Name the main gaseous pollutants, explain their types and effect on Environment
Air pollution is a change in the physical, chemical and biological characteristic of air that causes adverse effects on humans and other organisms. The ultimate result is a change in the natural environment and/or ecosystem. The substances that are responsible for causing air pollution are called air pollution. These air pollutants can be either natural (e.g. wildfires) or synthetic (man-made); they may be in the form of gas, liquid or solid Main air pollutants: i. Sulphur oxides (SOx) ii. Nitrogen oxides (NOx): iii. Carbon monoxide: iv. Carbon dioxide (CO2): v. Volatile organic compounds: vi. Particulate matter: vii. Persistent free radicals – connected to airborne fine particles could cause cardiopulmonary disease.
viii. Toxic metals – such as lead, cadmium and copper.
ix. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) – harmful to the ozone layer emitted from products currently banned from use.
x. Ammonia (NH3) –
xi. Odours – such as from garbage, sewage, and industrial processes
xii. Radioactive pollutants
1. Types of Air Pollutants: An air pollutant is known as a substance in the air that can cause harm to humans and the environment. Pollutants can be in the form of solid particles, liquid droplets, or gases. In addition, they may be natural or man-made. Pollutants can be classified as either primary or secondary. Usually, primary pollutants are substances directly emitted from a process, such as ash from a volcanic eruption, the carbon monoxide gas from a motor vehicle exhaust or sulphur dioxide released from factories.
Secondary pollutants are not emitted directly. Rather, they form in the air when primary pollutants react or interact. An important example of a secondary pollutant is ground level ozone — one of the many secondary pollutants that make up photochemical smog.
Effects on ernvironment:
- An increase in particulates may reduce photosynthesis, increase precipitation, and reduce temperatures.
- Ozone may damage native plants and some crop plants by slowing growth or damaging leaves.
- Nitrogen and sulfur-oxides are pollutants. They also create acids in the atmosphere that fall as acid rain.
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- Acid Rain
Precipitation that contains nitric and sulfuric acids, is formed when nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides produced from the burning of fossil fuels,enter the atmo
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- Eutrophication
Eutrophication occurs where an overabundance of nutrients such as nitrogen in the atmosphere leads to an overgrowth of algae in water bodies
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- Haze
Haze is produced when sunlight hits particles such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide in the air, emitted from power plants and industrial facilities
Wildlife Impacts
Global Climate Change
vii. Persistent free radicals – connected to airborne fine particles could cause cardiopulmonary disease.
viii. Toxic metals – such as lead, cadmium and copper.
ix. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) – harmful to the ozone layer emitted from products currently banned from use.
x. Ammonia (NH3) –
xi. Odours – such as from garbage, sewage, and industrial processes
xii. Radioactive pollutants
An air pollutant is known as a substance in the air that can cause harm to humans and the environment. Pollutants can be in the form of solid particles, liquid droplets, or gases. In addition, they may be natural or man-made. Pollutants can be classified as either primary or secondary. Usually, primary pollutants are substances directly emitted from a process, such as ash from a volcanic eruption, the carbon monoxide gas from a motor vehicle exhaust or sulphur dioxide released from factories.
Secondary pollutants are not emitted directly. Rather, they form in the air when primary pollutants react or interact. An important example of a secondary pollutant is ground level ozone — one of the many secondary pollutants that make up photochemical smog.
Effects on ernvironment:
- An increase in particulates may reduce photosynthesis, increase precipitation, and reduce temperatures.
- Ozone may damage native plants and some crop plants by slowing growth or damaging leaves.
- Nitrogen and sulfur-oxides are pollutants. They also create acids in the atmosphere that fall as acid rain.
-
- Acid Rain
Precipitation that contains nitric and sulfuric acids, is formed when nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides produced from the burning of fossil fuels,enter the atmo
-
- Eutrophication
Eutrophication occurs where an overabundance of nutrients such as nitrogen in the atmosphere leads to an overgrowth of algae in water bodies
-
- Haze
Haze is produced when sunlight hits particles such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide in the air, emitted from power plants and industrial facilities
Wildlife Impacts
Global Climate Change
