Air Pollution

Group 1
 INTRODUCTION
What Is Air Pollution?
Air pollution refers to
the release of
pollutants into the air
that are detrimental
to human health and
the planet as a
whole.
INTRODUCTION
Air pollution occurs when harmful
substances
including particulates and biological
molecules are introduced
into Earth's atmosphere. It may
cause diseases, allergies or death
in humans; it may also cause harm
to other living organisms such as
animals and food crops, and may
damage the natural or built
environment. Human activity and
natural processes can both
generate air pollution.
INTRODUCTION
 POLLUTANT
An air pollutant is a substance in the air that
can have adverse effects on humans and the
ecosystem.
The substance can be solid particles, liquid
droplets, or gases. A pollutant can be of natural
origin or man-made.
Pollutants are classified as primary or
secondary.
 POLLUTANT
Primary pollutants are usually produced
from a process, such as ash from a
volcanic eruption.
Secondary pollutants are not emitted
directly.
 PRIMARY
POLLUTANT
Carbon dioxide (CO2) - Because of its role as
a greenhouse gas it has been described as "the
leading pollutant" and "the worst climate
pollution". Carbon dioxide is a natural
component of the atmosphere, essential for
plant life and given off by the human respiratory
system.
 PRIMARY
POLLUTANT
Sulfur oxides (SOx) - particularly sulfur dioxide,
a chemical compound with the formula SO2.
SO2 is produced by volcanoes and in various
industrial processes. Coal and petroleum often
contain sulfur compounds, and their combustion
generates sulfur dioxide.
 PRIMARY
POLLUTANT
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) - Nitrogen oxides,
particularly nitrogen dioxide, are expelled from
high temperature combustion, and are also
produced during thunderstorms by electric
discharge. They can be seen as a
brown haze dome above or a plume downwind
of cities.
 PRIMARY
POLLUTANT
Carbon monoxide (CO) - CO is a colorless,
odorless, toxic yet non-irritating gas. It is a
product of incomplete combustion of fuel such
as natural gas, coal or wood. Vehicular exhaust
is a major source of carbon monoxide.
 PRIMARY
POLLUTANT
Volatile organic compounds (VOC) - VOCs are
a well-known outdoor air pollutant. They are
categorized as either methane (CH4) or non-
methane (NMVOCs). Methane is an extremely
efficient greenhouse gas which contributes to
enhanced global warming.
 PRIMARY
POLLUTANT
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) - harmful to
the ozone layer; emitted from products are
currently banned from use. These are gases
which are released from air conditioners,
refrigerators, aerosol sprays, etc. This allows
harmful ultraviolet rays to reach the earth's
surface
 PRIMARY
POLLUTANT
Ammonia (NH3) - emitted from agricultural
processes. It is normally encountered as a gas
with a characteristic pungent odor. In the
atmosphere, ammonia reacts with oxides of
nitrogen and sulfur to form secondary particles.
 PRIMARY
POLLUTANT
Odours such as from garbage, sewage, and
industrial processes
Radioactive pollutants - produced by nuclear
explosions, nuclear events, war explosives, and
natural processes such as the radioactive
decay of radon.
 SECONDARY POLLUTANT

Smog is a kind of air pollution. Classic smog

results from large amounts of coal burning in an
area caused by a mixture of smoke and sulfur
dioxide.
 SECONDARY POLLUTANT

Ground level ozone (O3) formed from NOx and

VOCs. Ozone (O3) is a key constituent of the
troposphere. It is also an important constituent
of certain regions of the stratosphere commonly
known as the Ozone layer.
SOURCES
OF AIR POLLUTION
 SOURCES
There are four main types of air pollution sources:
mobile sources such as cars, buses, planes, trucks,
and trains
stationary sources such as power plants, oil
refineries, industrial facilities, and factories
area sources such as agricultural areas, cities, and
wood burning fireplaces
natural sources such as wind-blown dust, wildfires,
and volcanoes
SOURCES
 STATIONARY AND AREA SOURCES

A stationary source of air pollution refers to an

emission source that does not move, also known as a
point source. Stationary sources include factories,
power plants, dry cleaners and degreasing operations.
Area sources can also be thought of as non-point
sources, such as construction of housing
developments, dry lake beds, and landfills.
 MOBILE SOURCES

A mobile source of air pollution refers to a source that

is capable of moving under its own power. In addition,
there is also a "non-road" or "off-road" category that
includes gas-powered lawn tools and mowers, farm
and construction equipment, recreational vehicles,
boats, planes, and trains.
 AGRICULTURAL/AREA SOURCES

Agricultural operations, those that

raise animals and grow crops, can
generate emissions of gases and
particulate matter.
 NATURAL SOURCES

Wild land fires, dust storms, and

volcanic activity also contribute gases
and particulates to our atmosphere.
SOURCES
EFFECTS
OF AIR POLLUTION
 HUMAN HEALTH

