AIR POLLUTION
any undesirable change in the composition of the earth's atmosphere as a result of the entry into it of various gases, water vapor and solid particles (under the influence of natural processes or as a result of human activity). Approximately 10% of pollutants enter the atmosphere due to natural processes, such as volcanic eruptions, which are accompanied by emissions of ash, pulverized acids, including sulfuric, and many poisonous gases into the atmosphere. In addition, the main sources of sulfur in the atmosphere are splashes of sea water and decaying plant residues. It should also be noted forest fires, as a result of which dense clouds of smoke are formed, enveloping large areas, and dust storms. Trees and shrubs emit a lot of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which form a blue haze that covers most of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the United States (translated as "blue ridge"). Microorganisms present in the air (pollen, molds, bacteria, viruses) cause allergy attacks and infectious diseases in many people. The remaining 90% of pollutants are of anthropogenic origin. Their main sources are: the combustion of fossil fuels in power plants (smoke emissions) and in car engines; industrial processes that do not involve fuel combustion but lead to atmospheric dusting, for example, due to soil erosion, open-pit coal mining, blasting and leakage of VOCs through valves, pipe joints in refineries and chemical plants and from reactors; solid waste storage; as well as a variety of mixed sources. Pollutants entering the atmosphere are transported over long distances from the source, and then return to the earth's surface in the form of solid particles, droplets or chemical compounds dissolved in precipitation. Chemical compounds, the source of which is at ground level, quickly mix with the air of the lower atmosphere (troposphere). They are called primary pollutants. Some of them react chemically with other pollutants or with the main constituents of the air (oxygen, nitrogen and water vapor) to form secondary pollutants. As a result, phenomena such as photochemical smog, acid rain and the formation of ozone in the surface layer of the atmosphere are observed. The source of energy for these reactions is solar radiation. Secondary pollutants - photochemical oxidants and acids contained in the atmosphere - pose a major threat to human health and global environmental change.
HAZARDOUS IMPACT
Air pollution has a harmful effect on living organisms in several ways: 1) by delivering aerosol particles and toxic gases into the respiratory system of humans and animals and into plant leaves; 2) increasing the acidity of precipitation, which, in turn, affects the change in the chemical composition of soils and water; 3) by stimulating such chemical reactions in the atmosphere that lead to an increase in the duration of exposure of living organisms to harmful solar rays; 4) changing the composition and temperature of the atmosphere on a global scale and thus creating conditions unfavorable for the survival of organisms.
The human respiratory system. Through the respiratory system, oxygen enters the human body, which is carried by hemoglobin (red pigments of erythrocytes) to vital organs, and waste products, in particular carbon dioxide, are excreted. The respiratory system consists of the nasal cavity, larynx, trachea, bronchi and lungs. In each healthy lung, there are approximately 5 million alveoli (air sacs), in which gas exchange occurs. Oxygen enters the blood from the alveoli, and carbon dioxide is removed from the blood through them and released into the air. The respiratory system has a number of defense mechanisms against exposure to airborne pollutants. Nose hairs filter out large particles. The mucous membrane of the nasal cavity, larynx and trachea traps and dissolves small particles and some harmful gases. If pollutants enter the respiratory system, the person sneezes and coughs. In this way, polluted air and mucus are evacuated. In addition, the upper respiratory tract is lined with hundreds of thin cilia of ciliated epithelium, which are in constant motion and move mucus up the larynx along with dirt that has entered the respiratory system, which are either swallowed or removed. Constant long-term exposure to by-products of tobacco smoke and polluted air leads to overload and overflow of human defense systems, resulting in the development of diseases of the respiratory system: allergic asthma, lung cancer and emphysema, chronic bronchitis. See also RESPIRATORY ORGANS.
Acid precipitation. The ingress of various acids into the soil or water bodies, such as sulfuric (H2SO4) or nitric (HNO3), as a result of acid precipitation (abnormally acidic rain and snow) causes harm to living organisms and contributes to the destruction of various structures. Such phenomena are quite often observed in areas with a significant concentration of industrial enterprises using fossil fuels. The damage caused to biota by acid precipitation is most pronounced in forests and lakes. Certain types of trees, particularly pines, are particularly sensitive to changes in soil acidity. Large areas of forests in New England, Canada and the Scandinavian countries have been severely affected by acid rain. In some cases, plants serve as indicators of such effects: the leaves become stained or discolored. Acid overload associated with spring runoff to meltwater lakes and rivers can be detrimental to fish and other aquatic life. see also
ACID REDUCTION ;
ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION.
COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE OF THE ATMOSPHERE
The atmosphere, or "ocean of air", is made up of the gases necessary to sustain life on Earth. According to its height, it can be divided into five layers, or shells, surrounding the globe: the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere. Their boundaries are determined by sharp changes in temperature due to differences in the absorption of solar radiation. Air density also changes with altitude. In the upper layers of the atmosphere, the air is cold and rarefied, and near the surface of the Earth, due to gravity, it is denser. The two lower layers of the atmosphere are mainly polluted. See also ATMOSPHERE.
Troposphere. The composition and structure of the lower layer - the troposphere - is determined by the flow of gases from the earth's crust and the presence of life on the earth's surface. The upper limit of the troposphere is located at altitudes of approximately 17 km above sea level at the equator and approx. 8 km at the poles. This thin layer contains two important gaseous components: nitrogen (N2) and oxygen (O2), which make up 78% and 21% of the volume of the atmosphere, respectively. The nitrogen cycle in nature (nitrogen cycle) plays a very important role in plant nutrition. Atmospheric nitrogen is bound by nodule bacteria contained in the root thickenings of leguminous plants, with the formation of numerous organic compounds, especially proteins. After that, other specialized bacteria in the process of mineralization decompose and convert nitrogen-rich organic residues into simpler inorganic substances, such as ammonia (NH4). Finally, nitrifying bacteria convert them back into nitrogen oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which are returned to the atmosphere. Then the cycle resumes.
See also NITROGEN. Oxygen is produced during plant photosynthesis and, in turn, is used by micro- and macro-organisms during respiration, the by-product of which is carbon dioxide.
see also
CARBON CYCLE;
PHOTOSYNTHESIS. In addition to nitrogen and oxygen, the atmosphere includes argon (Ar - 0.93%) and carbon dioxide (CO2 - 0.036%), as well as negligible amounts of neon (Ne), helium (He), methane (CH4), krypton (Kr ), hydrogen (H2), xenon (Xe) and anthropogenic chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). The source and necessary component of life on Earth, contributing, in particular, to maintaining its surface temperature, is water vapor (H2O), which enters the troposphere mainly as a result of water evaporation from the ocean surface. Its content in the atmosphere varies significantly depending on the time of year and geographical location. For living organisms, consisting mainly of organic compounds of carbon with hydrogen and oxygen, oxygen, water and carbon dioxide play a primary role. Water and carbon dioxide are essential for heating the earth's surface due to their ability to absorb solar radiation.
Stratosphere. Directly above the troposphere at altitudes from 18 to 48 km above the earth's surface is the stratosphere. Although these shells are very similar in composition, the water vapor content in the stratosphere is approximately 1000 times less, and the ozone content is approximately 1000 times greater than in the troposphere. Ozone is formed in the stratosphere by the interaction of oxygen molecules during lightning discharges and ultraviolet irradiation by the Sun. The composition of air pollutants changed significantly after the Second World War. In the 1950s, coal was replaced by diesel fuel, and soon by natural gas. By 2000 most of homes were heated by natural gas, the cleanest of all fossil fuels. On the other hand, the exhaust gases generated during the operation of internal combustion engines began to pollute the atmosphere more and more.
MAIN POLLUTANTS
Sulfur dioxide, or sulfur dioxide (sulphurous gas). Sulfur enters the atmosphere as a result of many natural processes, including the evaporation of seawater spray, the dispersal of sulfur-containing soils in arid regions, the emission of gases from volcanic eruptions, and the release of biogenic hydrogen sulfide (H2S).
See also SULFUR. The most widespread sulfur compound is sulfur dioxide (SO2) - a colorless gas formed during the combustion of sulfur-containing fuels (primarily coal and heavy oil fractions), as well as in various industrial processes, such as the smelting of sulfide ores. Sulfur dioxide is particularly harmful to trees, causing chlorosis (yellowing or discoloration of leaves) and dwarfism. In humans, this gas irritates the upper respiratory tract, as it easily dissolves in the mucus of the larynx and trachea. Chronic exposure to sulfur dioxide can cause a respiratory illness similar to bronchitis. By itself, this gas does not cause significant damage to public health, but in the atmosphere it reacts with water vapor to form a secondary pollutant - sulfuric acid (H2SO4). Drops of acid are transported over considerable distances and, getting into the lungs, severely destroy them. The most dangerous form of air pollution is observed in the reaction of sulfur dioxide with suspended particles, accompanied by the formation of sulfuric acid salts, which penetrate into the lungs during breathing and settle there.
carbon monoxide, or carbon monoxide, is a highly poisonous, colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas. It is formed during the incomplete combustion of wood, fossil fuels and tobacco, during the combustion of solid waste and the partial anaerobic decomposition of organic matter. Approximately 50% of carbon monoxide is produced in connection with human activities, mainly as a result of the internal combustion engines of cars. In a closed room (for example, in a garage) filled with carbon monoxide, the ability of erythrocyte hemoglobin to carry oxygen decreases, which slows down reactions in a person, weakens perception, headaches, drowsiness, and nausea appear. Exposure to large amounts of carbon monoxide can cause fainting, coma, and even death. See also CARBON. Suspended particles, including dust, soot, pollen and plant spores, etc., vary greatly in size and composition. They can either be directly contained in the air, or be enclosed in droplets suspended in the air (so-called aerosols). In general, approx. 100 million tons of anthropogenic aerosols. This is about 100 times less than the amount of naturally occurring aerosols - volcanic ash, wind-blown dust and sea water spray. Approximately 50% of anthropogenic particles are released into the air due to incomplete combustion of fuel in transport, factories, factories and thermal power plants. According to the World Health Organization, 70% of the population living in cities developing countries, breathes heavily polluted air containing many aerosols. Often, aerosols are the most obvious form of air pollution, as they reduce visibility and leave dirty marks on painted surfaces, fabrics, vegetation, and other objects. Larger particles are mainly trapped in the hairs and mucous membranes of the nose and larynx and then carried out. It is assumed that particles smaller than 10 microns are the most dangerous for human health; they are so small that they penetrate the protective barriers of the body into the lungs, damaging the tissues of the respiratory organs and contributing to the development of chronic diseases of the respiratory system and cancer. Tobacco smoke and asbestos fibers contained in urban air and indoors are also considered the most carcinogenic and therefore very dangerous to health. Other types of aerosol pollution complicate the course of bronchitis and asthma and cause allergic reactions. The accumulation of a certain amount of small particles in the body makes breathing difficult due to blockage of capillaries and constant irritation of the respiratory system. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are poisonous vapors in the atmosphere. They are the source of many problems, including mutations, respiratory disorders and cancers, and, in addition, play a major role in the formation of photochemical oxidants.
The largest natural source of VOCs are
plants that produce approximately 350 million tons of isoprene (C5H8) and 450 million tons of terpenes (C10H16) annually. Another VOC is methane gas (CH4), which forms in highly humid areas (such as swamps or rice plantations) and is also produced by bacteria in the stomachs of termites and ruminants. In the atmosphere, VOCs are usually oxidized to carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) oxides. In addition, anthropogenic sources emit many poisonous synthetic organic substances into the atmosphere, such as benzene, chloroform, formaldehyde, phenols, toluene, trichloroethane and vinyl chloride. The main part of these compounds enters the air during the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons in automotive fuel, at thermal power plants, chemical and oil refineries.
nitrogen dioxide. Oxide (NO) and dioxide (NO2) of nitrogen are formed during the combustion of fuel at very high temperatures (above 650 ° C) and an excess of oxygen. In addition, these substances are released during the oxidation of nitrogen-containing compounds in water or soil by bacteria. Later, in the atmosphere, nitric oxide is oxidized to gaseous red-brown dioxide, which is clearly visible in the atmosphere of most large cities. The main sources of nitrogen dioxide in cities are car exhaust and emissions from thermal power plants (not only using fossil fuels). In addition, nitrogen dioxide is formed during the combustion of solid waste, since this process occurs at high combustion temperatures. NO2 also plays an important role in the formation of photochemical smog in the surface layer of the atmosphere. In significant concentrations, nitrogen dioxide has a sharp sweetish odor. Unlike sulfur dioxide, it irritates the lower respiratory system, especially lung tissue, thereby worsening the condition of people suffering from asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Nitrogen dioxide increases the susceptibility to acute respiratory diseases such as pneumonia. Photochemical oxidants ozone (O3), peroxoacetyl nitrate (PAN) and formaldehyde are products of secondary atmospheric pollution as a result of chemical reactions under the influence of solar radiation. Ozone is formed when either an oxygen molecule (O2) or nitrogen dioxide (NO2) breaks down to form atomic oxygen (O), which then attaches itself to another oxygen molecule. This process involves hydrocarbons that bind the nitric oxide molecule with other substances. Thus, for example, PAN is formed. Although ozone plays an important role in the stratosphere as a protective shield that absorbs short-wave ultraviolet radiation (see below), in the troposphere, as a strong oxidizing agent, it destroys plants, building materials, rubber and plastics. Ozone has a characteristic odor that is a sign of photochemical smog. Inhalation by humans causes coughing, chest pain, rapid breathing, and irritation of the eyes, nasal cavity, and larynx. Exposure to ozone also worsens the condition of patients with chronic asthma, bronchitis, pulmonary emphysema, and those suffering from cardiovascular diseases.
GLOBAL AIR POLLUTION PROBLEMS
Two global environmental problems associated with air pollution pose a serious threat to the health and prosperity of mankind and other forms of life: abnormally high values ​​of ultraviolet radiation from the Sun coming to the earth's surface, due to a decrease in the ozone content in the stratosphere, and climate change (global warming) caused by into the atmosphere of a large number of so-called. greenhouse gases. Both problems are closely interrelated, since they depend on the entry into the atmosphere of almost the same gases of anthropogenic origin. For example, fluorochlorine-containing freons (chlorofluorocarbons) contribute to the destruction of the ozone layer and play an important role in the occurrence of the greenhouse effect. See also METEOROLOGY AND CLIMATOLOGY. Depletion of the ozone layer. Stratospheric ozone is concentrated mainly at altitudes from 20 to 25 km. Absorbing 99% of the short-wave radiation of the Sun, which is dangerous for all living things, ozone protects the earth's surface and the troposphere from it, protecting people from sunburn, skin and eye cancer, cataracts, and so on. In addition, it does not allow most of the tropospheric oxygen to turn into ozone. Along with the formation of ozone in the atmosphere, the reverse process of its decay takes place, which also occurs during the absorption of solar ultraviolet radiation. Hydrogen oxides (HOx), methane (CH4), gaseous hydrogen (H2), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the atmosphere can also deplete stratospheric ozone. If there is no anthropogenic impact, there is a certain balance between the formation and decay of ozone molecules. The global chemical time bomb is artificial chlorofluorocarbons, which help reduce the average concentration of ozone in the troposphere. Chlorofluorocarbons, first synthesized in 1928 and known as freons, or freons, became a marvel of chemistry in the 1940s. Chemically inert, non-toxic, odorless, non-flammable, non-corrosive to metals and alloys, and inexpensive to manufacture, they quickly gained popularity and were widely used as refrigerants. Sources of chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere are aerosol cans, damaged refrigerators, and air conditioners. It is obvious that freon molecules are too inert and do not decay in the troposphere, but slowly rise up and after 10-20 years enter the stratosphere. There, ultraviolet radiation from the sun destroys the molecules of these substances (the so-called photolytic decomposition process), as a result of which the chlorine atom is released. It reacts with ozone to form atomic oxygen (O) and an oxygen molecule (O2). Chlorine oxide (Cl2O) is unstable and reacts with a free oxygen atom to form an oxygen molecule and a free chlorine atom. Therefore, a single chlorine atom, once formed from the decay of a chlorofluorocarbon, can destroy thousands of ozone molecules. Due to seasonal decreases in ozone concentration (the so-called ozone holes), which were observed, in particular, over Antarctica and, to a lesser extent, over other regions, short-wave ultraviolet radiation of the Sun, dangerous for a living cell, can penetrate to the earth's surface. According to forecasts, increased doses of ultraviolet radiation will lead to an increase in the number of victims of sunburn, as well as an increase in the incidence of skin cancer (this trend is already observed in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina and Chile), eye cataracts, etc.
See also ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION. In 1978, the US government banned the use of CFCs as aerosol sprays. In 1987, representatives of the governments of 36 countries held a special meeting in Montreal and agreed on a plan (Montreal Protocol) to reduce emissions of chlorofluorocarbons into the atmosphere by about 35% over the period from 1989 to 2000. At a second meeting in Copenhagen in 1992, held in the face of growing concern about the ozone screen, representatives of a number of countries agreed that in the future it is necessary: ​​to abandon the production of halons (a class of fluorocarbons containing bromine atoms) by January 1, 1994, and chlorofluorocarbons and hydrobromofluorocarbons (halon substitutes) - by January 1, 1996; to freeze the consumption of hydrochlorofluorocarbons at the level of 1991 until 1996 and completely eliminate their use by 2030. It was also noted that most of the previously set goals had been achieved.
The greenhouse effect. In 1896, the Swedish chemist Svante Arrhenius first proposed the heating of the atmosphere and the earth's surface as a result of the greenhouse effect. Solar energy enters the Earth's atmosphere in the form of short-wave radiation. Some of it is reflected into outer space, the other is absorbed by air molecules and heats it, and about half reaches the earth's surface. The surface of the Earth heats up and emits long-wave radiation, which has less energy than short-wave radiation. After that, the radiation passes through the atmosphere and is partially lost in space, while most of it is absorbed by the atmosphere and reflected back to the Earth's surface. This process of secondary reflection of radiation is possible due to the presence in the air, albeit in small concentrations, of impurities of many gases (the so-called greenhouse gases) of both natural and anthropogenic origin. They transmit shortwave radiation but absorb or reflect longwave radiation. The amount of thermal energy retained depends on the concentration of greenhouse gases and how long they stay in the atmosphere. The main greenhouse gases are water vapor, carbon dioxide, ozone, methane, nitrous oxide and chlorofluorocarbons. Undoubtedly, the most important among them is water vapor, and the contribution of carbon dioxide is also significant. 90% of the carbon dioxide annually released into the atmosphere is formed during respiration (oxidation of organic compounds by plant and animal cells). However, this intake is compensated by its consumption by green plants in the process of photosynthesis. See also PHOTOSYNTHESIS. The average concentration of carbon dioxide in the troposphere due to human activity increases by about 0.4% annually. Based on computer simulations, a forecast was made according to which, as a result of an increase in the content of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the troposphere, global warming will inevitably occur. If it is justified and the average air temperature on Earth rises by only a few degrees, the consequences can be catastrophic: the climate and weather will change, the conditions for growing plants, including crops, will be significantly disrupted, droughts will become more frequent, glaciers and ice sheets will begin to melt, which, in in turn, will lead to an increase in the level of the World Ocean and flooding of the coastal lowlands. Scientists have calculated that in order to stabilize the planet's climate, a 60% (relative to the 1990 level) decrease in greenhouse gas emissions is necessary. In June 1992, in Rio de Janeiro, at the UN Conference on Environment and Development, delegates from 160 countries signed the Convention on Climate Change, which encouraged further efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and set a goal up to 2000 to stabilize their entry into the atmosphere at 1990 levels.
see also
CLIMATE;
ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION.
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
Indoor air pollution is the leading cause of cancer. The main sources of this pollution are radon, products of incomplete combustion, and the evaporation of chemicals.
Radon. Radon exposure is believed to be the second leading cause of lung cancer. This mainly occurs in houses that have been built on loose sediments or bedrock enriched with uranium-bearing minerals. Radon gas - a product of the radioactive decay of uranium - enters the house, seeping from the soil. The solution to this problem largely depends on the type of building structures. In addition, the improvement of the ecological situation is facilitated by the ventilation of buildings, for example, the ventilation windows of foundations. Ventilation pipes inserted into the base of the foundation can remove radon directly from the ground to the outside, into the atmosphere.
products of incomplete combustion. Incomplete combustion of fuels in stoves, fireplaces and other heating devices, as well as smoking, produce carcinogenic chemicals such as hydrocarbons. In homes, carbon monoxide is a major concern, as it is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, making it very difficult to detect. Undoubtedly, the main and very insidious indoor air pollutant, and therefore very dangerous for human health, is cigarette smoke, which causes lung cancer and many other respiratory and heart diseases. Even non-smokers, being in the same room with smokers (so-called passive smokers), put themselves at great risk.
Isolation of chemicals. Mothballs, bleaches, paints, shoe polish, various cleaning products, deodorants are just a few of the wide range of chemicals that every person (especially industrial workers) is exposed to on an almost daily basis and which release carcinogens. For example, plastics, synthetic fibers, and cleaners evaporate benzene, while foam insulation, plywood, and chipboard are sources of formaldehyde. Such emissions can cause headache, dizziness and nausea.
Asbestos. Inhalation of asbestos fibers causes a progressive, incurable lung disease called asbestosis. This problem is especially relevant for owners of houses built before 1972. The fact that asbestos is used as a fire-resistant or thermal insulation material in such buildings does not necessarily represent a health risk. The condition of structures containing asbestos is extremely important.
LITERATURE
Datsenko I.I. Air environment and health. Lvov, 1981 Budyko M.I., Golitsyn G.S., Israel Yu.A. Global climate catastrophes. M., 1986 Pinigin M.A. Atmospheric air protection. M., 1989 Bezuglaya E.Yu. What breathes industrial city. L., 1991 Alexandrov E.L., Israel Yu.A., Karol I.L., Khrgian L.Kh. Ozone shield of the Earth and its changes. St. Petersburg, 1992 Climate, weather, ecology of Moscow. St. Petersburg, 1995

