Definition

The presence of any solid,

liquid, or gaseous substance
(including noise) present in the
atmosphere in such
concentrations that may or tend
to be injurious to human beings,
or other living creatures, or
plants, or property, or
enjoyment.

Hippocrates
King Edward 1 London smog - 1952
Europe black peppered moths
Bhopal tragedy -1984- MIC

Major Causes
High rate of population growth
Urbanization
Rapid industrialization
Transportation
Sources
Natural Sources
Man Made Sources

Clean dry air contains by volume
Nitrogen ~ 78.1%
Oxygen ~ 20.9%
Other gases including CO
2
, Helium, Argon, Neon,
Krypton, Nitrous Oxide etc ~ 1%

Personal exposure of an individual to dust,
fumes, and gases

Occupational exposure of an individual to
aerosols, vapours, and gases in harmful
concentrations in their working or occupational
environment

Community pollution from a variety of sources
and factors which cause adverse social,
economic, and health effects on mans total
environment
Pollutants include

Oxides of nitrogen from electrical storms
Hydrogen flouride and hydrogen chloride from
volcanic disturbances
Sulphur dioxide, hydrogen sulphide etc from
volcanoes or from the action of sulphide
bacteria
Ozone formed photo chemically or from
electrical discharges
Carbon monoxide from atmospheric oxidation
of methane and formaldehyde

Dust, aerosols, and suspended particulate
matter (SPM) from natural sources consisting
of
salt particles from sea water
airborne particles from soil and vegetation
dust of meteoric origin
bacterial spores, and pollen
dust, ash, and gases from volcanic action
dust from dust storms
smoke of forest fires
mineral particles from erosion of rocks
SPM
consists of all atmospheric particles, either
solid or liquid, dispersed in a gaseous medium
Aerosols
refer to the dispersion of solid or liquid
particles of microscopic size in a gaseous
medium such as smoke, fog, mist etc
(generally solid and liquid particles in the size
range 100 microns down to 0.01 microns or
less)
Dust solid particles larger than colloidal particles that
are capable of temporary suspension in air or other gases
(size range ~ 1 to 200 microns)
Smoke finely divided particles resulting from
incomplete combustion or other chemical processes
predominantly carbon particles (~<1micron)
Mist Liquid droplets formed by condensation or
released from industrial operations
Fog
Fumes

Radioactive natural sources consist of
radioactive minerals in the earths crust (derived
from the uranium series, thorium series, and the
actinium series)
Those generated by the action of cosmic rays
from the outer space on the gaseous constituents
of the atmosphere (radon and thoron)
Atmospheric Reactions
Natural chemical reactions taking place in the lower
atmosphere convert gases or vapours into solids and
liquid products by oxidation, condenstion, and
polymerisation mechanisms
In the upper atmosphere, photochemical reactions may
break down complex molecules by absorption of high
energy UV solar radiation and resultant oxidation and
other reactions
Carbon dioxide gas is released by all forms of life during
respiration
Products of combustion of fuel in houses
Exhaust gases from automobiles
Industrial activities eg. Metal smelting,
refining, iron and steel manufacture, oil
refining, chemical and petrochemical operations,
manufacture of pulp and paper
An estimate of dust fall in the most
contaminated areas - ~ 50 to 100tons/sq.km/
month
Sulphur Dioxide
Thermal Power stations are the main source - ~
40% of the total emission
Annual contribution from combustion of coal
and petroleum products - >20 M tons/yr
Nitrogen Oxides
Combustion of fuels
Major contributor- automobiles
Others include thermal power stations,
industries, households etc
Carbon Monoxide
Exhaust of automobiles and coal burning
Incomplete combustion of carbanaceous fuels
~ 500 M tons/yr
Hydrocarbons
from automobile exhausts, smoke of incinerators, from
oil refineries etc
Photochemical Oxidants
Aldehydes
from the combustion of fuel

Primary pollutants
Secondary pollutants

Emitted directly from identifiable sources

Pollutants from natural or anthropogenic sources in
the atmosphere

Includes particulate matter, suplhur oxides and
sulphur compounds, nitrogen oxides, CO, compounds
of halogens, radioactive compounds, photochemical
oxidants, hydrocarbons etc

