CONTAMINANTS AND POLLUTANTS
Environmental chemistry – the study of the sources, reactions transport, effects and fates of chemical
species in water, soil and air environments and the effects of technology thereon.
“The ecologically illiterate chemist can be a very dangerous species”
“Analytical chemistry is a fundamental and crucial part of that endeavor but by no means all of it”
Environmental biochemistry – deals specifically with the effect of environmental chemical species on
life.
Toxicological chemistry – the chemistry of toxic substances with emphasis upon their interactions with
biologic tissue and living organisms
Contaminant – substances that causes deviations from normal composition of an environment but do
not have detrimental effects.
Pollutant – a substance present in greater than natural concentrations as a result of human activity that
has a net detrimental effect upon its environment or upon something of value in that environment.
Receptor – anything that is affected by the pollutant
Sink – long time repository of the pollutant
Three categories of environmental pollution:
1. water pollution
2. air pollution
3. land pollution
INTRODUCTION TO AIR POLLUTION
Structure and Composition of the Atmosphere
The presence of life on Earth makes it a unique planet. Among the necessary conditions for life
to exist is the air. The air is a mixture of several gases encompassing the earth from all sides. The air
surrounding the Earth is called the atmosphere which is an integral part of our Earth. It is connected
with the earth due to the gravitational force of the earth. It helps in stopping the ultra violet rays
harmful for the life and maintain the suitable temperature necessary for life.
Classification of Air Pollutants and the Sources of Emissions
Air pollution is a huge problem—and not just for people living in smog-choked cities: through
such things as global warming and damage to the ozone layer, it has the potential to affect us all.
, Indoor Air Pollution and Health
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures,
especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants. Understanding and controlling
common pollutants indoors can help reduce your risk of indoor health concerns.
Health effects from indoor air pollutants may be experienced soon after exposure or, possibly,
years later.
Immediate Effects
Some health effects may show up shortly after a single exposure or repeated exposures to a
pollutant. These include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Such
immediate effects are usually short-term and treatable. Sometimes the treatment is simply eliminating
the person's exposure to the source of the pollution, if it can be identified. Soon after exposure to some
indoor air pollutants, symptoms of some diseases such as asthma may show up, be aggravated or
worsened.
The likelihood of immediate reactions to indoor air pollutants depends on several factors
including age and preexisting medical conditions. In some cases, whether a person reacts to a pollutant
depends on individual sensitivity, which varies tremendously from person to person. Some people can
become sensitized to biological or chemical pollutants after repeated or high level exposures.
Certain immediate effects are similar to those from colds or other viral diseases, so it is often
difficult to determine if the symptoms are a result of exposure to indoor air pollution. For this reason, it
is important to pay attention to the time and place symptoms occur. If the symptoms fade or go away
when a person is away from the area, for example, an effort should be made to identify indoor air
sources that may be possible causes. Some effects may be made worse by an inadequate supply of
outdoor air coming indoors or from the heating, cooling or humidity conditions prevalent indoors.
Long-Term Effects
Other health effects may show up either years after exposure has occurred or only after long or
repeated periods of exposure. These effects, which include some respiratory diseases, heart disease and
cancer, can be severely debilitating or fatal. It is prudent to try to improve the indoor air quality in your
home even if symptoms are not noticeable.
While pollutants commonly found in indoor air can cause many harmful effects, there is
considerable uncertainty about what concentrations or periods of exposure are necessary to produce
specific health problems. People also react very differently to exposure to indoor air pollutants. Further
research is needed to better understand which health effects occur after exposure to the average
pollutant concentrations found in homes and which occurs from the higher concentrations that occur
for short periods of time.
Primary Causes of Indoor Air Problems
Indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air are the primary cause of
indoor air quality problems. Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant levels by not bringing
Environmental chemistry – the study of the sources, reactions transport, effects and fates of chemical
species in water, soil and air environments and the effects of technology thereon.
“The ecologically illiterate chemist can be a very dangerous species”
“Analytical chemistry is a fundamental and crucial part of that endeavor but by no means all of it”
Environmental biochemistry – deals specifically with the effect of environmental chemical species on
life.
Toxicological chemistry – the chemistry of toxic substances with emphasis upon their interactions with
biologic tissue and living organisms
Contaminant – substances that causes deviations from normal composition of an environment but do
not have detrimental effects.
Pollutant – a substance present in greater than natural concentrations as a result of human activity that
has a net detrimental effect upon its environment or upon something of value in that environment.
Receptor – anything that is affected by the pollutant
Sink – long time repository of the pollutant
Three categories of environmental pollution:
1. water pollution
2. air pollution
3. land pollution
INTRODUCTION TO AIR POLLUTION
Structure and Composition of the Atmosphere
The presence of life on Earth makes it a unique planet. Among the necessary conditions for life
to exist is the air. The air is a mixture of several gases encompassing the earth from all sides. The air
surrounding the Earth is called the atmosphere which is an integral part of our Earth. It is connected
with the earth due to the gravitational force of the earth. It helps in stopping the ultra violet rays
harmful for the life and maintain the suitable temperature necessary for life.
Classification of Air Pollutants and the Sources of Emissions
Air pollution is a huge problem—and not just for people living in smog-choked cities: through
such things as global warming and damage to the ozone layer, it has the potential to affect us all.
, Indoor Air Pollution and Health
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures,
especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants. Understanding and controlling
common pollutants indoors can help reduce your risk of indoor health concerns.
Health effects from indoor air pollutants may be experienced soon after exposure or, possibly,
years later.
Immediate Effects
Some health effects may show up shortly after a single exposure or repeated exposures to a
pollutant. These include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Such
immediate effects are usually short-term and treatable. Sometimes the treatment is simply eliminating
the person's exposure to the source of the pollution, if it can be identified. Soon after exposure to some
indoor air pollutants, symptoms of some diseases such as asthma may show up, be aggravated or
worsened.
The likelihood of immediate reactions to indoor air pollutants depends on several factors
including age and preexisting medical conditions. In some cases, whether a person reacts to a pollutant
depends on individual sensitivity, which varies tremendously from person to person. Some people can
become sensitized to biological or chemical pollutants after repeated or high level exposures.
Certain immediate effects are similar to those from colds or other viral diseases, so it is often
difficult to determine if the symptoms are a result of exposure to indoor air pollution. For this reason, it
is important to pay attention to the time and place symptoms occur. If the symptoms fade or go away
when a person is away from the area, for example, an effort should be made to identify indoor air
sources that may be possible causes. Some effects may be made worse by an inadequate supply of
outdoor air coming indoors or from the heating, cooling or humidity conditions prevalent indoors.
Long-Term Effects
Other health effects may show up either years after exposure has occurred or only after long or
repeated periods of exposure. These effects, which include some respiratory diseases, heart disease and
cancer, can be severely debilitating or fatal. It is prudent to try to improve the indoor air quality in your
home even if symptoms are not noticeable.
While pollutants commonly found in indoor air can cause many harmful effects, there is
considerable uncertainty about what concentrations or periods of exposure are necessary to produce
specific health problems. People also react very differently to exposure to indoor air pollutants. Further
research is needed to better understand which health effects occur after exposure to the average
pollutant concentrations found in homes and which occurs from the higher concentrations that occur
for short periods of time.
Primary Causes of Indoor Air Problems
Indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air are the primary cause of
indoor air quality problems. Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant levels by not bringing
