Introduction to air pollution science a public health perspective robert f. Pollution is a manmade problem, mainly of effluent countries. National academies was asked to convene an ad hoc study committee to assess and summarize current understanding of the longrange transport of four key classes of pollutants. Jacobson received 12th june 2008, accepted 31st october 2008 first published as an advance article on the web 1st december 2008 doi. Air pollution a simple introduction to its causes and. Those affected by poor air quality can develop serious breathing and health problems such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, and even emphysema. The weight of an air contaminant in a cubic meter of air 3mgm and the volume ratio ppm v, or just ppm are normally used.
Of course,there are still various other types of pollution such as. The air pollution control act in india was passed in 1981 and the motor vehicle act for controlling the air pollution, very recently. Pdf on aug 1, 2012, budi haryanto and others published air pollution. Introduction to air pollution and its control springerlink. Review of solutions to global warming, air pollution, and. Air pollution is a problem that greatly affects those living in large, urban centers and the third world. Air pollution reduces the economic value of crops and leads to expensive cleaning of cultural heritage. Air quality measurements air monitoring measures pollution by taking samples of air and testing the sample to find out how much of a pollutant is present. As a result, atmospheric and water pollution levels were improved significantly in a relatively short period of time.
The engineers joint council on air pollution and its control defines air pollution as the presence in the outdoor atmosphere of one or. Definitions and classifications used in the study of air pollution are introduced. Many scientists believe that by reducing emissions from factories and vehicles, air quality can be. Agencies involved in air pollution assessment and control vi. Living organisms can survive without water for some time but cannot survive without air because when we breathe then we intake oxygen from air and releases carbon dioxide, if this procedure does not take. Air pollution worldwide is a growing threat to human health and the natural environment. Environmental pollution can be defined as a change that is not wished or desired in the chemical, physical, or biological characteristics of any component of the environment air, water, and soil which can cause harmful effects on various or many forms of life.
Environmental protection agency, research triangle park, nc 27711. Introduction to air pollution air pollution refers to the condition in which the existence of toxic substances in the atmosphere, generated by various human activities and natural phenomena such as volcanic eruptions, results in damaging effects on the welfare of human beings and the living environment omasa 2002. Air pollution is the introduction of particulates, biological molecules, or other harmful gases into earths atmosphere, causing disease, death to humans, damage to other living organisms such as food crops, or the natural or built environment. Environmental protection agency, office of air and radiation. This is a very motivating piece of work for any undergraduate student who has an interest in air pollution research. In children, air pollution is linked to asthma and bronchitis, increases in school absences and er visits. Air pollution is a major problem that has been recognised throughout the world for hundreds of years.
In the middle ages, the burning of coal in cities released increasing amounts of smoke and sulphur dioxide to the atmosphere. Another alternative to prevent air pollution is the development of environmental. These are also called respirable particles because they can enter the deep lung. High concentrations can cause undesirable health, economic, or aesthetic effects.
Humangenerated sources of air pollution are categorized in two ways. Due to lack of development of a culture of pollution control, there has resulted a heavy backlog of gaseous, liquid and solid pollution in environment. Air pollution is a threat to human and environment. These include smokestacks, vents and surface areas of commercial or industrial facilities. Pollution research workers including chemists, toxicologists, environmentalists, conservationists, botanists, marine scientists, ecologists, biologists. By the end of this chapter the reader will be able to. Natural sources naturally occurring particulate matter pm includes dust from the earths surface crustal material, sea salt in coastal areas and biological material, in the form of pollen, spores or plant and animal debris 1. Ecological civilization is, we argue, a top down imaginary of chinas future.
It constitutes a reference for understanding how policymakers, media and population in china make sense of and deal with air pollution, as discussed in the other articles of the section. Assessment and control of indoor air pollution, pp. Air pollution may be described as contamination of the atmosphere by gaseous, liquid, or solid wastes or byproducts that can endanger human health and welfare of plants and animals, attack materials, reduce visibility to read about how haze caused by. Dynamics and trends of air pollution air pollution is considered an emerging risk, and its dynamics depend on a broad range of factors. Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. Air pollution can increase the risk of having a respiratory infection. The greatest industrial disaster leading to serious air pollution took place in bhopal where extremely poisonous methyl isocyanide gas was. A study of the air pollution index reporting system. In the late 18 th century, the industrial revolution, beginning in the uk, led to escalation in pollutant emissions based around the use of. Air pollution is the introduction into the atmosphere of chemicals, particulates, or biological materials that cause discomfort, disease, or death to humans, damage other living organisms such as. Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into an environment which causes harmful effects on life in that natural surrounding environment.