Formed as a result of the interaction between
two or more primary pollutants or by reactions
with normal atmospheric constituents
generally chemicals very harmful

Sulphuric acid, ozone, photochemical smog,
peroxy acetyl nitrate (PAN)
H
2
SO
4
SO
2
and H
2
0 vapour

O
3
-HC and NO

Stationary Sources
industrial installations

Mobile Sources
automobiles

Point sources (large stationary sources)

Line sources (mobile sources with definite
route)

Area sources (small stationary sources like
residential buildings and mobile sources with
indefinite route)

Combustion of gasoline and other
hydrocarbon fuels in cars, trucks,
and airplanes
Burning of fossil fuels (oil, coal,
and dinosaur bones)
Insecticides
Herbicides
Everyday radioactive fallouts
Dust from fertilizers
Mining operations
Livestock feedlots
Synchronym of smoke and fog
Types
Photochemical
Air stagnation, abundant sunlight, high concentrations of
hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere
Occurs in metros
First observed in LA in the 1940s
Caused by the interaction of some hydrocarbons and
oxidants under the influence of sunlight giving rise to the
dangerous Peroxy acyl nitrate (PAN)
Coal induced
From burning coal smoke, flyash, suplhur compounds
Occurs in cold climate when calm meteorological conditions
prevail
particulates (especially
lead)
hydrocarbons
nitrous oxides
potassium
carbon monoxide
peroxy acetyl nitrate
(PAN)
other toxic chemicals

Photochemical Smog

Coughing and soar throat
Irritation of eyes
Kills leaf tissues
Reduces visibility
Degrades rubber, cellulose etc

Coal-induced Smog

Prolonged exposure may cause high mortality
rate among elderly people and those having
heart and lung diseases like chronic bronchitis,
asthma, broncho-pneumonia etc

Smog in London on 8
th
December, 1952 more
than 4000 people died due to suffocation
Efficient insulation
Bacteria
Molds and mildews
Viruses
animal dander and cat saliva
plants
house dust
Mites
Cockroaches
pollen
Acid rain
Ozone layer depletion
Global warming
In human population respiratory problems,
allergies, and a risk for cancer

contains high levels of
sulfuric or nitric acids
contaminates drinking water
and vegetation
damages aquatic life
erodes buildings
Alters the chemical
equilibrium of some soils
Status of Particulate Emission
Effect on Vegetation
SO
2
severely damages sensitive vegetation

Effect on Human Health
In moderate climates and low altitudes, excess
mortality has been noted among people with
pulmonary and cardiac problems when SO
2
and
SPM concentrations are high
Also affects visibility in warmer climates
CO combines with haemoglobin of blood, when
inhaled, and impairs transfer of oxygen to tissues
- ~20% carboxyhaemoglobin may cause headache
and lassitude and impair performance high
levels also affect the cardiovascular system

NO
2
respiratory system diseases

Photochemical oxidants asthma, irritation of
eyes, nose, and throat
Effects on Physical Properties of the Atmosphere

First indication Decrease in Visibility
Also, observations of visibility in polluted areas show strong
directional variations due to scattering and absorption of light
by particles suspended in air, visibility is lower in the direction
of the sun

Other meteorological factors such as inversion, wind speed and
height also affect visibility
Visibility depends on
transmission of light through the atmosphere
ability of the eye to distinguish an object (based on
contrast)
Reduced visibility is related to
Size
Concentration
physical characteristics of the particulate matter in air

Affects solar radiation in urban areas, thereby affecting
the urban atmosphere and weather
Solar radiation may be reduced by ~ 30%
City may be 5-10% more cloudy, 100% more foggy in
winter
Fog remains for much longer duration
Frequency of occurrence of fog increase

Affects atmospheric constituents
Steady increase in atmospheric CO
2
Increase in lead concentration
Effects on Materials
Mechanisms by which pollutants deteriorate
materials include
Abrasion
Deposition and removal
Direct chemical attack
Indirect chemical attack
Corrosion