LECTURE 7

CE 433

Excerpts from Lecture notes of Professor M. Ashraf Ali, BUET.

AIR POLLUTION
• Air Pollution may be defined as any atmospheric condition
in which substances are present at concentrations, above
their normal ambient levels, to produce measurable
adverse effect on man, animal, vegetation or materials.

• Key Points:
• Type of pollutant
• Concentration in air
• Time of exposure
Components of air pollution problem
Emission Sources Atmosphere
Pollutants

Mixing and
Chemical
Transformation

Receptors
Composition of atmospheric gases in
clean, dry air at ground level (TABLE)

Source: http://www.slideshare.net/armindaortiz/e1-environmental-chemistry-air-pollution
Composition of atmospheric gases in
clean, dry air at ground level (TABLE)
• The trace gases comprising less than 1% of the
atmosphere play a crucial role in the earth’s radio active
balance and in the chemical properties of the atmosphere.
The trace gas concentrations have changed rapidly and
remarkably over the last two centuries
Global Causes of Deaths
• Acute lower respiratory Infections: 7%
• Diseases of the respiratory system: 6%
• Tuberculosis: 6%
• Diarrhoea: 5%
• HIV/AIDs: 5%
• Malaria: 3%
• Other infectious/parasitic diseases: 6%
• Cancers: 12%
• Other unknown causes: 21%
• Disease of the circulatory system: 29%
• Percentage of Air Pollution Related Mortality: 4-8%
(WHO estimate)
Indoor Air Pollution
• Apart from outdoor air pollution, indoor air pollution (IAP),
resulting primarily from combustion of biomass (e.g.
firewood, animal dung, crop residue) and fossil fuels (e.g.
kerosene) in traditional cooking stoves in rural areas and
urban slums, is a major concern in Bangladesh as well as
many developing countries
Sources of Indoor Air Pollution
• Cooking (especially using biomass fuel in traditional cooking
stoves in developing countries)
• Tobacco smoking
• Heating appliances
• Vapors from building materials, paints, furniture, etc.
• Radon (natural radioactive gas released from earth)

Pollution exposure at home and workplace is often greater than

outdoors

“….modest improvements in indoor air quality can improve public

health as much as major reductions in traditional outdoor
sources…..”
Historical Perspective

Source: http://slideplayer.com/slide/5713975/
Deaths Attributable to Air Pollution (2012)

Source: http://public.wmo.int/en/resources/bulletin/air-quality-and-human-health-priority-joint-action
Premature Deaths Estimated due to Air
Pollution (WHO, 2012)

Source: http://www.greencarcongress.com/2014/03/20140325-who.html
 Source: https://pollutionfree.wordpress.com/2010/12/06/air-pollution-in-
the-world%E2%80%99s-megacities/
Overview of Air Quality in Asian
Megacities (WHO, 1996)
Sources of Air Pollution
• Major sources are use of fossil fuel for heating and
cooling for transportation, for industry and for energy
conversion (responsible for majority of air pollution on a
global scale)
• Incineration of various forms of industrial, municipal and
private wastes
• Certain chemicals (e.g. perchloroethylene from dry
cleaners, methylene chloride used as solvent and paint
stripper) and materials (e.g. asbestos used as fire-
proofing materials) used in different processes and
purposes also contribute to air pollution.
Classification of Major Sources (Outdoor
Pollution)
1) Mobile sources/transportation : include motor vehicle, rail,
ship, aircraft
2) Stationary sources: include utility, industrial, institutional and
commercial facilities. Examples are power plant, heating
plant, paper-pulp industry, petroleum refineries, municipal
waste combusters
3) Area sources: include many individually small activities, e.g.
gasoline service stations, small paint shops, open burning
associated with solid waste, agriculture and forest
management, cooking in slum areas.
4) Incineration/burning of waste:
1) Household and commercial waste
2) Agricultural burning
3) Industrial and hazardous waste incineration
Classification of Major Sources (Outdoor
Pollution)
Miscellaneous:
1) Re suspension from road
2) Domestic fuel, wood burning
3) Forest fire, volcanic eruptions, pollen grains, certain bacteria,
viruses (natural)
4) Chemicals and materials used in different processes
(perchloroehtylene, methyl chloride)
Classification of Pollutants
• According to Origin:
• 1) Primary Pollutants: Emitted directly into the atmosphere and are
found in form in which they were emitted, e.g. Sox, NOx, HC
• 2) Secondary Pollutants: Derived from the primary pollutants by
chemical or photo-chemical reactions in the atmosphere, e.g. ozone,
peroxyacetyl nitrate
• According to Chemical Composition:
• 1) Organic: e.g. Hydrocarbons (HC), Aldehydes and ketones (HCO),
VOCs, PCBs, PAHs
• 2) Inorganic: NOx, SOx, CO, HCl, H2SO4, H2S, NH3
• According to State of Matter
• 1) Gaseous: CO, NOx, Sox (Inorganic), Benzene, Methane (Organic)
• 2) Particulates/Aerosols: Dust, smoke, fume, fly ash (solid), mist, spray
(liquid), pollen, bacteria, virus (natural)
Criteria Air Pollutants and Toxins
• Six major air pollutants identified as causing health effects
at concentrations above thresholds established at levels
known to be safe. These are: CO, Pb, NO2, O3, SO2,
Particulate matter (PM).
• Air Toxins: Pollutants that are known or suspected to
cause cancer or other serious health effects. Air toxins
can come from natural sources (e.g. radon gas coming
from the ground) or man-made sources, such as motor
vehicles and industrial processes. Examples include
benzene (from gasoline), perchloroehtylene (from dry
cleaners), and methylene chloride (used as a solvent and
paint stripper).
Units of Measurements
• Particulate matter (PM): mass/unit vol. of air
Example: mg/m3 ; µg/m3

