Air
Pollution
UNIT #3 Environmental Health
Introduction
Pollution – contamination of the natural
environment with harmful substances
What are the different types of pollution?
• air
• water
• land
• light
• sound
• radiation
Caused by…
• increasing world population
• global industrialization
• use of motor vehicles
• growing demand for convenience and
comfort
What are the effects of pollution?
• health
• environmental
• quality of life
A. AIR POLLUTION
Air –a mixture of gases that surrounds the
earth and makes up our atmosphere
• 78% nitrogen gas
• 21% oxygen gas
• 1% traces of other gases (carbon dioxide,
argon etc.)
• water vapour (varies with location)
A. AIR POLLUTION
Atmosphere –the blanket of air surrounding
the Earth, which is made up of several
layers of gases
Air pollution –contamination of the earth’s
atmosphere by substances that harm or
alter the Earth’s ecosystems
Air pollutants
• Two main forms of air pollution:
gases and particulates
Particulate
Matter
(PM10)
Nitrogen oxide
(NOx)
Sulfur dioxide
(SO2)
 solid particles/liquid droplets suspended in the
air
 ex. fumes, smoke, dust, aerosols
 gas released from burning fuels (gasoline, coal,
diesel etc.)
 causes respiratory problems
 leads to acid rain production
 gas released from factory and metal refineries
 causes respiratory problems
Air pollutants
Carbon monoxide  odourless/colourless gas released from incomplete
(CO)
burning of fuel
 reduces the body’s ability to use oxygen causing
unconsciousness
Volatile organic
compounds
(VOCs)
 burning fossil fuels; or fuels evaporating into the air
 causes irritation of the eyes/nose/throat, headaches,
nausea, cancer
Chlorofluorocarbons  gas in refrigerators/air conditioners/aerosols etc.
(CFCs)
 causes depletion of the ozone layer
Air pollutants
Not all air pollution is caused by humans…
• smoke (forest fires)
• debris/dust
• ash/fumes (volcanoes)
• mold spores (fungus)
Effects of Air Pollution on Health
• irritation to the eyes, throat, lungs
• triggers headaches, nausea, allergic
reactions
• aggravates asthma and emphysema
• chronic respiratory disease
• lung cancer
• damage to the brain, nerves, liver, kidneys
Solutions: What can I do?
B. ACID RAIN
• Acid Rain -precipitation that has a low pH
(acid)
• gas pollutants react with water in the
atmosphere and turn into acids
• acid rain causes acidification of
lakes/streams/soil and damages plant life
• it also speeds up deterioration of
buildings/materials (ex. corrodes copper)
B. ACID RAIN
The connection to
industry/vehicles/appliances makes air
pollution seem to be a hazard only to
developed countries…
NOT TRUE!
B. ACID RAIN
• pollutants move around the Earth freely; source
of pollution from one country might have effects
in another (larger cities have MORE pollution)
– ex. chemicals from the nuclear reactor explosion in
Chernobyl, Ukraine found all over the world
– ex. pesticides have never been used in Antarctica,
but found there in air/ice samples
– ex. ash from volcanoes such as Mount St. Helens
was the cause of major global weather changes
B. ACID RAIN
• in developing countries, indoor air pollution is a
concern
– ex. use wood, charcoal, animal waste as fuel for
cooking and heating with improper
chimneys/ventilation
C. Indoor Air Pollution
• Our need to conserve energy has led to greater
indoor pollution…
– airtight buildings (energy star)
– use of synthetic building materials
C. Indoor Air Pollution
• Sources of indoor air pollution include…
– nitrogen dioxide (gas appliances)
– carbon monoxide (gas appliances; cigarette smoke;
coming in from outside)
– formaldehyde (plywood/fiberboard,
glues/adhesives, fabrics, cigarette smoke)
– radon (gas in soil surrounding homes)
C. Indoor Air Pollution
• Sources of indoor air pollution include…
– asbestos (roofing/flooring/insulating materials)
– biological pollutants (viruses, bacteria, molds, dust
mites, plants, pets etc.)
– Second-hand smoke
– toxic chemicals ex. lead, mercury (cleaning,
beauty, pesticide products etc.)
C. Indoor Air Pollution
• Schools, workplaces, and public buildings are
responsible for ensuring that the air quality
standards are met.
• Spend about 90% of time indoors!
C. Indoor Air Pollution
• Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) –situation in
which a person experiences acute health and
comfort effects that appear to be linked to time
spent in a building, but no specific illness or
cause can be identified
– headache
– eye/nose/throat irritation; dry cough
– dry/itchy skin
C. Indoor Air Pollution
• Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) –situation in
which a person experiences acute health and
comfort effects that appear to be linked to time
spent in a building, but no specific illness or
cause can be identified
– dizziness and nausea
– difficulty concentrating
– fatigue
– sensitivity to odours
C. Indoor Air Pollution
• Building Related Illness (BRI) –symptoms of
diagnosable illness are identified and can be
attributed directly to airborne building
contaminants
Journal # 9
Safe Workplace
• Explain whose duty is it to ensure that the
workplace is a safe and healthy place.
• List five symptoms people may experience
as a result of poor air quality in a building.