ENVIRONMENTAL

HEALTH
AIR
Dr. ESRA ABDEEN
MBBS , MSc of Global Health, Senior Registrar Community Medicine
SMSB , CPHQ
 Air constitutes the immediate physical
environment.
 It is such an important environment that
without air, life would not have existed on
earth.
 The public health importance of air is that
not only it is necessary for breathing
purposes, cooling of the body, hearing and
smelling through air transmitted stimuli
 but also it acts as a vehicle of
transmission of diseases, resulting in even
epidemics and pandemics.
 AIR
 Air is a mixture of gasses.
 nitrogen (78%)
 oxygen (21%)
 carbon dioxide (0.03%).
 other gasses such as argon, neon,
helium, xenon.
 in addition to these gases air contains
water vapour,traces of ammonia and
suspended matteer such as
dust,bacteria and others.
 the human beings need a continous
supply of air to exist.
 The requirment for air is relatively
constatnt (about 10-20 m3 per day)
 Air is rendered impure by:
1. respiration of men and animals
[Link] of coal, gas and oil
[Link] of organic matter
4. Trade,traffic and manufacturing
processs which give off
dust,fumes ,vaapour and gases
 self cleansing mechanisms which
operate in nature:
 1. wind

wind dilutes and sweeps away the

impurities by its [Link] of
wind movement , impurities do not
accumulate in any one place.

 [Link]
the atmospheric temperature and sunlight
play their own part by oxidizing impurities
and killing bacteria
 [Link]
it cleanses the atmosphere by removing
the suspended and gaseous impurities.

 4. plant life
the green plants utilize the carbon dioxide
and generate [Link] process is
reversed during night
 when the rate of pollution becomes too
high or when cleansing process
becomes ineffective, it constitutes a
health hazard,
CHANGES IN THE AIR DUE TO
HUMAN OCCUPANCY
 human occupancy and activity viliate
the air in occupied rooms and give a
sense of discomfort to the occupant.

 the changes in air that take place in

confined places are both chemical and
physical.
CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL
CHANGES
 The chemical changes are :
 i. Increase in the CO2 concentration
 ii. Decrease in the O2 concentration.

 The physical changes are:

 i. Rise in the temperature due to
emanation of body heat.
 ii. Rise in the relative humidity due to
expiration and perspiration.
 iii. Decrease in the air movement.
 iv. Occurrence of unpleasant odors
arising from expiration, perspiration,
bad oral hygiene, dirty clothes and other
sources.
 v. Bacterial pollution by the infected
droplets.
EFFECTS OF VITIATED AIR
 They are divided into acute and chronic
 Acute effects are headache, nausea,
vertigo, vomiting and even collapse.
Death may occur in extreme cases.
 Chronic effects are anemia, debility,
digestive disturbances, nutritional and
metabolic disorders, lowered vitality and
decreased resistance to infections. The
working efficiency is decreased and the
output of the work falls.
INDICATORS OF THERMAL
COMFORT
 [Link] Temperature and Humidity

[Link] Temperature, Humidity and Air

Movement:
These three together is called ‘Cooling
power’ of the air, which can be measured
by a device called ‘Kata thermometer’.
 [Link] Temperature:
Effective temperature (ET) is the combined
effect of air temperature, humidity and air
movement (cooling power) on the
sensation of warmth or cold felt by the
human body.

[Link] Effective Temperature:

the four factors, namely air temperature,
humidity, air movement and radiant heat,
are
taken into consideration.
Corrected effective Subjective feeling of
temperature occupants
69°F Pleasant and cool
69–76°F Comfortable and cool
77–80°F Comfortable
81–82°F Hot and uncomfortable
83°F + Extremely hot
86°F + Intolerably hot
AIR POLLUTION
INTRODUCTION
 Air pollution is a constant and menacing
problem throughout the world, due to
man’s own activities like
industrialization and urbanization.
 It is increasing progressively during the
past few decades.
 Air pollution is not only a public health
problem but also an economic problem.
AIR POLLUTANTS
 These may be:
 chemical
 biological.
CHEMICAL POLLUTANTS
 These may be particulate matters,
gasses or metals.
1. Particulate matters: Dust, smoke,
sand.
2. Gasses: CO, CO2, NO2, SO2
3. Metals: Arsenic , copper, zinc, lead,
carcinogens.
BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS
 Pathogens (microbs)
 AIR
 Although the Earth’s atmosphere
extends to several kms above the
surface, it is only the first 30 kms that
hold the major portion of the
atmospheric gasses.
 Man is concerned only with the first 8 to
10 kms of the atmosphere.
 Degree of air pollution is influenced by
topography, i.e. atmospheric
temperature, humidity, atmospheric
pressure and air movement.
 POLLUTANTS
 Pollutants are affected by sunlight.
 Sun Light

