity also contribute gases and particulates to our atmosphere.
Unlike

the

above

mentioned

sources of air pollution, natural air pollution is not caused by people or their activities.

FEW OTHER SOURCES OF AIR POLLUTION: 1.INDUSTRIES:Gases emitted from chimneys cause air pollution

2.FESTIVALS LIKE DIWALI

It is estimated that the annual. carbon dioxide emissions from fireworks is 60,340 tensor the same emissions from 12,000 cars on the road for a year!! If one suggests that planting trees is a solution, then, please be informed that itd take the entire lifetime of 5,000 trees to offset the 60,000 tons of

carbon emissions produced in this one day!!

Not only it pollutes the environment, it also causes many deadly air-borne diseases. Hence it is important to avoid use of fireworks during our festivals

Air

pollution results in air quality degradation Affects the quality of other environmental resources as well as human-made structures
Impairs

visibility and contributes to climate

change Can also be detrimental to human health

Polluted Air is Harmful to Park resources such as

Vegetative discoloration Growth disruption from ozone Loss of aquatic species from stream acidification Erosion of building surfaces and rock formations Shifts in nutrient availability from acid deposition

Major Effects of Air Pollution Acid Rain

Rainfall made sufficiently acidic by atmospheric pollution that it causes environmental harm, typically to forests and lakes.

Global Warming

A gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere generally attributed to the greenhouse effect.

Excessive richness of nutrients in a lake or other body of water causing a dense growth of plant life and death of animal life from lack of oxygen.
Health

Effects

Such as irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, and upper respiratory infections.
The

Thinning Ozone Layer

Air pollutants called CFCs have destroyed parts of the ozone layer thus thinning the ozone layer.

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Photochemical smog is a term used to describe air pollution that is a result of the interaction of sunlight with certain chemicals in the atmosphere. Mixture of air pollutants Nitrogen oxides (NOX) Ozone Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) Peroxyacyl Nitrates (PAN) One of the primary components of photochemical smog is ozone. While ozone in the stratosphere protects earth from harmful UV radiation, ozone on the ground is hazardous to human health. Ground-level ozone is formed when vehicle emissions containing nitrogen oxides (primarily from vehicle exhaust) and volatile organic compounds(from paints, solvents, and fuel evaporation) interact in the presence of sunlight. Therefore, some of the sunniest cities are also some of the most polluted.

To the right is Los Angeles on a smog-filled day and a smog free day. The haze is due to the presence of aerosols and particulates.

The second picture is of Gateway Arch in St. Louis. The left is clear day in April, the right is a hazy smoggy August day.

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1.

Human Health
Smog is a serious problem in many cities and continues to harm human health. According to the American Lung Association, your lungs and heart can be permanently affected by air pollution and smog. Anyone with both short and long term exposure can suffer ill health effects. Ground-level ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide are especially harmful for senior citizens, children, and people with heart and lung conditions such as bronchitis, and asthma. It can inflame breathing passages, decrease the lungs' working capacity, cause shortness of breath, pain when inhaling deeply, wheezing, coughing, fatigue, increased asthma-related symptoms and even lung cancer. It can cause eye and nose irritation. Increased hospital admissions and premature death.

2.

Damage to materials
O3 causes cracking and aging of rubber by oxidizing and breaking double bonds in polymer.

3.

Effect on the Atmosphere

Reduced visibility.

4.

Toxicity to Plants
Reduction to growth and yield. Damage to vegetation. Damage to crops.

Two factors influencing the formation of photochemical smog

1. Topography

Very important for formation of photochemical smog. Restriction of air movement, city in valley experience more smog problem, than plains.

2. Temperature Inversion

Increase of air temperature with height for some distance above ground causing the smog trapped close to ground. Consequences Air becomes still and dust and pollutants are no longer lifted from surface. Serious problem in many cities.

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