PRESENTATION ON
AIR POLLUTION
FIRST LET US TALK ABOUT WHAT
POLLUTION IS?
• Pollution is derived from Latin word "polluere" which means to defile.
Pollution is an undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological
characteristics of our air, land and water that can harmfully affect human life
or that of other species, our industrial processes, living conditions and
cultural assets.
In simple language, Any addition to air, water, soil or food & Noise that
threatens the health and survival capabilities of humans or other living
beings is known as pollution.
WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY THE
TERM AIR POLLUTION?
• Air pollution occurs when harmful or excessive quantities of substances
including gases, particulates, and biological molecules are introduced
into Earth's atmosphere. It may cause diseases, allergies and even death to
humans; it may also cause harm to other living organisms such as animals and
food crops, and may damage the natural or built environment. Both human
activity and natural processes can generate air pollution.
HOW DO WE CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS AIR
POLLUTION?
• We cause air pollution directly through our use of electricity, fuels, and
transportation.
• We also cause air pollution indirectly, when we buy goods and services that
use energy in their production and delivery. Most of this air pollution we cause
results from the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, natural gas, and
gasoline to produce electricity and power our vehicles.
• Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a good indicator of how much fossil fuel is burned and
how much of other pollutants are emitted as a result. Using carbon dioxide as
an example, the average family in the United States causes air pollution in the
following ways:
• Each year, the average individual in the United States causes the following
amounts of air pollution:
• Climate Change Pollution (CO2) = 27 Tons
Ozone-Causing Pollution (NOx) = 102 Pounds
Acid Rain Causing Pollution (SO2) = 129 Pounds
Small Particulate Pollution = 14 Pounds
Toxic Lead Pollution (Pb) = 0.4 Ounces
Toxic Mercury Pollution (Hg) = 0.01 Ounces
OTHER MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR OF AIR
POLLUTION.
• 1. Burning of Fossil Fuels: Sulfur dioxide emitted from the combustion of fossil fuelslike coal,
petroleum and other factory combustibles is one the major cause of air pollution. Pollution emitting
from vehicles including trucks, jeeps, cars, trains, airplanes cause immense amount of pollution. We
rely on them to fulfill our daily basic needs of transportation. But, there overuse is killing our
environment as dangerous gases are polluting the environment. Carbon Monooxide caused by
improper or incomplete combustion and generally emitted from vehicles is another major pollutant
along with Nitrogen Oxides, that is produced from both natural and man made processes.
• 2. Agricultural activities: Ammonia is a very common by product from agriculture
related activities and is one of the most hazardous gases in the atmosphere. Use of
insecticides, pesticides and fertilizers in agricultural activities has grown quite a lot.
They emit harmful chemicals into the air and can also cause water pollution.
• 3. Exhaust from factories and industries: Manufacturing industries release large
amount of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, organic compounds, and chemicals into the
air thereby depleting the quality of air. Manufacturing industries can be found at every
corner of the earth and there is no area that has not been affected by it. Petroleum
refineries also release hydrocarbons and various other chemicals that pollute the air and
also cause land pollution.
• 4. Mining operations: Mining is a process wherein minerals below the earth are
extracted using large equipments. During the process dust and chemicals are released
in the air causing massive air pollution. This is one of the reason which is responsible for
the deteriorating health conditions of workers and nearby residents.
• 5. Indoor air pollution: Household cleaning products, painting supplies emit toxic
chemicals in the air and cause air pollution. Have you ever noticed that once you paint
walls of your house, it creates some sort of smell which makes it literally impossible for
you to breathe.
• Suspended particulate matter popular by its acronym SPM, is another cause of pollution.
Referring to the particles afloat in the air, SPM is usually caused by dust, combustion
etc.
NOW LET US TALK ABOUT THE
POLLUTANTS.
Pollutant Anthropogenic Sources Health Effects Environmental Effects
Ozone Secondary pollutant Breathing problems, Damages crops,
(O3) formed by chemical reduced lung forests, and other
reaction of VOCs and function, asthma, vegetation; damages
NOx in the presence irritates eyes, stuffy rubber, fabric, and
of sunlight. nose, reduces other materials; smog
resistance to colds reduces visibility.
and infections,
premature aging of
lung tissue.
Ozone (smog) effects;
precursor of acid rain which
Burning of gasoline, natural damages trees, lakes, and
Lung damage, respiratory
gas, coal, oil. soil; aerosols can reduce
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) illnesses, ozone (smog)
(Cars are a major source of visibility.
effects.
NOx.) Acid rain also causes
buildings, statues, and
monuments to deteriorate.
Emitted as particles or Source of haze which
formed through chemical reduces visibility.
Eye, nose, and throat
reactions; burning of wood, Ashes, smoke, soot, and
irritation; lung damage;
Particulate Matter diesel, and other fuels; dust can dirty and discolor
bronchitis; cancer; early
industrial processes; structures and property,
death.
agriculture (plowing, field including clothes and
burning); unpaved roads. furniture.
