MICRO AND MACRO AIR

POLLUTION
Air pollution problems may occur on
three scales:

1.Micro
2.Meso
3.Macro
 Microscale problems range from
those covering less than a centimeter to
those the size of a house or slightly
larger.
 Mesoscale air pollution problems
are those of a few hectares up to the
size of a city or country
 Macroscale air pollution problems
extend form countries to states, nations,
and in the broadest sense, the globe.
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
 Indoor air pollution refers to toxic
contaminants that we encounter in our daily lives in
our homes, schools and workplaces. According to
the California Air Resources Board (ARB), part of the
California Environmental Protection Agency, many
pollutants build up rapidly indoors, resulting in
higher levels than usually found outside, especially
in newer homes where tighter construction
prevents particles from escaping the home. These
pollutants can cause a variety of health problems
and can even be fatal at high levels.
 Indoor tobacco smoking is of
particular concern because of the
carcinogenic properties of the smoke
 Mainstream smoking is the smoke
inhaled and exhaled by smokers directly
from tobacco products.
 Sidestream smoke is smoke which goes into
the air directly from a burning cigarette, cigar
or smoking pipe. Sidestream smoke is the main
component (around 85%) of Second-hand
smoke (SHS), also known as Environmental Tobacco
Smoke (ETS) or passive smoking. The chemical
constituents of sidestream smoke are different from
those of directly inhaled ("mainstream") smoke.
Sidestream smoke has been classified as a Class
A carcinogen by the U.S. Environmetal Protection
Agency.
 Nitroge Oxide sources have been
found to range from 70µg in air-
conditioned houses with electric ranges
to 182µg in non-airconditione houses
with gas stoves. The latter value is quite
high incomparison with the national
ambient air quality limits.
 Bacteria, viruses, fungi, mites, and
pollen are collectively referred to as
Bioaerosols. Most bacteria and viruses in
indoor air come from humans and pets.
 Other microorganisms and pollen
are introduced from the ambient air
through either natural ventilation or
through the intakes of building handling
systems. Humidifiers, air-conditioning
systems, and other places where water
accumulates are potential reservoirs for
bioaerosols.
 Over 800 volatile organic
compounds , (VOCs) have been
identified in indoor air. Aldehydes,
alkanes, alkenes, ethers, ketone, and
polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAHs) are among them.
ACID RAIN
 Acid rain, or acid deposition, is a
broad term that includes any form of
precipitation with acidic components, such
as sulfuric or nitric acid that fall to the
ground from the atmosphere in wet or dry
forms. This can include rain, snow, fog, hail
or even dust that is acidic.
 Acid rain results when sulfur dioxide
(SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) are emitted
into the atmosphere and transported by
wind and air currents. The SO2 and
NOX react with water, oxygen and other
chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric
acids. These then mix with water and other
materials before falling to the ground.
 While a small portion of the SO2 and NOX that cause acid
rain is from natural sources such as volcanoes, most of it comes
from the burning of fossil fuels. The major sources of SO2 and
NOX in the atmosphere are:

• Burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity. Two thirds of

SO2 and one fourth of NOX in the atmosphere come from electric
power generators.

• Vehicles and heavy equipment.

• Manufacturing, oil refineries and other industries.

OZONE DEPLETION
 Ozone layer depletion, is simply the
wearing out (reduction) of the amount of
ozone in the stratosphere. Unlike pollution,
which has many types and causes, Ozone
depletion has been pinned down to one major
human activity.
 Industries that manufacture things like
insulating foams, solvents, soaps, cooling
things like Air Conditioners, Refrigerators and
‘Take-Away’ containers use something called
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). These substances
are heavier than air, but over time, (2-5years)
they are carried high into the stratosphere by
wind action.
 Depletion begins when CFC’s get into the stratosphere. Ultra violet
radiation from the sun breaks up these CFCs. The breaking up action releases
Chlorine atoms. Chlorine atoms react with Ozone, starting a chemical cycle
that destroys the good ozone in that area. One chlorine atom can break apart
more than 100,000 ozone molecules.