• Gaseous pollutants:
• Mass/unit vol.
Example: mg/m3 ; µg/m3

• ppm = ppmv = volume of pollutant per million volume of air mixture

1 𝑣𝑜𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝑔𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡

1ppm = 1 ppmv =
10 6 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑖𝑟
Relationship between two units for
gaseous pollutants
Ideal gas law: PV = nRT
R = 0.082056 L atm mol-1 K-1
So, Volume of 1 mole of an ideal gas at STP ( P = 1 atm, T = 273.25 K)
𝑛𝑅𝑇
V= = 22.414 L
𝑃
1 𝑐𝑢𝑏𝑖𝑐 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
Now, 1 ppm =
10 6 𝑐𝑢𝑏𝑖𝑐 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑖𝑟
1 𝑚𝑔 𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 10 6 𝑚𝑔 𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
1 mg/m3 = =
1 𝑐𝑢𝑏𝑖𝑐 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑖𝑟 10 6 𝑐𝑢𝑏𝑖𝑐 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑖𝑟
Now at STP,
𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙 22.414 𝐿 𝑚3 22.414
106 mg pollutant = 106 mg X 10-3 . X X 10-3 =( ) m3
𝑚𝑔 𝑀𝑊 𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐿 𝑀𝑊
22.414
So, at STP 1 mg/m3 = ( ) m3
𝑀𝑊
Relationship between two units for
gaseous pollutants Continued…
At any other temperature (T) and pressure (P)
22.414 𝑇 𝑃1 𝑉1 𝑃2 𝑉2
106 mg pollutant = x [ as = ]
𝑀𝑊 273.15 𝑃 𝑇1 𝑇2
22.414 𝑇
So, 1 mg/m3 = ( x ) ppm
𝑀𝑊 273.15 𝑃
In other words,
𝑀𝑊 273 𝑃
Conc. in mg/m3 = Conc. In ppm x x
22.414 𝑇
Since 1 mol. Of all ideal gas occupies the same volume under same temp
and pressure,
1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
1 ppmv =
10 6 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑎𝑖𝑟
Similarly, since each mole contains the same number of molecules (6.02
x 1023 molecule/mol),
1 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
1 ppmv =
10 6 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑖𝑟
Problem
• Bangladesh national ambient air quality standard for CO
is 10 mg/m3 (8-hr avg). Express the standard in ppm
Regulations/Standards
• Two types of standards:
1) Emission standard
2) Air Quality standard

Emission Standard: Source cannot emit more than a

specified mass of pollutant (over a period of time).
This is based on technology, economics, relation to
airborne concentration.
The objective is to control pollutant sources so that ambient
pollutant concentrations are reduced to levels considered
safe from public health point of view.
Regulations/Standards
• Bangladesh Environmental Conservation Rules (ECR)
1997 has set emission standards for motor vehicle,
industries etc. The motor vehicle standard has been
revised in July 2005.
• Example: Petrol/gas driven motor vehicle (6-8 seater):
Standards at the time of registration
CO : 2.2 gm/km
HC + NOx : 0.5 gm//km
• Example: Gas fired power plant: gaseous discharge NOx-
i) >= 500 MW : 50 ppm
ii) 200-500 MW: 40 ppm
iii) <200 MW : 30 ppm
Regulations/Standards
(2) Air Quality Standards:
• Airborne concentration of a pollutant cannon exceed a specified value
over a certain “averaging period”.
• Air quality standards are based only on effects

Why averaging period ?

