Air-, water- and soil pollution

Dr. Magdolna Kiss K.

(Csaba Berta)

Air pollution

The concept of air pollution

Air quality changes caused by gases, solid particulars and aerosols

• Changes in the natural composition

• Contaminants above the limit

• Adverse effects on humans and on the environment

• (caused by artificial sources)

Grouping of air pollutants

1. On the basis of their origin

Natural

• Volcanic eruption

• Lightning

• dust (cosmic, desert, from ground)

• Aerosols of marine origin

• Forest fires

• Plant origin

Artifical • Industry • Agriculture • Transport • population

2. Based on formation mechanism

Primer air pollutants

Directly to the air, no chemical change (ash, smoke, SO2, etc.)

Secunder air pollutants

Forming from the the primary pollutants and the normal components of the atmosphere ( oxidation, reduction, ionization, photo-chemical reaction, dissolution)

Sources of air pollution

• Point source o the amount of pollutants entering the environment is

clearly defined (eg. chimneys)

• Surface source o The pollutants emitting surface area is determined, but the

amount of material released into the environment can be inferred by indirect measurements and calculations only (ex. the window, open technology installed)

• Line source o The release is ordered to a line (highway, railway)

Process of the air pollution

• Emission: emitted pollutant of time per unit from different sources

unit of measure: mass flow rate – kg/h concentration: mg/m3 specific value: mg/pcs, mg/kg (eg.: car: g CO2/100 km) • Transmission: the spread of pollutants, changes

(thinning, conversion) in the atmosphere – atmospheric physical and chemical, meteorological and topographical effects

• Imission: contamination status of air or ambient air quality

Unit: mg/m3, ppm, ppb

Self purification of air

• The concentration of pollutants is reduced by dilution

• The contaminants removed from the atmosphere

• The pollutant is converted into other, possibly inert material

Avoidance of air pollutants

• From the atmosphere to the ground, transport to the water surface

• Types:

A. Dry: adhering to aerosols, dust

B. Wet: rain, sleet, snow, fog etc.

The main air polluting activities Burning

Pollutants: SO2, NOx, CO, CO2, dioxins, ash, smoke…

Issuers:

• Thermal power plants

• Home fires

• Vehicles

Effects of air polluting Smog formation

Smoke + fog – smog

Conditions of its formation:

• high levels of air pollutant emissions

• unfavorable meteorological conditions (no wind and inversion)

• unfavorable topography (narrow valleys)

London-type smog • Occurs in winter as a result of inversion,

usually at dawn-evening

• Air temp.: -3 - +50C

• Reducing nature

• Humidity > 80%

• Main components: SO2, CO, soot

The London smog disaster

• 5-9. December 1952.

• ~ 100% relative humidity

• SO2 c

• concentration: 4mg/m3

• Tens of thousands of sickness, ~4000 peolpe died

• In 1956 a law was passed to protect the air quality

Los Angeles-type smog

• Foming in summer, generally at noon (strong UV, 24-32 C)

• Inversion

• <70% humidity

• Oxidative nature

• Main components: ozone, NOx, PAN compounds

Effects of air polluting Acid rain

• Altered pH precipitation

• CO2 – not harmful (pH 5,6)

• SO2 – NOx

• Resulting pH below 5 (harmful)

Effects of acid rain

To the soil:

• Minerals leaching (Ca, Mg), fertility decreasing

• Release of toxic materials (Al)

To surface waters:

• Decreasing pH, below 5,5 very dangerous

• Mortality of plankton and fish

• Leaching of heavy metals

Effects of acid rain on vegetation

• Direct impact:

destruction of leaf way layer, strong strong evaporation

• Indirect impact:

acidification of soil, Al toxicity, mycorrhizae disappearance

Acid rain effect on the built environment

• Corrosion of metals

• Faster weathering of building materials

• Works of art damaging faster

Water pollution

• Any human activity or material, which harmfully changes the physical, chemical and biological properties of water

„Results” of water pollution:

• Water for drinking use is partly or wholly unsuitable

• Natural process of aquatic life suffering harm

Worldwide emerging water quality issues

• Eutrophication

• Nitrification

• Enrichment in micro-pollutants

• Emergency events (eg. Oil spill)

Eutrophication

Biological response for enrichmening plant nutrients (N, P)

Natural – artificial

Planktonic – benthonic

Reasons for artificial eutrophication:

• Industrial and municipal wastewater

• Agriculture (fertilizer, manure)

Planktonic eutrophication

Benthonic eutrophication

Direct effects of eutrophication

• Anoxia (dawn !, after mass algal destruction – huge fish mortality

• Appearance of algal toxins:

Inhibition of different water uses (taste- and odor problems,

influance in water purification technology,

deterioration of aesthetic value)

Nitrification

• Origin of nitrate:

Manure, fertilizer, sewage, acid deposition from the atmosphere, irregluar waste disposal

In Hungary the limit of nitrate in the drinking water is 40 mg/L

The detrimental effect of nitrate on the human body

• Methemoglobinemia (blue disease, blue baby)

Micropollutants

• Inorganic micro-contaminants (eg. toxic heavy metals)

Itai-itai disease: Cd contamination caused osteomalacia, renal damage (loss of protein and minerals)

Minamata disease: Hg contaminated fishes, damage of the central nervous system, teratogenetic effects

• Organic micro-contaminants (eg. pesticides)

xenobiotics

DDT=dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane

Effects: teratogenic, carcinogenic, damaging of the immune system

Oil pollution

• Form a film on the water surface

• Inhibiting the gas exchange

• Oil components are toxic, persistent and accumulating

• Damaging and destructing the aquatic organisms

Soil pollution

Land degradation

Any process which reducing the fertility of the soil, worsen the quality or reducing the function of the soil which leads to a full destruction

Forms: – Erosion, deflation

– Salinization, soil acidification

– Deteriorating soil structure

– Getting boggy, desertification

– Biological degradation

– Soil pollution

Soil pollution

Result of human activities, which are significantly and adversely changing the soil physical, chemical and biological properties

Result: the ecological functions of soil are damaging

Industrial pollutants

• Minerals

• BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, xylenes)

• Dioxins

• Surfactants

Agricultural soil pollution

• Ferilization

• Organic ferilization

• Soil conditioners

• Pesticides

• Transport – exhaust gases, salting

Thank you for your attention!