Collier Encyclopedia. - Open society. 2000 .

Atmospheric air protection is a key problem in the improvement of the natural environment. Atmospheric air occupies a special position among other components of the biosphere. Its significance for all life on Earth cannot be overestimated. A person can go without food for five weeks, without water for five days, and without air for only five minutes. At the same time, the air must have a certain purity and any deviation from the norm is dangerous to health.

Atmospheric air also performs the most complex protective ecological function, protecting the Earth from the absolutely cold Cosmos and the flow of solar radiation. Global meteorological processes take place in the atmosphere, climate and weather are formed, a mass of meteorites is delayed.

The atmosphere has the ability to self-purify. It occurs when aerosols are washed out of the atmosphere by precipitation, turbulent mixing of the surface layer of air, deposition of polluted substances on the surface of the earth, etc. However, under modern conditions, the possibilities of natural systems for self-purification of the atmosphere are seriously undermined. Under the massive onslaught of anthropogenic pollution, very undesirable environmental consequences, including those of a global nature, began to appear in the atmosphere. For this reason, atmospheric air no longer fully fulfills its protective, thermoregulatory and life-supporting ecological functions.

Outdoor air pollution

Atmospheric air pollution should be understood as any change in its composition and properties that has a negative impact on human and animal health, the condition of plants and ecosystems.

Atmospheric pollution can be natural (natural) and anthropogenic (technogenic).

Natural air pollution is caused by natural processes. These include volcanic activity, weathering of rocks, wind erosion, mass flowering of plants, smoke from forest and steppe fires, etc. Anthropogenic pollution is associated with the release of various pollutants during human activities. In terms of its scale, it significantly exceeds natural air pollution.

Depending on the scale of distribution, various types of atmospheric pollution are distinguished: local, regional and global. Local pollution is characterized by an increased content of pollutants in small areas (city, industrial area, agricultural zone, etc.). With regional pollution, significant areas are involved in the sphere of negative impact, but not the entire planet. Global pollution is associated with changes in the state of the atmosphere as a whole.

According to the state of aggregation, emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere are classified into:

3) solid (carcinogenic substances, lead and its compounds, organic and inorganic dust, soot, tarry substances, etc.).

The main pollutants (pollutants) of the atmospheric air generated in the process of industrial and other human activities are sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter. They account for about 98% of the total emissions of harmful substances. In addition to the main pollutants, more than 70 types of harmful substances are observed in the atmosphere of cities and towns, including formaldehyde, hydrogen fluoride, lead compounds, ammonia, phenol, benzene, carbon disulfide, etc. However, it is the concentrations of the main pollutants (sulfur dioxide, etc.) most often exceed the permissible levels in many Russian cities.

The total global release into the atmosphere of the four main pollutants (iollutants) of the atmosphere. In addition to these main pollutants, many other very dangerous toxic substances enter the atmosphere: lead, mercury, cadmium and other heavy metals (emission sources: cars, smelters, etc.); hydrocarbons (among them, benz (a) pyrene is the most dangerous. It has a carcinogenic effect (exhaust gases, coal furnaces, etc.), aldehydes and, first of all, formaldehyde, hydrogen sulfide, toxic volatile solvents (gasolines, alcohols, ethers), etc.

Emission into the atmosphere of the main pollutants (pollutants) in the world and in Russia:

Substances, million tons	sulphur dioxide	nitrogen oxides	carbon monoxide	Solid particles
Total global emission
Russia (only stationary sources)
Russia (including all sources),

The most dangerous pollution of the atmosphere is radioactive. At present, it is mainly due to globally distributed long-lived radioactive isotopes - products of nuclear weapons tests conducted in the atmosphere and underground. The surface layer of the atmosphere is also polluted by emissions of radioactive substances into the atmosphere from operating nuclear power plants during their normal operation and other sources.

Another form of atmospheric pollution is local excess heat input from anthropogenic sources. A sign of thermal (thermal) pollution of the atmosphere is the so-called thermal waves, for example, a “heat island” in cities, warming of water bodies, etc.

In general, the level of atmospheric air pollution in our country, especially in Russian cities, remains high, despite a significant decline in production, which is associated primarily with an increase in the number of cars, including faulty ones.

Main sources of air pollution

Currently, the main contribution to atmospheric air pollution in Russia is made by the following industries: thermal power engineering (thermal and nuclear power plants, industrial and municipal boiler houses, etc.), then ferrous metallurgy, oil production and petrochemistry, transport, metallurgy enterprises and production of building materials.

The role of various sectors of the economy in air pollution in the developed industrial countries of the West is somewhat different. So, for example, the main amount of emissions of harmful substances in the USA, Great Britain and Germany is accounted for by motor vehicles (50-60%), while the share of heat power is much less, only 16-20%.

Thermal and nuclear power plants. Boiler installations. In the process of burning solid or liquid fuels, smoke is released into the atmosphere, containing products of complete (carbon dioxide and water vapor) and incomplete (oxides of carbon, sulfur, nitrogen, hydrocarbons, etc.) combustion. The volume of energy emissions is very high. Thus, a modern thermal power plant with a capacity of 2.4 million kW consumes up to 20 thousand tons of coal per day and emits 680 tons of SO2 and SO3 into the atmosphere per day, 120-140 tons of solid particles (ash, dust, soot), 200 tons of nitrogen oxides .

The conversion of installations to liquid fuel (fuel oil) reduces ash emissions, but practically does not reduce emissions of sulfur and nitrogen oxides. The most environmentally friendly gas fuel, which pollutes the atmosphere three times less than fuel oil, and five times less than coal.

Sources of air pollution with toxic substances at nuclear power plants (NPPs) are radioactive iodine, radioactive inert gases and aerosols. A large source of energy pollution of the atmosphere - the heating system of dwellings (boiler plants) produces little nitrogen oxides, but many products of incomplete combustion. Due to the low height of the chimneys, toxic substances in high concentrations are dispersed near the boiler plants.

Ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy. When smelting one ton of steel, 0.04 tons of solid particles, 0.03 tons of sulfur oxides and up to 0.05 tons of carbon monoxide are emitted into the atmosphere, as well as in small quantities such hazardous pollutants as manganese, lead, phosphorus, arsenic, and mercury vapours. and others. In the process of steelmaking, vapor-gas mixtures consisting of phenol, formaldehyde, benzene, ammonia and other toxic substances are emitted into the atmosphere. The atmosphere is also significantly polluted at sinter plants, at blast furnace and ferroalloy production.

Significant emissions of exhaust gases and dust containing toxic substances are observed at non-ferrous metallurgy plants during the processing of lead-scurvy, copper, sulfide ores, in the production of aluminum, etc.

Chemical production. Emissions from this industry, although small in volume (about 2% of all industrial emissions), nevertheless, due to their very high toxicity, significant diversity and concentration, pose a significant threat to humans and the entire biota. In a variety of chemical industries, atmospheric air is polluted by sulfur oxides, fluorine compounds, ammonia, nitrous gases (a mixture of nitrogen oxides), chloride compounds, hydrogen sulfide, inorganic dust, etc.).

Vehicle emissions. There are several hundred million cars in the world that burn a huge amount of oil products, significantly polluting the air, especially in large cities. The exhaust gases of internal combustion engines (especially carburetor ones) contain a huge amount of toxic compounds - benzapyrene, aldehydes, nitrogen and carbon oxides, and especially dangerous lead compounds (in the case of leaded gasoline).

The largest amount of harmful substances in the composition of the exhaust gases is formed when the vehicle's fuel system is not adjusted. Its correct adjustment allows to reduce their number by 1.5 times, and special converters reduce the toxicity of exhaust gases by six or more times.

Intensive atmospheric air pollution is also noted during the extraction and processing of mineral raw materials, at oil and gas refineries, with the release of dust and gases from underground mine workings, with the burning of garbage and burning rocks in dumps (heaps), etc. In rural areas, foci air pollution are livestock and poultry farms, industrial complexes for the production of meat, pesticide spraying, etc.

“Every inhabitant of the Earth is also a potential victim of strategic (transboundary) pollution,” A. Gore emphasizes in the book “The Earth in the Scales”. Transboundary pollution refers to pollution transferred from the territory of one country to the area of ​​another. Due to its unfavorable geographical position, the European part of Russia received 1204 thousand tons of sulfur compounds from Ukraine, Germany, Poland and other countries. At the same time, in other countries, only 190 thousand tons of sulfur fell out from Russian sources of pollution, i.e., 6.3 times less.

Outdoor air pollution

Air pollution affects human health and the natural environment in various ways - from a direct and immediate threat (smog, etc.) to a slow and gradual destruction of various life support systems of the body. In many cases, air pollution disrupts ecosystem components to such an extent that regulatory processes are unable to return them to their original state, and as a result, homeostatic mechanisms do not work.

The physiological impact on the human body of the main pollutants (pollutants) is fraught with the most serious consequences. So, sulfur dioxide, combining with moisture, forms sulfuric acid, which destroys the lung tissue of humans and animals.

The effect of carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide) on the human body is widely known: in case of poisoning, a fatal outcome is possible. Due to the low concentration of CO in the atmospheric air, it does not cause mass poisoning, although it is dangerous for those suffering from cardiovascular diseases.

