Hazardous Effects Of Domestic Air Pollution On Human Health

Hazardous Effects of Domestic Air Pollution on Human Health

INTRODUCTION All other planets have sunlight but only earth has air and water. Without all of these there would be no life. A diverse community of plant and animal has thrived on this planet for millions of years, sustained by the sun and supported by the soil, water and air. The air is made up of Nitrogen and Oxygen, with traces of other such as- carbon dioxide, plus minute particles like dust. Although clear air should be freely available to all plant and animal life, human have been gradually polluting it, putting their health at risk and the well being the earth itself. Air pollutants mainly come from the discharges of gases and particles mainly from industry, motor vehicles and domestic wood burning. There are also natural sources such as wind blown, dust and smoke from bush fires. Some forms of air pollution create global problems requiring international solutions especially upper atmosphere ozone depletion acid rain. The enhanced green house effect also falls into this category.

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Hazardous Effects of Domestic Air Pollution on Human Health

HISTORY OF AIR POLLUTION Air pollution, particularly m cities is certainly not a new problem. Back in the middle ages the use of coal in cities such London was begining to escalate. The problems of pure urban air quality even as early as the end of 16 th century are well documented. In the U.K. the industrial revolution during the 18th and 19th centuries was based on the use of coal. Industries were often located in town and cities and together with the burning of coal in homes for domestic heat, urban air pollution levels often reached very high levels. The great London smog of 1952, which resulted in around 4,000 extra deaths in the city, led to the introduction of clean Air Acts of 1956 and 1968. These introduced smoke less zones in urban areas, with a tall chimney policy to help

disperse industrial air pollutants away from built up areas into the

atmosphere. Following the clean air acts, air quality improvements continued throughout the 1970's. Further regulations were introduced through the 1974 control of Air pollution Act. However during 1980's the no. of motor vehicles in urban areas steadily increased and air quality problems associated with motor vehicles become more prevalent.

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Hazardous Effects of Domestic Air Pollution on Human Health In the early 1980's the main interest was the effect of lead pollution on human health, but by the late 1980's and early 1990's the effects of other motor vehicles pollutants became a major concern. The 1990's have seen the occurrence of winter time and summer time smog. These are not caused by smoke and 802 pollution but by chemical reactions occurring between motor vehicle pollutants and sunlight. In 1995, the government passed its Environmental Act, requiring the publications of National Air strategy to set standards for the regulation of the most common air pollutants. Published in 1997, the National Air Quality strategy has set commitments for local authorities to achieve new air quality objectives throughout U.K. by 2005.

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Hazardous Effects of Domestic Air Pollution on Human Health

DEFINITION OF AIR POLLUTION “Air pollution can be broadly defined as the presence in air of any substance that can affect our health or health of plants and animals or causes damages to property and to our environment.” These substances are in large part emitted by human activities but can also have natural origins. They are at the source of well known environmental issue as smog and acid rain. Some also rise to the atmosphere above as to affect the ozone layer or to contribute to climate change. During foggy conditions, pollution level escalated and urban smog were formed. These often brought cities to a halt, distrupting traffic but more dangerously causing death rates to dramatically rise.

The effect of this air

pollution on building and vegetation also become obvious.

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Hazardous Effects of Domestic Air Pollution on Human Health

TYPES OF AIR POLLUTANTS (1) Carbon monoxide (CO) and Carbon dioxide (CO2) (2) Volatile organic compounds (CFC's) (3) Hydrocarbons (4) Oxides of Nitrogen (NO &, NO2) (5) Sulphur Oxides (SO2) (6) Particles and lead (7) Smog (8) Ground level Ozone (9) Presistent organic pollutants (POP'S) (10) Pollutant that cause acid rain (SO2, NO2 ) (11) Mercury (12) Photochemical Oxidants (Ozone) (13) Toxic compounds: In brief (1) Carbon monoxide (CO) and Carbon dioxide (CO2) :Source : due to incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, transportation, industry and home heating. Effect : creates problem for those with heart or respiratory diseases. (2) Volatile organic compounds (CFC’s) :-

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Hazardous Effects of Domestic Air Pollution on Human Health Source : motor vehicles, industry and various house hold products. Effects : Eye and respiratory tract irritation., headaches, dizziness, visual disorder and memory impairment. (3) Hydrocarbons :Effect : it causes cancer in animals and in humans (4) Oxides of Nitrogen (NO & NO2) :Source : Motor vehicle and industry Effect : Acid rain can be caused by it. (5) Sulphur Oxides (SO2) :Source : Combustion of coal and oil. Effects : can react with gases in atmosphere to form sulphuric acid and cause Acid rain and some obstructive lung diseases. (6) Particles and lead :Source : Power plants, iron or steel mills, highway construction, land clearing and mining. Effects : cause heart or respiratory diseases. (7) Smog :Source : due to sunlight acting on various pollutants like nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds. Effects : it create problems to those who suffer from heart or lung diseases.

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Hazardous Effects of Domestic Air Pollution on Human Health (8) Ground level Ozone :Effects : It affects the body's respiratory system and cause coughing, wheezing, chest tightness. (9) Presistent organic pollutants (POP’s) (10) Pollutant that cause acid rain (SO2, NO2) (11)Mercury:Occurs naturally in earth's crust, source : burning coal and waste. Effect : cause Bioaccumulation and dangerous for wild life. (12) Photochemical Oxidants ( Ozone) :Source : cars, trucks, factories and power generating plants Effects : It damages food crops, rubber, nylon, plastics, dyes and paints. It is hazardous to children and people with respiratory problems. (13) Toxic compounds :These are at least 600 toxic substances such as lead and mercury produced by human activities.

