Sources of Pollutants

Pollutants are defined as substances in the atmosphere that are harmful to living
The most common sources of air pollutants that are seen in our daily lifestyles are:

Carbon Monoxide
Particulates
Sulfur Dioxide
Ozone
Oxides of Nitrogen




Carbon Monoxide


Carbon Monoxides are formed by the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels such as patrol from cars.

Particulates

Particulates are formed due to incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuel.

Particulates are also the main cause for haze and particles can be carried over long distances by wind and then settle on ground or water. The effects of this settling will make lakes and streams acidic; change the nutrient balance in coastal waters and large river basins and depleting the nutrients in soil


Sulfur Dioxide



Sulfur dioxide are formed from the burning of coal as fuel in power stations. Coal contains sulfur as impurity and sulfur will react with oxygen during burning to form sulfur dioxide.



Ozone


In the presence of sunlight, oxides of nitrogen and oxygen in the air undergo a photochemical reaction to form oxygen atoms.

NO2 + O2 --> NO + O2 + O


Oxygen atoms will then react with the oxygen molecules to form ozone.

O + O2 --> O3



Oxides of Nitrogen


Due to high temperature in the internal combustion engine of vehicles, nitrogen and oxygen from air reacts to form nitrogen monoxide.

N2 + O2 --> 2NO

Nitrogen monoxide is then oxidised by oxygen in air to form nitrogen dioxide.

2NO + O2 --> 2NO2