Among the suspended solids, the most dangerous particles are less than 5 microns in size, which can penetrate the lymph nodes, linger in the alveoli of the lungs, and clog the mucous membranes.

Very unfavorable consequences that can affect a huge time interval are also associated with such minor emissions as lead, benzo (a) pyrene, phosphorus, cadmium, arsenic, cobalt, etc. They depress the hematopoietic system, cause oncological diseases, reduce body resistance to infections, etc.

The consequences of exposure to the human body of harmful substances contained in the exhaust gases of cars are very serious and have the widest range of action: from coughing to death. Severe consequences in the body of living beings are caused by a toxic mixture of smoke, fog and dust - smog. There are two types of smog: winter smog (London type) and summer smog (Los Angeles type).

Anthropogenic emissions of pollutants in high concentrations and for a long time cause great harm not only to humans, but also to the rest of the biota. There are known cases of mass poisoning of wild animals, especially birds and insects, when emissions of harmful pollutants in high concentrations (especially salvos).

As for plants, the emissions of harmful substances act both directly on their green parts, getting through the stomata into tissues, destroying chlorophyll and cell structure, and through the soil - on the root system. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is especially dangerous for plants, under the influence of which photosynthesis stops and many trees die, especially conifers: pines, spruces, fir, cedar.

Environmental consequences of global air pollution

The "greenhouse effect", along with ozone depletion and acid rain, is caused by global man-made air pollution. Many scientists consider them as the biggest environmental problems of our time. From the second half of the XIX century. A gradual increase in the average annual temperature is observed, which is associated with the accumulation in the atmosphere of the so-called "greenhouse gases" - carbon dioxide, methane, freons, ozone, nitrogen oxide, etc.

Greenhouse gases block long-wavelength thermal radiation from the Earth's surface, and an atmosphere saturated with them acts like the roof of a greenhouse. It, passing inward, most of the solar radiation, almost does not let out the heat radiated by the Earth.

In connection with the burning of more and more fossil fuels (annually more than 9 billion tons of standard fuel), the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is constantly increasing. Due to emissions into the atmosphere during industrial production and in everyday life, the content of freons, methane, and, to a lesser extent, nitrogen oxide increases.

The "greenhouse effect" is the cause of the increase in the average global air temperature near the earth's surface. The report of the UN International Panel on Climate Change claims that by 2100 the temperature on Earth will increase by 2-4 degrees. The scale of warming in this relatively short period will be comparable to the warming that occurred on Earth after the ice age, which means that the environmental consequences can be catastrophic. First of all, this is an increase in the level of the World Ocean due to the melting of polar ice, a reduction in the areas of mountain glaciation, etc. An increase in ocean level of only 0.5-2.0 m by the end of the 21st century will lead to a violation of the climatic balance, flooding of coastal plains in more than 30 countries, degradation of permafrost, swamping of vast territories, etc. Obviously, that a tangible environmental effect can only be obtained by combining these measures with the global direction of environmental policy - the maximum possible preservation of communities of organisms, natural ecosystems and the entire biosphere of the Earth.

"Ozone holes" are significant spaces in the ozone layer of the atmosphere at an altitude of 20-25 km with a markedly reduced (up to 50% or more) ozone content. The depletion of the ozone layer is recognized by all as a serious threat to global environmental security. It weakens the ability of the atmosphere to protect all life from harsh ultraviolet radiation (“UV radiation”). Therefore, in areas with a low ozone content, sunburns are numerous, increasing | number of skin cancer cases, etc.

Both natural and anthropogenic origin of "ozone holes" is assumed. The latter, according to most scientists, is more likely and is associated with an increased content of chlorofluorocarbons (freons). Freons are widely used in industrial production and in everyday life (cooling units, solvents, sprayers, aerosol packages, etc.). In the atmosphere, freons decompose with the release of chlorine oxide, which has a detrimental effect on ozone molecules.

"Acid rain" is formed by industrial emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere, which, when combined with atmospheric moisture, form dilute sulfuric and nitric acids. As a result, rain and snow are acidified (pH value below 5.6).

The total global anthropogenic emissions of SO2 and NOx amount to more than 255 million tons annually. Acidification of the natural environment negatively affects the state of ecosystems. Under the action of acid precipitation, not only nutrients are leached from the soil, but also toxic metals: lead, cadmium, aluminum, etc. Then they themselves or their toxic compounds are absorbed by plants and soil organisms, which leads to very negative consequences.

The impact of acid rain reduces the resistance of forests to droughts, diseases, natural pollution, which leads to their degradation as natural ecosystems. Fifty million hectares of forest in 25 European countries are affected by a complex mixture of pollutants. Coniferous mountain forests are dying in the Northern Appalachians and Bavaria. There have been cases of damage to coniferous and deciduous forests in Karelia, Siberia and other regions of our country.

An example of the negative impact of acid rain on natural ecosystems is the acidification of lakes. It is especially intense in Canada, Sweden, Norway and Finland. This is explained by the fact that a significant part of sulfur emissions in the USA, Germany and Great Britain falls on their territory.

In Russia, the area of ​​acidification is several tens of millions of hectares. Cases of acidification of the lakes of Karelia are known. Increased acidity of precipitation is observed along the western border (transboundary transport) and in a number of large industrial regions. For example, in the region of the city of Norilsk and in the Northern Urals, vast areas of taiga and forest-tundra have become almost lifeless due to emissions of sulfur dioxide by the Norilsk Mining and Chemical Combine.

Sources of air pollution

The main sources of air pollution are natural and anthropogenic. The main natural sources of atmospheric air pollution are wind erosion, volcanism, biological processes, forest fires, the removal of substances from the surface of the seas and oceans, and space substances. Anthropogenic sources of atmospheric air pollution include transport, industry, household services, and agriculture. The main industrial sources of pollutant emissions are thermal power engineering, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, chemical industry, production of building materials. Of all modes of transport, road transport is distinguished by a significant amount of pollutants.

The main natural source of air pollution is wind erosion. On the entire earth's surface, 4.6-8.3 billion tons of terrigenous dust are annually deposited from the atmosphere (oceans account for 10-20% of the total flow). The main areas of this dust formation are steppes and deserts. Depending on the power of dust formation, global and local sources are distinguished. The global sources include the Sahara region, the Gobi and Takla-Makan deserts, the local ones are the deserts of Central Asia, Mongolia, China, etc. These areas are characterized by increased air dustiness: in the Sahara, 60-200 million tons of terrigenous aerosol enter the air annually.

The level of dust content in the air is affected by the degree of moisture content of the soil cover, the absence and poor development of vegetation. Therefore, the main areas of terrigenous dust formation are areas with a small amount of atmospheric precipitation and a significant amount of solar radiation. For example, for dry soil, with an increase in wind speed up to 4 m/s, constant dustiness of the surface air is observed. At a wind speed of more than 4 m/s, there is a sharp increase in the dust content in the air. Therefore, there is a latitudinal zonality in the distribution of dust. For example, in Russia the amount of air suspension increases from 5-20 µg/m3 in forests to 20-100 µg/m3 in steppes, 100-150 µg/m3 in dry steppes and deserts of Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

The second natural source of air pollution is volcanism. The contribution of volcanism to atmospheric aerosol is estimated at about 40 million tons per year (from 4 to 250 million tons), which is about 0.5% of the mass of soil aerosol. Large volcanic eruptions are accompanied by the formation of gas and ash clouds, the area and mass of which is comparable to the largest dust clouds of eolian origin. The ejecta products of large volcanic eruptions move at a distance of 1000 km. For example, during a volcanic eruption in Alaska, ash material entered the Atlantic through Canada and the United States. However, most of the ejected material is concentrated near volcanoes.

As a result of volcanic eruptions, dust and gases are emitted into the atmosphere: CO2, SO2, H2O, H2, N, NCl, HF, etc. In all likelihood, the existence of a sulfate aerosol layer in the stratosphere is associated with volcanic activity.

Biological processes affect the content of CO2, O2, N in the atmosphere. Plants are responsible for the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Microorganisms convert molecular nitrogen into other compounds and form molecular nitrogen from organic matter, ammonium, nitrate and nitrite salts.

Microbiological processes play an important role in the content of sulfur compounds in the atmosphere. Sulfur is a part of amino acids, after the death of plants, the main part of organic sulfur is decomposed by microorganisms. Under anaerobic conditions, hydrogen sulfide is formed, and under aerobic conditions, sulfates are formed. During microbiological destruction, organic substances emit a significant amount of methane into the atmosphere.

Insects play a certain role in the formation of the gas composition of the atmosphere. Annually, termite mounds emit 4.6-10 16 g of CO2 into the atmosphere; 1.5-10 14 g CH4; 1.0-10 13 g CO.

Plants produce large amounts of pollen. At the height of flowering, a single plant releases several million pollen granules per day into the air. In spring, the maximum amount of pollen is released by trees, in summer - by sorrel and plantain, in autumn - by meadow cross. The pollen of grasses and pines can remain in suspension for a long time and move to a considerable height. For example, in the USA, pollen clouds are found up to a height of 12 thousand meters. Plant pollen is the cause of a number of allergic respiratory diseases.

Forest fires are a significant source of air pollution. Fires affect the gas composition of the atmosphere. The ground part of the biomass, which usually partially burns during fires, is 70-80%. If we assume that during forest fires, on average, 30% of surface biomass burns out, then from 1 km2 of forest area (covered by fires), 5-6 thousand tons of carbon (in the form of CO2, CO and hydrocarbons) are emitted in tropical forests, in forests temperate zone - from 300 to 1200 tons.

The source of air pollution is the seas and oceans. Evaporation of moisture from these reservoirs enriches the air with crystals of sea salts. These salts are mainly represented by sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, potassium bromide. The largest amount of salts enters the atmosphere during large waves and storms. In the coastal regions of Great Britain, from 25 to 35 g of salts fall out per 1 m2 of soil, 70% of which consists of sodium chloride.

Cosmic dust enters the atmosphere (up to 10 thousand tons/day). The origin of the dust has not been established. This dust is associated with the sun or is formed in the zodiacal nebulae. According to the content of chemical elements, the particles are divided into "stone" and "iron". Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Ti, Cr predominate in "stone" particles (they make up 75% of cosmic particles), and Fe, Co, Ni predominate in "iron" particles. The increase in the amount of cosmic dust disrupts the thermal balance of the atmosphere, which affects the climate.

As noted above, anthropogenic sources of air pollution are industry, transport, household and agriculture. The structure of pollutant emissions is different depending on the source of emissions.

According to the state of aggregation, emissions of harmful substances are classified into:

1) gaseous (sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, etc.);
2) liquid (acids, alkalis, salt solutions, etc.);
3) solid (dust, soot, etc.).

Anthropogenic air pollution is represented by both primary and secondary impurities. Secondary impurities are formed as a result of chemical reactions between several compounds or between an admixture and natural gas. These impurities include aldehydes.

In the total air pollution in some countries, the participation of industry is 35%, domestic heating systems - about 23%, vehicles - 42%. Every day, New York alone emits 4 thousand tons of carbon monoxide, more than 3 thousand tons of sulfur dioxide and 300 tons of industrial dust into the atmosphere.

In Russia, thermal power engineering is the main source of air pollution. Oil and refined products burned in thermal power plants determine the level of air pollution in Western Europe by almost 60%. During the processing and combustion of fuel, solid particles, carbon dioxide, sulfur and nitrogen oxides, and metal oxides are formed. Vanadium oxide and benzopyrene are the most toxic ingredients.). The efficiency of power plants is 30-40%, i.е. most of the fuel is wasted. The resulting energy is eventually converted into heat. Consequently, in addition to chemical, there is thermal pollution of the atmosphere.

Ferrous metallurgy is the next largest source of air pollution. Metallurgical enterprises deliver large volumes of dust, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide into the atmosphere, as well as phenol, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, naphthalene, benzene, cyclic hydrocarbons and other chemicals. The chemical and petrochemical industries, due to the diversification of enterprises, are characterized by a wide variety of quantitative and qualitative composition of emitted gases. The structure of forest industry emissions is represented by nitrogen oxides, sulfates, and organic substances.

Air pollution level

Observations of the state of atmospheric air indicate a decrease in the average concentrations of suspended solids, soluble sulfates, ammonia, benzo (a) pyrene, soot, hydrogen sulfide, formaldehyde, due to a decline in production and the closure of enterprises. At the same time, the average concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbon disulfide, phenol, hydrogen fluoride increased, which is associated with the irregularity of the work of enterprises. An increase in the concentrations of carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and formaldehyde was also noted on the highways of large cities and the territories adjacent to them.

Thus, according to observations, over a number of years in 254 cities of Russia, the level of air pollution has changed insignificantly.

The average annual concentrations of suspended solids (dust), nitrogen dioxide, phenol and hydrogen fluoride reached one MPC, carbon disulfide exceeded 2 MPC, formaldehyde - 3 MPC, benzo (a) pyrene - 1 MPC and the standard of the World Health Organization - 2.6 times. All environmental pollutants have specific emission sources. Most of them, under the influence of natural factors, are neutralized or destroyed over time.

Every year, when analyzing information on atmospheric air pollution, cities with the highest level of air pollution are included in the priority list of cities. For example, when compiling such a list, due to the harsh winter, the concentrations of benzo (a) pyrene caused by emissions from boilers and stove heating increased. Compared with the previous year, an increase in the average concentrations of benzo (a) pyrene by 22% was noted.

Due to atmospheric air pollution by this substance, the priority list has expanded to include 45 cities. In Angarsk, Kamensk-Uralsky, Norilsk, Omsk, Stavropol, Usolie-Sibirsky, air pollution levels continued to rise.

Air pollution in the cities included in the list is characterized by high concentrations of specific pollutants. In almost every city, the greatest contribution to air pollution is determined by the concentrations of benz (a) pyrene, formaldehyde, methyl mercaptan, carbon disulfide, benzene and other substances.

The main contribution to the high level of air pollution is made by enterprises of ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, chemistry and petrochemistry, construction industry, energy, pulp and paper industry, and in some cities, boiler houses. From year to year, atmospheric air pollution by substances characteristic of road transport is increasing.

The main cause of high air pollution is emissions of specific substances. In order to take effective measures to improve the quality of atmospheric air and emissions from industrial enterprises and vehicles in cities, primarily benzo (a) pyrene, formaldehyde, ammonia, carbon disulfide and other pollutants that determine high air pollution in cities and industrial centers, special attention should be given to cities that are included for the first time in the list of cities with maximum single concentrations of pollutants exceeding 10 MPC, and with the highest level of air pollution.

One of the main air pollutants by mass is carbon dioxide CO2. Together with oxygen, it is an atmospheric biogen, which is mainly controlled by biota. In the 20th century, there has been an increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the share of which has increased by almost 25% since the beginning of the century, and by 13% over the past 40 years.

In addition, about 2% of the total mass of emissions into the atmosphere were harmful substances with high toxicity (carbon disulfide, fluorine compounds, benzo (a) pyrene, hydrogen sulfide, etc.). Industrial emissions are especially high from stationary sources - ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises in cities. For example, sulfur dioxide emissions (million tons / year): in Norilsk - 2.4, Monchegorsk - 0.2, Nikel - 0.19, Orsk - 0.17; carbon monoxide emissions (million tons/year): in Novokuznetsk - 0.44, Magnitogorsk - 0.43, Lipetsk - 0.41, Cherepovets - 0.4, Nizhny Tagil - 0.3, etc.

