Here you will get all details about “Air Pollutants like Primary And Secondary Pollutants”. We have listed all Primary And Secondary Pollutants in detail here. You will get complete knowledge about Air Pollutants here. Keep Visiting – Vlcinfo
Air Pollutants
Air pollutants are the substances that present in the Earth’s atmosphere. High concentrations of Air pollutants leads to harmful effects on human health, the environment and the climate. These air pollutants may originate from natural sources, like wildfires and volcanic eruptions or from human activities, like industrial processes, transportation and energy production. The release of pollutants into the air leads to the degradation of air quality and contributing to various adverse effects.
Types of Air Pollutants
There are two types of Air Pollutants.
- Primary Air Pollutants
- Secondary Air Pollutants
1. Primary Air Pollutants
Primary air pollutants directly emitted into the atmosphere from specific sources. And they directly affect air quality and human health. These pollutants are generally released by various human activities, like industrial processes, transportation and combustion of fossil fuels.
| Primary Air Pollutants | Sources | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Particulate Matter (PM) | Combustion of fossil fuels, industrial processes, construction activities, and natural sources like wildfires and dust storms. | ➤ PM is categorized based on particle size ➤ PM10 = particles with a diameter of 10 micrometers or smaller ➤ PM2.5 = particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller |
| Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) | Combustion of fossil fuels in vehicles, power plants and industries. | NOx includes nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitrogen monoxide (NO) |
| Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) | Burning of coal and oil in power plants, industrial activities and natural sources like volcanic eruptions. | It leads to formation of acid rain |
| Carbon Monoxide (CO) | Combustion of carbon-containing fuels, such as gasoline, diesel and wood. | Vey harmful for human health, particularly in enclosed spaces. |
| Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) | Emitted from vehicle exhaust, industrial processes and by the use of certain solvents and chemicals. | It leads to formation of ground-level ozone and smog. |
| Lead (Pb) | Emitted from leaded gasoline, industrial activities and certain products like paints. | It leads to human health effects, especially in children. |
| Ammonia (NH3) | Use of fertilizers in Agricultural activities and animal waste | It leads to formation of fine particulate matter. |
2. Secondary Air Pollutants
Secondary air pollutants are not directly emitted into the atmosphere, but forms by chemical reactions between primary pollutants and other atmospheric components. These reactions generally occurs in the presence of sunlight. So various compounds released directly into the air.
| Secondary Air Pollutants | Formation | Effects |
|---|---|---|
| Ground-Level Ozone (O3) | Photochemical reactions involving NOx and VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) in the presence of sunlight. | Respiratory problems, asthma and formation of smog. |
| Particulate Matter (Secondary) | Chemical reactions in the atmosphere involving gases like SO2 and NOx. | Respiratory problems and reduced visibility |
| Nitric Acid (HNO3) and Nitrate Aerosols | Atmospheric oxidation of nitrogen oxides (NOx), primarily NO2 and the reaction with ammonia and other compounds. | Impacts on air quality and ecosystems |
| Sulfate Aerosols | Atmospheric oxidation of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and the reaction with other compounds. | Contribute to particulate matter and impact visibility |