The U-V rays of the Sun act on the oxides

of nitrogen and other hydrocarbons and
form photooxidants, which are irritant to
conjunctiva, nose, throat and respiratory
mucous membrane
SOURCES OF AIR
POLLUTION
 [Link]:
 motor vehicles are the major source of
air pollution throughout the urban areas.
 they emit hydrocarbons, carbon
monoxide, lead ,nitrogen oxides and
particulate matter.
 In strong sunlight, certain of these
hydrocarbons and oxides nitrogen may
be converted in the atmosphere into
photochemical pollutant of oxidizing
nature.
 in addition , diesel engines when
misused or badly adjusted are capable
of emiting black smoke and malodorous
fumes
 [Link]:
 industries emit large amounts of
pollutants into the atmosphere.
 combustion of fuel to generate heat and
power produces smoke , sulphar
dioxide, nitrogen oxides and fly ash.
 many industries discharge carbon
monoxide, carbon dioxide,
ozone,hydrogen sulphide and sulphur
dioxide
 [Link] SOURCES:
 domestic combustion of coal ,wood or
oil is a major source of
smoke ,dust,sulphur dioxide and
nitrogen oxides.
 [Link] SMOKE:
 the most direct and important source of
air pollution affecting the health of
many people is tobacco smoke.
 even those who do not smoke may
inhale the smoke produced by others
“passive smoking”.
 [Link]:
 These comprise burning refuse,
incinerators ,pesticide spraying ,nuclear
explosions, volcanoes, dust-storm,
ocean spray.
HAZARDS OF AIR
POLLUTION
 1. Immediate and Acute Effects:
 There will be irritation of conjunctiva,
nose, throat and respiratory mucous
membrane resulting in conjunctivitis,
allergic rhinitis, acute pharyngitis, acute
bronchitis and episodes of bronchial
asthma (acute attacks).
 It may result in suffocation and death.
 For example, London disaster in
England and Bhopal gas tragedy in
India.
2. Delayed and Chronic Effects :
These are chronic bronchitis,
bronchiectasis, emphysema, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),
bronchial asthma and even lung cancer.
GLOBAL EFFECTS OF AIR
POLLUTION
 1. Acid rain:
 It is the end result of several processes
occurring in the atmosphere.
 Sulfur dioxide emitted from combustion of
coal produces sulfuric acid by getting
dissolved in water vapor of the atmosphere.
Similarly, carbon-dioxide produces carbonic
acid and nitrogen dioxide produces nitric
acid.
 Thus, the rainfall containing sulfuric acid,
carbonic acid and nitric acid produces
devastating ecological effect by causing
acidification of soil and water.
 Trees killed by acid rain results in
deforestration, desertification and
erosion of soil, thus, disturbing the
ecosystem.
 Acidification of water bodies destroys
aquatic life including fish.
 Destruction of food crops effects food
production.
2. Global warming:
 It is a phenomenon occurring in the
troposphere.
 Normally, the atmospheric gasses have
a ‘green-house effect’, i.e. like the glass
of a green-house, allow light and
warmth to reach the earth, thus
maintaining life on earth.
 With air pollution, the gasses like
carbon-dioxide, methane and
accumulation of ozone, all in the
troposphere elevate the global
temperature beyond the desirable level
resulting in global warming and
affecting the ecosystem
 In the past 10 years, a rise of 0.3 to 0.6
celsius has been noticed. This results in
the following effects:
A. Increase in the dryness of the climate
B. Reduction in the world food production
C. Melting of polar icecaps
D. Increase in sea level resulting in floods
E. Smog formation
F. Increased incidence of skin cancer and
cataract.
G. Spread of tropical diseases
3. Effects of depleted ozone shield:
Normally, ozone layer of the earth, filters
the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun
and prevents them from reaching the
surface of the earth.
Because of air pollution, ozone layer
begins to thin out and results in the
following effects:
A. Inhibition of photosynthesis, (due to
burning of leaves, retardation of growth of
plants, fall in the crop yield, ageing of
plants etc, all due to air pollution).
B. Disruption of marine food chain.
C. Impairment of human immune
mechanism, predisposing for
infections.
D. Ocular damage (cataract).
E. Skin cancers (melanotic and
nonmelanotic).
F. On animals: Cattle become weak and
cachexic. Yield of animal products
become less.
G. Miscellaneous hazards:
(Socioeconomic hazards)
H. Damage to buildings

• Repairs of these cost millions

INDICATORS OF AIR
POLLUTION
Following indicators are employed for
monitoring of air pollution:

• Sulfur-dioxide index: This is

estimated by lead-peroxide device.

• Smoke index : photoelectric meter.

• Suspended particles (measurement

of dust and grit concentration) ‘Midget
impinger’
 Air pollution index

• Coefficient of haze
It is the amount of smoke or other
aerosol per cubic metre of air
PREVENTION AND
CONTROL
 By three measures:
1. Engineering technology
2. Legislations
3. General measures.
ENGINEERING
TECHNOLOGY
a. Location of the industries: Industries
must be located far away from the
human habitations and where
topography of the soil is favorable.
b. Replacement measures: Within the
industries, the processes causing air
pollution should be replaced by the
processes preventing air pollution.
For examples: Using electricity instead of
fuels.
.
c. Containment measures: such as
– Controlling the production of dust by
wet method
– Prevention of the escape of dust into
the atmosphere by using exhaust pipes
for removal
LEGISLATIONS MEASURES
 GOVERNMENT LAWS AND REGULATIONS
GENERAL MEASURES
a. Control of traffic by construction of
bypass roads.

b. Maintenance of vehicles by periodical

servicing, mixing of petrol and oil in
proper proportions, use of unleaded
petrol to the vehicles, fitting the
catalytic converter to the exhausts
pipes of four wheelers, which convert
the harmful gas into harmless gas.
 c. Establishment of ‘Green-belts’, i.e.
growing plants and trees between the
industries and the residential areas, so
that the leaves absorb carbon-dioxide and
give out oxygen.

 d. Health education of the people about

hazards of air pollution and their role in
the prevention and control of air pollution.