Hundreds of millions of tons of aerosols enter the atmosphere from natural and anthropogenic sources every year. Natural sources include dust storms, volcanic eruptions and forest fires. Gaseous emissions (eg SO2) lead to the formation of aerosols in the atmosphere. Despite the fact that aerosols stay in the troposphere for several days, they can cause a decrease in the average air temperature near the earth's surface by 0.1 - 0.3C0. No less dangerous for the atmosphere and biosphere are aerosols of anthropogenic origin, formed during the combustion of fuel or contained in industrial emissions. The mineral composition of aerosols of anthropogenic origin is diverse: iron and lead oxides, silicates, and soot. They are contained in emissions from thermal power plants, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, building materials, and road transport. Dust deposited in industrial areas contains up to 20% iron oxide, 15% silicates and 5% soot, as well as impurities of various metals (lead, vanadium, molybdenum, arsenic, antimony, etc.). Aerosols emitted into the atmosphere also contain chlorine, bromine, mercury, fluorine and other elements and compounds hazardous to human health.

The concentration of aerosols varies over a very wide range: from 10 mg/m3 in a clean atmosphere to 2.10 mg/m3 in industrial areas. The concentration of aerosols in industrial areas and large cities with heavy traffic is hundreds of times higher than in rural areas. Among aerosols of anthropogenic origin, lead is of particular danger to the biosphere, the concentration of which varies from 0.000001 mg/m3 for uninhabited areas to 0.0001 mg/m3 for residential areas. In cities, the concentration of lead is much higher - from 0.001 to 0.03 mg/m3.

Aerosols pollute not only the atmosphere, but also the stratosphere, affecting its spectral characteristics and causing a risk of damage to the ozone layer. Aerosols enter the stratosphere directly with emissions from supersonic aircraft, but there are aerosols and gases diffusing in the stratosphere.

The main aerosol of the atmosphere - sulfur dioxide (SO2), despite the large scale of its emissions into the atmosphere, is a short-lived gas (4 - 5 days). According to current estimates, at high altitudes, aircraft engine exhaust can increase natural SO2 levels by 20%. Although this figure is not large, an increase in the intensity of flights already in the 20th century may affect the albedo of the earth's surface in the direction of its increase. Emissions of SO2 in the surface layer can increase the optical depth of the atmosphere in the visible parts of the spectrum, which will lead to some decrease in the influx of solar radiation in the surface air layer. Thus, the climatic effect of SO2 emissions is opposite to the effect of CO2 emissions, however, the rapid washing out of sulfur dioxide by atmospheric precipitation significantly weakens its overall impact on the atmosphere and climate. The annual release of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere only as a result of industrial emissions is estimated at almost 150 million tons. Unlike carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide is a very unstable chemical compound. Under the influence of short-wave solar radiation, it quickly turns into sulfuric anhydride and, in contact with water vapor, is converted into sulfurous acid. In a polluted atmosphere containing nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide is quickly converted into sulfuric acid, which, when combined with water droplets, forms the so-called acid rain.

In practice, two standards are used to determine the degree of atmospheric air pollution: the maximum allowable average daily concentration (MACdc) - to assess averaged over a long period (from a day to a year) concentrations and MPCmr - to assess directly measured maximum single concentrations of a chemical in the air of populated areas ( at 20 min exposure).

Control of air pollution in Russia is carried out in almost 350 cities. The monitoring system includes 1200 stations and covers almost all cities with a population of more than 100 thousand inhabitants and cities with large industrial enterprises.

The maximum one-time concentrations of such air pollutants as dust, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, phenol, hydrogen fluoride exceed the corresponding MPCmr in more than 75% of the cities controlled for each impurity. In many cities, an excess of pollution by 5-10 times or more has been registered, while the air is polluted with several harmful substances at once. Among these most polluted cities are: Berezniki, Bratsk, Yekaterinburg, Krasnoyarsk, Lipetsk, Magnitogorsk, Moscow, Novokuznetsk, Norilsk, Cherepovets and many others.

More than 50 million people are exposed to various harmful substances contained in the air at concentrations equal to 10 MPC, and over 60 million people are exposed to harmful substances whose concentration exceeds 5 MPC.

Air pollution is greatly influenced by the precipitation of acidic compounds. Today, sulfuric and nitric acid precipitation falls on large areas of the Russian Federation. As a rule, they are formed in the area of ​​operation of non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises and chemical processing of sulfurous gas condensate, as well as on the trajectories of air mass transfer from these enterprises. So, in the Norilsk region, sulfuric acid precipitation poisoned the tundra, lakes and wildlife for many hundreds of kilometers around. Sulfuric acid emissions from Norilsk enterprises are carried with rain to Canada.

Transboundary pollution

Environmental pollution is significantly affected by transboundary transfers of pollutants from countries neighboring Russia.

The main areas of transboundary influence on the Russian atmosphere are:

Western and Eastern Europe (especially Germany and Poland);
- North-eastern regions of Estonia (shale mining and processing area);
- Ukraine (radioactive contamination in the Chernobyl region, a high concentration of industrial sites in the central part, in the Kharkiv region and Donbass);
- Northwest China (radioactive contamination);
- Northern Mongolia (mining regions).

The main areas of Russia's transboundary influence on the atmosphere of adjacent territories include:

Kola Peninsula (mining regions) - to Finland and Norway;
- St. Petersburg industrial hub - to Finland and Estonia;
Southern Urals (industrial and radioactive contamination) - to Kazakhstan;
- Novaya Zemlya, the Kara and Barents Seas - possible spread of radioactive contamination to adjacent territories.

The water exchange of Russia with adjacent territories is characterized by a significant predominance of the inflow of surface waters over their outflow. In addition, the state of the water resources of the Volga and Don basins has an impact on the ecological situation in the Caspian and Black Seas, which are interstate water bodies.

The meteorological synthesizing center "Vostok" within the framework of the EMEP program (MSC-E, Moscow), based on expert assessments of data on emissions, performed approximate calculations of the transboundary transport of lead and cadmium. The results of these calculations showed that the pollution of the territory of Russia with lead and cadmium transported from other countries, mainly from the countries that are parties to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution, significantly exceeds the pollution of the territory of these countries with lead and cadmium from Russian sources, which is due to the dominance west-east air mass transfer.

"Import" of these metals to Russia from Poland, Germany and Sweden is more than 10 times higher than their "export" from Russia. "Import" of lead from Ukraine, Belarus and Latvia is 5 - 7 times higher than its "export" from Russia, and "import" of cadmium from these countries and Finland - 7 - 8 times. At the same time, lead deposition in the European territory of Russia (ETR) is quite significant and annually: from Ukraine - about 1100 tons, Poland and Belarus - 180 - 190 tons each, Germany - more than 130 tons. , Poland - almost 9 tons, Belarus - about 7 tons, Germany - more than 5 tons, Finland - over 6 tons. These receipts are especially significant for the western regions of Russia.

From the sources of the Russian Federation, the total fallout of lead and cadmium on its European territories is about 70%, and the sources of other countries account for 30%. However, the share of transboundary pollution of the western regions of Russia with these metals significantly exceeds 30%.

city ​​air pollution

Clean air plays a very important role for the normal functioning of the human body. After all, scientists have long found out that not only the functioning of the respiratory system, but also the activity of other organs and systems largely depends on the qualitative composition of the atmosphere. People who live in cities with especially polluted air are more likely to seek doctoral help than those who live in ecologically clean places.

Air pollution by enterprises

Among the most polluted cities in Russia there are a number of settlements that are subject to extreme density of emissions into the environment from industrial enterprises.

In the first place are such cities as Norilsk, Zapolyarny, Karabash, and Satka. In these settlements, non-ferrous metallurgy is based on outdated technologies. Thus, about 2,000 tons of pollutants are emitted into the atmosphere in Norilsk every year.

The second place among the dirtiest industrial cities is Sterezhevoy, located in the Tomsk region, where oil production flourishes.

As for the third place, it contains the cities of Myshkin and Polysaevo, where gas compressor stations are located.

The highest rates of atmospheric pollution are recorded in the settlements where the largest coal-fired state distribution stations in Russia are located - the village of Reftinsky in the Sverdlovsk Region, the city of Troitsk in the Chelyabinsk Region.

Air pollution from vehicles

There are a number of cities in Russia, the atmosphere of which is ninety percent affected by pollution from vehicle exhaust gases. Among these settlements are Nazran (99.8%) and Nalchik (more than 95%). In addition, they include Elista, Krasnodar, Stavropol, Rostov-on-Don, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kaluga and Voronezh. Thus, the total annual emissions in Moscow reach almost 995 thousand tons, and in St. Petersburg - about 488 thousand tons.

A significant density of polluting emissions from vehicles is typical for cities that are the centers of regions (Kazan, Tver, Tambov, etc.), for large port and resort cities (Sochi and Novorossiysk), as well as for settlements with an increased number of vehicles (for example, Tolyatti). So in Tolyatti, 71.3 thousand tons of emissions enter the air annually, and in Novorossiysk - about 67.8 thousand tons.

Cities such as Orsk, Karabash, Nizhny Tagil, Bryansk, Astrakhan, Penza, etc. are considered to be the cleanest from automobile exhausts. Far Eastern cities are also relatively clean, in which Japanese cars are actively used.

There are also 46 cities in Russia that equally suffer from emissions from various industrial enterprises and vehicles. They are represented mainly by regional capitals: Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Omsk, Volgograd, Barnaul, Ryazan, Kemerovo, etc. Their lists also include such settlements as Salekhard, Novorossiysk, Biysk, Vyborg, etc.

So, for example, in Novosibirsk, 128.5 thousand tons of aggressive substances are emitted into the air annually, and in Volgograd - 134.1 thousand tons of aggressive substances.

From the point of view of the general level of air pollution, the maximum amount of various emissions is observed in Norilsk, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Cherepovets and Asbest.

Atmospheric air pollution in cities around the world

If we talk about the level of air pollution in the world, then there are a number of cities that are absolute leaders. Among them are several Chinese cities, for example, Linfen and Tianjin. The air of these settlements is polluted by industrial emissions and automobile exhausts. So, for example, in Tianjin, the concentration of lead in the air exceeds the norm by ten times. Thus, we can conclude that the maximum air pollution by enterprises is typical for industrial countries, among which China should be singled out in the first place.

The most polluted cities in the world include some settlements in Iran, for example, Ahvaz, Senandej, Kermanshah, etc. These are provincial cities dominated by heavy industry.

If we pay attention only to air pollution from cars, then the largest cities, represented by Madrid, Stockholm, Vienna, Tokyo, Toronto, Los Angeles and New York, are most affected by exhaust gases. So in Madrid, about 200 tons of lead per year gets into the air, as well as in Vienna.

Ukraine

In second place is Mariupol, on the territory of which there are several metallurgical plants of the giants. A year in such a city, 294,000 tons of aggressive substances enter the air.

Air pollution from transport, more precisely from automobile exhausts, is the strongest in Odessa, Kyiv and Uzhgorod.

Human air pollution is increasing with the level of industrialization. However, the level of development of modern science helps to reduce the amount of aggressive substances entering the atmosphere from industrial enterprises and cars by an order of magnitude. Most developed countries have been actively using such technologies in everyday life for many decades.

Air pollution problem

Two global environmental problems associated with air pollution pose a serious threat to the health and prosperity of mankind and other forms of life: abnormally high values ​​of ultraviolet radiation from the Sun coming to the earth's surface, due to a decrease in the ozone content in the stratosphere, and climate change (global warming) caused by into the atmosphere of a large number of so-called. greenhouse gases.

Both problems are closely interrelated, since they depend on the entry into the atmosphere of almost the same gases of anthropogenic origin. For example, fluorochlorine-containing freons (chlorofluorocarbons) contribute to the destruction of the ozone layer and play an important role in the occurrence of the greenhouse effect.

Depletion of the ozone layer. Stratospheric ozone is concentrated mainly at altitudes from 20 to 25 km. Absorbing 99% of the short-wave radiation of the Sun, which is dangerous for all living things, ozone protects the earth's surface and the troposphere from it, protecting people from sunburn, skin and eye cancer, cataracts, and so on. In addition, it does not allow most of the tropospheric oxygen to turn into ozone.

Along with the formation of ozone in the atmosphere, the reverse process of its decay takes place, which also occurs during the absorption of solar ultraviolet radiation. Hydrogen oxides (HOx), methane (CH4), gaseous hydrogen (H2), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the atmosphere can also deplete stratospheric ozone. If there is no anthropogenic impact, there is a certain balance between the formation and decay of ozone molecules.

The global chemical time bomb is artificial chlorofluorocarbons, which help reduce the average concentration of ozone in the troposphere. Chlorofluorocarbons, first synthesized in 1928 and known as freons, or freons, became a marvel of chemistry in the 1940s. Chemically inert, non-toxic, odorless, non-flammable, non-corrosive to metals and alloys, and inexpensive to manufacture, they quickly gained popularity and were widely used as refrigerants. Sources of chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere are aerosol cans, damaged refrigerators, and air conditioners. It is obvious that freon molecules are too inert and do not decay in the troposphere, but slowly rise up and after 10-20 years enter the stratosphere. There, ultraviolet radiation from the sun destroys the molecules of these substances (the so-called photolytic decomposition process), as a result of which the chlorine atom is released. It reacts with ozone to form atomic oxygen (O) and an oxygen molecule (O2). Chlorine oxide (Cl2O) is unstable and reacts with a free oxygen atom to form an oxygen molecule and a free chlorine atom. Therefore, a single chlorine atom, once formed from the decay of a chlorofluorocarbon, can destroy thousands of ozone molecules.

Due to seasonal decreases in ozone concentration (the so-called ozone holes), which were observed, in particular, over Antarctica and, to a lesser extent, over other regions, short-wave ultraviolet radiation of the Sun, dangerous for a living cell, can penetrate to the earth's surface. According to forecasts, increased doses of ultraviolet radiation will lead to an increase in the number of victims of sunburn, as well as an increase in the incidence of skin cancer (this trend is already observed in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina and Chile), eye cataracts, etc.

The greenhouse effect. The Swedish chemist Svante Arrhenius was the first to suggest the heating of the atmosphere and the earth's surface as a result of the greenhouse effect. Solar energy enters the Earth's atmosphere in the form of short-wave radiation. Some of it is reflected into outer space, the other is absorbed by air molecules and heats it, and about half reaches the earth's surface. The surface of the Earth heats up and emits long-wave radiation, which has less energy than short-wave radiation. After that, the radiation passes through the atmosphere and is partly lost in space, while most of it is absorbed by the atmosphere and re-reflected to the Earth's surface.

This process of secondary reflection of radiation is possible due to the presence in the air, albeit in small concentrations, of impurities of many gases (the so-called greenhouse gases) of both natural and anthropogenic origin. They transmit shortwave radiation but absorb or reflect longwave radiation. The amount of thermal energy retained depends on the concentration of greenhouse gases and how long they stay in the atmosphere.

The main greenhouse gases are water vapor, carbon dioxide, ozone, methane, nitrous oxide and chlorofluorocarbons. Undoubtedly, the most important among them is water vapor, and the contribution of carbon dioxide is also significant. 90% of the carbon dioxide annually released into the atmosphere is formed during respiration (oxidation of organic compounds by plant and animal cells). However, this intake is compensated by its consumption by green plants in the process of photosynthesis. The average concentration of carbon dioxide in the troposphere due to human activity increases by about 0.4% annually. Based on computer simulations, a forecast was made according to which, as a result of an increase in the content of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the troposphere, global warming will inevitably occur. If it is justified and the average air temperature on Earth rises by only a few degrees, the consequences can be catastrophic: the climate and weather will change, the conditions for growing plants, including crops, will be significantly disrupted, droughts will become more frequent, glaciers and ice sheets will begin to melt, which, in in turn, will lead to an increase in the level of the World Ocean and flooding of the coastal lowlands.

indoor air pollution

Indoor air pollution is the leading cause of cancer. The main sources of this pollution are radon, products of incomplete combustion, and the evaporation of chemicals.

