Module 2: AIR and NOISE POLLUTION
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this lesson, the learner will be able to:
1. Determine the air pollutants;
2. Identify the sources of air and noise pollution;
3. Identify the health effects of air and noise pollutants;
4. List the prevention and cure for the sickness and disease caused by
air and noise pollutants; and
5. Identify the equipment and tools used to measure air and noise
pollutants.
Learning Content:
Air Pollution
Air is the most basic need of every human being. At rest, we breathe about
six (6) liters of air every minute or 8,640 liters of air a day. Air supplies us
with oxygen for our bodily function to activate. Unfortunately, with every
breath of air we take, we also inhale a host of invisible substances that attack
our health and well-being.
The undesirable condition in the physical, chemical and biological properties
of the atmosphere is conversely known as air pollution.
Units of Measure:
1. Micrograms per cubic meter (g/m3) and parts per million (ppm)
used as measure of concentration of gaseous pollutant.
2. Micrometer (m) used to report particle size.
Converting g/m3 to ppm:
𝑀𝑝 𝑇2 101.325𝐾𝑃𝑎
(22.414) ( )( )
𝐺𝑀𝑊 273°𝐾 𝑃2
ppm = ____________________________________
Va ( 1000 L/𝑚3 )
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where: Mp, mass of pollutant, g/m3
GMW, gram molecular weight
T2, absolute temperature, K
P2, absolute pressure, kPa
Va, volume of air, = 1.0 m3 is not given
Note:
For absolute temperature, K = C + 273
For absolute pressure, Pabs = Patm + Pgage where Patm = 101.325 kPa
Solve the following problems:
1. A 2m3 sample of air was found to contain 110 g/m3 of Methane (CH4).
The temperature was 30C and the pressure were 103.193 kPa abs. when
the sample was taken. What was the Methane’s concentration in ppm?
Answer: ppm = 0.0761 ppm of CH4
Sources of Air Pollution
1. Natural Sources
1. Natural sources of air pollution are sources not caused by people or
their activities such as volcanic eruption and forest fires.
2. Agricultural Sources is due to agricultural operations like raising
animals and growing crops.
2. Anthropogenic Sources
1. Mobile source refers to source that is capable of moving under its
own power such as automobiles and machineries.
2. Area source is used to describe many smaller stationary sources
located together whose individual emissions may be low with
collective emissions are significant.
3. Stationary sources include industrial plants.
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Types of Air Pollutants
1. Criteria Pollutants are the only air pollutants with national air quality
standards that define allowable concentrations of these six (6)
common air pollutants in ambient air.
a. Particulate Matter (PM) is a mixture of solid particles and liquid
droplets in the air and may either be visible or microscopic.
b. Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) is colorless, odorless at low concentration
but pungent at very high concentrations.
c. Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) is a brownish reactive gas called oxides
of nitrogen. Whenever air is heated to high temperatures, such
as in automobiles cylinders or high temperature furnaces of
power plants and industrial boilers, nitrogen oxides (NOx) are
produced, the inert atmospheric nitrogen combines with oxygen
to form nitric oxides and later turns into nitrogen dioxide (NO2).
d. Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas
resulting from incomplete fossil fuel combustion which is slightly
lighter than air.
e. Lead (Pb) is a metal found naturally in the environment as well
as in manufactured products.
f. Ozone at the ground level is a colorless gas which is the major
substance of the photochemical smog.
2. Non-Criteria Pollutants are the entire range of contaminants other
than Criteria Air Contaminants (CACs) including other toxic and
hazardous pollutants.
a. Solids and Metals such as mercury and lead can become
airborne and eventually enter water and food supplies. Heavy
metals contaminants can become localized in mud and soil and,
if left undisturbed, lay dominant indefinitely. Some metals such
as iron, cobalt, copper, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc are
required by humans in minute amounts but are damaging in
excessive amounts. Some are carcinogenic or toxic to the central
nervous system (manganese, mercury, lead, and arsenic). Some
effect the liver and kidneys (mercury, lead, cadmium, and And
some affect the skin, bones, or teeth (nickel,cadmium, copper,
chromium).
b. Persistent organic pollutants(POPs) also called Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs) can last in the environment for long periods
of time and are capable of travelling great distances in the air.
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They can also ‘travel’ up the food chain, bio-accumulating in body
tissues. Even in low concentrations they can cause cancer and
are disruptive to many critical biological functions including
endocrine, reproductive, immune, and neurological. POPs are
used in industrial process, in pesticides, and in the production of
goods such as solvents, polyvinyl chloride, and pharmaceuticals.
