nach oben

2019 | Buch

Kapitel lesen Erstes Kapitel lesen

Criteria Air Pollutants and their Impact on Environmental Health

verfasst von: Dr. Pallavi Saxena, Dr. Saurabh Sonwani

Verlag: Springer Singapore

Enthalten in: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Technik"

Einloggen, um Zugang zu erhalten

Über dieses Buch

Air pollution is a global hazard. Majority of the world’s population is affected by air pollution. Contamination of air is no more an only an atmospheric problem but now has become a health concern too. Under the Clean Air Act of 1971, a set of air pollutants are designated as criteria pollutants. These are suspected to be strongly harming the public health and the environment as compared to other primary and secondary pollutants.

Globally, this category of air pollutants has been given less attention, only few studies have been reported in this area. This book begins with a short background on criteria air pollutants and their sources, sinks and chemistry. The chapters explore the detailed nature of primary pollutants criteria pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, particulate matter and lead. Their reaction mechanisms, climate change potency, environmental health effects on plants and human life are discussed. The book also covers secondary pollutants such as ozone. The book discusses ozone chemistry and its environmental health effects. This book act as a valuable tool for students in Environmental Science, Biological Science and Agriculture, as well as environmental consultants and professionals involved in air quality research and the application of air quality guidelines and advice.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

1. Introduction

Abstract

The problem of air pollution is one of the greatest challenge worldwide and unfortunately it has not been solved even after the implementation of various technologies and policy actions. Drastic increase in urbanization and industrialization has resulted in elevated increase in primary as well as secondary air pollutants which ultimately affect the plant as well as human health. In particular, criteria air pollutants are some of the significant air pollutants that are more strongly supposed to be hazardous to human health and plant life. These air pollutants are showing drastic increase in their levels especially in developing countries and very few studies have been reported collectively to depict about their impacts and possible controls. Therefore, there is a stringent need for implementation of control policies and technologies to mitigate these kinds of air pollutants. Hence, this chapter focus on the overview of criteria air pollutants and also summarizes the brief introduction of different chapters highlighting about various aspects of criteria air pollutants.

Pallavi Saxena, Saurabh Sonwani

2. Criteria Air Pollutants: Chemistry, Sources and Sinks

Abstract

Ambient air pollution is the foremost reason for global death and disease. An estimated premature death globally is related to ambient air pollution, mainly from emphysema, obstructive bronchiolitis, lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and severe respiratory problems in children. The criteria air pollutants include particulate matter (PM), ozone (O₃), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and lead (Pb). The present chapter provides a summary of the types of criteria air pollutants, their National Ambient Air Quality Standards and their emission sources. This chapter also explains their level distribution and chemistry, and the sink in the earth’s environment of these criteria pollutants is studied extensively. Description of global, regional emissions of criteria air pollutants, their contribution from different sectors, and efficiency of control strategies in developed and developing countries are also focused.

Pallavi Saxena, Saurabh Sonwani

3. Primary Criteria Air Pollutants: Environmental Health Effects

Abstract

A polluted air is a harmful complex combination of primary and secondary pollutants in the atmosphere. The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) listed the six most common air pollutants as criteria air pollutant under the Clean Air Act. The primary criteria air pollutants (CO, SO₂, NO₂, PM and Pb) are released into the atmosphere directly from their emission source. Due to their highly reactive nature, they get easily participated in a variety of reactions during atmospheric chemical transformation reactions. Due to the dry and wet deposition process, they may easily settle down onto ground/vegetation/ecosystems/water surfaces/building materials and show negative impact on their health/life/durability/beauty. The primary criteria air pollutants also produce adverse health effects to human being after their short-term/long-term exposure. Asthma, bronchitis, lung cancer and cardiopulmonary problems are the major noticed due to inhalation exposure of these pollutants. Mental disorder, kidney disorder and abortion are other harmful impacts. The WHO reported the level distribution and harmful effects of air pollutants several times in the past few decades. The direct and indirect effects of criteria air pollutants in changing climate are also discussed.

Pallavi Saxena, Saurabh Sonwani

4. Secondary Criteria Air Pollutants: Environmental Health Effects

Abstract

Air quality has become a serious concern in mostly urban areas and covering different parts of the world. Over the last few years, there have been tremendous studies reported so far related to harmful health effects due to bad air quality in urban areas across the globe. Among all air pollutants, criteria air pollutants are specifically highlighted for critically analysing about the environmental impacts in relation to plants species, materials, health, biosphere, etc. These air pollutants are in focus due to their toxicity, reactivities and the severity of their impacts. Among them very less information has been reported on secondary criteria air pollutant. Hence, the present chapter focuses on the nature and behaviour of secondary criteria air pollutants with respect to their impacts on environment. It will also highlight the mechanisms involved in examining their impacts, toxicity and overall assimilation plus fate of their chemical reactivities.

Pallavi Saxena, Saurabh Sonwani

5. Policy Regulations and Future Recommendations

Abstract

Air quality has been worsened due to increase in urbanization and industrialization both nationally and internationally. This poor air quality has affected floral and faunal diversity severely. This will affect the whole ecosystem widely. The major factors including biomass burning, high vehicular emissions, increment in industrial emissions and increase in demand for energy are responsible for increase in air pollution. Therefore, both natural and anthropogenic activities are responsible for the alarming high concentrations of criteria air pollutants. Criteria air pollutants are hazardous categories of air pollutants under Clean Air Act, 1990, and urgent step has been needed by EPA to set permissible limits for them. Hence, it is an important agenda to control and mitigate these air pollutants which are affecting plants/vegetation, human health and other environmental concerns along with their sources. Hence, this chapter aims at various control strategies designed by national as well as international agencies to combat the deleterious concentrations of criteria air pollutants. Control strategies include various norms, implementation of clean air act policies, mitigation protocols and laws and legislations.

Pallavi Saxena, Saurabh Sonwani

Titel: Criteria Air Pollutants and their Impact on Environmental Health
verfasst von: Dr. Pallavi Saxena
Dr. Saurabh Sonwani
Verlag: Springer Singapore
Electronic ISBN: 978-981-13-9992-3
Print ISBN: 978-981-13-9991-6
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-9992-3

Premium Partner

Marktübersichten

Die im Laufe eines Jahres in der „adhäsion“ veröffentlichten Marktübersichten helfen Anwendern verschiedenster Branchen, sich einen gezielten Überblick über Lieferantenangebote zu verschaffen.

Zur Marktübersicht