The presence of chemicals in the atmosphere, which are not a
normal part of it [1]
In other words, it is contaminated air [1]
The main sources of air pollution are ground-level ozone,
particulate matter (PM), nitrogen and sulphur oxides [5]
http://www.freewebs.com/airawareness/Factory1.jpg
What is ground-level ozone?
Ozone(O3) is a gas, which forms a layer that protects the Earth
from ultraviolet rays [5]
When ground level is created, it becomes a major air pollutant
[2]
Sources - not emitted directly into the air; [2]
Health Effects- coughing, irritation of the airways, discomfort
when breathing, premature aging of the lungs, increased risk of
respiratory infections [2]
Environmental Effects- on plants and ecosystems- damaging
leaves, reducing forest growth and crop yields, making plants more
susceptible to certain diseases [5]
Economic Effects- tourism suffers, increased cost for health
care services [3]
http://www.greenfacts.org/en/ozone-o3/index.htm#3
What is particulate matter?
The sum of all liquid and solid particles in the air [5]
PM10- big coarse particles (up to 10 micrometers in size),
cause less severe health problems [4]
PM2.5-small fine particles (up to 2.5 micrometers in size),
worse health effects [4]
Sources - any activity which involves burning of
materials-forest fires, crushing and grinding rocks, processing
metals [5]
Health Effects- coughing, wheezing, aggravated asthma, lung
damage [4]
Environmental Effects- decreases visibility, harms crops and
plants [5]
Group of gases composed of nitrogen and oxygen [6]
Most common are nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide, which is a
greenhouse gas [6]
Sources - motor vehicle exhaust, burning of coal, cigarette
smoking, etc. [6]
Health Effects- headache, fatigue, dizziness, difficult
breathing, throat spasms, collapse, death [6]
Environmental Effects- NO2 helps form acid rain, contributes to
global warming, hampers the growth of plants, with VOC forms
ground- level ozone [7]
What are sulphur oxides?
Most common is sulphur dioxide, which together with NO2 is one
of the main chemicals that cause acid rain [8]
Sources- mostly from power station and oil refineries, but also
from volcanoes, forest fires [8]
Health Effects- respiratory problems, aggravation of existing
cardiovascular diseases [9]
Environmental Effects damage crops, forests, acidify soils and
water bodies [8]
http://www.treehugger.com/erupting-volcano.jpg
Bulgarias Air Quality
Bulgaria has the most polluted air in the European Union
[10]
Main pollutants- industrial development, deforestation, large
number of old vehicles, coal-fired heating in smaller towns
[10][11]
Sofia and Plovdiv experience the worst air pollution as well as
the town of Pernik, which has pollution twice the permitted level
(high number of metallurgy plants) [10][12]
Actions- member of various international environmental
agreements- Air Pollution- Sulfur 85, Antarctic Treaty, Ozone Layer
Protection, etc; imposes EU standards on vehicles and industry
[10][11]
-responsible for about 20 percent of adult mortality and about
30 percent of adolescent mortality [13]
Solution:
Norilsk Nickel ahs spent $5mil Overhauling of dust & gas
recovery & removal systems and plans to decrease sulfur dioxide
emissions by 500% until 2015 [13]
Example #2: London, England
Issue: Traffic, Factories produce PM10s [15]
Air Pollution: PM10s (particles smaller than 10 microns)
[14]