Report to congress on indoor air quality, volume ii. It is using materials and energy more efficiently, and conserving natural resources, including water. But if you are concerned about air pollution, there is a free and easy to use service that allows you to. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light. The troposphere is the layer that contains most of our air pollutants ii stratosphere is the layer between the troposphere and approximately 50km.
Pdf causes, consequences and control of air pollution. Environmental protection agency sets and enforces air quality standards only for ambient air. It constitutes a reference for understanding how policymakers, media and population in. Reducing air pollution national emission ceilings for air pollutants summary despite significant progress in recent decades, air pollution levels in the european union still have adverse impacts on the environment and on health. Air pollution in china kristin aunan, mette halskov hansen and shuxiao wang abstract this introduction provides an overview and analysis of key scientific data regarding air pollution in china. Impacts of air pollution on human health, ecosystems and. A public health perspective conveys the most comprehensive, recent and sound knowledge to undergraduate students. Benefits associated with air pollutant producing activities v. Air pollution may be described as contamination of the atmosphere by.
For environmental health science students air pollution mengesha admassu, mamo wubeshet. When looking at research completed about the environmental and social implications of air pollution, one can find numerous aspects such as the effects on ozone, human health, and ecosystems. Mobile sources of air pollution include most forms of transportation such as automobiles, trucks, and airplanes. These sources can be further differentiated into either mobile or stationary sources 2. Natural pollution volcanic eruptions, forest fires, biological decay. Air pollution is the presence of harmful foreign substances pollutants in the atmosphere, emitted by both natural and anthropogenic human activity sources air pollution is the contamination or presence of unwanted substances in the air making it harmful and detrimental for human and animal health.
Not surprisingly, it is one of the greatest threats to public health and the preservation of wildlife worldwide. This introduction provides an overview and analysis of key scientific data regarding air pollution in china. Air pollution, release into the atmosphere of various gases, finely divided solids, or finely dispersed liquid aerosols at rates that exceed the natural capacity of the environment to dissipate and dilute or absorb them. It constitutes a reference for understanding how policymakers, media and population in china make sense of and deal. When there is smoke in the air from wood stoves, fireplaces, burning vegetation, or forest fires. A comprehensive perspective find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. Although we rely on this as an essential source for. What are the causes of air pollution pollutant description and main uk sources potential effects on healthenvironment particulate matter pmpm 10 and pm 2. Particle pollution levels can be high any time of year. Introduction to air pollution air pollution prevention. Review of solutions to global warming, air pollution, and energy security mark z. Air pollution is the presence of one or more disadvantageous content in such quantity and for such duration, as it is catastrophic, or tend to be catastrophic, to human health and welfare, animal or plant life.
The combustion of fossil fuels coal, oil, and natural gas is the principal source of air pollution in all urban areas, along with the burning. This paper provides the insight view about the affects of environment pollution in the perspective of air pollution, water and land soil waste pollution on human by diseases and problems, animals and trees plants. This course is an attempt to answer such questions. Pollution control is a recent environmental concern. Phalen, phd, cih assistant professor, health science and human ecology college of natural sciences. The european commission estimates that healthrelated costs of air pollution in the eu range from. Introduction the indiana department of environmental management idem conducted a. Heart disease, stroke, and outdoor air pollution, epa456f. The presence of one or more contaminants like dust, smoke, mist and odor in the atmosphere which are injurious to human beings, plants and animals. Anthropogenic air pollution commenced with humans systematic use of fire. Nonrenewable and renewable resources and global energy consumption duration. Clean air, healthy children teachers guide and activities. For environmental health science students air pollution mengesha admassu, mamo wubeshet university of gondar in collaboration with the ethiopia public health training initiative, the carter center, the ethiopia ministry of health, and the ethiopia ministry of education august 2006. Pollution is often classed as point source or nonpoint source pollution.
In addition to air pollution, this industry also causes impairment to the health of the workers, and is classified as a unit carrying on hazardous process. A who global comparative analysis of air pollution17 concluded that ambient air pollution increased by 8% between 2008 and 20. Air pollution and climate change european commission. Air pollution is a gas or a liquid or solid dispersed through ordinary air released in a big enough quantity to harm the health of people or other animals, kill plants or stop them growing properly, damage or disrupt some other aspect of the environment such as making buildings crumble, or cause some other kind of nuisance reduced. Pollution 6 there are other causes of air pollution, but humans and ecosystems are greatly affected by means of transportation and manufacturing plants. The air is certainly a lot cleaner today than in the days of the smogs of the 1950s, when factory chimneys belched out smoke and nearly everyone had a coal fire. Pdf introduction to the special issue indepth study of air pollution. We assessed associations between trafficrelated air pollutants and respiratoryallergic symptoms amongst 89 yearold schoolchildren living within the london low. Children, the elderly and persons with asthma are impacted the most by air pollution. Pollution is of different kinds depending on the nature of pollutants and pollutions. Air pollution is defined as the emission of particulate toxic elements into the atmosphere by natural or anthropogenic sources 1. Plan strenuous outside activities when air quality is better. Air pollution contributes to climate change, hence air pollution. Unit conversions for volatile pollutants is explained as well.