Radon. Radon exposure is believed to be the second leading cause of lung cancer. This mainly occurs in houses that have been built on loose sediments or bedrock enriched with uranium-bearing minerals. Radon gas - a product of the radioactive decay of uranium - enters the house, seeping from the soil. The solution to this problem largely depends on the type of building structures. In addition, the improvement of the ecological situation is facilitated by the ventilation of buildings, for example, the ventilation windows of foundations. Ventilation pipes inserted into the base of the foundation can remove radon directly from the ground to the outside, into the atmosphere.

products of incomplete combustion. Incomplete combustion of fuels in stoves, fireplaces and other heating devices, as well as smoking, produce carcinogenic chemicals such as hydrocarbons. In homes, carbon monoxide is a major concern, as it is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, making it very difficult to detect. Undoubtedly, the main and very insidious indoor air pollutant, and, therefore, very dangerous for human health, is cigarette smoke, which causes lung cancer and many other respiratory and heart diseases. Even non-smokers, being in the same room with smokers (so-called passive smokers), put themselves at great risk.

Isolation of chemicals. Mothballs, bleaches, paints, shoe polish, various cleaning products, deodorants are just a few of the wide range of chemicals that every person (especially industrial workers) is exposed to on an almost daily basis and which release carcinogens. For example, plastics, synthetic fibers, and cleaners evaporate benzene, while foam insulation, plywood, and chipboard are sources of formaldehyde. Such emissions can cause headache, dizziness and nausea.

Protection of air from pollution

Have you ever thought about how important air is in our lives? Just imagine that human life cannot last more than two minutes without it. We rarely think about it, taking the air for granted, however, there is a real problem - the Earth's atmosphere is already quite polluted. And she suffered at the hands of man. And this means that all life on the planet is in danger, because we constantly inhale various toxic substances and impurities. How to protect the air from pollution?

How do people and their activities affect the state of the atmosphere?

The faster the modern society develops, the more needs it has. People need more cars, more appliances, more products for everyday use, the list goes on. However, the bottom line is that in order to meet the needs of modern people, you need to constantly produce and build something.

To do this, forests are rapidly cut down, new companies are created, plants and factories are opened, which daily emit tons of chemical waste, soot, gases, and all kinds of harmful substances into the atmosphere. Every year, hundreds of thousands of new cars appear on the roads, each of which contributes to air pollution. People unreasonably use resources, minerals, dry up rivers, and all these actions directly or indirectly affect the state of the Earth's atmosphere.

The gradually deteriorating ozone layer, designed to protect all life from radioactive solar radiation, is evidence of unreasonable human activity. Its further thinning and destruction will lead to the death of both living organisms and the plant world. How to save the planet from atmospheric pollution?

What are the main sources of air pollution?

modern auto industry. Currently, there are more than 1 billion cars on the roads of all countries of the world. In Western and European countries, almost every family has at its disposal several cars. Each of them is a source of exhaust gases that enter the atmosphere in tons. In China, India and Russia, the situation does not seem to be the same yet, but the number of cars in the CIS has clearly increased significantly.

Factories and plants. Of course, we cannot do without industry, but we should not forget that when we receive the goods we need, in return we pay with clean air. Soon, humanity will have nothing to breathe if factories and industrial enterprises do not learn how to process their own waste instead of releasing it into the atmosphere.

Combustion products of oil and coal consumed at thermal power plants rise into the air, filling it with very harmful impurities. In the future, toxic waste falls out with precipitation, feeding the soil with chemicals. Because of this, green spaces are dying, but they are necessary to absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. What would we do without oxygen? We will perish ... So air pollution and human health are in direct proportion.

Measures to protect air from pollution

What measures can humanity take to stop polluting the air on the planet? Scientists have long known the answer to this question, but in reality, few people are implementing these measures.

What should be done:

1. Officials should strengthen control over the organization of the work of factories and industrial enterprises that is safe for nature and the environment. It is necessary to oblige the owners of all factories to install treatment facilities in order to reduce harmful emissions into the atmosphere to zero. Violations of these obligations should be penalized, possibly in the form of a ban on the operation of enterprises that continue to pollute the air.
2. To release new cars that would work only on environmentally friendly fuel. If the production of cars that consume gasoline and diesel fuel as fuel is stopped, and replaced by electric cars or hybrid cars, then buyers will have no choice. People will buy cars that do not harm the atmosphere. Over time, there will be a complete replacement of old cars with new, environmentally friendly ones, which will bring great benefits to us, the inhabitants of the planet. Already now, many people living in the countries of the European continent make a choice in favor of such transport.
The number of electric vehicles in the world has already reached 1.26 million. According to the forecast of the International Energy Association, in order to prevent a rise in temperature due to warming by more than 2 degrees, it is necessary to increase the number of electric vehicles on the roads to 150 million by 2030 and 1 billion by 2050 with other available production indicators.
3. Ecologists agree that if the operation of obsolete thermal power plants is stopped, the situation will stabilize. However, first you need to find and implement new ways of extracting energy resources. Many of them are already successfully used. People have learned to turn the energy of the sun, water and wind into electricity. Alternative types of energy resources are not associated with the release of hazardous waste into the external environment, which means that they will help protect the air from pollution. In reality, in Hong Kong, the generation of more than half of the electricity comes from coal-fired thermal power plants, and therefore the share of carbon dioxide emissions in last years increased by 20%.
4. In order for the ecological situation to stabilize, it is necessary to stop destroying natural resources - cut down forests, drain water bodies and start using minerals wisely. It is necessary to constantly increase green spaces so that they help purify the air and enrich it with oxygen.
5. It is necessary to raise public awareness. In particular, information on how to protect the air from pollution for children. In this way, it is possible to change the approach of many people to the current state of the situation.

Air pollution creates many new problems - cancer rates are increasing, people's life expectancy is shortening, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. The real trouble is that the spoiled ecology threatens global warming, and this will lead to serious natural disasters in the future. Even now, the protest of our planet against the thoughtless activities of people is manifested in the form of floods, tsunamis, earthquakes and other natural phenomena. Humanity needs to seriously think about how to protect the air from pollution.

At today's meeting in Rwanda, delegates from nearly 200 countries agreed to reduce the use of greenhouse gases (hydrofluorocarbon gases) used in refrigeration and air conditioning, according to Reuters. Hydrofluorocarbon gases destroy the Earth's ozone layer many times more than carbon dioxide (10 thousand times). The Minister of Natural Resources of Rwanda reported to journalists on the signing of the agreement following the meeting.

Human air pollution

One of the main conditions for the preservation of human health and longevity is clean air. Unfortunately, in today's realities in many parts of the world, achieving compliance with this key requirement seems like an impossible mission. But is it really impossible to make the air we breathe cleaner? And what exactly pollutes the atmosphere the most?

All sources that negatively affect the state of the air basin are divided by ecologists into anthropogenic and natural. It is the first category that causes the greatest damage to the environment - factors associated with human activities. Atmospheric air pollution occurring due to natural causes is not only negligible on a global scale, but is also self-eliminating in nature.

Industry that kills

Industry is the number one source of air pollution in developing and some developed countries. The lion's share of emissions into the atmosphere comes from energy, non-ferrous and ferrous metallurgy enterprises. Less harmful to the air basin, but still dangerous are such industries as oil production and oil refining, mechanical engineering. In places where industrial production is concentrated in the atmosphere, phenols, hydrocarbons, mercury, lead, resins, oxide and sulfur dioxide are present in significant quantities.

In developed countries, air pollution with harmful substances has become a pressing problem a century ago. That is why the process of creating environmental legislation there began earlier than in other states.

When the charms of civilization harm?

Transport, being a necessary condition for the functioning of modern society, is also the main threat to human health. All machines that use different types of fuel for work pollute the atmosphere to one degree or another. For example, a car actively absorbs oxygen from the air. Instead, it emits carbon dioxide, water vapor and toxic substances (carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, aldehydes, soot, benzopyrene, sulfur dioxide).

The contribution that individual modes of transport make to air pollution is as follows:

85% of harmful emissions come from cars and trucks;
5.3% - for river and sea vessels;
3.7% and 3.5% for air and rail vehicles, respectively;
agricultural vehicles (seeders, planters, combines, tractors, arable equipment) pollute the atmosphere least of all (2.5%).

Each country solves the problem of air pollution in its own way. Indicative in this regard is the experience of Denmark. After the Second World War, residents of a small Scandinavian country, whose streets were flooded with cars, began to resent gas pollution. When the oil crisis of the 70s broke out, the Danish authorities had no choice but to go along with the public. A developed cycling infrastructure was created in the country, a huge tax was introduced on the purchase and use of a car. The local residents liked the idea: the actions “Copenhagen without cars” and “Sundays without cars” became massive. Now Denmark is the most cycling country in the world, one of the three cleanest and most prosperous states for a person.

Air pollution protection

Protecting the environment from pollution is one of the most important problems of our time. Getting into the air, water and soil, toxic chemicals (industrial poisons) create a real threat to the existence of humans, plants and animals on our planet. The development of industry and transport, an increase in population density, human penetration into the stratosphere and outer space, the intensification of agricultural production (the use of pesticides), the transportation of petroleum products, the disposal of hazardous chemicals at the bottom of the seas and oceans, and the ongoing testing of nuclear weapons - all this contributes to a global and ever-increasing pollution of the human natural environment.

Currently, about one million different chemical compounds of anthropogenic origin are constantly found in the biosphere, and their number is constantly growing. Almost 250,000 new chemicals are synthesized annually in the world, many of which become potential pollutants of the atmosphere, water and soil. Of particular concern is air pollution, without which life on Earth is impossible. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution occurs when a pollutant or several air pollutants are present in the atmosphere in such quantity and for such a period of time that they cause harm or may contribute to harm to people, animals, plants and property, or may cause unimaginable damage to human health and property.

The main sources of air pollution are emissions from industrial enterprises, as well as the processes of evaporation and combustion of fuel (thermal power plants, internal combustion engines, etc.), forest fires. As a result of meteorological processes, air pollutants spread in the atmosphere over considerable distances, which leads to global air pollution of our planet. Now there is no fundamental difference in the composition of the atmospheric air of rural and industrial regions (the difference is only in the quantitative content of pollutants).

Under these conditions, the problem of combating atmospheric pollution, which is especially acute in industrialized countries, is of paramount importance. Reasonable use of natural resources and nature protection, the creation of state reserves and national parks, an increase in the number of green spaces, a reduction in industrial emissions of harmful chemicals into the atmosphere and the development of waste-free chemical technology - these are the main ways to solve environmental problems, the goal of which is ultimately for the benefit of all mankind. . However, the solution of such a set of tasks for the protection of atmospheric air and other environmental objects is impossible without the creation of an effective air quality control system. The need to develop comprehensive methods for the determination of various toxic substances in the atmosphere is generally recognized. The global pollution of the atmosphere and the oceans, as well as the importance and difficulty of the tasks of combating this pollution, have led to the need for broad international cooperation in the field of environmental protection. There are numerous international programs aimed at protecting the main components of the environment from pollution, protecting wildlife and habitats. Under the auspices of the UN, WHO, UNESCO, WMO (World Meteorological Organization) and other international organizations, most of these programs are being successfully implemented. The CMEA countries are cooperating especially successfully in environmental protection. Contacts on the fight against atmospheric pollution are developing fruitfully between the CMEA member countries and other states of the world interested in a radical solution of these problems.

The importance of taking measures to control air pollution, as well as the need to develop effective and reliable analytical methods for determining the content of industrial poisons in the atmosphere and air of the working area, led to the fact that in the 70s the interest of analytical chemists in this problem, one of the most complex and difficult s of analytical chemistry.

Express, sensitive and selective methods have been developed for the determination of microimpurities of toxic organic substances, inorganic gases and heavy metal aerosols in the air. Some countries have approved standard methods (compulsory for domestic use) for monitoring the main air pollutants - carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, photooxidants and heavy metal aerosols. The number of publications on air pollution analysis methods has also increased significantly. Over the past 10 years, more than 20 monographs and about 30,000 articles have appeared on analysis techniques, methods for concentrating microimpurities of toxic substances from the air, methods for identifying pollutants and the correct methods for their determination.

Air Pollution Convention

Public outcry against the harmful effects of acid rain in Europe led to the signing of the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution in 1979, which entered into force in 1983. The Convention was the first regional environmental agreement and contributed to the reduction of major harmful pollutants in Europe and North America.

With 51 of the 56 member states of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, the Convention covers most of the region. Over the past 30 years, the Convention has been supplemented by 8 protocols that aim to regulate the reduction of air pollution in order to protect human health and the environment. Each of these protocols covers pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitric oxide, persistent organic pollutants, volatile organic compounds, ammonia and toxic heavy metals.

Over the years, the Convention has made a significant contribution to the implementation of the reduction of air pollution in the region.

There was a decrease in concentration levels:

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) by 70% in the European Union and 36% in the United States;
nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 35% in the European Union and 23% in the United States;
ammonia (NH3) by 20% in the European Union;
non-methane volatile organic compounds by 41% in the European Union;
particulate matter (PM 10) by 28% in the European Union.

The fact that the implementation of the Convention is moving forward has led to the inclusion of new goals and activities in a collaborative approach that aims to address multiple challenges. The Gothenburg Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone has entered and aims to reduce the harmful effects of SO2, NOx, VOCs and ammonia.

The protocol will soon be revised to include more pollutants in its list. A revision of the protocols on heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants is also envisaged, which will lead to a reassessment of standards, more stringent targeting and the inclusion of new pollutants (including solubles, dust and particulate matter).

European Union

The member states of the European Economic Community were among the first countries to sign and ratify the Convention. Over the past 30 years, this region has recorded a significant reduction in harmful air pollutants.

The European Commission's Directorate-General for the Environment (DG Environment) has a specific strategy for cooperation with the Convention, focusing on three key areas: the development and use of air pollutant models, the identification of sources of pollution, and the definition of a common approach to the impact of air pollution. The work carried out by the European Union under the Convention was recently presented in a report prepared by the European Environment Agency (EEA); this report provides data on air pollution in each country. The EU commitment to carry out the necessary research provides a significant contribution to understanding the current state of the air, air pollution and its harmful effects.

North America

The transboundary effects of air pollution led Canada and the United States of America to ratify the Convention early in its existence. Both states recognized that reducing air emissions in North America, as well as in Europe, is a critical factor in reducing air pollution and its harmful effects. Canada and the United States of America implement the Convention through bilateral agreements: cooperation on air pollutants by mode of transport under the Canada-US Agreement to Improve the Condition of the Air, the International Strategy for the Protection of the Great Lakes from Toxic Pollution (with Mexico) under the auspices of the Commission on Environmental Affairs environment and the Joint Strategy for Improved Air Conditions. Among the achievements of this collaboration are the Acid Rain and Ozone Annexes (to the Canadian-American Air Conditioning Agreement), which include commitments to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compounds.

Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia

The Convention is increasingly focusing on providing expertise and guidance on the situation in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia, helping the peoples living in this region to implement their initiative to follow the protocols and reduce the impact of air pollution. This year, the Protocol on the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or their Transboundary Fluxes, the Protocol on Heavy Metals and the Gothenburg Protocol will be discussed again in order to set firmer targets and create more flexible conditions, which will give peoples the opportunity to change obsolete technologies and ensure the best air pollution monitoring system.

