The document discusses air pollution, defining it as the discharge of foreign substances into the air that adversely affect air quality and harm human, plant, and animal life. It classifies air pollutants, sources of pollution, effects of pollution, and methods for controlling pollution. Key topics include primary and secondary air pollutants, natural and man-made pollution sources, impacts on health, animals, plants, materials and climate, and devices like cyclone collectors and electrostatic precipitators that can remove particulates from industrial emissions.

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.

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

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

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

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

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