Sources of Air Pollution

 Sources of Air Pollution

 

On the basis of origin, air pollution can be categorized into natural and anthropogenic (man-made) sources.

 

 Natural Sources of Air Pollution:

 

    Examples of natural sources are pollutants from forest-fires, volcanic eruption, pollens, and dust blown by wind.

 

Anthropogenic Sources of Air Pollution:

 

    Examples of anthropogenic sources of air pollution are burning of fossil fuels in individual plant (stationary source) and automobiles (mobile sources). Other sources include agricultural activities, livestock, cities, and burning of wood in fireplaces at homes also generate air pollutants.

 

Anthropogenic Sources of Air Pollution:

 

a) Burning of Fossil fuel and Fires

b) Transportation (Mobile sources)

c) Industries (Stationary sources)

 

a) Burning of Fossil fuels and Fires:

 

The man-made cause of air pollution is fossil fuel combustion such as petrol, coal and natural gas.

 

 Fossil fuel are used to run transport, for heating purposes, cooking and to produce electricity in power plants, and in industries to manufacture goods.

 

Burning of wood in fireplaces at homes also become a cause of air pollution.

 

Burning of fossil fuel generates many air pollutants and involved in the formation of acid rain, smog and soot.

 

Burning fossil fuels also causes emissions of harmful gases that trap heat from the sun and increase the temperature of the earth. This phenomena is called global warming.

 

b) Transportation:

 

Transportation sources are also known as mobile sources.

 

The emissions from mobile sources are the major sources of air pollution in many urban areas.

 

There are four significant air pollutants generating by mobile sources.

 

                     (1) Carbon monoxide

 

                   (2) Nitrogen oxide

 

                   (3) Hydrocarbon

 

                   (4) Particulate matter

 

Other important air pollutants generating by mobile sources are:

 

       1- Greenhouse gases

 

       2- Air toxics.

 

Transportation sources can be grouped

 

    into on-road vehicles and off-road vehicles.

 

On-road Vehicles:

 

These include light-duty vehicles, heavy-duty trucks

 

and motorcycles, which are used for the

 

transportation on the road.

 

 Off-road Vehicles:

 

These include engines, vehicles and equipment used for agriculture, construction, recreation, transportation,  and many other purposes. Aircrafts are also off-road source of air pollution.

 

c) Industries:

 

Industrial sector is responsible for large scale air pollution. The extent of gaseous pollutants from industries is very high as compared to other sources. The number of industries is increasing due to urbanization and population pressure.

 

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