Air pollution

The pollution of the Air (or atmospheric) is a type of Pollution S defines by a deterioration of the purity of the air, by one or more substances or particles present at concentrations and lasting of sufficient times to create an effect ecotoxic Toxique or . One counts today ten thousands of different molecules, polluting proven or suspectés which for much act as synergies between them and with other parameters (solar UV, ozone, moisture of the air, acids, etc) the effects of these synergies are still badly known.
La pollution can be local (cars, air transport, factories, etc) or total (Increase in the greenhouse effect due to CO). It can also be specific in time or chronicle.

History

Air pollution has some old sources; It is known today that the interior air of many traditional dwellings, smoked out by badly designed wood fires night with the Santé.
Les dust, smoke and vapors emitted by the black leads, copper and mercury of ancient Rome left traces until in the ice of the north pole.

Mais it is at the 19th century that an important and chronic pollution covered the cities with the revolution industrielle.EX: the smog has New York (1988)

Independent sources of Pollution

Air pollution (atmospheric pollution) results mainly from gases and particles rejected into the air by the motor vehicles, the installations of Chauffage, the thermo plants and the industrial facilities: Carbon monoxide, Sulfur and Nitrogen, Dust S, radioactive Particles, Chemicals, Dioxygène, etc

One distinguishes two types of sources; anthropic (ex: emissions of the boilers, engines, factories, etc) and natural (ex volcanicity, wind erosion, natural emissions of Methane or ozone). This distinction is sometimes difficult to establish; the anthropic degradation of the grounds (ex: warming of permafrost) can support methane emissions which one will consider natural or not , just as a anthropic aridification induced by the drainage, the overgrazing, the salinisation and impoverishment of the soil support takes-off of dust which it is difficult to differentiate from the natural takes-off starting from the original deserts.

Motor vehicles

The motor vehicles, increasingly many, reject pollutant Gas S: Carbonic gas, Carbon monoxide… until in the upper atmosphere with the Plane S and Rocket S. And the majority of the engines calls upon the fossil energies (Pétrole, Houille, Natural gas), at the origin of a Pollution, which worsened considerably in the world since the beginning of the 20th century.

Energy production

The energy needs increase and their satisfaction involves a increasing Pollution on planet, in particular in China which in 2006 became the CO2 country transmitting with the delocalization of most of the production of the rich countries (China uses to 69% coal for its energy production, which is a rate 42 times higher than the world mean). China remains however behind the USA in term of emitted CO2 per capita. In 2007, a coal center would be spent there on the way every 3 days, each one developing the power of a nuclear reactor.

Industries

The manufacture of the majority of the domestic articles involves the toxic chemical substance release, in the atmosphere. It is the case, in particular for the manufacture of objects in Plastics.

Polluting products

For each family of product, this part gives their sources, their diffusion in the atmosphere and their effects.

In particular, in the case of air pollution, the diffusion of the pollutants plays a big role in the noted effects: in certain cases, an important pollution but of specific origin will be diffused on an important geographical area and to have a weak impact, in other cases, a diffuse pollution (for example resulting from transport) will be concentrated by the Vent S and the relief and thus to have a notable impact on the populations.

Precursors of the Ozone

The Ozone is known as secondary Polluant ; it is not emitted directly in the air but results from a photochemical reaction implying of the Précurseur S. It is one of the causes of the Smog. Ozone develops more intensely in period of hot and sunny time: the ozone concentrations are thus higher during the summer period.

Oxides of nitrogen

The nitrogen oxides, noted generally by the NO_x initials, gather:

the Oxyde nitric (NO),
the Dioxide nitrogen (NO₂)

Sources:

NO_x are primarily produced by the Man. All combustions at high temperature and high pressure: engines of the cars, in particular the diesel engines which, because of their operation with more high pressure, emit 2 to 3 times more NO_x than the petrol engines. Pollution Nox of the cars is regulated by the European standards. A plane which takes off produces on average nitrogen oxide 14k, the equivalent of 2000 cars diesel which make 25 km. (standard euro 2004)

Effects on health: At the time of peaks of pollution, NO_x cause respiratory disorders, ignition and obstruction air routes and the increase in the sensitivity to the microbial attacks.

People at the risk: smoker, patient reached of respiratory disorders (of which asthma, allergy) people fragile, old and reached cardiovascular problems in particular.

Explanatory card on nitrogen oxides of the Ministry for ecology, the development and installation durable

Made up volatile organics

The volatile organic compounds are Hydrocarbures which can be emitted by anthropogenic factors (production of gasoline, solvent emanation) and also by the vegetation.

