Air Pollutant : An Overview

Air Pollutant

“Such substances or factors that directly or indirectly affect the quality of air or its definite proportion are called air pollutants.” When the quantity of these factors increases too much in the air, adverse effects start appearing on the living beings and humans. If we say in other words, "Those substances or gases which are responsible for air pollution are called Air Pollutant."

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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Air pollution is a condition in which such substances accumulate in the external atmosphere, which become harmful to humans and their environment.” These substances collected in the atmosphere are called pollutants. In general terms, there are three differences between them. There are physical pollutants (heat, foul smell, radioactive radiation etc.), biological pollutants (pollen grains, micro-organisms and agricultural residues etc.) and chemical pollutants (insecticides, chemical fertilizers, poisonous gases, petroleum substances and smoky metals etc.)

Due to these air pollutants, distortion occurs in the air of the atmosphere, which affects the organisms living on this biosphere. These air pollutants are produced by both human activities and natural processes. Air pollutants can be standard pollutants or hazardous pollutants. The air quality standards of an area are measured by the use of standard pollutants. While hazardous pollutants are air toxins, which can be chemical compounds that can cause cancer or health injurious diseases.

Air pollutants have many effects on humans as well as other living beings. From general irritability to skin diseases and serious internal diseases, such as asthma, other diseases related to lungs, heart diseases, cancer, etc., other diseases arise in humans.

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Types of Air Pollutant 

Air pollutants can be divided in different ways on different basis, which are as follows –

1. On the basis of air pollution
• Primary air pollutants
• Secondary Air Pollutants 
2. On the basis of chemical characteristic
• Gaseous Pollutants
• Organic Pollutants
• Toxic Heavy Metals
• Particulate Matter
3.  On the basis of physical characteristic
• Coarse Particulate Matter
• Aerosol Class 
• Gaseous Class

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1. On the Basis of Air Pollution

On the basis of air pollution, it can be divided mainly into two categories –

• Primary air pollutants – Carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, methane, lead, nitrogen oxides, dust, smoke and pesticides etc. come under this.
• Secondary Air Pollutants – Under this come various forms of smog and fly ash.

2. On the Basis of Chemical Characteristic

Air pollutants can be divided into the following four  categories on the basis of their characteristics –

• Gaseous Pollutants - Volatile organic compounds such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, pesticides and ozone etc. come under this.
• Organic Pollutants – Under this, organic pollutants living in the environment for a long time come, which continue to produce their effects by reaching other organisms through the food chain. Like – insecticide, furan etc.
• Toxic Heavy Metals – Under this, heavy metals like – lead, mercury, cadmium, nickel, vanadium, chromium and manganese etc. come.
• Particulate Matter – Under this, pollutants found in the form of very small particles such as – dust and smoke etc. come. These pollutants are able to reach the alveoli of human lungs.

3. On the Basis of Physical Characteristic

Air pollutants are divided into the following Three classes on the basis of physical characteristics –

• Thick Particulate Matter – Under this comes such pollutants, whose diameter is more than 10 microns.
• Aerosol Class – Under this comes such pollutants, whose diameter is less than 10 microns.
• Gaseous Class – Under this, pollutants living in gaseous or vapor state are found. Such as – carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitric oxide, ozone, hydrogen sulphide, chloride and metal and non-metal vapor (arsenic, mercury, zinc) etc.

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A. Primary Air Pollutant

Primary air pollutants are such air pollutants, which are not already present in the atmosphere, but pollute the environment after coming out of their source. They are called primary air pollutants. Under this, lead (lead), sulfur dioxide, hydrocarbons, carbon Dioxide, carbon monoxide and particulate matter come.

1. Carbon Dioxide ( CO₂ )

• Source and Importance – It comes out from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. Also, as a result of respiration by living beings, this gas is also emitted. Carbon dioxide is essential for plants, so that food can be manufactured through photosynthesis.
• Effect – Due to increase in its quantity in the atmosphere, the following effects arise –
• It has an important role in increasing the greenhouse effect which increases the temperature. Due to this, the speed of change in the space of heat slows down and due to increase in the temperature of the earth, climate changes start taking place.
• Being thermophilic, it increases the temperature, due to which the amount of rainfall decreases, the soil moisture decreases and the acidity of water increases.
• There is an increase in the melting of glaciers.

2. Carbon Monoxide ( CO )

• Source – This gas is found in 50% of the total air pollutants, which converts into carbon dioxide after some time in the atmosphere.
• It comes out as a result of incomplete combustion of fuel. It is also emitted from automobiles.
• It is also emitted from cigarette smoke.
• Effect – These are harmful to all living beings.
• By reaching the blood through respiration, it almost destroys the ability of hemoglobin present in the blood to transport oxygen, which causes suffocation. For this reason it is called suffocating gas, sometimes it also causes death.
• It also causes burning sensation in the eyes.

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3. Oxides of Sulfur

• Source – It is considered to be the second largest pollutant. Such as – Sulfur dioxide (SO₂ ).
• It is emitted when burning coal containing sulphur.
• It is also emitted from coal heating furnace, oil refinery and ore smelter.
• It is also emitted from automatic and automobile vehicles.
• Effects – Due to its high concentration eye, nose, throat and respiratory problems are displayed.
• The cells of trees and plants get damaged, due to which they start drying up.

