AIR POLLUTION

Lecture by: Ms. Rothessa Mary G. Caringal, RMT

AIR
• Deepsea of gas entirely surrounding
the earth and sometimes flowing
one way, sometimes another,
sometimes remaining quiet.
COMPOSITION of AIR
AIR POLLUTION
• The physical and chemical alterations of the properties of air
causing detrimental effects to human, animals and plant life. Air
pollution can be chemical pollution coming mostly from
industrial waste and factory, from radioactivity and from some
aesthetic degradation such as noise, light and odor.
•A mixture of solid particles and gases in the air. Car emissions,
chemicals from factories, dust, pollen and mold spores may be
suspended as particles
 AIR
POLLUTANTS
Any substance that alters the
physical condition of the air
AIR POLLUTANTS
• Primary pollutants are the ones directly emitted into the atmosphere from
the source. These can be emitted in natural ways or due to human actions.
- Precursors for secondary pollutants
- Can cause serious environmental problems like global warming, acid
rains, etc.
• Gases and ash from volcanic reaction
• CO2 from vehicles
• Sulphur dioxide from volcanoes and industrial processes
• Carbon monoxide from incomplete combustion in burning fossil fuels
• Nitrogen oxide produced during lightning
AIR POLLUTANTS
• Secondary pollutants are produced by the reactions between primary
pollutants and other molecules.
- They are not emitted directly to the atmosphere as primary pollutants.

• Ozone is one of the secondary pollutants. It is formed from hydrocarbons and

nitrogen oxide in the presence of sunlight.
OZONE
• Ozone – a gas that can either be good or bad depending on where it is.
• “GOOD OZONE” – 10-30 miles above Earth’s surface
- shield from sun’s UV
• “BAD OZONE” – ground level
- formed when pollutants from cars, factories and other sources react
chemically with sunlight forming SMOG
- SMOG
AIR POLLUTANTS & SOURCES
1. BURNING OF FOSSIL FUELS
- Sulphur dioxide from the combustion of fossil fuels (coal, petroleum
and other factory combustibles)
- Pollution emitting from vehicles including trucks, jeeps, cars, trains
and airplanes
- Carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide
2. AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES
- The release of ammonia in agricultural related activities
- Use of insecticides, pesticides and fertilizers
AIR POLLUTANTS & SOURCES
3. EXHAUST FROM FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIES
- Manufacturing industries release large amount of CO, hydrocarbons,
organic compounds and chemicals into air
4. MINING OPERATIONS
- During the process of mining, dust and chemicals are released in the
air causing massive air pollution
5. INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
- Household cleaning products, painting supplies that emit toxic
chemicals in air
AIR POLLUTANTS & SOURCE
• Suspended particulate matter (SPM) are finely divided solids or liquids that may
be dispersed through the air from combustion processes, industrial activities or
natural sources.
• SMOKE - an aerosol, consisting of visible particles and gases, produced by the
incomplete burning of carbon-based materials, such as wood and fossil fuels.
• SOOT- impure black carbon with oily compounds obtained from the incomplete
combustion of resinous materials, oils, wood, or coal.
• DUST - small solid particles, conventionally taken as those particles below 75
micrometers in diameter, which settle out under their own weight but which
may remain suspended for some time.
• POLLEN - microspores of seed-producing plants
• SOIL PARTICLES
EFFECTS of AIR POLLUTION
• Pollution must be controlled as soon as possible to protect the people, our health,
and the entire living organism on earth to counteract their harmful effects so we
could restore the balance of nature.

1. Health Hazards
• Particulates can easily transmit air borne infection which usually caused
respiratory tract infection. Oxides of sulfur and nitrogen coming from industrial
plants are fatal to our breathing passages. Visibility of the atmosphere is
decreased causing eye irritation and discomforts. Lead as one of the heavy metal
coming from automobile exhaust proves to detrimental to street foods.
 EFFECTS of AIR POLLUTION
2. Effects on the Environment
• Sulfur and nitrogen oxides react with water in the atmosphere and deposited as acid rain.
The acid precipitate may affect the lives of plants and other organisms in land and water.
Acid rain is also deposited in fogs and snow.
- It causes acidification of bodies of water which endangers water organisms.
- It accelerates decay of building materials and paints like irreplaceable buildings,
statues, and sculptures
• Global warming -the increase in the earth’s average temperature due to release of several
greenhouse gases to the atmosphere by humans.
- increase in sea levels and melting of ice from colder regions and icebergs,
displacement and loss of habitat have already signaled an impending disaster if
actions for preservation and normalization aren’t undertaken soon.
EFFECTS of AIR POLLUTION
3. Depletion of the Ozone layer
• Ozone, O3, lies in the ozone layer of the stratosphere. Air pollution has
caused the depletion of the ozonosphere allowing ultraviolet radiation to
enter the atmosphere. This is mainly due to the use of CFC
(chloroflurocarbon) products. Environmental effects are increased
incidence of cancer that weakens the immune system, reduced growth
rates of terrestrial and marine organisms, promotes photochemical smog
and global warming.
 AIR POLLUTION
CONTROL METHODS
R.A. 8749
Republic Act of 8749
• “Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999”
• It requires the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources to establish
emission standards for all stationary sources of air pollution such as the factories
and other industrial establishments
• Bans incineration which was originally being considered an option by many local
government for solid waste disposal
• Requires oil companies to reduce the sulfur content of diesel to a tolerable level
• Motor vehicles which fail to meet the emission standards set by the government
will be denied of registration
• If standards are not met sources will be closed down or the operations will be
suspended.
Some of Air Pollution Methods
1. Use of dry control and wet control methods for control of particulates.
2. Use of combustion technologies for controlling sulfur and nitrogen oxides
emissions.
3. Act as individuals who cares for the environment.