Gas with greenhouse effect

CFC and comparable

As of the years 1980, it was shown that the Chlorofluorocarbone S (CFC, said “freons”) have potentially negative effects: destruction of the Layer of ozone in the Stratosphere like important contribution to the Greenhouse effect. The Protocol of Montreal put a term at the production of the great majority of these products.

Sources:

used in the systems of Refrigeration and Air-conditioning for their strong capacity Caloriporteur, they escape at the time of escapes from the apparatuses or are released from it at the time of the destruction of the apparatuses out of use.
used like Propellent in the bombs Aerosol S, a part is released with each use. The bombs aerosols use from now on as gas of propulsion of the compressed air, or the Carbon dioxide (CO₂).

Carbon dioxide

Although the carbonic gas is not toxic in oneself, and supports in fact the growth of the Plante S, the environmentalists highlighted in the Années 1990 that the carbon dioxide excess is a form of pollution, because of its action in the process of Climate warming (see Gaz with greenhouse effect). It is in particular why the Protocole of Kyoto, come into effect in 2005, established a calendar of reduction of the emissions of this gas.

Methane

Methane (CH₄) is harmful by its great contribution to the greenhouse effect. It has a potential to retain the heat of almost 300 times that of CO₂.

Sources:

Fermentation (see Biogas)
Gas of Digestion of the livestock (Ruminant S in particular)
Culture of Rice
Natural gas

Other gases

Carbon monoxide (CO): it is one of the products of the incomplete Combustion. It is dangerous for the animals because it sets on the Hémoglobine Sang, preventing the transport of Oxygène in the organization. Moreover, it is odorless, time to feel a light headache and it is already too late without external intervention. It is diluted very easily in the ambient air, but in closed circle, its concentration returns it Toxique, even mortal; each year, one belongs to tens of case of intoxication mortal, because of apparatus of combustion (or generators) placed in a badly ventilated part (lack of entering oxygen, lack of exit for CO).
Sulfur dioxide (SO₂): it is one of the principal waste rejected during the fossil combustion of origin. These origins can be anthropic (domestic heating, transport, industry, metallurgy) but also natural: marshes, oceans, volcanicity. It is an irritating agent of the respiratory tract. Sulfur dioxide is also component of the formation of the acid rains, vermin with the ecosystems such as the forests and the lakes. In 2006, China is the first country of the world for the sulfur dioxide emissions, which increased by 27% between 2000 and 2005.
the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, are a whole of made up of which some are carcinogenic, emitted within the framework of the Combustion, in particular domestic combustion, but also in the diesel engines.

Particles

The solid particles in suspension in the air are mainly made up:

of Soot carcinogenic S, particles rich in carbon, residues of incomplete Combustion (due to the diesel engines, the industrial activity, the heating with residential wood, for example).
of dust (coming from the erosion of the grounds or volcanic activity),
of Pollen (at certain periods of the year),
of the industrial processes, like the sawing of the sawlog.

The weight of these particles and their size, about the micrometer to the hundred micrometers of diameter, enables them to be diffused with the liking of the winds. Once emitted, they can remain in suspension during hours and even of the days. They can penetrate deeply in the Poumon S of the animals, more especially as their size is reduced, (fine particles, smaller than 2,5 µm). Depending on their constitution (mixture including/understanding several elements), on their concentration and the exposure times, the particles can cause Allergie S, breathing difficulties or of the lesions being able to involve Cancer S in certain cases.

The Pluie by washing the atmosphere brings back many pollutants on the ground. But a part will be able once dehydrated to set out again in the air. Certain pollutants lighter than water or liposoluble are temporarily fixed by the oceans, in the biofilm, but they can pass by again in the atmospheric compartment by evaporation or via the spray carried by the wind with tens to hundreds of kilometers at the time of the storms.

Among the emergent, recent or new problems, one can quote:

radioactive pollution, with the atmospheric nuclear tests, then pollution due to the operation of nuclear installations or accidents (Three miles Island, Tchernobyl, Tokay-Walled.). Molecules which do not exist in nature can appear punctually (radioactive iodine at short duration of half life) or durably (in this case, it often acts of heavy metals which tend to fall down on the ground (ex: plutonium, cesium 137 of Tchernobyl), but which easily can recontaminer the air at the time for example of a forest fire, after they accumulated in the trees or other plants or mushrooms exposed to the fire.
produced chlorinated standard Dioxane S or Furan S resulting from the incineration of waste
new industrial chemicals not tested (see Directive Reach)
of the residues of pulverizations of pesticides (crystallized microphone-droplets or microphone-agglomerates) resulting from droplets lost by the pulverizers and carried by the wind (drift), or which fell apart of the ground or which is present in form adsorbed on the particles of ground transformed into dust;
of the new biological pollutants or abnormally present. It is the case of particles emitted by the ventilation of the industrial breedings. It is the case of fine particles coming from droppings of birds, of excrements of dogs and cats which dehydrated, crushed and dispersed by the passage of the pedestrians and vehicles then put suspended in the air by the wind, with fungic or microbial spores (streptocoques, staphilococca) because of the increasing proofing of our environment. The appearance of new materials of cleaning as the blowers exacerbated this type of pollution.
of the Heavy metals paradoxically lost by the catalytic pots
of the new Pollen S brought by introduced plants allergens, an increase in the number of eroded pollens and ranges (and thus more allergens) because of the strong regression of the bees which thus collect some much less, because of the increase in acidity and the character oxidizing of the air, and because of the increasing proofing of our environment: The dew, foams and the lichens which fixed and the grounds wet which fixed pollens and particles of the air disappear from our cities.

