Air-, water- and soil pollution
Dr. Magdolna Kiss K.
(Csaba Berta)
Air pollution
The concept of air pollution
Air quality changes caused by gases, solid
particulars and aerosols
• Changes in the natural composition
• Contaminants above the limit
• Adverse effects on humans and on the
environment
• (caused by artificial sources)
Grouping of air pollutants
1. On the basis of their origin
Natural
• Volcanic eruption
• Lightning
• dust (cosmic, desert, from
ground)
• Aerosols of marine origin
• Forest fires
• Plant origin
Artifical
• Industry
• Agriculture
• Transport
• population
2. Based on formation mechanism
Primer air pollutants
Directly to the air, no chemical change (ash,
smoke, SO2, etc.)
Secunder air pollutants
Forming from the the primary pollutants and
the normal components of the atmosphere (
oxidation, reduction, ionization, photo-chemical
reaction, dissolution)
Sources of air pollution
• Point source
o the amount of pollutants entering the environment is
clearly defined (eg. chimneys)
• Surface source
o The pollutants emitting surface area is determined, but the
amount of material released into the environment can be
inferred by indirect measurements and calculations only
(ex. the window, open technology installed)
• Line source
o The release is ordered to a line (highway, railway)
Process of the air pollution
• Emission: emitted pollutant of time per unit from
different sources
unit of measure: mass flow rate – kg/h
concentration: mg/m3
specific value: mg/pcs, mg/kg (eg.: car: g
CO2/100 km)
• Transmission: the spread of pollutants, changes
(thinning, conversion) in the atmosphere –
atmospheric physical and chemical, meteorological
and topographical effects
• Imission: contamination status of air or ambient air
quality
Unit: mg/m3, ppm, ppb
Self purification of air
• The concentration of pollutants is reduced by
dilution
• The contaminants removed from the
atmosphere
• The pollutant is converted into other, possibly
inert material
Avoidance of air pollutants
• From the atmosphere to the ground, transport
to the water surface
• Types:
A. Dry: adhering to aerosols, dust
B. Wet: rain, sleet, snow, fog etc.
The main air polluting activities
Burning
Pollutants: SO2, NOx, CO, CO2, dioxins, ash,
smoke…
Issuers:
• Thermal power plants
• Home fires
• Vehicles
Effects of air polluting
Smog formation
Smoke + fog – smog
Conditions of its formation:
• high levels of air pollutant emissions
• unfavorable meteorological conditions (no
wind and inversion)
• unfavorable topography (narrow valleys)
London-type smog
• Occurs in winter as a result of inversion,
usually at dawn-evening
• Air temp.: -3 - +50C
• Reducing nature
• Humidity > 80%
• Main components: SO2, CO, soot
The London smog disaster
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5-9. December 1952.
~ 100% relative humidity
SO2 c
concentration: 4mg/m3
Tens of thousands of sickness, ~4000 peolpe
died
• In 1956 a law was passed to protect the air
quality
Los Angeles-type smog
• Foming in summer, generally at noon (strong
UV, 24-32 C)
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Inversion
<70% humidity
Oxidative nature
Main components: ozone, NOx, PAN
compounds
Effects of air polluting
Acid rain
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Altered pH precipitation
CO2 – not harmful (pH 5,6)
SO2 – NOx
Resulting pH below 5
(harmful)
Effects of acid rain
To the soil:
• Minerals leaching (Ca, Mg), fertility decreasing
• Release of toxic materials (Al)
To surface waters:
• Decreasing pH, below 5,5 very dangerous
• Mortality of plankton and fish
• Leaching of heavy metals
Effects of acid rain on vegetation
• Direct impact:
destruction of leaf way layer, strong
strong evaporation
• Indirect impact:
acidification of soil, Al toxicity, mycorrhizae
disappearance
Acid rain effect on the built
environment
• Corrosion of metals
• Faster weathering of building materials
• Works of art damaging faster
Water pollution
• Any human activity or material, which
harmfully changes the physical, chemical and
biological properties of water
„Results” of water pollution:
• Water for drinking use is partly or wholly
unsuitable
• Natural process of aquatic life suffering harm
Worldwide emerging water quality
issues
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Eutrophication
Nitrification
Enrichment in micro-pollutants
Emergency events (eg. Oil spill)
Eutrophication
Biological response for enrichmening plant
nutrients (N, P)
Natural – artificial
Planktonic – benthonic
Reasons for artificial eutrophication:
• Industrial and municipal wastewater
• Agriculture (fertilizer, manure)
Planktonic eutrophication
Benthonic eutrophication
Direct effects of eutrophication
• Anoxia (dawn !, after mass algal
destruction – huge fish mortality
• Appearance of algal toxins:
Inhibition of different water uses
(taste- and odor problems,
influance in water purification
technology,
deterioration of aesthetic value)
Nitrification
• Origin of nitrate:
Manure, fertilizer, sewage, acid deposition from
the atmosphere, irregluar waste disposal
In Hungary the limit of nitrate in the drinking
water is 40 mg/L
The detrimental effect of nitrate on
the human body
• Methemoglobinemia (blue disease, blue baby)
Micropollutants
• Inorganic micro-contaminants
(eg. toxic heavy metals)
Itai-itai disease: Cd contamination
caused osteomalacia, renal damage
(loss of protein and minerals)
Minamata disease: Hg
contaminated fishes, damage of the
central nervous system,
teratogenetic effects
• Organic micro-contaminants (eg. pesticides)
xenobiotics
DDT=dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane
Effects: teratogenic, carcinogenic, damaging of
the immune system
Oil pollution
• Form a film on the water surface
• Inhibiting the gas exchange
• Oil components are toxic, persistent and
accumulating
• Damaging and destructing the aquatic
organisms
Soil pollution
Land degradation
Any process which reducing the fertility of the soil,
worsen the quality or reducing the function of the
soil which leads to a full destruction
Forms:
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Erosion, deflation
Salinization, soil acidification
Deteriorating soil structure
Getting boggy, desertification
Biological degradation
Soil pollution
Soil pollution
Result of human activities, which are
significantly and adversely changing the soil
physical, chemical and biological properties
Result: the ecological functions of soil are
damaging
Industrial pollutants
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Minerals
BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, xylenes)
Dioxins
Surfactants
Agricultural soil pollution
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Ferilization
Organic ferilization
Soil conditioners
Pesticides
Transport – exhaust gases, salting
Thank you for your attention!