A list of the most studied POPs, known as the dirty dozen,
includes: aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor,
hexachlorobenzene, mirex, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, and
toxaphene. There are many other POPs of concern, including
carcinogenic polcyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ( PAHs),
brominated flame-retardants, and organometallic compounds
like tributyltin. Dioxins are one of the most poisonous chemicals
known.
c. Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) are chemicals that destroy
the Earth’s protective ozone layer. They include
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halon, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4),
methyl chloroform (CH3CCl3), hydrobromofluorocarbons
(HBFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), methyl bromide
(CH3Br), and bromochloromethane (CH2BrCl). Production and
import of these chemicals is controlled by the Montreal Protocol
on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (the Montreal
Protocol). There are other ozone depleting substances, but their
ozone depleting effects are very small, so they are not controlled
by the Montreal Protocol.
d. Greenhouse Gases are gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. They
include:
a.) Carbon Dioxide (CO2) enters the atmosphere through burning fossil
fuels, solid waste, trees and other biological materials. It is removed from
the atmosphere when it is absorbed by plants as part of the biological carbon
cycle.
b.) Methane (CH4) is emitted during the production and transport of coal,
natural gas, and oil. Methane emissions also result from livestock and other
agricultural practices and by the decay of organic waste in municipal solid
waste landfills.
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c.) Nitrous oxide is emitted during agricultural and industrial activities,
combustion of fossil fuels and solid waste, as well as during treatment of
wastewater.
d. )Fluorinated gases. Hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur
hexafluoride, and nitrogen trifluoride are synthetic, powerful greenhouse
gases that are emitted from a variety of industrial processes. Fluorinated
gases are sometimes used as substitutes for stratospheric ozone-depleting
substances (e.g., chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, and
halons). These gases are typically emitted in smaller quantities, but because
they are potent greenhouse gases, they are sometimes referred to as High
Global Warming Potential gases ("High GWP gases").
Effects of Air Pollution
1. Menace to health
2. Modification of Earth’s climate
3. Economic problems due to damage to vegetation, animals, materials
and visibility.
The Republic Act 8749: Clean Air Act of 1999
The RA 8749 or the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 is a comprehensive
policy and program for air quality management in the country. It aims to
achieve and maintain healthy air for all Filipinos.
The act lays down policies to control the spread of air pollution. It set
standards for vehicle owners and manufacturing plants to follow this law
and impose the appropriate punishments for violators of the law. It also
outlines the different programs to be implemented by the government in
order to manage and maintain air quality.
To read the full contents of the law, you may follow this link
[Link] The Implementing Rules and
Regulation of the law (IRR of RA 8749) can be seen from this link [Link]
content/uploads/2017/07/[Link].
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Noise pollution
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Traffic is the main source of noisepollution in cities (like São Paulo, shown here).
Noise pollution, also known as environmental noise or sound pollution, is the propagation of
noise with ranging impacts on the activity of human or animal life, most of them harmful to a
degree. The source of outdoor noise worldwide is mainly caused by machines, transport, and
propagation systems.[1][2][3] Poor urban planning may give rise to noise disintegration or pollution,
side-by-side industrial and residential buildings can result in noise pollution in the residential
areas. Some of the main sources of noise in residential areas include loud
music, transportation (traffic, rail, airplanes, etc.), lawn care maintenance, construction, electrical
generators, wind turbines, explosions, and people.
Documented problems associated with noise in urban environments go back as far as ancient
Rome.[4] Today, the average noise level of 98 decibels (dB) exceeds the WHO value of 50 dB
allowed for residential areas.[5] Research suggests that noise pollution in the United States is the
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highest in low-income and racial minority neighborhoods,[6] and noise pollution associated with
household electricity generators is an emerging environmental degradation in many developing
nations.
High noise levels can contribute to cardiovascular effects in humans and an increased incidence
of coronary artery disease.[7][8] In animals, noise can increase the risk of death by altering predator
or prey detection and avoidance, interfere with reproduction and navigation, and contribute to
permanent hearing loss.[9] A substantial amount of the noise that humans produce occurs in the
ocean. Up until recently, most research on noise impacts has been focused on marine mammals,
and to a lesser degree, fish.[10][11] In the past few years, scientists have shifted to conducting studies
on invertebrates and their responses to anthropogenic sounds in the marine environment. This
research is essential, especially considering that invertebrates make up 75% of marine species,
and thus compose a large percentage of ocean food webs.[11] Of the studies that have been
conducted, a sizable variety in families of invertebrates have been represented in the research. A
variation in the complexity of their sensory systems exists, which allows scientists to study a
range of characteristics and develop a better understanding of anthropogenic noise impacts on
living organisms.