Among the emergent questions,

That of the climate changes appears increasingly alarming. Pollution gains the high layers of the atmosphere with the jets. Their trails of condensation Contrail S), not taken into account by the Protocole of Kyoto have impacts which seem to be underestimated.
the luminous Pollution, in strong increase is indirectly related to air pollution (the reflection of the light on the suspended particles increases the diffusion and the size of the halation)

Synthesis on the great sources of pollution air

The leading cause is the activity Anthropique, but certain natural events can disturb the composition of air in the considerable and durable way, like a volcanic eruption or certain natural fires with very large scales. Pollution due to the human activities breaks up mainly into:

rejections of the Industry: industries of the Chemistry and the Pétrochimie in particular reject into the air of many types of products, residues of process of transformation; the installations of the sector of the Iron and steel industry and the metallurgy also emit many pollutants in great quantity, in particular in processes of incomplete combustion: coking plants, agglomerations, etc, or of material recasting used (electric steel-workses);
rejections related to the Incineration and natural or controlled degradation (Composting, Fermentation…) refuse or other products;
rejections related to the production of energy (electricity, generally by fossil carbon combustion oil products, coal and gas; or of heat residential Heating, the offices…),
rejections dependant on the agricultural activities and of breeding;
pollution by transport; diffuse and difficult to control.

Regulation

The majority of the countries obtained laws on the air (Clean Air Act), Loi on the air in France, etc

In Europe, the new cars will have in 2012 not to emit on average more than 120 grams of CO per kilometer against of 160 in 2006. The car manufacturers will have to contribute to it until 130g/km, 30 G remaining being ensured by the addition of biocarburants and/or new technologies.

Appendix VI of convention Marpol treats air pollution by the ships.

Effects

On the living beings

Atmospheric pollution has consequences on pubic health. It involves an increase in the disease respiratory (like asthma or bronchiolite) and cardiovascular.

Plants

the Acid rain is the generally evoked phenomenon, but it combines with the exposure to the salted road spray, the polluted marine spray (cf Biofilm) and to the contributions by the air and the rains of other pollutants of which Weeding S, Fongicide S or Insecticide S transported by the air then washed by the rains or directly adsorbed in the waxy cuticules. These pollutants affect the plants directly, or indirectly following the disappearance or regression of mushrooms symbions, or pollinating species (Abeille S in particular). Certain plants seem however equipped with powerful mechanisms of detoxication (for example ivy degrades the benzene which it absorbs, at the point to cleanse in a few hours the air of a closed part. (see program Phyt' air).
the return of products nitrogenized (nitrates) on ground and in the seas by washing by the Rain => incidence on the proliferation?

Animals (of which human being)

the impacts most often quoted are respiratory and in particular related on the Allergie and the Asthme. The urban pollution of the air is source of surmortality, and the children are more sensitive still than the adults to automobile pollution.
cardiovascular System: An high rate of microparticles in the air increases the number of cardiovascular diseases appreciably (Myocardial infarction, cerebral vascular accidents, Angina pectoris), at least at the ménopausée woman.

Mushrooms

the mushrooms in strong regression, some Lichen S for that are just like used like Bio-indicateur S of the quality of the air. It is possible that the Fongicide S present in the air and washed by the rains are responsible for the regression of the most significant species. Other pollutants could have nonintentional fungicidal properties.

The mushrooms are also Bioaccumulateur S, in particular for heavy metals and Radionucléide S. For this reason, they can be useful to detect old pollution (mercury by ex, very bioaccumulé by the trees, then by the mushroom (ex: Ear of Judas), each species seeming to have preferences for certain categories of metals.