Each chapter is presented in simple language and is provided with learning objectives, body introduction, exercises, and suggested reading as appropriate. Pollution is spreading like wildfire in many regions of the world. Near busy roads, in urban areas especially during rush hour, and in industrial areas. Environment pollution is a widereaching problem and it is likely to influence the health of human populations is great. Air pollutants are relatively shortlived, particularly compared with longlived greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide co 2, and measures to control air pollutants could have an effect on climate change in the shortterm. To help address these issues the national research council nrc of the u. Air pollution refers to the condition in which the existence of toxic substances in the atmosphere, generated by various human activities and natural phenomena. Children at risk children are more susceptible to the effects of air pollution for several reasons related to their physical development and behavior. The issue we would like to discuss here is about environmental pollution,to make it simpler and precise,we sometimes refer it to the word pollution in the later parts of our assignment. Essays on pollution examples of causes and effects. This article places the study of rural environmental activism in the wider context of the chinese governments promotion of ecological civilization shengtai wenming.
Also introduced are a brief history of air pollution. Definitions and classifications used in the study of air pollution are. Air pollution ppt and pdf for free download study mafia. Air pollution is another major problem that is yet to be solved.
P oull tion prevention p2 means working at the source of pollutants to prevent them from being generated or to reduce the amount generated. But if you are concerned about air pollution, there is a free and easy to use service that allows you to check levels in your area. These laws are intended to prevent air from being polluted. Noxious health effects caused by air pollution can be classified as due to either chronic or acute exposure. A comprehensive treatment ofeach ofthese three areas is beyond the scope of a single book, however. It informs the public of the local level of ambient air pollution, and the potential health risk it would impose, particularly on vulnerable groups such. A source of air pollution is any activity that causes pollutants to be emitted into the air.
Air pollution and its effects on health case studies, india. Consequences of air pollution co 2 is a good transmitter of sunlight, but it also partially restricts infrared radiation going back from the earth into space, which produces the socalled greenhouse effect that prevents a drastic cooling of the earth during the night increasing the amount of co 2 in the atmosphere. I air pollution caused by industries jiming hao and guowen li typically decreases at the rate of 6. This sixth edition of the epa air pollution control cost manual was prepared by the air quality strategies and standards division of the office of air quality planning and standards, u.
Phalen, phd professor, department of medicine center for occupational and environmental health university of california, irvine irvine, california robert n. Pdf the atmospheric pollution and human health in a chinese megacity aphhbeijing programme is an international collaborative project focusing on. Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be either foreign substancesenergies or naturally occurring contaminants. An introduction to air pollution definitions, classifications, and. Effects of air pollution and the introduction of the. Reduce your risk by using the air quality index aqi to plan outdoor activities. Pdf on may 23, 2018, ashok kumar and others published introduction to air pollution find, read and cite all the research you need on. The studys lead author comments on the findings, saying, air pollution is a largely avoidable health risk that affects everyone. Sources of air pollution sources of air pollution 1 include natural sources 2 and humanmade sources 3. Air plays a vital role not only in nature but also in the lives of human beings and all living organisms.
This book is thus also concerned with air pollution episodes that derive from natural sources of air pollution, such as those that are produced by volcanoes baxter et al. Bioprocesses have traditionally been included in the latter category, whenever the pollutants are biodegraded into end. Children living near diesel trucking routes are more likely to have decreased lung function, bronchitis and allergies. The adverse effects of trafficrelated air pollution on childrens respiratory health have been widely reported, but few studies have evaluated the impact of trafficcontrol policies designed to reduce urban air pollution. Introduction to air pollution colorado state university. Pollution discharged into the atmosphere from a range of stationary and mobile sources. The two most significant types of pollution would be air and water pollution. Air pollution reduces plant biodiversity and affects other ecosystem services, such as clean water, recreational activities and carbon storage. It is the contaminants of air by the discharge of detrimental substances.
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