“Environment and Health” B. Tech. III, 6th Semester
SUBJECT TEACHER:
Bhaven N. Tandel Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, SV National Institute of Technology, Surat. bnt@ced.svnit.ac.in (+91) 98255 53175
AIR POLLUTION & HEALTH:
Importance of Air pollution
Air pollution is a major threat of the 21st century. Air pollution is woven throughout the fabric of modern life. Man has polluted air so much that clean air has become more than a luxury for him today. Every man must fight against air pollution on a war front, instead of wringing his hands in despair or joining the carping crowds demanding a halt to our technological advances.
Sources of air pollution
Mobile sources:
Motor vehicles, rail, shipping, aviation
Industry sources:
Power stations, petroleum refining, chemical manufacturing
Area based sources (point sources):
Service stations, combustion sources, lawn mowing
Classification of air pollutants:
Primary and secondary pollutants:
Primary pollutants are those which are emitted directly from identifiable sources. e.g. Particulates, SO2, NOx, CO
Secondary pollutants are those which are formed in the air due to interaction of primary pollutants among themselves or by reaction with normal atmospheric constituents like sunlight, water vapour etc.
Why is Air Pollution an issue???
Involuntary exposure Affects large numbers of people No threshold effect The health costs are enormous Affects the health of flora and fauna Other health effects of air pollution: road trauma , physical activity
PARTCUALTES:
The particulates consist of fine solids or liquid droplets
suspended in air. These different types have definitive meanings, as follows:
† † † †
of
particulates
† †
Grit – solid particles suspended in air with a diameter over 500 µm; Dust – solid particles suspended in air with a diameter between 0.25 and 500µm; Smoke –