Animal fertility

Recent studies on the Pesticides in the air, and on the Pesticides in the rain showed that some of these Biocides are (in the years 1990-2006) often present in the air and the rains, dew, fogs, etc They are very present per annum in the rains several days (with the top of the European standards for drinking water, and in quantity much higher than what one finds in tap water). They are most present at the time of pulverizations or a little later i.e. most of the year in tropical zone, and generally from May to mid-July (in the northern hemisphere, in moderate zone). Measurements showed that they diffuent quickly at long distance, which explains why they are almost as present dense downtown as in the industrial and agricultural towns. One has few data on the habitat dispersed in the fields or with the accesses of vines or orchards.

Human reproductive health

One suspect that the breathed pesticides with low dose but in a chronic way can affect health, and in particular the Reproductive health, of the Man, but also of a growing number of animal species and vegetable.

One knew already the noxious effects for the reproduction of many heavy metals or qualified chemicals of hormonal lures or mimetic hormonal . It also seems that the most current pollutants can have effects on the Fertilité.

According to méta-analyzes recent international studies (of Tchéquie, Poland, Brésil, the United States) published by the Revue Extrapol re-examined financed by the InVS and ADEME (n° 28, semi June 2006), the most draft pollutants would have also an impact on various stages of the male and female human reproduction (Gamétogénèse, design, intra-uterine development, birth).

On the building S

stains by soot deposit and other particles on the surfaces exposed to the air polluted =>
Corrosion, accelerated by the acidity of the air

On the climate

Certain atmospheric pollutants, in particular CFC, destroy the Couche of ozone.

Caution: The Ozone is a pollutant gas and he is thus regarded as a pollutant in the air close to the ground. At these altitudes, it is about ozone produced primarily by human activities. In the layers at high altitudes, where it is present naturally, it stops part of rays UV and thus has a positive role and cannot be regarded as pollutant any more. For this reason one speaks sometimes about " bon" and of " mauvais" ozone.

World statistics

The OECD countries

Air pollution of some OECD countries in 2003:

Source: OECD in figures 2005. A supplement with the Observer of OECD Available here. N.B that Russia and China do not form part of OECD. Caption:

sulfur oxide emissions while kg/habitant

nitrogen oxide emissions while kg/habitant

emissions of CO₂ due to the consumption of energy, brought back to the GDP

emissions of CO₂ due to the consumption of energy, brought back to the number of inhabitant

According to the Agency of information on energy, the American CO rejections fell of 1,3% in 2006 because one less rigorous winter.

Popular republic of China

The fast industrial development of China causes an increase in atmospheric pollution, in particular in large the agglomeration of the country.

In 2007, China should exceed the United States in terms of CO rejection and become the first country pollutant of the world: the carbon dioxide emissions should pass from 5,6 billion tons in 2006 to 6,02 this year, which accounts for approximately 22% of the world total.

In 2006, China is the first country of the world for the sulfur dioxide emissions, which increased by 27% between 2000 and 2005. Sulfur dioxide is also component of the formation of the acid rains, vermin with the ecosystems such as the forests and the lakes. According to the NewYork Times , “China will supplant the United States as a first CO transmitter from here at 2009”. The emissions of oxides of nitrogen and sulfur dioxide are 8 to 9 times higher than in the developed countries.

The consequences of atmospheric pollution on the health of the Chinese are dramatic: it is estimated that it is responsible for 358.000 deaths and 640.000 hospitalizations in 2004.

As emergent country, the Popular republic of China is not forced to respect the Protocole of Kyoto. However, the country is affected by the total warming of the Earth: 80% of the glaciers of the Himalayas were reduced, which has consequences on the rivers which are born in these mountains and run in China. In 2006, the Sichuan knew a low register Sécheresse.

Pollution of the cities

the town of Teheran in Iran one of is polluted world: in November 2006, air pollution in the Iranian capital would have made 3.600 died, primarily by Heart attack. The bad quality of the air is due to the big number of decayed cars in the agglomeration.

Examples of critical air pollutions

List nonexhaustive:

- brown Cloud of Asia

- Pollution of London: in the Fifties of the cases of smog

- Pollution of the valley of the Meuse in 1930

See too

Internal bonds

interior Pollution, Phyt' air
Monitoring of the quality of the air
Acid rain
Climate warming, Greenhouse effect
Ozone on the level of the ground
Suspended particles, Microparticle, catalytic Nanoparticule
Pot
Radioactivity
Pesticide S

External bonds

world Chart of air pollution (ESA)
Pollution of the air traffic and the airports
Estimate of the volumes of air forwarding by various engines in an urban environment
Federation of associations of monitoring of the quality of the air in France
Air pollution and health summarized of GreenFacts of reports/ratios of WHO
TPE on the means of reducing the carbon dioxide rate in the air
Air pollution and mortality air pollution
Ozone-information Campaign information in Switzerland
" Page; pollution atmosphérique" gate of risk QHSE
Gate EU Quality of the air .

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