AIR POLLUTION

Done by: Dr. Mais Alkalili

Air is a mixture of about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen,
0.9% argon, 0.04% carbon dioxide, and very small
amounts of other gases, There is an average of about
1% water vapor.
 Introduction: Air Pollution
Air pollution is the contamination of the indoor or outdoor
environment by any chemical, physical, or biological agent that
modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere.

• Sources of air pollution can be categorized into:

1. Mobile sources (e.g., cars, trucks, buses)
2. Stationary sources (e.g., factories, refineries, power
plants)
3. Indoor sources (e.g., building materials and activities
such as cleaning).
Key facts:
 With 23 percent of global deaths (13 million)
linked to environmental factors, WHO estimates
that air pollution is responsible for 9 million
deaths every year.
 Some 3 million deaths a year are linked to
exposure to outdoor air pollution.
 Nearly 90% of air-pollution-related deaths occur
in low- and middle-income countries, with
nearly 2 out of 3 occurring in WHO’s Southeast
Asia and Western Pacific regions.

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Air pollution classification

1) According to physical state:

1.Gaseous.
2.Liquid (aqueous).
3.Solid.
2) According to chemical composition:
1) Sulfur-containing compounds.
2) Nitrogen-containing compounds.
3) Carbon-containing compounds.
4) Halogen-containing compounds.
5) Toxic substances (any of about).
6) Radiative compounds.
3) According to the manner in which they reach the
atmosphere:

1.Primary pollutants (those emitted directly from

the sources).
2.Secondary pollutants (those formed in the
atmosphere by chemical interactions among primary
pollutants and normal atmospheric conditions).
Major Air Pollutants

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4) According to the space scales of their effects:

1. indoor.
2. outdoor.
Outdoor Air Pollution
 Ozone

Particulate
Lead Matter
(PM)
PM & Ozone The 6
Formation most
common

Nitrogen pollutants Carbon

Oxides Monoxide

Sulfur
Dioxid
e
Ozone
 Ozone, O3, is a gas.

 At ground level, ozone is a hazard (‘bad’ ozone) - it is a

major constituent of photochemical smog. However, in the
stratosphere, it serves to absorb some of the potentially
harmful UV radiation from the sun, which is believed to
cause skin cancer, among other things (‘good’ ozone).

 Sources: ozone is not emitted into the atmosphere; ozone

is formed from the ozone precursors, VOCs, and nitrogen
oxides
 Ozon
• Ground e
level or "bad" ozone is not
emitted directly into the air, but is
created by chemical reactions between
oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile
organic compounds (VOC) in the
presence of sunlight.
• Emissions from industrial facilities and
electric utilities, motor vehicle exhaust,
gasoline vapors, and chemical solvents
are some of the major sources of NOx
and VOC.
• Breathing ozone can trigger a variety of
health problems, particularly for
children, the elderly, and people of all
ages who have lung diseases such as
asthma.
• Ground level ozone can also have
harmful effects on sensitive vegetation
and ecosystems.
Ozone
Tropospheric Ozone
Man- made pollutant in the lower atmosphere
Secondary air pollutant
Component of photochemical smog
Stratospheric Ozone
Essential component that screens out UV radiation in
the upper atmosphere
Man- made pollutants (ex: CFCs) can destroy it

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Particulate Matter (PM)
• Is a complex mixture of extremely
small particles and liquid droplets.
Sources of pollution:
• Anthropogenic sources: various
(biomass burning, gas to particle
conversion; industrial processes;
agriculture activities)
• Natural sources: various (sea-salt,
dust storm, biomass burning,
volcanic debris, gas to particle
conversion)
• The size of particles is directly linked to their
potential for causing health problems.
• "Inhalable coarse particles," such as those found near
roadways and dusty industries, are larger than 2.5
micrometers and smaller than 10 micrometers in
diameter.
• "Fine particles," such as those found in smoke and haze,
are 2.5 micrometers in diameter and smaller. These
particles can be directly emitted from sources such as
forest fires, or they can form when gases emitted from
power plants, industries, and automobiles react in the air.
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 Carbon Monoxide
• It is a product of incomplete
• Carbon monoxide (CO) is a combustion of fuel. CO can
colorless, odorless gas emitted cause harmful health effects
from combustion processes. by reducing oxygen delivery
• Nationally and, particularly in to the body's organs and
urban areas, the majority of CO tissues.
emissions to ambient air come • At extremely high levels, CO
from mobile sources. Vehicular can cause death.
exhaust is a major source of carbon
monoxide.
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 Sulfur Dioxide
• Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is one of a group of highly reactive gasses
known as “oxides of sulfur.”
• Sulfur dioxide, SO2, is a colorless gas with a sharp odor
• The largest sources of SO2 emissions are from fossil fuel
combustion at power plants (73%) and other industrial facilities
(20%).
• Smaller sources of SO2 emissions include industrial processes such
as extracting metal from ore and burning high sulfur-containing
fuels by locomotives, large ships, and non-road equipment. SO2 is
linked with several adverse effects on the respiratory system.
• Photochemicalsmog results from large
amounts of coal burning in an area caused
by a mixture of smoke and sulfur dioxide.
 Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
• EPA’s National Ambient Air Quality Standard uses NO2 as the
indicator for the larger group of nitrogen oxides.
• NO2 forms quickly from emissions from cars, trucks and
buses, power plants, and off-road equipment.
• In addition to contributing to the formation of ground-level ozone,
and fine particle pollution, NO2 is linked with a number of adverse
effects on the respiratory system.
• NOx stands for an indeterminate mixture of nitric oxide, NO, and
nitrogen dioxide, NO2 Nitrogen oxides, NOx, are formed mainly
from N2 and O2 during high-temperature combustion of fuel in
cars.
• Anthropogenic sources: motor vehicles, biomass burning
• Natural sources: bacteria, lightning, biomass burning
 Lead
•Lead (Pb) is a metal found naturally in the environment as well as in
manufactured products.
• The major sources of lead emissions have historically been from fuels in on-
road motor vehicles (such as cars and trucks) and industrial sources.
•As a result of EPA's regulatory efforts to remove lead from on-road motor
vehicle gasoline, emissions of lead from the transportation sector dramatically
declined by 95 percent between 1980 and 1999, and levels of lead in the air
decreased by 94 percent between 1980 and 1999.
•Today, the highest levels of lead in air are usually found near lead smelters.
The major sources of lead emissions to the air today are ore and metals
processing and piston-engine aircraft operating on leaded aviation gasoline.
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Indoor Air Pollution
 Indoor Air Pollution
Definition
Indoor air pollution refers to:
Chemical, biological and physical
contamination of indoor air. It may result in
adverse health effects.

