Pollutant precursors, gaseous

Particulate carbon in the atmosphere exists predominantly in three forms elemental carbon (soot) with attached hydrocarbons organic compounds and carbonates. Carbonaceous urban fine particles are composed mainly of elemental and organic carbon. These particles can be emitted into the air directly in the particulate state or condense rapidly after Introduction into the atmosphere from an emission source (primary aerosol). Alternatively, they can be formed in the atmosphere by chemical reactions involving gaseous pollutant precursors (secondary aerosol). The rates of formation of secondary carbonaceous aerosol and the details of the formation mechanisms are not well understood. However, an even more fundamental controversy exists regarding... 

Abstract Gaseous and particulate emissions from vehicles represent a major source of atmospheric pollution in cities. Recent research shows evidence of, along with the primary emissions from motor exhaust, important contributions from secondary (due to traffic-related organic/inorganic gaseous precursors) and primary particles due to wear and resuspension processes. Besides new and more effective (for NO emissions) technologies, non-technological measures from local authorities are needed to improve urban air quality in Europe. 

Particle formation events from gaseous precursors are observed frequently almost everywhere in the troposphere, both in polluted cities and remote clean areas [4]. It is likely that different nucleation mechanisms are at work in different conditions, but no formation mechanism has been identified so far. It is, however, clear that particles are formed by nucleation of a multicomponent vapor mixture. Water vapor is the most abundant condensable gas in the atmosphere, but it can not form particles on its own homogeneous nucleation requires such a high supersaturation, that heterogeneous nucleation on omnipresent pre-existing particles always starts first and consumes the vapor. However, vapor that is un-... 

A primary gaseous air pollutant from combustion sources such as power plants is oxides of nitrogen (NOx). Since NOx is a known precursor to ozone formation, the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 call for reduction of NOx from certain facilities throughout the United States. 

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