Chapter Seven
Air Pollution
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Indoor Air Pollution
7.3 Outdoor Air Pollution
7.1 Introduction
The earth's atmosphere is about 100 miles deep. That thickness and
volume sometimes are suggested to be enough to dilute all of the chemicals
and particles thrown into it. However, 95% of this air mass is within 12 miles
of the earth's surface. This 12-mile depth contains the air we breathe as well as
the pollutants we emit. This layer, called the troposphere, is where we have
our weather and air pollution problems.
Air pollution: chemicals added to the atmosphere by natural events or
human activities in high enough concentrations to be harmful(natural sources
and man-made sources). The types of air pollution according to physical state
is:
1. Gaseous.
2. Liquid.
3. Solid.
7.1.1 Atmospheric Composition
Nitrogen 78.08%
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Oxygen 20.95%
Argon 0.93%
Carbon dioxide 0.04%
7.1.2 Types of Pollutants
Primary air pollutant harmful substance that is emitted directly into the
atmosphere.
Secondary air pollutant harmful substance formed in the atmosphere
when a primary air pollutant reacts with substances normally found in
the atmosphere or with other air pollutants.
7.1.3 Major Classes of Air Pollutants
1. Particulate Material.
2. Nitrogen Oxides.
3. Sulfur Oxides.
4. Carbon Oxides.
5. Hydrocarbons.
6. Ozone.
7.1.4 Causes of Air Pollution
1. Burning of fossil fuels.
2. Agricultural activities.
3. Exhaust from factories and industries .
4. Mining operations.
5. Indoor air pollution.
7.1.5 Effects of Air Pollution
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7.1.5.1 On Environmental
1. Global warming.
2. Acid rain.
3. Effect on Wildlife.
4. Depletion of Ozone layer.
7.1.5.2 On Human
Respiratory and heart problems.
Reduced lung function(asthma).
Cardiovascular disease.
Premature death.
7.1.6 Solutions for Air Pollution
1. Use public mode of transportation.
2. Conserve energy.
3. Understand the concept of reduce, reuse and recycle.
4. Emphasis on clean energy resources.
7.1.7 Air Pollution Emission Source
Point source - single.
Line source - one-dimensional source(vehicular traffic).
Area source - two-dimensional source(forest fire).
Volume source - three-dimensional source(piping flanges).
Sources, by motion
Stationary source – flue gas stacks are examples of stationary sources.
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Mobile source – buses are examples of mobile sources.
7.2 Indoor Air Pollution
Indoor air pollution can be considered to consist of any airborne
material in a living or working space (home, office, school, etc.) that may
irritate people or affect their health.
Fig(7-1): Indoor Air Pollutants.
7.2.1 The General Equation for Indoor Air Pollution
Where:
Ct : pollutant concentration at any time mg/m3(indoor).
Ca: ambient concentration of the pollutant mg/m3.
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Co: initial concentration of the pollutant mg/m3.
E : indoor emission mg/sec.
V : indoor volume m3.
k : decay coefficient sec-1( reactive coefficient).
Q : ventilation rate (l/sec or m3/sec).
t : time of pollution.
Example1:
CO2 gas storage placed inside a hall( 5m*10m*4m). This storage was
emitting CO2 gas with rate of 50 mg/sec. If you know that the decay
coefficient of this gas is 6.33*10-5 sec-1, ventilation rate is 50 l/hr and the
ambient air contents 100 mg/m3 (which is equal to the initial indoor air) of
CO2. For 1hr find CO2 concentration inside this hall, or what is the indoor air
concentration of CO2 at the end of 1 hour of emitting?
Solution:
Q = 50 l/hr = 50/( 3600*1000) = 1.3*10-5 m3/sec
Ca = Co = 100 mg/m3
V = 5 * 10 * 4 = 200 m3
Ct = 885 mg/m3 of CO2
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7.3 Outdoor Air Pollution
7.3.1 Main Sources
Industrial processes.
Transportation.
Natural processes(forest fires).
Fig(7-2): Outdoor Air Pollutants.
7.3.2 Line- Source Dispersion Model
Where:
Cm : pollutant concentration at measurement station.
q : emission rate(mg/sec).
: vertical dispersion coefficient (m).
v : wind velocity that perpendicular to the dispersion column(m/sec).
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Fig(7-3): Line Source Pollution.
Example2:
Station on the Baghdad-Hilla highway mention that ten vehicles pass
the monitoring section per each second and each one vehicle emits 3.4 mg/mil
of CO gas and the perpendicular wind velocity was 4 mil/hr, if you know that
the coefficient of vertical dispersion was 4.5 m. Find the concentration of CO
gas at that station?
Solution:
1 mil = 1609 m
v = ( 4* 1609 )/3600 = 1.788 m/sec
The source strength per unit length:
q = 10 * 3.4*1 / 1609 =21.131*10-3 mg/m.sec
= 2.095*10-3 mg/m3 per each one second
7.3.2.1 Determination of Vertical Dispersion Coefficient, σz
Atmospheric stability is classified in categories A through F, called
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stability classes. Table 1 shows the relationship between stability class, wind
speed, and sunshine conditions.
Table1: Atmospheric Stability under Various Conditions.
Class A is the least stable; Class F is the most stable. In terms of
ambient lapse rates, Classes A, B, and C are associated with Super adiabatic
conditions; Class D with neutral conditions; and Classes E and F with sub
adiabatic conditions. A seventh, Class G, indicates conditions of extremely
severe temperature inversion, but in considering frequency of occurrence is
usually combined with Class F.
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Fig(7-4): Standard deviation or Vertical dispersion coefficient, σz.
Example3:
Find the vertical dispersion coefficient if the perpendicular wind
velocity was 4 m/s at 3pm, strong incoming solar radiation in spot 400m
downwind distance?
Solution:
To use Fig(7-4), we need atmospheric stability class(B) and downwind
distance(400m):
σz = 40m
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