The important atmospheric pollutants are listed below:
(i) Deposited matter or solid ste: Soot, smoke, tar or dust and domestic wastes.
(ii) Gas: Carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, Sulphur Oxides, halogens ( cystic wastes, bromine and iodine) Sulphur oxides, halogens (chlorine)
(iii) Metals: Lead, zinc, iron and chromium.
(iv) Industrial pollutants: Benzopyrenes, benzene, ether, acetic compounds.
(v) Agriculture pollulants: Pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and fertilisers
(vi) Photochemical pollutants or autoexhaust: Ozone, oxides of nitrogen, aldehvdes
ethylene, photochemical smog and peroxy acetyl nitrate (PAN).
(vil) Radiation pollutants: These include radiation from radioactive decay an
radioactive fall-outs of the nuclear test.
KINDS OF POLLUTION
On the basis of part of environment where it occrs most
(atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere), the pollution can be clasSilied as air pollution, water polution and soil pollution.
On the basis of origin, pollution may be natural
(e.g., volcanic eruptions which add tons of toxic gases and particulate matter in the environment), or
anthropogenic (manmade, such as industrial pollution, agricultural pollution
etc.).
On the basis of physical nature of the pollutants
(like gases, particulate matter, noise, radioactivity, etc), the pollution can be categorized as gaseous pollution, dust pollution, thermal pollution, noise pollution, radioactive pollution, etc.
AIR POLLUTION
Air pollution is caused by release of waste materials and gases in the air.
These pollutants degrade the quality and composition of the air.
In thickly populated and heavily industrial towns, major amount of pollutants added to the atmosphere is due to human activities. Though this constitutes very small part of the global pollution, the results are severe and very harm full. An air pollutant may be a gas or particulate matter (i.e., suspended ac
composed of soilds and liquids).
Concentrations of atmospheric pollutants depend mainly on the to a emitted into the atmosphere, and the atmospheric conditions that latest their fate and transport. The air we breathe contains mainly N2, O2 and a Small part (less than 19%) may be air pollutants, including gases and
Tags: Important Pollutants, Pollutants