In addition, the Agreement continues to assist these nations in guiding and developing policies for the effective implementation of the protocols; these are actions that will have an effective impact on reducing harmful emissions and thus protecting human health and the environment. This year, the Convention Secretariat launched assistance projects to the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Moldova, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Although much has been done in the past 30 years, scientific research continues to identify new risks and pose new challenges. In this regard, the Convention aims to include new pollutants in its list, such as soluble substances, dust, particulate matter (PM 2.5). Climate change is the main environmental challenge; Greenhouse gases and air pollutants share largely the same source, so air pollution and climate change are closely linked. This challenge for the future of the Convention should play a constructive role in the implementation of policies aimed at combating climate change and air pollution.

Thus, the Convention recognizes the importance of working together on climate change and initiating cooperation with other international agreements: the Stockholm Convention under the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the Mercury Pollution Research Agreement to be adopted in the near future; the purpose of such work is to further use these links and jointly search for possible solutions.

The Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution has become an important international agreement dealing with air pollution, its impact on the environment and human health. The Convention aims to protect man and the environment from air pollution, as well as to gradually reduce and prevent air pollution. The Convention is supplemented by 8 protocols (see link below).

To date, 51 States have signed and ratified the Convention. Affecting Europe and North America, the Convention continues to address air pollution issues in collaboration with one of the most effective scientific monitoring systems and a number of task forces studying the harmful effects of air pollution. With a history of cooperation spanning three decades, the Convention continues to identify new sources of air pollution and set global standards to clean the air we breathe.

The European Long Range Air Pollution Monitoring and Evaluation Program (EMEP) and international cooperation programs are teams of scientists and research centers that use the best available technologies to map, model, and investigate levels of air pollutants and their effects. .

Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants to include 7 new pollutants

The revision of the Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants, envisaged in the near future, aims to include 7 harmful pollutants that should be subject to stricter regulation.

A list of these contaminants: hexachlorocyclohexane, octabromodiphenyl ether, pentachlorobenzene, pentabromodiphenyl ether, perfluorooctane sulfonates (PFOS), polychlorinated naphthalenes and short chain chlorinated paraffins.

Acid rain is rain (or snow) that becomes acidic (pH less than 5.6) as a result of its combination with gaseous pollutants such as sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx). Acid rain can cause acidification of surface waters, soils and ecosystems.

Acidification surround

environmental conditions are caused by the combination of oxidizing substances with rain and snow, or by the direct deposition of gases or particles on vegetation (dry deposition).

Black carbon is formed by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, biofuels and biomass; its source is soot of anthropogenic and natural origin. Black carbon warms the planet by absorbing heat into the atmosphere and lowering the albedo of, for example, snow. It is also a constituent of particulate matter.

Eutrophication is the increase in the concentration of chemical nutrients in an ecosystem to an extent that causes an increase in the primary productivity of the ecosystem. Depending on the degree of eutrophication, its negative environmental consequences can be hypoxia, deterioration of water quality, reduction in populations of fish and other animals.

The flexible mechanism concerns emissions trading, the clean development mechanism and joint implementation projects. These mechanisms, defined under the Kyoto Protocol, are designed to reduce emission reductions. Flexible mechanisms allow Parties to achieve carbon reductions or removals from the atmosphere in other countries. Ground-level ozone is a toxic pollutant that forms when pollutants from vehicles, power plants, refineries and other sources react chemically in the presence of sunlight. In contrast, stratospheric ozone is a kind of natural filter that protects the Earth from ultraviolet radiation. Ground-level ozone can cause irritation to the mucous membranes of the nose, eyes, throat, coughing and wheezing, and can damage plants (including agricultural cash crops).

Heavy metals are metallic elements with a high atomic weight, such as mercury, chromium, cadmium, arsenic, and lead. They can become toxic to living organisms at low concentrations and tend to accumulate in the food chain.

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are chemical compounds of nitrogen and oxygen that form when gases are exposed to high temperatures. NOx has an acidifying effect on soil and water, contributes to material damage, and the formation of ground-level ozone.

Particulate matter (PM) or fine particles are tiny particles that are made up of a complex mixture of solid and liquid particles.

Unlike aerosols, they refer to particles and gases at the same time. Sources of particulate matter can be natural or artificial sources. PM are considered the most dangerous pollutants for human health.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are chemicals that persist in the environment, accumulate in the food web and pose a risk of negative impacts on human health and the environment. This group includes priority pollutants pesticides (such as DDT), industrial chemicals (such as polychlorinated biphenyls, PCBs) and unintentionally produced POPs (such as dioxins and furans). Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a gas produced by the combustion of sulfur particles, such as oil and coal, and can also come from a number of industrial processes.

Volatile organic compounds are carbon-containing organic compounds that readily evaporate into the atmosphere at room temperature. VOCs contribute to the formation of smog and can lead to some health problems.

indoor air pollution

The sources of air pollution in residential premises are the finishing materials that we use in the repair. Vinyl wallpaper on the walls, linoleum covering the floor, parquet varnish, oil paint, polystyrene foam ceiling panels - all this turns the apartment into a real gas chamber. These materials can become very dangerous sources of indoor air pollution as they emit phenol, formaldehyde, esters of carboxylic acids. When purchasing these materials, you must require a certificate and not be tempted by suspicious cheapness. Do not use materials intended for external work when repairing indoors.

Phenol and formaldehyde are emitted from chipboard panels used in the manufacture of furniture, if they are not covered with a laminating material. These toxic substances cause damage to the kidneys, liver, changes in blood composition, and are strong allergens. If a person suffers from bronchial asthma, inhaling these substances can cause suffocation. The smell that appears in the apartment after purchasing new furniture should disappear after three months.

Cleaning the room too thoroughly with too many household chemicals can be a source of indoor air pollution. Some of these products contain elevated levels of formaldehyde, a recognized carcinogen, while others pollute the air with harmful chemicals. In some cases, it is better to abandon these sources of indoor air pollution and use the old "grandfather" cleaning methods without "chemistry".

It is necessary to carefully monitor the serviceability of gas-powered appliances, stoves, fireplaces, because. they can be a source of carbon monoxide, causing headaches, blurred vision. Faulty gas appliances during operation can emit nitrogen dioxide, which irritates the eyes, nasopharynx, weakening the pulmonary system. Smokers are also a source of indoor air pollution, so you need to ventilate the room where people smoke even more often.

Indoor air quality

Until recently, the problem of outdoor air pollution attracted the attention of environmentalists. However, studies conducted in many countries have shown that indoor air can be ten times more polluted than outdoor air. But even if the levels of indoor air pollution are low, it still poses a great danger, as people are exposed to it for a long time, spending on average up to 80% of the daily time indoors. According to various estimates of scientists, it turned out that the air in the rooms is 4-6 times dirtier than the outside air and 8-10 times more toxic. The main components of indoor air pollution are gases, biological pollutants, radon, and some other substances harmful to human health.

According to American allergists, 50% of human diseases are either caused or exacerbated by indoor air pollution. Particularly susceptible to air pollution are: children, teenagers, pregnant women, the elderly, as well as people suffering from allergies, asthma, or other diseases of the respiratory system.

More than 100 chemical compounds are determined in the air of office premises. Including hazardous to health aerosols of lead, mercury, copper, zinc, phenol, formaldehyde in concentrations often several times higher than the maximum permissible limits. Experts from the World Health Organization have recognized indoor air pollution as a major risk factor for human health and the main cause of a catastrophic increase in cardiovascular and lung diseases.

Environmental pollution of indoor air can be divided into two types: chemical and bacteriological. To date, about 1000 chemical and biological types of pollution found in indoor air are known.

Indoor air pollution can cause diseases of various levels of severity, ranging from simple malaise and headaches to severe allergies and cancer.

Water and air pollution

Air pollution

One of the most important problems of the modern city is increasing air pollution. Over large cities, the atmosphere contains 10 times more aerosols and 25 times more gases. At the same time, 60-70% of gas pollution comes from road transport.

Automotive

Automobile exhaust gases are a mixture of approximately 200 substances. They contain hydrocarbons - unburned or incompletely burned fuel components, the proportion of which increases sharply if the engine is running at low speeds or at the moment of increasing speed at the start, that is, at a red traffic light and during traffic jams (accumulation of vehicles on the road interfering with normal movement).

Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and most other engine gases are heavier than air, so they all accumulate near the ground. Carbon monoxide combines with hemoglobin in the blood and prevents it from carrying oxygen to the tissues of the body. Exhaust gases also contain aldehydes, which have a pungent odor and irritant effect. Due to incomplete combustion of fuel in a car engine, part of the hydrocarbons turns into soot. 1 liter of gasoline can contain about 1 gram of tetraethyl lead, after the destruction of which lead is released in the form of compounds, which in turn tends to accumulate in the body. One passenger car annually absorbs more than 4 tons of oxygen from the atmosphere, emitting about 800 kg of carbon monoxide, about 40 kg of nitrogen oxides and almost 200 kg of various hydrocarbons with exhaust gases.

With the growth of the well-being of residents, the number of cars is growing and, consequently, the concentration of toxic substances in the air is also increasing. Undoubtedly, in the near future, pollution of the air basin of cities by road transport will pose the greatest danger. This is mainly due to the fact that at present there are no cardinal solutions to this problem, although there is no shortage of individual technical projects and recommendations.

Industrial

As a result of the use in industry and the formation in the process of various productions of large quantities of toxic substances, masses of pollutants are also emitted into the surrounding air. Enterprises of the metallurgical, chemical, cement and other industries emit dust, sulphurous, fluorine and other harmful gases and compounds released during various technological production processes into the atmosphere. The emission of harmful substances into the atmosphere at oil refineries occurs mainly due to insufficient sealing of equipment. For example, atmospheric air pollution with hydrocarbons and hydrogen sulfide is observed from metal tanks of raw stock parks for unstable oil, intermediate and trade parks for light oil products. The main emissions from chemical industry enterprises are carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, ammonia, dust from inorganic industries, organic substances, hydrogen sulfide, carbon disulfide, chloride compounds, fluorine compounds, etc. These compounds reduce the transparency of the atmosphere, give 50% more fog, 10% more rainfall, 30% less solar radiation. The most dangerous for the environment production associated with the use of varnishes and paints. Their emissions of anthropogenic organic substances amount to 350 thousand tons per year, while the rest of the chemical industry as a whole emit 170 thousand tons per year.

The atmosphere of modern cities (especially large ones) is extremely polluted. According to research data, there are 46 kg (!) of harmful substances per resident of Moscow per year. Many scientists see increasing air pollution in developed cities as the main reason for the increase in lung diseases.

The vegetation cover of cities is usually almost completely represented by "cultural plantations" - parks, squares, lawns, flower beds, alleys. Their area in millionaire cities usually does not exceed 30% (Moscow), which is about 25-30 m2 per person (in Paris this number is 6, in London - 7.5, in New York - 8.6).

Man has to intervene more and more in the economy of the biosphere - that part of our planet in which life exists. The Earth's biosphere is currently undergoing increasing anthropogenic impact. Due to more active condensation of moisture in cities, there is an increase in precipitation by 5-10%. Self-purification of the atmosphere is prevented by a 10-20% reduction in solar radiation and wind speed. With low air mobility, thermal anomalies over the city cover atmospheric layers of 250 - 400 m, and temperature contrasts can reach 5 - 6 ° C. Temperature inversions are associated with them, leading to increased pollution, fog and smog.

Smog (photochemical fog)

Photochemical fog (smog) is a multicomponent mixture of gases and aerosol particles of primary and secondary origin. The composition of the main components of smog includes: ozone, nitrogen and sulfur oxides, numerous organic peroxide compounds, collectively called photooxidants. Photochemical smog occurs as a result of photochemical reactions under certain conditions: the presence of a high concentration of nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and other pollutants in the atmosphere, intense solar radiation and calm (or very weak air exchange in the surface layer) necessary to create a high concentration of reacting substances. Such conditions are created more often in June - September and less often in winter. Next, a chain of chemical transformations occurs, the result of which is the formation of oxidants, which are a source of free radicals.

According to their physiological effects on the human body, they are extremely dangerous for the respiratory and circulatory systems and often cause premature death of urban residents with poor health. Scientists believe that every year thousands of deaths in cities around the world are related to air pollution.

Significant gas contamination of the air basin in cities also leads to a decrease in insolation and a reduction in the receipt of ultraviolet radiation to the earth's surface. This negatively affects the health of citizens, since low insolation slows down the excretion of a number of toxic substances from the body, in particular heavy metals and their compounds, in addition, low insolation inhibits the synthesis of a number of important enzymes in the body. Meanwhile, residents of large cities very often, especially in winter, experience its deficiency.

Many technogenic substances entering the air environment of cities are hazardous pollutants. They cause damage to human health, wildlife, material values. Some of them, due to their long existence in the atmosphere, are transported over long distances, due to which the pollution problem turns from local to international. This mainly concerns pollution by sulfur and nitrogen oxides.

The rapid accumulation of these pollutants in the atmosphere of the Northern Hemisphere (annual increase of 5%) has given rise to the phenomenon of acidic and acidified precipitation. They suppress the biological productivity of soils and water bodies, especially those that have their own high acidity.

Water pollution

Another equally important problem of the modern city is water pollution. Among industrial products, toxic synthetic substances occupy a special place in terms of their negative impact on the aquatic environment and living organisms. They are increasingly being used in industry, in transport, and in public utilities.

Pollution of the water basin in cities should be considered in two aspects - water pollution in the water consumption zone and pollution of the water basin within the city due to its runoff.

Water pollution in the water consumption zone

Water pollution in the water consumption zone is a serious factor that worsens the ecological state of cities. It is produced both due to the discharge of part of the untreated effluents of cities and enterprises located above the water intake zone of a given city and water pollution by river transport, and due to the ingress of part of fertilizers and pesticides applied to the fields into water bodies. In areas of increased moisture, about 20% of fertilizers and pesticides applied to the soil enters watercourses. This, in turn, can lead to eutrophication of water bodies, which further degrades water quality.

Every year in large cities (including Moscow) there is a seasonal, during the spring flood, deterioration in the quality of drinking water associated with the ingress of pollutants into water sources with surface and storm runoff from the territories of sanitary unimproved places, agricultural facilities and lands. In this regard, water is hyperchlorinated, which, however, is unsafe for public health due to the formation of organochlorine compounds.

Pollution of the water basin within the city

Therefore, cities need powerful treatment facilities.

A particular problem is the penetration of contaminated surface runoff into groundwater. Surface runoff from cities is always highly acidic. If Cretaceous sediments and limestones are located under the city, the penetration of enrolled waters into them inevitably leads to the emergence of anthropogenic karst. Voids formed as a result of anthropogenic karst directly under the city can pose a serious threat to buildings and structures, therefore, in cities where there is a real risk of its occurrence, a special geological service is needed to predict and prevent its consequences.

In modern conditions, human needs for water for household needs are greatly increasing. Cities consume 10 or more times more water per person than rural areas. At the same time, water resources are used irrationally - more than 20% of the water goes unused. Pollution of water bodies reaches catastrophic proportions, therefore, almost all large cities experience a shortage of water resources and many of them receive water from remote sources. For example, Los Angeles receives water from the Colorado River, which is located 970 kilometers from the city. And Beijing plans to deliver water to the homes of its citizens from the Yangtze River, 1,500 kilometers distant.

That is why an extremely important task at the moment is the protection of water sources from pollution. Along with the improvement and expansion of treatment facilities, the transfer of enterprises to recycling water supply and waste-free technology, the demineralization of brackish and salty waters, the introduction of fees for wastewater discharges, the creation of integrated regional schemes for water consumption, water disposal and wastewater treatment, as well as automation of control are of great importance. for the quality of water in water sources and the development of water quality management methods.

