Questions:

1. What is Air pollution?

2-4. Give 3 causes of Natural
5. What is Agriculture?
Air Pollution
LUMHOD & GOMEZ
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.
The Clean Air Act authorizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
to protect public health by regulating the emissions of these harmful air
pollutants. The NRDC has been a leading authority on this law since it was
established in 1970.
Air pollution is probably one of the most serious environmental problems
confronting our civilization today. Most often, it is caused by human activities
such as mining, construction, transportation, industrial work, agriculture,
smelting, etc.
Examples of Air Pollutants
In most cases, air pollutants cannot be seen or smelled. However, that does
not mean that they do not exist in high enough amounts to be a health
hazard!
Additionally, a number of gases are linked to the so-called "greenhouse
effect", which means that those gases retain more heat and thus contribute
to the overall global warming.

Examples of the main air pollution causes:

- may be caused by various processes, either natural or anthropogenic (man-
made).
Natural Causes
Volcanic activities – volcanic eruptions emit a series of toxic gases (including
sulfur and chlorine) as well as particulate matter (ash particles) but are usually
restricted to localized areas;
Winds and air currents – can mobilize pollutants from the ground and transport
them over large areas;
Wildfires – add carbon monoxide, as well as particulate matter, to the
atmosphere (containing organic contaminants such as PAHs); could affect
significant areas, although in general they are restricted and may be contained;
Microbial decaying processes – microorganisms which are present in any
environment have a major role in natural decaying processes of living organisms
as well as environmental contaminants; this activity results in the natural
release of gases especially methane gas;

Radioactive decay processes – for example, radon gas is emitted due to natural
decay processes of Earth’s crust which has potential to accumulate in enclosed
spaces such as basements;

Increasing temperatures – contribute to an increase in the amounts of

contaminants volatilizing from polluted soil and water into the air.
Anthropogenic Causes

Mining and smelting – emit into the air a variety of metals adsorbed on
particulate matter that is suspended in the air due to crushing & processing of
mineralogical deposits;
Mine tailing disposal – due to their fine particulate nature (resulting after
crushing and processing mineral ores) constitute a source of metals to ambient
air which could be spread by the wind over large areas;
Foundry activities – emit into the air a variety of metals absorbed on
particulate matter that is suspended in the air due to processing of metallic
raw materials (including the use of furnaces);
Various industrial processes may emit both organic and inorganic contaminants
through accidental spills and leaks of stored chemicals or the handling and
storage of chemicals – especially of volatile inorganic chemicals
Transportation – emits a series of air pollutants (gases – including carbon
monoxide, sulfur oxides, and nitrogen oxides - and particulate matter) through the
tailpipe gases due to internal combustion of various fuels (usually gasses such as
oxides of carbons, of sulfur, of nitrogen, as well as organic chemicals as PAHs)
Construction and Demolition activities – pollute the air with various construction
materials. Of special threat is the demolition of old buildings which may contain a
series of banned chemicals such as PCBs, PBDEs, asbestos.
Coal Power Plants – when burning coal this may emit a series of gases as well as
particulate matter with metals (such as As, Pb, Hg) and organic compounds
(especially PAHs)
Heating of buildings – emits a series of gases and particulate matters due to
burning fossil fuels;

Waste Incineration – depending on waste composition, various toxic gases, and

particulate matter is emitted into the atmosphere;

Landfill disposal practices – usually generate methane due to the intensification

of natural microbial decaying activity in the disposal area;

Agriculture – pollute the air usually through emissions of ammonia gas and the
application of pesticides/herbicides/insecticides which contain toxic volatile
organic compounds.
Control burning in forest and agriculture management – includes controlled burning that will emit
gases and particulate matter (similar to wildfires described above).

Military activities – may introduce toxic gases through practices and training.

Smoking – emits a series of toxic chemicals including a series of organic and inorganic chemicals, some
of which are carcinogenic

Storage and use of household products such as paint, sprays, varnish, etc that contains organic
solvents which volatilize in the air (hence the smell we all feel while using them)

Dry cleaned clothes - may retain and emit in the atmosphere small amounts of chlorinated solvents
(such as PCE) or petroleum solvents that have been used by the dry cleaners; this could eventually
create a health risk if the clothes returned from the dry cleaners are stored in enclosed indoor spaces.
The Effects of Air Pollution on Human Health

Air pollution has serious effects on the human health. Depending on the level of exposure and
the type of pollutant inhaled, these effects can vary, ranging from simple symptoms like
coughing and the irritation of the respiratory tract to acute conditions like asthma and chronic
lung diseases.

Skin problems and irritations can develop due to prolonged exposure to several air pollutants,
and a variety of cancer forms may develop after inhaling air contaminants. Do not neglect
potential diseases caused by air pollution.

Air pollutants that have serious negative effects on the human health can be classified as
toxic and non-toxic.
TOXIC POLLUTANTS

Carcinogenic
asbestos, PCE, TCE, vinyl chloride (VC), benzene, PAHs (such as benzo[a]pyrene),
ethylene dibromide (EDB), ethylene dichloride (EDC), PCBc, As, Cd, Ni, Cr, some Hg
compounds, arsenic oxide, some nitrates, pesticides/insecticides/herbicides, radon;

Non-Carcinogenic
lead, carbon monoxide, ammonia, acetone
NON-TOXIC POLLUTANTS
These pollutants can still asphyxiate by oxygen depletion, therefore they are still not safe in
certain quantities and/or contexts.

Non-explosives:
carbon dioxide

Explosives:
methane