• Because higher the concentration, shorter the exposure time required
for undesirable effects
• A pollutant at a certain concentration may be harmful over longer
exposure time, but relatively harmless over shorter exposure time
Example: Bangladesh standard for CO:
10 mg/m3 (averaging period: 8 hr)
40 mg/m3 (averaging period: 1 hr)

• Measurement and reporting of a particular air pollutant should be

consistent with the “averaging period” of that particular air pollutant
Bangladesh Air Quality Standard
• Environmental Conservation Rules (ECR) 1997
• Air Quality Standard contained in ECR 1997 revised in
July 2005 (in micrograms/m3)
Air Quality Index (AQI)
• The AQI is a tool that simplifies reporting air quality to the
general public. It has been adopted by the USEPA and is
used by many cities to report to the public an overall
assessment of a given day’s air quality.
• The AQI converts concentration of 5 criteria pollutants
(PM, O3, CO, SO2, NO2) into a single index (number)
between 0 and 500 and assigns a descriptive term (e.g.
good, moderate) to that value.
Air Quality Index (AQI) Categories
(USEPA)
Air Quality Index
Air Quality Index
• AQI is calculated based on concentrations of 5 criteria
pollutants :
• O3 (1-hr, 8-hr)
• PM (PM10. 24 hr ; PM2.5 24 hr)
• CO (8-hr)
• SO2 (24-hr)
• NO2 (annual)
• Each pollutant concentration is converted into an AQI
number using the method developed by USEPA. The
highest AQI number is the AQI value of the day.
• For example: On a particular day, if a certain area has an
AQI value of 120 for PM2.5 and 88 for SO2, then the AQI
for that particular day is 120 and the critical pollutant is
PM2.5.
AQI Handout
• The AQI report
• Calculation of AQI
• Related tables and methods
Problem on AQI
• On Jan 10, 2009, the following air quality data have been
recorded at the CAMs in Dhaka. Calculate and report AQI
for 10/01/2010.
• PM2.5 = 190 µg/m3 (24 hr)
• PM10 = 280 µg/m3 (24 hr)
• O3 = 0.095 ppm (8-hr)
Effects of Air Pollution
• Effects on atmospheric properties
• Effects on materials
• Effects on vegetation
• Effects on human health
Effects on atmospheric Properties
• Air pollutants affect atmospheric properties in the
following ways:
1) Visibility reduction
2) Fog formation and precipitation
3) Solar radiation reduction
4) Temperature and wind direction alteration
5) Possible effect on global climate changes
Effects on Materials
• Air pollutants can affect materials by soiling or chemical
deterioration. High smoke and particulate levels
associated with soiling of clothing and structures. Acid or
alkaline particles, especially those containing sulfur,
corrode materials such as paint, masonry, electrical
contacts and textiles
• Ozone is particularly effective in deteriorating rubber
[residents of Los Angeles, USA with high O3 levels must
replace automobile fires and windshield wiper blades
more frequently than residents in cities where O3
concentrations are low.]
Effects on Vegetation
• Pollutants that are known phytotoxins (substances
harmful to vegetation) are SO2, peroxyacetyl nitrate,
ethane, ozone. Of somewhat lesser severity are chlorine,
hydrogen chloride, ammonia and mercury.
• Gaseous pollutants enter plant through stomata in the
course of normal respiration of plant. Once in the leaf,
pollutants destroy chlorophyll and disrupt photosynthesis.
• Damage can range from a reduction in growth rate to
complete death of plant.
• Symptoms of damage are usually manifested in the leaf.
Effects on Human health
• Extremely high concentrations of air pollutants (for several
hours/days) have resulted in serious “air pollution
episodes”, causing significant deaths in injuries
• Disease of respiratory system are generally correlated
with air pollution. Effects are particularly severe on
vulnerable population, e.g. older people, infants, people
suffering from other diseases
• In general, two types of reaction of respiratory system to
air pollution:
• Acute (e.g. irritative bronchitis)
• Chronic (e.g. chronic bronchitis, pulmonary emphysema)