Air pollution assessment

The atmosphere is one of the elements of the environment that is constantly affected by human activity. The consequences of this impact depend on various factors and are manifested in climate change and the chemical composition of the atmosphere. These changes significantly affect the biotic components of the environment, including humans.

The air environment can be assessed in two aspects:

1. Climate and its changes under the influence of natural causes and anthropogenic impacts in general (macroclimate) and this project in particular (microclimate). These estimates imply a forecast of the potential impact of climate change on the implementation of the projected type of anthropogenic activity.
2. Atmospheric pollution. To begin with, the possibility of atmospheric pollution is assessed using one of the complex indicators, such as: atmospheric pollution potential (AP), atmospheric scattering power (RSA) and others. After that, an assessment of the existing level of atmospheric air pollution in the required region is carried out.

Conclusions about climatic and meteorological characteristics, and about the source of pollution are made, first of all, on the basis of data from the regional Roshydromet, then - on the basis of data from the sanitary and epidemiological service and special analytical inspections of the State Committee for Ecology, and are also based on various literary sources.

As a result, on the basis of the estimates obtained and data on specific emissions into the atmosphere of the projected object, calculations are made of the forecast of air pollution, while using special computer programs ("ecologist", "guarantor", "ether", etc.), which allow not only to evaluate possible levels of air pollution, but also to obtain a map of concentration fields and data on the deposition of pollutants (Pollutants) on the underlying surface.

The criterion for assessing the degree of air pollution is the maximum allowable concentration (MPC) of pollutants. Measured and calculated concentrations of pollutants in the atmosphere can be compared with MPCs and, therefore, air pollution is measured in MPC values.

At the same time, it is worth paying attention to the fact that one should not confuse the concentration of pollutants in the air with their emissions. The concentration is the mass of a substance per unit volume (or mass), and the release is the weight of the substance that has arrived in a unit of time (i.e. "dose"). Emission cannot be a criterion for air pollution, but since air pollution depends not only on the mass of emissions, but also on other factors (meteorological parameters, height of the emission source, etc.).

Air pollution forecasts are used in other sections of the EIA to predict the impact of other factors from the impact of a polluted environment (pollution of the underlying surface, vegetation vegetation, morbidity, etc.).

When carrying out an environmental assessment, the assessment of the state of the air basin is based on a comprehensive assessment of atmospheric air pollution in the study area, while using a system of direct, indirect and indicator criteria. Air quality assessment (primarily the degree of pollution) is quite well developed and is based on a huge number of legislative and policy documents that use direct control methods to measure environmental parameters, as well as indirect calculation methods and evaluation criteria.

Direct evaluation criteria. The main criteria for the state of atmospheric air pollution include the maximum allowable concentrations (MAC). It should be noted that the atmosphere is also a medium for the transfer of technogenic pollutants, and it is also the most variable and dynamic of all its abiotic components. Based on this, to assess the degree of air pollution, time-differentiated assessment indicators are used, such as: maximum one-time MPCmr (short-term effects), average daily MPCs and average annual PDKg (for longer-term effects).

The degree of air pollution can be assessed by the repetition and frequency of exceeding the MPC, taking into account the hazard class, as well as by summing up the biological effects of pollution (BI). The level of atmospheric pollution by substances of various hazard classes is determined by "reducing" their concentration, normalized according to MPC, to the concentrations of substances of the 3rd hazard class.

There is a division of pollutants in the air according to the likelihood of their adverse effects on human health, which includes 4 classes:

1) first class - extremely dangerous.
2) the second class - highly dangerous;
3) the third class - moderately dangerous;
4) the fourth class - little dangerous.

Basically, the actual maximum one-time, average daily and average annual MPCs are used in comparison with the actual concentrations of pollutants in the air over the past few years, but not less than 2 years.

Also important criteria for assessing the total atmospheric pollution include the value of the complex indicator (P), equal to the square root of the sum of the squares of the concentration of substances of various hazard classes, normalized according to MPC, reduced to the concentration of a substance of the third hazard class.

The most common and informative indicator of air pollution is the CIPA (Complex Index of Average Annual Air Pollution).

The distribution by classes of the state of the atmosphere occurs in accordance with the classification of pollution levels on a four-point scale:

Class "normal" - means that the level of air pollution is below the average for the cities of the country;
- "risk" class - equal to the average level;
- class "crisis" - above average;
- Disaster class - well above average.

Basically, QISA is used for comparative analysis of air pollution in different parts of the study area (cities, districts, etc.), as well as for assessing the temporal trend regarding the state of air pollution.

The resource potential of the air basin of a certain territory is calculated based on its ability to disperse and remove impurities and the ratio of the actual level of pollution and the MPC value. The assessment of air dissipation capacity is determined on the basis of the following indicators: air pollution potential (PAP) and air consumption parameter (AC). These characteristics reveal the features of the formation of pollution levels depending on weather conditions, which contribute to the accumulation and removal of impurities from the air.

Atmospheric pollution potential (PAP) is a complex characteristic of meteorological conditions that are unfavorable for the dispersion of impurities in the air. Currently in Russia there are 5 PZA classes that are typical for urban conditions, based on the frequency of surface inversions, low wind stagnation and fog duration.

The air consumption parameter (AC) is understood as the volume of clean air that is necessary to dilute the emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere to the level of the average permissible concentration. This parameter is of particular importance in air quality management, if the user of natural resources has established a collective responsibility regime (the "bubble" principle) in the conditions of market relations. Based on this parameter, the volume of emissions is set for the entire region, and only after that, the enterprises located on its territory, jointly identify the best option for providing the necessary volume, including through trading in pollution rights.

It is accepted that air can be considered as the initial link in the chain of pollution of the environment and objects. Often, soils and surface waters are indirect indicators of its pollution, and in some cases, on the contrary, they can be sources of secondary pollution of the air basin. Hence, it becomes necessary not only to assess air pollution, but also to control the possible consequences of the mutual influence of the atmosphere and adjacent media, as well as to obtain an integral (mixed) assessment of the state of the air basin.

Indirect indicators for assessing air pollution include the intensity of atmospheric impurities as a result of dry deposition on soil cover and water bodies, as well as as a result of its washing out by atmospheric precipitation. The criterion for this assessment is the value of allowable and critical loads, which are expressed in units of fallout density, taking into account the time interval (duration) of their arrival.

The result of a comprehensive assessment of the state of air pollution is an analysis of the development of technogenic processes and an assessment of possible negative consequences in the short and long term at the local and regional levels. Analyzing the spatial characteristics and temporal dynamics of the results of the impact of air pollution on human health and the state of the ecosystem, it is necessary to rely on the mapping method, using sets of cartographic materials that characterize the natural conditions of the region, including protected areas.

The optimal system of components of the integral (complex) assessment includes:

Assessment of the level of pollution from sanitary and hygienic positions (MAC);
- assessment of the resource potential of the atmosphere (APA and PV);
- assessment of the degree of influence on certain environments (soil, vegetation and snow cover, water);
- the trend and intensity of the processes of anthropogenic development of a given natural and technical system to identify short-term and long-term effects of the impact;
- determination of the spatial and temporal scales of possible negative consequences of anthropogenic impact.

Chemical air pollution

Atmospheric pollution should be understood as a change in its composition when impurities of natural or anthropogenic origin enter. There are three types of pollutants: gases, dust and aerosols. The latter include dispersed solid particles emitted into the atmosphere and suspended in it for a long time.

The main atmospheric pollutants include carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur and nitrogen dioxide, as well as small gas components that can affect the temperature regime of the troposphere: nitrogen dioxide, halocarbons (freons), methane and tropospheric ozone.

The main contribution to the high level of air pollution is made by enterprises of ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, chemistry and petrochemistry, construction industry, energy, pulp and paper industry, and in some cities, boiler houses.

Sources of pollution - thermal power plants, which, together with smoke, emit sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide into the air, metallurgical enterprises, especially non-ferrous metallurgy, which emit nitrogen oxides, hydrogen sulfide, chlorine, fluorine, ammonia, phosphorus compounds, particles and compounds of mercury and arsenic into the air; chemical and cement plants. Harmful gases enter the air as a result of fuel combustion for industrial needs, home heating, transport, combustion and processing of household and industrial waste.

Atmospheric pollutants are divided into primary, entering directly into the atmosphere, and secondary, resulting from the transformation of the latter. So, sulfur dioxide entering the atmosphere is oxidized to sulfuric anhydride, which interacts with water vapor and forms droplets of sulfuric acid. When sulfuric anhydride reacts with ammonia, ammonium sulfate crystals are formed. Similarly, as a result of chemical, photochemical, physico-chemical reactions between pollutants and atmospheric components, other secondary signs are formed. The main source of pyrogenic pollution on the planet are thermal power plants, metallurgical and chemical enterprises, boiler plants, which consume more than 170% of the annually produced solid and liquid fuels.

The main harmful impurities of pyrogenic origin are the following:

A) carbon monoxide. It is obtained by incomplete combustion of carbonaceous substances. It enters the air as a result of burning solid waste, with exhaust gases and emissions from industrial enterprises. At least 250 million tons of this gas enters the atmosphere every year. Carbon monoxide is a compound that actively reacts with the constituent parts of the atmosphere and contributes to an increase in the temperature on the planet and the creation of a greenhouse effect.

B) Sulfur dioxide. It is emitted during the combustion of sulfur-containing fuel or the processing of sulfurous ores (up to 70 million tons per year). Part of the sulfur compounds is released during the combustion of organic residues in mining dumps. In the United States alone, the total amount of sulfur dioxide emitted into the atmosphere amounted to 85 percent of the global emissions.
c) Sulfuric anhydride. It is formed during the oxidation of sulfur dioxide. The end product of the reaction is an aerosol or solution of sulfuric acid in rainwater, which acidifies the soil and exacerbates human respiratory diseases. The precipitation of sulfuric acid aerosol from smoke flares of chemical enterprises is observed at low cloudiness and high air humidity. Pyrometallurgical enterprises of non-ferrous and ferrous metallurgy, as well as thermal power plants, annually emit tens of millions of tons of sulfuric anhydride into the atmosphere.
d) Hydrogen sulfide and carbon disulfide. They enter the atmosphere separately or together with other sulfur compounds. The main sources of emissions are enterprises for the manufacture of artificial fiber, sugar, coke, oil refineries, and oil fields. In the atmosphere, when interacting with other pollutants, they undergo slow oxidation to sulfuric anhydride.
e) Nitrogen oxides. The main sources of emissions are enterprises producing; nitrogen fertilizers, nitric acid and nitrates, aniline dyes, nitro compounds, viscose silk, celluloid. The amount of nitrogen oxides entering the atmosphere is 20 million tons per year.
f) Fluorine compounds. Sources of pollution are enterprises producing aluminum, enamels, glass, ceramics, steel, and phosphate fertilizers. Fluorine-containing substances enter the atmosphere in the form of gaseous compounds - hydrogen fluoride or dust of sodium and calcium fluoride. The compounds are characterized by a toxic effect. Fluorine derivatives are strong insecticides.
g) Chlorine compounds. They enter the atmosphere from chemical enterprises producing hydrochloric acid, chlorine-containing pesticides, organic dyes, hydrolytic alcohol, bleach, soda. In the atmosphere, they are found as an admixture of chlorine molecules and hydrochloric acid vapors. The toxicity of chlorine is determined by the type of compounds and their concentration.

In the metallurgical industry, during the smelting of pig iron and its processing into steel, various heavy metals and toxic gases are released into the atmosphere. Thus, in terms of I tons of saturated cast iron, in addition to 2.7 kg of sulfur dioxide and 4.5 kg of dust particles, which determine the amount of compounds of arsenic, phosphorus, antimony, lead, mercury vapor and rare metals, tar substances and hydrogen cyanide, are released.

The volume of emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere from stationary sources in Russia is about 22 - 25 million tons per year.

Industrial air pollution

Pollution in ecology is understood as an unfavorable change in the environment, which is wholly or partly the result of human activity, directly or indirectly changes the distribution of incoming energy, radiation levels, physical and chemical properties of the environment and the conditions for the existence of living organisms. These changes can affect a person directly or through water and food. They can also affect a person, worsening the properties of the things he uses, the conditions of rest and work.

Intensive air pollution began in the 19th century due to the rapid development of industry, which began to use coal as the main fuel, and the rapid growth of cities. The role of coal in air pollution in Europe has long been known. However, in the 19th century, it was the cheapest and most affordable type of fuel in Western Europe, including Great Britain.

But coal is not the only source of air pollution. Now a huge amount of harmful substances is emitted into the atmosphere every year, and, despite the significant efforts made in the world to reduce the degree of atmospheric pollution, it is located in the developed capitalist countries. At the same time, the researchers note that if there are now 10 times more harmful impurities in the atmosphere over the countryside than over the ocean, then over the city there are 150 times more of them.

Impact on the atmosphere of ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises. The enterprises of the metallurgical industry saturate the atmosphere with dust, sulfur dioxide and other harmful gases released during various technological production processes.

Ferrous metallurgy, the production of cast iron and its processing into steel, naturally occurs with the accompanying emissions of various harmful gases into the atmosphere.

Air pollution with gases during the formation of coals is accompanied by the preparation of the charge and its loading into coke ovens. Wet quenching is also accompanied by the release into the atmosphere of substances that are part of the water used.

During the production of metallic aluminum by electrolysis, a huge amount of gaseous and dusty compounds containing fluorine and other elements are released into the environment. When smelting one ton of steel, 0.04 tons of solid particles, 0.03 tons of sulfur oxides and up to 0.05 tons of carbon monoxide enter the atmosphere. Non-ferrous metallurgy plants discharge into the atmosphere compounds of manganese, lead, phosphorus, arsenic, mercury vapor, vapor-gas mixtures consisting of phenol, formaldehyde, benzene, ammonia and other toxic substances.

Impact on the atmosphere of petrochemical industry enterprises. Enterprises of the oil refining and petrochemical industries have a noticeable negative impact on the state of the environment and, above all, on the atmospheric air, which is due to their activities and the combustion of oil refining products (motor, boiler fuels, and other products).

In terms of air pollution, oil refining and petrochemistry rank fourth among other industries. The composition of fuel combustion products includes such pollutants as oxides of nitrogen, sulfur and carbon, carbon black, hydrocarbons, hydrogen sulfide.

During the processing of hydrocarbon systems, more than 1500 tons/year of harmful substances are emitted into the atmosphere. Of these, hydrocarbons - 78.8%; sulfur oxides - 15.5%; nitrogen oxides - 1.8%; carbon oxides - 17.46%; solids - 9.3%. Emissions of solid substances, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides account for up to 98% of total emissions from industrial enterprises. As analysis of the state of the atmosphere shows, it is the emissions of these substances in most industrial cities that create an increased background of pollution.

The most environmentally hazardous are the industries associated with the distillation of hydrocarbon systems - oil and heavy oil residues, the purification of oils using aromatic substances, the production of elemental sulfur, and the facilities of treatment facilities.

Impact on the atmosphere of agricultural enterprises. Atmospheric air pollution by agricultural enterprises is carried out mainly through emissions of polluting gaseous and suspended substances from ventilation installations that ensure normal living conditions for animals and humans in production facilities for keeping livestock and poultry. Additional pollution comes from boilers as a result of the processing and release of combustion products of fuel into the atmosphere, from exhaust gases from motor and tractor equipment, from fumes from manure storage tanks, as well as from spreading manure, fertilizers and other chemicals. It is impossible not to take into account the dust generated during the harvesting of field crops, loading, unloading, drying and finalizing bulk agricultural products.

