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ENV 510 Air Pollution and Risk Assessment

ENV 510 Air Pollution and Risk Assessment. By K.Subramaniam , PJK MSc(Envt); BSc(Hons)(Envt&Occ.Health); Dip.RSH(London). ELEMENTS OF AIR POLLUTION. Composition of the atmosphere Sources of air pollution Scales of air pollution Effects of air pollution. COMPOSITION OF THE ATMOSPHERE.

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ENV 510 Air Pollution and Risk Assessment

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  1. ENV 510Air Pollution and Risk Assessment By K.Subramaniam, PJK MSc(Envt); BSc(Hons)(Envt&Occ.Health); Dip.RSH(London).

  2. ELEMENTS OF AIR POLLUTION • Composition of the atmosphere • Sources of air pollution • Scales of air pollution • Effects of air pollution

  3. COMPOSITION OF THE ATMOSPHERE

  4. RESIDENCE TIME OF GASES IN THE ATMOSPHERE • Group 1: Quasi permanent • Group 2: Variable • Group 3: Very variable

  5. GROUP 1: QUASI PERMANENT • > 10,000 – 10 million years • N2, O2, Ar, Ne, He, Kr, Xe

  6. GROUP 2: VARIABLE • Few years • CO2, CH4, CO, H2, N2O • Chlorofluorocarbons

  7. GROUP 3: VERY VARIABLE • Few days to month • O3, NO3, NO, HNO3, NH3, SO2, H2S

  8. AIR POLLUTION • Defined as the presence of undesirable materials in air, in quantities large enough to produce effects (harmful or otherwise).

  9. SOURCES OF AIR POLLUTION • Natural • Anthropogenic

  10. Natural Sources • Volcanoes • Forest fires • Dust storms • Sea surface

  11. Pollutants (Natural) • Particulate matter • Sulphur dioxide • Nitrogen oxides • Methane • Hydrogen sulphide

  12. Anthropogenic Sources • Stationary • Mobile

  13. Anthropogenic Sources • Industrial sources • Utilities • Individuals • Agriculture

  14. Pollutants (Anthropogenic) • Particulate matter • Sulphur dioxide • Nitrogen oxides • Methane • Hydrogen sulphide • Heavy metals • CFC, Halons, etc.

  15. Sources of airborne pollution are many: home cooking, power generation, industry, traffic, biomass burning …

  16. Each year we add more than 30 billion tons of carbon dioxide to the air mainly by:a). Burning fossil fuels b). Cutting down and burning trees Each year we add 350 to 500 million tons of methane to the air mainly by:i. Raising livestock ii. Coal mining and drilling for oil and natural gas iii. Rice cultivation iv. Disposing of garbage in landfills v. Burning forests and fields

  17. Size &Sources of Particles (PM) . . . . . . . . . „Nanoparticles“ Ultrafine Fine, PM 2.5 Natural Processes Combustion Particles Gas-Particle Conversion Sea salt, Mineral dust 0.1 nm 1 nm 10 nm 100 nm 1 mm 10 mm 100 mm . . . Atoms Molecules Coarse, PM 10 Clouds

  18. AEROSOL SOURCE STRENGTH (Estimate)

  19. SCALES OF AIR POLLUTION • Defined by these four parameters • Horizon • Vertical Height • Time • Organization

  20. Scales (five) • Local • Urban • Regional • Continental • Global

  21. i. Local • Streets • Height of buildings • Hours • Local council

  22. ii. Urban • < 100 km • Boundary layer • Days • State level

  23. iii. Regional • > 100 km, 1000km • Troposphere • Weeks to month • National / Regional

  24. iv. Continental • Continents • Stratosphere • Months to year • Regional / International

  25. v. Global • Whole globe • Whole atmosphere • Years / decades • International (UN, WMO, WHO)

  26. Air Quality Analysis Public Impact Regional Prediction Global Assimilation Satellite Products A Variety of Scales Need to Be Considered Requires Close Integration of Observations and Models

  27. Effects of Air Pollution • Human health and welfare • Biosphere (fauna & flora) • Material & Structures • Atmosphere • Soil • Water bodies

  28. Human health and welfare • Acute • Chronic • Respiratory • Ingestion • Surface

  29. EFFECTS OF AEROSOL ON HEALTH ULTRAFINE PARTICLES SMALLER THAN LUMIN DIAMETER HAVE HIGHER POTENTIAL TO PENETRATE INTO THE LUNG AND CAUSE INFLAMATION. SUSPENDED PARTICLES IN THE SIZE RANGE BELOW 10µM CAN INCREASE THE NUMBER OF RESPIRATORY DISEASES. HEALTH IMPACTS OF AEROSOL CONSIST OF BOTH SHORT TERM ACUTE SYMPTOMS LIKE ASTHMA, BRONCHITIS etc. LONG TERM CHRONIC IRRITATION AND INFLAMATION OF RESPIRATORY TRACK, DEVELOPMENT OF LUNG CANCER.

