Properties of Air Pollutants

There are literally many thousands of chemical compounds that are potential air pollutants. It would be impossible to present all the pertinent data and information needed to evaluate each and every air pollution scenario. There are, however, a wealth of information and data bases that are available on the worldwide Web, along with a number of standard hard copy references to obtain information on the chemical and physical properties, and health risks of potential atmospheric contaminants. 

This chapter provides information on the following three areas  

Selected chemical and physical properties, and data of common and potential atmospheric contaminants, 

An overview of important terms and definitions useful in assessing the potentially harmful effects of air pollutants, and 

A summary of several Web site sources that provide extensive data bases on the chemical and physical properties, as well as health risk effects associated with air contaminants. 

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Varotsos C. Ondov J. and Efstathiou M. (2005). Scaling properties of air pollution in Athens, Greece and Baltimore, Maryland. Atmospheric Environment, 39, 4041-4047. 

The principal effects of air pollutants on metals are corrosion of the surface, with eventual loss of material from the surface, and alteration in the electrical properties of the metals. Metals are divided into two categories—ferrous and nonferrous. Ferrous metals contain iron and include various types of steel. Nonferrous metals, such as zinc, aluminum, copper, and silver, do not contain iron. 

This incentive problem is increased as the number of polluters and the number of land otvners increase so that it is difficult to pinpoint specific incidents of pollution and their effect on individuals. The case of air pollution from cars and multiple factories is a classic example of this information problem. In a large metropolitan area, there are millions of automobiles and many factories that could contribute to air pollution. There are also millions of individuals who could be harmed by that pollution. But it is generally difficult, if not impossible, for one individual to identify a specific problem they have experienced due to air pollution and then to pinpoint the source of that problem. Such situations, where property rights are... 

Klumpp, A., Hintemann, T., Santana Lima, J. and Kandeler, E. (2003) Bioindication of air pollution effects near a copper smelter in Brazil using mango trees and soil microbiological properties. Environmental Pollution, 126(3), 313-21. 

The approach taken here is to emphasize the types of reactions the pollutants can undergo, not only to afford understanding of observations made both in vivo and in vitro but also to indicate new possibilities for research. This method attempts to present the status of biochemical investigations of air pollutant toxicity and also suggests a framework for assessing future investigations. We shall, therefore, take four individual pollutants and discuss them from the points of view of chemical properties, in vivo effects and in vitro effects. 

As previously discussed, the concentrations in the relevant compartments of the environment (air, water, soil, biota) are dependent upon the emission rates and the chemical/ physical properties of the pollutants. A fate... 

From the analysis of air pollutants and their effects, the NAAQS described above were developed by the US EPA based on requirements of the Clean Air Act. This was done by defining the criteria pollutants to measure air quality, and then by determining the acceptable concentrations under health protection criteria (known as primary standard) a secondary standard was also defined to protect public welfare and prevent environmental and property damage. The criteria pollutants for air quality thus selected were CO, Pb, N02, O3, PM]0, PM25, and... 

The legal definition of air pollution is the presence in the outdoor atmosphere of any one or more substances in quantities, which may or are harmful/injurious to human health or welfare, animal or plant life, or property, or interfere with the enjoyment of life, property or outdoor activity. ... 

Formation, growth, dynamics, thermodynamics, and properties of aerosols Meteorology of air pollution... 

In many cases, the spread of environmental contaminants is related to air pollution. The first incidence of air pollution is lost in unrecorded history, but it certainly goes back to the time of the discovery of fire. Air pollution refers to the presence in the outdoor atmosphere of one or more contaminants, occurring in quantities, of a duration, and with characteristics that are known to be injurious to human, animal, and plant life, or to property,... 

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