Air Pollution: Aerosol, Gaseous

The Air We Breathe

Clean dry air is a mixture of 4 main gasses:
78.08% is Nitrogen
20.95% is Oxygen
0.934 is Argon
0.035% is Carbon Dioxide
Water vapour, Neon, Helium, Methane, Krypton, Hydrogen, Carbon Monoxide, Xenon, Ozone, Nitrogen Oxides, Sulfur Oxides and Hydrogen Sulfide are found in trace amounts

Air Pollution

An imbalance in the ratio of normal air gases causes polluted air
An air pollutant is any substance which changes the physical or chemical properties of clean air and causes measurable effects on humans, animals, vegetation or materials.
Air pollution can be caused by natural or anthropogenic effects (volcano eruptions vs burning fossil fuels)
Air pollutants can be classified as either particulate or gaseous

Particulate Air Pollution

Also known as aerosols
The most visible of air pollutants
These are small particles of solid matter and liquid drops suspended in the air.
Mists, smoke, fumes and dust are all ways that these pollutants enter into the air
Natural Sources Include: Forest Fires and Volcanic Eruptions
Anthropogenic Sources include: coal and oil burning power plants, petroleum refineries, steel manufacturing and agricultural burning.

Effects of Aerosol Pollution

Particulates first and foremost reduce visibility by creating smog
Solid particulates interfere with a plants ability to absorb carbon dioxide by coating plant leaves
Inhalation of particulates in humans and animals causes respiratory effects (lung disease, lung cancer, asthma, emphysema
Influence weather patterns through cloud formation

Gaseous Air Pollution

Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Oxides, Sulfur Oxides and Hydrocarbons are all examples of gaseous air pollution
The enter the air through high temperature industrial processes and through engine combustion.
These chemicals can act either as gasses or will dissolve in water.

Effects of Gaseous Pollution

Carbon Monoxide and Nitrogen Oxides are both added to the air through the combustion of fossil fuels
Both of these chemicals are extremely toxic to humans and animals
If they are inhaled directly, they can be fetal
Sulfur Oxides are added to the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels
Sulfur Oxides react with water vapor to form acid precipitation
If inhaled Sulfur Oxides cause respiratory tract illnesses

Air Quality Index

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is an indicator of air quality, based on air pollutants that have adverse effects on human health and the environment
The monitored pollutants are: ozone, fine particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and total reduced sulphur compounds
To measure AQI the concentration of each pollutant, is measured hourly
This is converted into a number ranging from zero upwards, using a common scale, or index.
The calculated number for each pollutant is referred to as a sub-index.
At a given site, the highest sub-index for any given hour becomes the AQI reading for that hour.
The index is a relative scale, in that, the lower the index, the better the air quality.
If the AQI reading is below 16, the air quality is in the very good category.
If the AQI reading is in the range of 16 to 31, the air quality is in the good category.
If the AQI reading is in the range of 32 to 49, the air quality is in the moderate category, and there may be some adverse effects for very sensitive people.
If the AQI reading is in the range of 50 to 99, the air quality is in the poor category, and may have adverse effects for sensitive members of human and animal populations, and may cause significant damage to vegetation and property.
If the AQI reading is above 99, the air quality is in the very poor category, and may have adverse effects for a large proportion of those exposed

Air Pollution Distribution