  30. Fauna & Flora • Fauna – commercial animals • Yield • Growth • Forest • Cash crop

  31. Material & Structures • Metal corrosion • Stone decay • Fabric and dyes • Rubber / plastics • Paint / paper / leather

  32. Impacts of acid rain

  33. Soil and Water Bodies • Leaching • Contamination

  34. Atmosphere • Visibility • Stability • Composition • Weather • Climate

  35. IMPACT ON VISIBILITY

  36. Impact of PM2.5 on Visibility PM2.5< 10 ug/m3 (8/16/00) PM2.5 = 15 ug/m3 (8/7/00) PM2.5 = 20 ug/m3 (8/24/00) PM2.5 = 25 ug/m3 (8/25/00) PM2.5 = 30 ug/m3 (8/15/00) PM2.5 = 35 ug/m3 (8/26/00)

  37. EFFECT OF AEROSOL ON CLIMATE CHANGING OF AEROSOLS IN THE ATMOSPHERE CAN CHANGE THE FREQUENCY OF CLOUD OCCURRENCE, AND RAINFALL AMOUNTS. WITHOUT AEROSOLS IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO START THE FORMATION OF CLOUD DROPLETS.

  38. IMPACTS OF AEROSOLS ON CLIMATE AEROSOLS TEND TO CAUSE COOLING OF THE EARTH’S SURFACE IMMEDIATELY BELOW THEM. MOST AEROSOLS REFLECT SUNLIGHT BACK INTO SPACE, REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF SOLAR RADIATION THAT REACHES THE SURFACE. THE AEROSOL COOLING MAY PARTIALLY OFFSET EXPECTED GLOBAL WARMING THAT IS ATTRIBUTED TO INCREASES IN THE AMOUNT OF CARBON DIOXIDE FROM HUMAN ACTIVITY.

  39. Pollutants that cause Global Warming CO2 BC CH4 N2O dust OC O3 SO4 NOx SO2 NMVOC

  40. Elements of Air Pollution • Definition • Source • Scales • Effects • General knowledge

  41. API Status Indicator http://www.doe.gov.my/

  42. Ambient Air Data And Monitoring

  43. Introduction

  44. In 1989, the Department of Environment (DOE) formulated Recommended Malaysian Air Quality Guidelines (RMG) for air pollutants, defining the concentration limits of selected air pollutants which might adversely affect the health and welfare of the general public. • Based on the MG, DOE later developed its first air quality index system, known as the Malaysian Air Quality Index (MAQI) in 1993.

  45. An index system has an important role in conveying to both decision-makers and the general public the status of ambient air quality, ranging from good to hazardous. • Application of the index system, particularly in industrialised countries, has demonstrated its useful role in providing a sound basis for both the effective management of air quality, as well as the effective protection of public health. • In line with the need for regional harmonisation and for easy comparison with countries in the region, the Department revised its index system in 1996, and the Pollutant Index (API) was adopted. • The API system of Malaysia closely follows the Pollutant Standard Index (PSI) system of the United States.

  46. Industrial Emission and Open Burning How does air pollution occur? • Air pollution occurs when air impurities in the form of gaseous or particles are emitted into the atmosphere. • It is important to recognize that air pollution is not a single entity but an alphabet soup of foregoing materials mixed with the normal constituents of air. • Air pollutant comes from a variety of natural and man-made sources.

  47. Industrial Emission and Open Burning • Man made sources include emission from industrial activities, emissions from motor vehicles and burning of fossil fuels and biomass. • Environmental issues relating to industrial emissions and open burning activities will be discussed in detail.

  48. Impacts of Air Pollution Climate Change Acid Rain Visibility and Ecosystem Stratospheric Ozone Depletion Human Health (Risk) Water Quality Eutrophication Air Toxics

  49. Risk Assessment

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