Air pollution can harm us when

it accumulates in the air in high
enough concentrations.
 HUMAN HEALTH
Irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat
Wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and breathing
difficulties
Worsening of existing lung and heart problems, such
as asthma
Increased risk of heart attack In addition, long-term
exposure to air pollution can cause cancer and
damage to the immune, neurological, reproductive,
and respiratory systems. In extreme cases, it can even
cause death.
 EFFECTS OF LARGER
POLLUTANT

Nitrogen dioxide - Nitrogen dioxide can reduce the

body's ability to fight respiratory infections and cause
lung irritation.
Sulfur dioxide - Sulfur dioxide is linked to weakened
pulmonary defenses, breathing problems, worsened
symptoms in people that have cardiovascular disease,
and respiratory diseases themselves.
 EFFECTS OF LARGER
POLLUTANT

Carbon monoxide - Carbon monoxide concentrations

in the air have decreased overall, but persistent high
levels of carbon monoxide can lead to various
neurological and visual impairments.
 COMMON DISEASES CAUSED BY AIR POLLUTION

Asthma
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder or
COPD
Lung Cancer
HUMAN HEALTH
HUMAN HEALTH
 ENVIRONMENTAL
EFFECTS

Acid rain is precipitation

containing harmful amounts of
nitric and sulfuric acids.
 ENVIRONMENTAL
EFFECTS
Eutrophication is a condition in a
water body where high concentrations
of nutrients (such as nitrogen)
stimulate blooms of algae, which in
turn can cause fish kills and loss of
plant and animal diversity.
 ENVIRONMENTAL
EFFECTS

Haze is caused when sunlight

encounters tiny pollution particles in
the air.
 ENVIRONMENTAL
EFFECTS

Effects on wildlife. Toxic pollutants in

the air, or deposited on soils or
surface waters, can impact wildlife in
a number of ways.
 ENVIRONMENTAL
EFFECTS
Ozone depletion. Thinning of the
protective ozone layer can cause
increased amounts of UV radiation to
reach the Earth, which can lead to
more cases of skin cancer, cataracts,
and impaired immune systems.
 ENVIRONMENTAL
EFFECTS
Crop and forest damage. Ground-level
ozone can lead to reductions in
agricultural crop and commercial forest
yields, reduced growth and survivability of
tree seedlings, and increased plant
susceptibility to disease, pests and other
environmental stresses (such as harsh
weather).
 ENVIRONMENTAL
EFFECTS
Global climate change. The Earth's
atmosphere contains a delicate balance of
naturally occurring gases that trap some
of the sun's heat near the Earth's surface.
This "greenhouse effect" keeps the Earth's
temperature stable.
EFFECTS
OF AIR POLLUTION
Ordinances &
Organizations
Preventing
the Air
Pollution
 Republic Act No. 8749

Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999

The State shall protect and advance the right of
the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in
accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.
The State shall promote and protect the global
environment to attain sustainable development
while recognizing the primary responsibility of
local government units to deal with environmental
problems.
 The State recognizes that the responsibility of cleaning the habitat and
environment is primarily area-based.

The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a
balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and
harmony of nature.

State also recognizes the principle that "polluters must pay

State recognizes that a clean and healthy environment is for the good
of all and should therefore be the concern of all.
Instruments used to monitor Air Pollution
 Emission Test

An emission test cycle is a protocol contained in

an emission standard to allow repeatable and
comparable measurement of
exhaust emissions for different engines or
vehicles. Test cycles specify the specific
conditions under which the engine or vehicle is
operated during the emission test.
 Partnership for Clean Air

The Partnership for Clean Air (PCA) is a multi-

sector network in the Philippines with
organizational members from government, civil
society, academic institutions and private
sector. PCAs mission is to promote air quality
management as a multi-stakeholder effort in the
Philippines. PCA facilitates air quality activities
of members and stakeholders. It was launched
in June 2001 and incorporated as a non-stock,
non-profit corporation in November 2003.
 Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR)

act as overall of the lead agency; prepare a National

Air Quality Status Report which shall be used as a
basis in formulating the Integrated Air Quality
Improvement Framework; issue rules and regulations
in the implementation of the Act.
 Department of Transportation and
Communication (DOTC)

in coordination with the DENR in case of industrial

dischargers and the DOTC, in case of motor vehicles, shall,
based on environmental techniques, design, impose on and
collect regular emission fees from all said dischargers as part
of the emission permitting system or vehicle registration
renewal system, as the case may be; implement the emission
standards for motor vehicles
 Department of Science and Technology
(DOST)

with the DENR, other agencies, private sector , the academe,

non-government organizations and peoples organization,
shall establish a National Research Development Program for
the prevention and control of air pollution.
 Department of Energy (DOE)

shall set specifications for all types of fuel and fuel-

related products, to improve fuel composition for
increased efficiency and reduced emissions.
 Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and
astronomical Service Administration (PAGASA)

shall regularly monitor meteorological factors affecting

environmental conditions including ozone depletion
and greenhouse gases.
 Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI)

shall regulate all projects which will involve the use of atomic
and/or nuclear energy, and will entail relaease of radioactive
substances into the environment, incident to the
establishment or possession of nuclear energy facilities and
radioactive materials, handling, transport , production ,
storage and use of radioactive materials.