Air pollutants, air pollution analysis, air sampling for gases and vapors, monitoring of air pollution
This topic covers what air pollution is, how gaseous and aerosol pollutants are sampled and analysed, how results are calculated and judged against limits, and how air pollution is monitored.
Air pollutants
Air pollution is the introduction into the atmosphere of chemicals, particulate matter or biological materials that cause harm/discomfort to humans or other living organisms or cause damage to the natural or built environment.
- Natural pollutants: volcanic activity, wind soil erosion, plant pollen…
- Pollutants from human activity: industries (fuel combustion, power and heat generation…), transport (motor vehicles…), domestic sources (solid waste, forest fires…).
- Pollutants could be gases, liquids or solid particles.
- Main pollutants: sulfuric oxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon mono-/dioxide…
- Secondary pollutants form when primary pollutants react between each other.
Concentration depends on several factors: intensity of emission, distance to the source, meteorological factors, sun radiation, attitude of the chimneys.
Effects: pollutants are associated with respiratory diseases (asthma, lung cancer…), acid rain (affects mainly the environment: soil, fish, resources and vegetation), smog, global warming.