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Hazardous Effects of Domestic Air Pollution on Human Health

SOURCES OF AIR POLLUTION SOURCES 1) Particulates : Fires (forest, coal refuse, agricultural, structural) Stationary source power production (mainly coal) Industrial processes Vehicular transport Solid waste disposal 2) Nitrogen oxides : Stationary source power production Vehicular transport Fires (forest, coal refuse, agricultural, structural ) Solid waste disposal Industrial process 3) Sulphur oxides : Stationary source power production (mainly coal ) Industrial process Vehicular transport Fires (coal refuse ) 4) Hydrocarbons (volatile) : Vehicular transport Industrial processes Solvent evaporation Solid waste disposal Gasoline marketing Stationary source power production 5) Carbon Monoxide : Fires (agricultural, coal refuse, forest) Industrial processes Solid waste disposal Stationary source power production

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Percentage 34 31 27 04 04 49 39 08 03 01 74 22 02 02 52 14 10 05 04 02 16 10 08 02

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Hazardous Effects of Domestic Air Pollution on Human Health

HEALTH PROBLEMS DUE TO AIR POLLUTION ON HUMAN HEALTH : Air pollution causes respiratory and other diseases in humans. Example of air pollution related diseases : 1) Plumonary irritation and impaired lung function : (a) Chronic bronchitis (b) Emphysema 2) Cancer 3) Systemic toxicity due to (a) Lead and (b) Mercury 4) Increased susceptibility to disease.

ON OTHER ANIMALS & PLANTS : 1) Wild & domestic animals probably affected in the same ways as humans. 2) Plants damaged by Ozone, sulfur dioxide and acids.

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Hazardous Effects of Domestic Air Pollution on Human Health (a) Ozone : weakens pine needles and makes move susceptible to insects and diseases. (b) Sulfur dioxide : suppresses growth. (c) Acid : damages leaves and needles and also removes nutrients.

There is a strong link between air pollution and health problems, especially for the elderly, children and for those who suffer from respiratory and cardiac problems. Studies from the Toronto Public Health Department and Government of Canada all show that air pollution can lead to premature death, increased hospital admissions, more emergency room visits and higher rates of absenteeism.

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Hazardous Effects of Domestic Air Pollution on Human Health

MEASURES TO REDUCE AIR POLLUTION 1) Industry adopting cleaner technology. 2) Assisting dispersion through tall chimneys. 3) Cleaning up emissions by removing pollutants from exhaust gases. 4) Banning backyard incinerators are open air burning. 5) Discouraging the use of open fires for domestic heating and the use of older wood heaters, which do not meet the Australian standard. 6) Burning less polluting fuels. 7) Reducing exhaust pollutants from cars by keeping cars tuned and driving less, every one playing their part in helping to keep Melbourne's Air clean.

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Hazardous Effects of Domestic Air Pollution on Human Health

HAZARDOUS EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION DUE TO POLLUTION OF OZONE (A) ACID - RAIN : 1. Causes a cascade of effect that harm or kill individual fish and can completely eliminate fish from water body. 2. Causes decrease of PH in lake or stream. 3. It weakens trees by damaging their levels and limiting the nutrients available to them. 4. Acid rain accelerate the decay of building materials and plants.

(B) GLOBAL WARMING : (1) Cause changes in food production. (2) Cause reduction in biodiversity : Plants and animals generally react to consistently warmer temperatures by moving to higher latitudes and elevations. (3) Cause rise in sea level : C.O.E.&T.,Akola

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Hazardous Effects of Domestic Air Pollution on Human Health Warmer temperatures increase melting of mountain glaciers and cause ocean water to expand. Due to this global sea level has risen 4 to 10 inches over the past 100 years.

(C) GREEN HOUSE EFFECTS : •

Greenhouse gases include water vapour, CO2, methane, nitrous oxide and Ozone.

• Methane emissions result from the decomposition of organic waste, municipal solid waste landfills and the raising of livestock. •

CO2 is confined in the top most region of atmosphere. Temperature of earth is maintained by energy balance between the sun rays which are able to penetrate through CO2 blanket and strike the earth and get converted into heat energy. Some reradiated energy cant pass through thick CO 2 blanket. Thus temperature of earth increases.

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Hazardous Effects of Domestic Air Pollution on Human Health

CONCLUSION 1) For reducing air pollution, Environmental Pollution Act like provisions are required. 2) Environmental Pollution control Act 1981 should be applied. 3) Industry should adopt cleaner technology. 4) Natural gas or LPG must be used for home heating instead of wood or coal, which cause serious air pollution. 5) We should bum less polluting fuels. 6) We should stop deforestation and should grow more plants and trees for clean air.

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Hazardous Effects of Domestic Air Pollution on Human Health

REFERENCE 1) Industrial waste treatment by S.P. Mahajan 2) www.airpollution.com 3) www.bio599-799air&airpollution.com

4) www.airqualityontario.com 5) www.ec.gc.ca/ozone/en/index.cfm.com

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