4. Oxides of Nitrogen

• Sources – It is mainly obtained as a result of combustion at high temperature in automobile engines. These include nitrogen oxides (NO₂), nitric acid (HNO₃), which is a reddish-brown hazy gas.
• Effect – It increases the problems related to heart and lungs.
• Due to this, pain in the throat, burning sensation in the eyes and diseases related to visibility appear.
• It reacts with atmospheric moisture to form nitric acid (HNO₃) and cause acid rain.

5. Chloro Fluoro Carbon (CFC)

• Source – These are common compounds made of chlorine, fluorine and carbon.
• It comes out of air conditioners, refrigerators, fire extinguishers and cosmetics.
• Effect – It damages the ozone layer present in the stratosphere level of the atmosphere, due to which ultraviolet rays reach the earth and cause many types of diseases. In which diseases like cancer, skin diseases, cataract etc. arise.
• They are also responsible for climate change.

6. Methane ( CH₄ )

• Source – These coal mines, paddy fields, ruminants of animals and their waste, namely land are the main sources of its emissions.
• Its natural sources include hydrates, seas and wetlands.
• Effect – Its contribution in increasing the Green House Effect is 20%.
• Increase in its concentration increases the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere.

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7. Lead (Pb)

• Source – It gets spread in the atmosphere in the form of dust particles as a result of industrial activities.
• Smoke from the combustion of petroleum in vehicles pervades.
• It is also emitted by gasoline and pesticides.
• Effect – It affects the nervous tissue by reaching the body through breathing.
• Diseases related to brain and kidney are also displayed.
• They are also stored in the cells of the body, due to the excess of which paralysis can also kill.
• It is harmful for the plankton found in the sea.

8. Dust

It causes diseases related to asthma and allergies. In excess of the rate, the amount of silica is high, which causes silicosis. Apart from this, due to dust jam on the buildings, it causes corrosion. Its accumulation on trees and plants and its leaves affects its mechanism. The following diseases are caused by different types of substances present in the dust.

S. No. --  Name of the disease  -- Factors of the disease1.                Silicosis                       Particles of silicon2.                Asbestosis                    Asbestos fibers3.                Anthracosis                  from dust of coal particles4.                Bagasses                      from reed (sugarcane) fiber5.                Talcosis                        Talcum Powder6.                 Byssinosis                   from cotton fibers, flax fibers

9. Other Particulate Matter

Aerosols mainly come under particulate matter. Their diameter is between one micron to ten microns. It mainly includes soot, smoke, dust, pesticides etc. Asthma, respiratory and other diseases are caused by these particulate matter.

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B. Secondary Air Pollutant

Such pollutants, which are produced by the interaction of two or more primary pollutants, are called secondary pollutants. Photochemical reactions occur in the origin of these pollutants. These pollutants are of very deadly type as compared to the primary pollutants. Smog, fly ash, acid rain, sulfur trioxide, nitric acid, ketones, sulfate and nitrate salts, sulfuric acid, ozone, PAN, etc. come under this.

1. Smog

• Origin - Its origin is mainly in urban and hot areas, where ozone, nitrogen oxides and peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) interact with strong sun radiation and hot conditions.
• Effect – Due to its effect, the leaves of the plants and the living beings are greatly harmed.

2. Fly Ash

Various types of metallic and non-metallic particles come under this. For example, silica, aluminum, iron ore, calcium, magnesium, lead, arsenic, cobalt, copper, mercury vapor, benzene etc. come.

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i. Ozone ( O₃ )

• Source – Ozone gas protects us from ultraviolet rays in the stratosphere, while it acts as a pollutant near the ground.
• It is emitted from vehicles and various industries.
• Effect – It causes itching, burning sensation in the eyes, as well as watery eyes.

II. Benzene

It is produced as a result of the combustion of petrol in vehicles and other machines. Due to its effect fatal diseases like cancer arise.

iii. Cadmium

It affects humans as a respiratory poison. It increases blood pressure and heart related diseases.

iv. Radioactive Substances

Cancer, skin related diseases, paralysis, genetic diseases, deformities in organs etc. are caused due to their effect.

v. Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S )

This pungent smelling gas is responsible for irritation in the nose, throat and eyes. Silver utensils turn black due to this.

vi. Mercury Vapor

It is a poisonous vapor, due to which poison spreads in the body, tooth decay etc. occurs.

vii. Manganese Dust

Coming in contact with manganese dust causes pneumonia and respiratory diseases.

viii. Asbestos Dust

This causes asbestosis disease. Lung cancer is also a major disease caused by it.

3. Acid Rain 

Acid rain is a big topic in itself, about which we will discuss in detail in another article, here we will do a brief study on the causes and effects of acid rain. The primary air pollutants responsible for acid rain are sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, which react with atmospheric vapor to form sulfuric acid ( H₂SO₄ ) and nitric acid ( HNO₃), respectively. These acids, when mixed with rain, So the nature of rain becomes acidic, which affects the fertility of living beings, trees and plants and buildings and soil.

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