In developing countries, the main source of indoor air pollution is:

biomass smoke which contains:
• suspended particulate matter (SPM),
• nitrogen dioxide (NO2),
• sulphur dioxide (SO2),
• carbon monoxide (CO),
• formaldehyde ,
• and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
Glossary of Environment Statistics, Studies in Methods, Series F, No. 67, United Nations, New York, 1997.
 INDOOR AIR POLLUTION

-Indoor air pollutants may be up to 100 times higher

than outdoor levels. (Environmental Protection Agency).
-Most people spend 90% of their time indoors.
(American Lung Association)
-Dirty ventilation systems are a 50% contributor to sick
building syndrome. (Healthy Buildings International).

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 Health Effects of Indoor Air Pollutants

Short-term problems Long-term health problems

include a stuffy, odorous have a longer latency period
environment and symptoms or are chronic in nature.
such as burning eyes, Health conditions involving
skin irritation, some allergic reactions,
and headaches. including hypersensitivity
pneumonitis, allergic rhinitis,
and some types of asthma,
are triggered by bioaerosols.

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 Indoor organic and inorganic air
pollutants
90% of the time people spend it indoors!

Indoor Air Bedrooms Attic

Dust mite
Pollution & pet
Asbestos
and
dande chemical
r s
Bathroom CO
M.O.,
cleaners Yard
• Mold and pollen Pollen
• Tobacco smoke Kitchen Asbestos, pesticides
CO lead, herbicides
• Household products and pesticides chemicals
smok formaldehyd
• Gases such as radon and carbon e Radon Garage
monoxide Living area e
CO, paints
• Materials used in the building Tobacco solvents
smoke
such as
asbestos, formaldehyde and lead
 Asbesto
s

 Asbestos was heavily used in house

construction and isolation in older
homes.
 Asbestos use was officially banned in
Jordan in 2006 for all applications.
This decision was part of the
country’s efforts to prevent the
severe health risks associated with
asbestos
 It is the third leading cause of lung
cancer.
 Biological
Pollutants
 Biological contaminants include bacteria,
viruses, animal dander and cat saliva, house
dust, mites, cockroaches, and pollen.

 By controlling the relative humidity level in a

home, the growth of some sources of
biologicals can be minimized.

Optimal Range for

humidity

https://archpaper.com/2018/08/epa-asbestos-manufacturing/
 Biological
Pollutants
 Water-damaged materials or wet surfaces also serve as a breeding ground for molds,
bacteria, and insects.

 House dust mites, the source of one of the most powerful biological allergens, grow in
damp, warm environments.

https://archpaper.com/2018/08/epa-asbestos-manufacturing/
 Lead
Lead can be a significant indoor pollutant, especially in older homes or buildings. It
is a toxic metal that can cause severe health problems, particularly in young children
and pregnant women.
Sources of Lead Indoors:
1.Lead-Based Paint: One of the most common sources of lead exposure in older
homes where lead-based paint may be deteriorating. Lead dust or chips from this
paint can contaminate the environment.
2.Plumbing: Lead pipes or plumbing fixtures, as well as lead-soldered pipes, can
release lead into drinking water, particularly if the water is acidic or stays in the
pipes for extended periods.
3.Soil Contamination: Lead can also be found in the soil around older homes, and it
can be tracked indoors through shoes or pets.
4.Renovation Activities: Remodeling or renovations in homes with lead-based paint
can disturb lead dust or chips, causing exposure to inhabitants.
5.Occupational Exposure: People who work in industries involving lead (such as
construction or painting) may bring lead dust into the home on clothing or
equipment.
Health effects

•Children: Young children are particularly vulnerable to lead

poisoning. Even low levels of exposure can cause developmental
delays, lower IQ, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems.
High levels can lead to seizures, coma, or even death.
•Pregnant Women: Lead exposure can result in pregnancy
complications, premature birth, or developmental issues for the
baby.
•Adults: Chronic exposure in adults can cause high blood pressure,
kidney damage, reproductive issues, and cognitive decline.
Lea
d
 Radon
(Rn)

Radon is by product of Uranium which is

naturally abundant in different soils.
It is light so it reaches the surface of the
earth and when it gets entrapped it can
pose high exposure.
Cracks in the basement accompanied
by poor ventilation are the main
source indoors.
It comes up through cracks in the
ground and can get into your
basement. It can accumulate in the
Radon
basement up to levels which can
cause lung cancer.
2nd cause of lung cancer Radium
Uranium
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Effect of Air Pollution On Human
Health
Thank you