Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, contributes significantly to climate change and poses hazardous effects on the atmosphere. While its atmospheric concentration is lower than carbon dioxide, methane is approximately 28 times more effective at trapping heat over a 100-year period. The sources of methane include natural processes like wetlands, as well as human activities such as agriculture (rice cultivation, livestock farming), fossil fuel extraction, landfills, and wastewater treatment. These activities release methane into the atmosphere, exacerbating the greenhouse effect and contributing to global warming. Methane not only directly traps heat in the atmosphere but also indirectly affects atmospheric chemistry. It reacts with other compounds to form ozone, a key component of smog, which poses health risks and damages crops. Methane also contributes to the depletion of stratospheric ozone, further exacerbating the issue of ozone layer thinning and increasing the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation on living organisms. Moreover, methane emissions can lead to feedback loops, as increased temperatures from climate change can trigger further methane release from sources such as permafrost and methane hydrates, perpetuating the cycle of global warming. Efforts to mitigate methane emissions are crucial for addressing climate change. Strategies include reducing emissions from agriculture and fossil fuel operations, improving waste management practices, and promoting renewable energy alternatives. By addressing methane emissions, we can help mitigate its hazardous effects on the atmosphere and work towards a more sustainable future.

1. Atmospheric Pollution Management
Topic: Methane's Hazardous Effects on The Atmosphere
MS in Environmental Science
Name: MD MAHABUB HASAN
Assistant Engineer-Mechanical
Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC)
Email: mahabub1625@gmail.com
www.mahabubbd.com

2. Topic: Methane's Hazardous Effects on The Atmosphere
Introduction: Methane is the primary contributor to the formation of ground-level ozone, a hazardous
air pollutant and greenhouse gas, exposure to which causes 1 million premature deaths every year.
Methane is also a powerful greenhouse gas. Over a 20-year period, it is 80 times more potent at
warming than carbon dioxide. Methane (CH4) is a colorless, odorless and highly flammable gas. It is
composed of carbon and hydrogen. It affects climate change by contributing to increased warming.
Nitrogen oxides can damage the ozone layer, which humans rely on to prevent most of the sun's
ultraviolet radiation from reaching earth's surface.
Methane as a Trace Gas: A trace gas makes up less than 1% by volume of a planet’s atmosphere. Trace
gases in the Martian atmosphere include methane, water vapor, nitrogen dioxide and acetylene.
Although making up a very small amount of the overall atmospheric inventory, methane in particular
holds key clues to the planet’s current state of activity. On Earth, living organisms release much of the
planet’s methane. It is also the main component of naturally occurring hydrocarbon gas reservoirs, and
a contribution is also provided by volcanic and hydrothermal activity. Because of the key role natural
biology plays in Earth’s methane production, confirming the existence of methane on Mars, and
distinguishing between its potential sources, is a top priority of the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter.
Automated Gas Chromatographic System for Rapid Analysis of the Atmospheric Trace Gases Methane,
Carbon Dioxide, and Nitrous Oxide. Methane is emitted from a variety of anthropogenic (human-
influenced) and natural sources. Anthropogenic emission sources include landfills, oil and natural gas
systems, agricultural activities, coal mining, stationary and mobile combustion, wastewater treatment,
and certain industrial processes. Humans are responsible for as much as 40 percent more methane
emissions than previously estimated, according to a new study published in the journal Nature today.
Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that can be produced biologically, seep out of the ground
naturally, or bubble out of mud volcanoes High levels of methane can reduce the amount of oxygen
breathed from the air. This can result in mood changes, slurred speech, vision problems, memory loss,
nausea, vomiting, facial flushing and headache. In severe cases, there may be changes in breathing and
heart rate, balance problems, numbness, and unconsciousness.
Main sources of methane emissions
1. Since the Industrial Revolution and human
2. Fossil fuel production, distribution and use
3. Livestock farming

3. 4. Landfills and waste
5. Biomass burning
6. Rice agriculture
7. Biofuels
8. Natural Sources
CH4 Uses (Methane)
✓ It is used in automobiles, ovens and water heater as a fuel.
✓ It is used in the generation of electricity.
✓ It is used as rocket fuel in its refined liquid form.
✓ It is used as an antifreeze ingredient in industries.
✓ It is a common ingredient in fertilizer.
✓ It is used to sanitize products.
Hazardous effects of Methane in ATM
High levels of methane can reduce the amount of oxygen breathed from the air. This can result
in mood changes, slurred speech, vision problems, memory loss, nausea, vomiting, facial flushing and
headache. In severe cases, there may be changes in breathing and heart rate, balance problems,
numbness, and unconsciousness. Methane has not been found to have any adverse impact on human
health at concentrations generally found in the environment. Exposure to low levels of methane may
cause dizziness, headaches or a general feeling of fatigue. The Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) has no permissible exposure limit for methane, but the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health's (NIOSH) maximum recommended safe methane concentration for
workers during an 8-hour period is 1,000 ppm (0.1 percent) Methane is an explosion hazard in
enclosed areas. Liquefied Methane floats on water and boils. The vapor cloud produced is
FLAMMABLE. The largest sources of methane emissions from human activities in the United States
are oil and gas systems, livestock enteric fermentation, and landfills. Spontaneous ignition
temperatures for stoichiometric methane-air mixtures are around 870 K (600°C) at atmospheric
pressure and decrease to 660 K (390°C) at 1100 bar ignition pressure. Methane--a common
greenhouse gas--is one troublemaker. In the harsh sunlight of the upper atmosphere, methane can
react with other gases to form water vapor, which then breaks down into other chemicals that destroy
ozone. While any methane concentration within the flammability range has the potential to explode in
the presence of an ignition source, a methane concentration of ~9.5% in air can produce the most

4. damaging explosion. Methane forms explosive mixtures with air and the loudest explosions occur
when one volume of methane is mixed with 10 volumes of air (or 2 volumes of oxygen). Air containing
less than 5.5% methane no longer explodes. Methane is extremely flammable and can explode at
concentrations between 5% (lower explosive limit) and 15% (upper explosive limit). These
concentrations are much lower than the concentrations at which asphyxiant risk is significant.
Conclusion: Cutting methane emissions is the fastest opportunity we have to immediately slow the
rate of global warming, even as we decarbonize our energy systems. It's an opportunity we can't afford
to miss. Methane has more than 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over the first 20 years
after it reaches the atmosphere.
✓ Methane is released during the drilling and perhaps during the fracking process and other gas
well work.
✓ Methane is at significantly higher concentrations in the aquifers after gas drilling and perhaps
as a result of fracking and gas well work.
✓ The methane migrating into the aquifer is both from the shallower formations and older
Marcellus shale
✓ Methane gas released during drilling apparently cause significant damage to the water quality
✓ In some cause the aquifers recover but in others causes the damage is long term
✓ Methane Digester creates usable energy.
✓ Methane Digester is self-sustaining and uses recyclable materials and waste, using less power
from the grid.
✓ Methane gas is a greenhouse gas, which can be harmful to the environment but burning it as
powers makes it into something useful.