Air Quality Control
AIR QUALITY CONTROL
Table of Contents
TOPIC | PAGE NUMBER(S) | DEFINITION | | COMMON AIR POLLUTANTS | | MAN-MADE SOURCES | | NATURAL SOURCES | | TECHNICAL BRIEF OF THE GAME | | CONCLUSION | | REFERENCES | |
DEFINITION
This is also known as atmospheric pollution. It can be classified as ambient (outdoor) air and indoor air. Many materials that are considered contaminants and pollutants are found naturally existing in the atmosphere. A definition for air pollution must cover the various parameters that exist and could pose a threat on human health and the environment. Air pollution according to the World Health Organization can be defined as the presence of materials in the air which are harmful to the living beings when they cross their threshold concentration levels. Essentially this means that these contaminants can exist in the environment as long as they pose no threat to any organism that depends on the interaction of the atmospheric environment.
COMMON AIR POLLUTANTS
Some of the most common air pollutants can be classified as ground level Ozone, Particulate matter, Carbon monoxide, Nitrogen oxides, Sulphur oxides and Lead. Ground level Ozone – these are formed by photochemical (in the presence of sunlight) reactions in the atmosphere between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds. Some sources of ground level ozone are industrial plant emissions, motor vehicle exhaust etc. Many urban areas have high ozone level densities. Inhalation can trigger chest pain, coughing, throat irritation and congestion. Particulate Matter – these are named after the particle size by diameter usually pm10 and pm2.5 (measured in micrometers). Pm10 are inhalable coarse particles made up of various components and can be trapped by nostril hairs. Pm2.5 is much finer particles and can enter deeper into the respiratory system. These can cause increased respiratory
Table of Contents
TOPIC | PAGE NUMBER(S) | DEFINITION | | COMMON AIR POLLUTANTS | | MAN-MADE SOURCES | | NATURAL SOURCES | | TECHNICAL BRIEF OF THE GAME | | CONCLUSION | | REFERENCES | |
DEFINITION
This is also known as atmospheric pollution. It can be classified as ambient (outdoor) air and indoor air. Many materials that are considered contaminants and pollutants are found naturally existing in the atmosphere. A definition for air pollution must cover the various parameters that exist and could pose a threat on human health and the environment. Air pollution according to the World Health Organization can be defined as the presence of materials in the air which are harmful to the living beings when they cross their threshold concentration levels. Essentially this means that these contaminants can exist in the environment as long as they pose no threat to any organism that depends on the interaction of the atmospheric environment.
COMMON AIR POLLUTANTS
Some of the most common air pollutants can be classified as ground level Ozone, Particulate matter, Carbon monoxide, Nitrogen oxides, Sulphur oxides and Lead. Ground level Ozone – these are formed by photochemical (in the presence of sunlight) reactions in the atmosphere between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds. Some sources of ground level ozone are industrial plant emissions, motor vehicle exhaust etc. Many urban areas have high ozone level densities. Inhalation can trigger chest pain, coughing, throat irritation and congestion. Particulate Matter – these are named after the particle size by diameter usually pm10 and pm2.5 (measured in micrometers). Pm10 are inhalable coarse particles made up of various components and can be trapped by nostril hairs. Pm2.5 is much finer particles and can enter deeper into the respiratory system. These can cause increased respiratory
References: * Air Pollution Facts, Air Pollution Effects, Air Pollution Solutions, Air Pollution Causes - National Geographic." Environment Facts, Environment Science, Global Warming, Natural Disasters, Ecosystems, Green Living - National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2011. <http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/pollution-overview/>. * Sources and effects of air pollution | Sciencelearn Hub." Home | Sciencelearn Hub. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2011. <http://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/Contexts/Enviro-imprints/Teaching-and-Learning-Approaches/Sources-and-effects-of-air-pollution>.