Air Pollutants

Air pollution is the modification of the natural characteristics of the atmosphere by a chemical, particulate matter, or biological agent. The atmosphere is a complex, dynamic natural gaseous system that is essential to support life on planet Earth. Stratospheric ozone depletion due to air pollution has long been recognized as a threat to human health as well as to the Earth's ecosystems.

Worldwide air pollution is responsible for large numbers of deaths and cases of respiratory disease. While major stationary sources are often identified with air pollution, the greatest source of emissions is actually mobile sources, mainly automobiles. Gases such as carbon dioxide, which contribute to global warming, have recently gained recognition as pollutants by climate scientists, while they also recognize that carbon dioxide is essential for plant life through photosynthesis.

Our database has the values for the following air pollutants:

• Sulphur Dioxide

  Normal / Moderate / Critical Values: 60 / 100 / 140 g/m3

  Pollutant Information: Even moderate concentrations of sulphur dioxide may result in a fall in lung function in asthmatics. Tightness in the chest and coughing may also result at higher levels. Sulphur dioxide pollution is considered more harmful when particulate and other pollution concentrations are high. This is known as the "cocktail effect."

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• Oxides Nitrogen

  Normal / Moderate / Critical Values: 80 / 100 / 120 g/m3

  Pollutant Information: Nitrogen oxides consist mainly of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitric oxide (NO). Nitric oxide is more readily emitted to the atmosphere as a primary pollutant, from traffic and power stations, and is often oxidised to nitrogen dioxide following dispersal. The amount of nitrogen dioxide emitted directly to the atmosphere is relatively small. Nitric oxide is relatively non-toxic, but at high concentrations the health effects include changes to lung function. Nitrogen dioxide, however, is damaging to health, due to its toxicity. Health effects of exposure to nitrogen dioxide include shortness of breath and chest pains.

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• Suspended Particulate

  Normal / Moderate / Critical Values: 140 / 200 / 260 g/m3

  Pollutant Information: Particulates may be seen as the most critical of all pollutants, and it is responsible for many premature deaths each year. The extent to which particulates are considered harmful depends largely on their composition. Sea salt, for example, is believed to have a positive effect on health. Man-made sources of particulates, however, are rarely harmless. In towns and cities, these are extensively from diesel vehicle exhausts. The effects of particulate emissions are considered detrimental due to their composition, containing mainly unburned fuel oil and hydrocarbons that are known to be carcinogenic among laboratory animals. Very fine particulates can penetrate deep into the lung and cause more damage, as opposed to larger particles that may be filtered out through the airways natural mechanisms.

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• Respirable Particulate Matter

  Normal / Moderate / Critical Values: 660 / 800 / 1000 g/m3

  Pollutant Information: People sensitive to pollution, such as asthmatics, and those with heart conditions or lung diseases, may experience distress and other health effects

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• Lead

  Normal / Moderate / Critical Values: 0.75 / 1 / 1.25 g/m3

  Pollutant Information: There are many different health effects associated with elevated blood lead levels. Young children under the age of six are especially vulnerable to lead harmful health effects, because their brains and central nervous system are still being formed. For them, even very low levels of exposure can result in reduced IQ, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorders, behavioral problems, stunted growth, impaired hearing, and kidney damage. At high levels of exposure, a child may become mentally retarded, fall into a coma, and even die from lead poisoning.

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• Carbon Monoxide

  Normal / Moderate / Critical Values: 1 / 4 / 7 g/m3

  Pollutant Information: Transport, tobacco smoke and gas appliances are the major sources of carbon monoxide. Its link with haemoglobin,the oxygen carrying component of the blood stream, forms carboxyhaemaglobin (COHb) which can be life-threatening in high doses. The effects of carbon monoxide pollution are more damaging to pregnant women and their foetus. Research into smoking and pregnancy shows that concentrations within the blood stream of unborn infants is as high as 12%, causing retardation of the unborn childs growth and mental development.

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• Ozone

  Normal / Moderate / Critical Values: 235 / 268 / 289 g/m3

  Pollutant Information: Ozone differs from most pollutants in that it is created as a secondary pollutant by the action of sunlight on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and oxides of nitrogen. Ozone is a toxic gas that can bring irreversible damage to the respiratory tract and lung tissue if delivered in high quantities. Asthmatics are known to adopt these symptoms more easily.

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