Precursor of acid rain, which
Burning of coal and oil, can damage trees, lakes, and
especially high-sulfur coal; Respiratory illness, breathing soil; aerosols can reduce
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) industrial processes (paper problems, may cause visibility.
manufacturing, metal permanent damage to lungs. Acid rain also causes
smelting). buildings, statues, and
monuments to deteriorate.
Reduces ability of blood to
Burning of gasoline, natural
Carbon Monoxide (CO) bring oxygen to body cells and
gas, coal, oil.
tissues
Fuel combustion, solvents,
Ozone (smog) effects, cancer,
Volatile Organic Compounds paint. Ozone (smog) effects,
and other serious health
(VOCs) (Cars are a major source of vegetation damage.
problems.
VOCs.)
AIR POLLUTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE – A
VICIOUS CIRCLE
• EU-funded research indicates air pollution and global warming are locked in a vicious
circle. The research is feeding into efforts to cut air pollution and fight climate change.
• In the last 20 years, we have had some of the hottest years on record, 14 to be exact.
The weather has also been doing some strange things, and there is evidence of ice
caps melting and sea levels rising. All this is evidence of global warming, also known
as global climate change. The composition of the earth’s atmosphere is changing and
the increase in greenhouse gasses is causing changes in weather, climate, and other
things. In addition to the threats to our ecosystem, ozone and particulate matter (the
two main contributors to global warming) pose a major health risk to the population.
HOW IS THE GLOBE AFFECTED BY AIR
POLLUTION?
The 20 countries with the most polluted
urban areas
• Pakistan - average PM 2.5 concentration: 115.7
• Qatar - 92.4
• Afghanistan - 86
• Bangladesh - 83.3
• Egypt - 73
• UAE - 64
• Mongolia - 61.8
• India - 60.6 (8)
• Bahrain - 56.1
• Nepal - 50
• Ghana - 49
• Jordan - 48
• China - 41.4
• Senegal - 40
• Turkey - 39.1
• Bulgaria - 38.6
• Mauritius - 38.1
• Peru - 38
• Serbia - 35.8
• Iran - 34.2
The world's 20 most polluted cities
(PM2.5)
• Zabol, Iran - 217
• Gwalior, India - 176
• Allahabad, India - 170
• Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - 156
• Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia - 152
• Patna, India - 149
• Raipur, India - 144
• Bamenda, Cameroon - 132
• Xingtai, China - 128
• Baoding, China - 126
• Delhi, India - 122
• Ludhiana, India - 122
• Dammam, Saudi Arabia - 121
• Shijiazhuang, China - 121
• Kanpur, India - 115
• Firozabad, India - 113
• Lucknow, India - 113
• Handan, China - 112
• Peshawar, Pakistan - 111
Premature deaths caused by air pollution
• PM2.5 has been associated with significant health effects, including cardiovascular
diseases, lung diseases, cancer and premature deaths.
• Nearly 15,000 people died prematurely in Delhi due to pollution by fine particulate
matter in 2016, according to a new study which ranked the national capital third in a
list of cities reporting most deaths due to air pollution.
• Shanghai was ranked first in most premature deaths at 17,600 and Beijing second with
18,200 deaths due to PM2.5 pollutant.
• The phenomenon of smog-hit cities became so common recently that the term
‘airpocalypse’ has become synonymous with polluted air. In Indian megacities, the
premature deaths were 14,800 in Delhi, 10,500 in Mumbai, 7,300 in Kolkata, and 4,800
in Chennai respectively.
METHODS TO CURB AIR POLLUTION
• Conserve energy – remember to turn off lights, computers, and electric appliances when not in
use.
• Use energy efficient light bulbs and appliances.
• Limit driving by carpooling, using public transportation, biking and walking.
• Use of cleaner fuels.
• Keep your automobile well tuned and maintained.
• Avoid excessive idling of your automobile.
• Be careful not to spill gasoline when filling up your car or gasoline powered lawn and garden
equipment.
• Choose environmentally friendly products.
• Use water-based or solvent free paints whenever possible and buy products that say "low VOC".
• Seal containers of household cleaners, workshop chemicals and solvents, and garden chemicals
to prevent volatile organic compounds from evaporating into the air.
• Plant more and more trees.
• Advocate for emission reductions from power plants and more stringent national vehicle
emission standards.
HOW DELHI PLANS TO FIGHT ITS AIR
POLLUTION PROBLEM?
• More use of CNG vehicles in public transport,
• Planting more trees.
• Implementation od proper plan of stubble burning in the nearby states .
• ODD-EVEN rule for vehicles.
• Restricting time of operation of heavy vehicles.
• Better treatment of industrial pollution in air.
• Limiting construction.
• Supplying purified fuel for vehicles.
CYCLE MORE AND PLANT TREES
• Planting trees is a cost-effective way to tackle urban air pollution, which is a
growing problem for many cities.
• A study by US-based The Nature Conservancy (TNC) reported than the
average reduction of particulate matter near a tree was between 7% and
24%.
• Particulate matter (PM) is microscopic particles that become trapped in the
lungs of people breathing polluted air.
• PM pollution could claim an estimated 6.2 million lives each year by 2050,
the study suggests.
The process