The fuel and energy complex (thermal power plants, combined heat and power plants, boiler plants) emits smoke into the atmospheric air, which is formed during the combustion of solid and liquid fuels. Air emissions from fuel-burning plants contain products of complete combustion - sulfur oxides and ash, products of incomplete combustion - mainly carbon monoxide, soot and hydrocarbons. The total volume of all emissions is very significant. For example, a thermal power plant that consumes 50 thousand tons of coal containing approximately 1% sulfur every month emits 33 tons of sulfuric anhydride into the atmosphere every day, which can turn (under certain meteorological conditions) into 50 tons of sulfuric acid. In one day, such a power plant produces up to 230 tons of ash, which is partially (about 40-50 tons per day) released into the environment within a radius of up to 5 km. Emissions from thermal power plants that burn oil contain almost no ash, but emit three times more sulfuric anhydride.

Air pollution from the oil-producing, oil-refining and petrochemical industries contains a large amount of hydrocarbons, hydrogen sulfide and foul-smelling gases. The emission of harmful substances into the atmosphere at oil refineries occurs mainly due to insufficient sealing of equipment. For example, atmospheric air pollution with hydrocarbons and hydrogen sulfide is observed from metal tanks of raw stock parks for unstable oil, intermediate and trade parks for light oil products.

Causes of Air Pollution

Consider the causes and consequences of air pollution. Air pollution can be natural or man-made. Natural air pollution occurs during volcanic eruptions, dust storms, forest fires caused by lightning. Various bacteria are constantly present in the atmospheric air, in particular those that cause diseases, as well as fungal spores. But they can disappear over time and do not have a big impact on the composition of atmospheric air.

At the present stage of human development, artificial pollution of the atmosphere brings irreparable damage. The person himself is to blame for this, therefore he must stop the negative processes. Otherwise, humanity may disappear along with plants and animals, the planet will become uninhabitable.

Man-made sources of pollution include:

1. The activities of industrial enterprises that pollute the atmosphere with gases, mostly poisonous. For example, sulfuric gas from coal combustion; carbon disulfide and hydrogen sulfide during the production of artificial fibers. Dust sources are thermal power plants. When burning 2000 tons of coal (power plant of small capacity), 400 tons of ash and 120 tons of sulfuric gas are released into the air per day, etc.
2. The intensive development of motor transport in the world leads to the fact that millions of tons of harmful gases enter the atmosphere, including 50 million tons of rubber dust annually from the abrasion of car tires. And emissions of toxic heavy metals from cars in the world are over 300 thousand tons.
3. Radioactive pollution of the atmosphere. It is worth remembering the radiation pollution due to the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which still affects the health of people in Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia.

Air purification methods are divided into three main groups:

1. Rational use of fuel and creation of purification facilities.
2. Improvement of production technologies and vehicles. Created cars running on gas, solar energy.
3. Improving the planning of settlements - from the city to the village, increasing the area of ​​green spaces.

Of course, this will require the combined efforts of countries around the world. Many states have adopted laws on the protection of atmospheric air. In order to reduce the amount of emissions of toxic gases, ash, dust into the atmosphere at the UN conference, the Kyoto Protocol "On Climate Change" was drawn up. In this protocol, for each state, the amount of emissions into the atmosphere is determined with its gradual reduction. The document was supported by 119 countries, except for the USA and Japan.

The atmosphere is not only the basis of life on the planet, but also a kind of “screen” that protects the Earth from the deadly rays of the Sun and outer space. Weather and climate are formed in the atmosphere. Protecting the atmosphere is an urgent task for all mankind.

Air pollution is an environmental problem. This phrase does not reflect in the least the consequences that a violation of the natural composition and balance in a mixture of gases called air bears.

It is not difficult to illustrate such a statement. The World Health Organization provided data on this topic for 2014. About 3.7 million people have died due to air pollution worldwide. Almost 7 million people died from exposure to polluted air. And this is in one year.

The composition of the air includes 98-99% nitrogen and oxygen, the rest: argon, carbon dioxide, water and hydrogen. It makes up the Earth's atmosphere. The main component, as we see, is oxygen. It is necessary for the existence of all living things. Cells “breathe” it, that is, when it enters the cell of the body, a chemical oxidation reaction occurs, as a result of which the energy necessary for growth, development, reproduction, exchange with other organisms, and the like, that is, for life, is released.

Atmospheric pollution is interpreted as the introduction of chemical, biological and physical substances that are not inherent in it into the atmospheric air, that is, a change in their natural concentration. But more important is not the change in concentration, which, no doubt, occurs, but the decrease in the composition of the air of the most useful component for life - oxygen. After all, the volume of the mixture does not increase. Harmful and polluting substances are not added by simple addition of volumes, but destroy and take its place. In fact, there is and continues to accumulate a lack of food for cells, that is, the basic nutrition of a living being.

About 24,000 people per day die of starvation, that is, about 8 million per year, which is comparable to the death rate from air pollution.

Types and sources of pollution

The air has been polluted at all times. Volcanic eruptions, forest and peat fires, dust and pollen of plants and other substances entering the atmosphere that are usually not inherent in its natural composition, but that occurred as a result of natural causes - this is the first type of air pollution origin - natural. The second is as a result of human activity, that is, artificial or anthropogenic.

Anthropogenic pollution, in turn, can be divided into subspecies: transport or resulting from the operation of different modes of transport, industrial, that is, associated with emissions into the atmosphere of substances formed in the production process and domestic or resulting from direct human activity.

Air pollution itself can be physical, chemical and biological.

• The physical includes dust and solid particles, radioactive radiation and isotopes, electromagnetic waves and radio waves, noise, including loud sounds and low-frequency vibrations, and thermal, in any form.
• Chemical pollution is the ingress of gaseous substances into the air: carbon monoxide and nitrogen, sulfur dioxide, hydrocarbons, aldehydes, heavy metals, ammonia and aerosols.
• Microbial contamination is called biological. These are various spores of bacteria, viruses, fungi, toxins and the like.

The first is mechanical dust. Appears in the technological processes of grinding substances and materials.

The second is sublimations. They are formed during the condensation of cooled gas vapors and passed through the process equipment.

The third is fly ash. It is contained in the flue gas in a suspended state and is an unburned mineral fuel impurities.

The fourth is industrial soot or solid highly dispersed carbon. It is formed during the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons or their thermal decomposition.

Today, the main sources of such pollution are thermal power plants operating on solid fuels and coal.

Consequences of pollution

The main consequences of air pollution are: the greenhouse effect, ozone holes, acid rain and smog.

The greenhouse effect is built on the ability of the Earth's atmosphere to transmit short waves and delay long ones. Short waves are solar radiation, and long waves are thermal radiation coming from the Earth. That is, a layer is formed in which heat is accumulated or a greenhouse. Gases capable of such an effect are called, respectively, greenhouse gases. These gases heat up themselves and heat up the entire atmosphere. This process is natural and natural. It happened and is happening now. Without it, life on the planet would not be possible. Its beginning is not connected with human activity. But if earlier nature itself regulated this process, now man has intensively intervened in it.

Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas. Its share in the greenhouse effect is more than 60%. The share of the rest - chlorofluorocarbons, methane, nitrogen oxides, ozone, and so on, accounts for no more than 40%. It was thanks to such a large proportion of carbon dioxide that natural self-regulation was possible. How much carbon dioxide was released during breathing by living organisms, so much was consumed by plants, producing oxygen. Its volumes and concentration were kept in the atmosphere. Industrial and other human activities, and, above all, deforestation and burning of fossil fuels, have led to an increase in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases due to a decrease in the volume and concentration of oxygen. The result was a greater heating of the atmosphere - an increase in air temperature. Forecasts are such that rising temperatures will lead to excessive melting of ice and glaciers and rising sea levels. This is on the one hand, and on the other hand, due to higher temperatures, the evaporation of water from the surface of the earth will increase. And that means an increase in desert lands.

Ozone holes or disruption of the ozone layer. Ozone is a form of oxygen and is formed naturally in the atmosphere. This happens when ultraviolet radiation from the sun hits an oxygen molecule. Therefore, the highest concentration of ozone in the upper atmosphere is at an altitude of about 22 km. from the surface of the earth. In height, it extends for about 5 km. this layer is considered protective, as it delays this very radiation. Without such protection, all life on Earth perished. Now there is a decrease in the concentration of ozone in the protective layer. Why this happens has not yet been reliably established. This depletion was first detected in 1985 over Antarctica. Since then, the phenomenon has been called the "ozone hole". At the same time, the Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer was signed in Vienna.

Industrial emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide into the atmosphere, combined with atmospheric moisture, form sulfuric and nitric acid and cause "acid" rain. Such precipitation is considered to be any precipitation whose acidity is higher than natural, that is, ph<5,6. Это явление присуще всем промышленным регионам в мире. Главное их отрицательное воздействие приходится на листья растений. Кислотность нарушает их восковой защитный слой, и они становятся уязвимы для вредителей, болезней, засух и загрязнений.

Falling onto the soil, the acids contained in their water react with toxic metals in the ground. Such as: lead, cadmium, aluminum and others. They dissolve and thereby contribute to their penetration into living organisms and groundwater.

In addition, acid rain contributes to corrosion and thus affects the strength of buildings, structures and other building structures made of metal.

Smog is a common sight in large industrial cities. It occurs where a large amount of pollutants of anthropogenic origin and substances obtained as a result of their interaction with solar energy accumulate in the lower layers of the troposphere. Smog is formed and lives for a long time in cities, thanks to calm weather. Exists: wet, icy and photochemical smog.

With the first explosions of nuclear bombs in the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, mankind discovered another, perhaps the most dangerous, type of air pollution - radioactive.

Nature has the ability to self-purify, but human activity clearly interferes with this.

Video - Unsolved Mysteries: How Air Pollution Affects Health

The air we breathe today is full of toxic and dangerous substances. Environmental pollution has a negative impact on many factors, including human health. Every year, millions of people around the world die due to air pollution problems. Therefore, the key to a healthy life is to identify sources that damage the environment.

If you want to help the planet and yourself, try doing your part to reduce air pollution in the region and around the world.

1. Use public transport: the less often you use your personal car, the less combustion products will enter the atmosphere. In addition, you will help reduce traffic jams.

2. Keep your tires inflated: Poorly inflated tires increase fuel consumption and consequently exhaust emissions.

3. Plant a tree: even one tree can help you breathe easier, and an entire garden can clean up a huge amount of toxic air. Indoor plants also save you from an excess of carbon dioxide.

4.Turn off the light: do not keep lights and electrical appliances on unless necessary. The more electricity you use, the more you pollute the air.

5. Use paper on both sides: wasteful use of paper is not only deforestation, but also toxic production. Using unnecessary sheets as drafts or printing documents on both sides, you will save not only the forest, but also reduce the amount of hazardous emissions into the atmosphere.

6. Choose products with minimal packaging: try in shops and supermarkets to give preference to products with minimal packaging, or packaging that can be reused.

7. Buy things made from recycled materials: this will reduce the need for new raw materials to produce new items.

8. Use cold water instead of hot: by choosing cold water for laundry, floor cleaning or dishes, you save fuel and reduce hazardous emissions into the atmosphere.

9. Eat Local Foods: try to buy local vegetables and meat, don't encourage long hauls.

10. Use water-based paints: the less oil you use in your home, the better for your health and the environment.

11. Avoid plastic bags: they pollute the atmosphere and contain toxic substances. Remember, the period of decomposition of a package that is familiar and convenient for us is more than 60 years.

12. Use a blanket when it is cold outside: at the first sign of a drop in temperature, do not immediately turn on the heater or independent heating. Instead of wasting valuable resources, you can simply cover yourself with a blanket or dress warmer.

13. Use batteries: Billions of batteries are bought every year, and only 30% of them are handed over to recycling points. Batteries will not only reduce the amount of hazardous waste, but also significantly save your budget.

It's not that difficult. Truth?

At the end of 2016, the news spread almost all over the world - the World Health Organization called the air of the planet deadly for humans. What is the reason for this situation and what exactly pollutes the Earth's atmosphere?

All sources of air pollution can be divided into two large groups: natural and man-made. The most terrible word "pollution" refers to any changes in the composition of the air that affect the state of nature, wildlife and humans. Perhaps the main thing here is to understand that the air has always been polluted, since the formation of the planet as it is. It itself is heterogeneous and includes various gases and particles, which is due to its ecological task - a mixture of substances in the air protects the planet from the cold of space and the radiation of the sun. At the same time, there is also an air self-cleaning system - mixing of layers due to atmospheric phenomena, settling of heavy particles on the surface, natural air washing by precipitation. And before the advent of man and anthropogenic pollutants, the system worked quite smoothly. However, we leave our mark on the planet every day, which was the reason for the current situation and the WHO statement. But first things first.

Sources of air pollution of natural origin have been identified for a long time. The first in terms of the number of air polluting particles is dust, which appeared due to the constant impact of wind on the soil or wind erosion. This process is especially common in the steppes and deserts, where the wind actually blows away soil particles and carries them into the atmosphere, then the dust particles settle back to the earth's surface. According to the calculations of scientists, every year 4.6 billion tons of dust pass through such a cycle.

Volcanoes are also the main sources of air pollution of natural origin. They annually add to the air from 4 million tons of ash and gases, which then also settle in the soil at a distance of up to 1000 km.

Plants are next on the list of natural air pollutants. In addition to the fact that the green inhabitants of the planet constantly produce oxygen, however, in addition, they also create molecular nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide, sulfates and methane. In addition, plants deliver a huge amount of pollen into the air, the clouds of which can rise up to 12 thousand kilometers.

The main sources of atmospheric air pollution include forest fires, evaporation of salts from the surface of the seas and oceans, as well as cosmic dust.

Human activities every day create a huge amount of various wastes, which we generously share with the atmosphere. Today, in large industrial cities, one can observe in their own way beautiful, but at the same time terrible phenomena - air with shades of all the colors of the rainbow, orange rains or just chemical fogs. Sources of air pollution in the city are closely related to its life: vehicles, power plants, plants and factories.
Stationary sources of air pollution are all elements of industry located in a certain area and constantly or regularly emitting their waste into the atmosphere. For our state, the most relevant of these pollutants are power plants, mainly thermal, boiler houses, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises, etc. Stationary sources of atmospheric air pollution are now in any large and developed city, since it is still impossible to ensure full-fledged life without them.
It is also necessary to separately mention such sources of air and air pollution as road transport. Today, the traffic density in large cities is so high that transport arteries can no longer cope with the flow. In addition, city transport is functioning, and since electric cars have not yet spread widely, which means that city air is replenished with exhaust gases every day.

Analyzing the sources of air pollution in the city in parts, three large groups can be distinguished: mechanical, chemical and radioactive.
The first type primarily includes mechanical dust, which is formed during the processing of various materials or their grinding.

Also, mechanical pollutants include sublimates, which are formed during the condensation of liquid vapors used to cool factory equipment, ash, which is created by mineral impurities during combustion, and soot. All these particles form the smallest dust particles, which then move in the city air, mixing with natural dust, and enter our homes. The most dangerous are the smallest particles, which we have already written about in the blog.

Sources of chemical air pollution are also more common than you might think. In fact, every city dweller inhales a full-fledged cocktail of the elements of Mendeleev's periodic table.
. We have already written in more detail about its role and danger in this article, we will not repeat it.
Carbon monoxide. When inhaled, it binds hemoglobin in the blood and prevents the flow of oxygen into the blood, and hence the supply of oxygen to all organs.
. A colorless gas with an unpleasant smell of rotten eggs, when inhaled, it can cause a burning sensation in the throat, reddening of the eyes, respiratory problems, headache and other unpleasant symptoms.

For every inhabitant of Russia, there are now about 200 kg of chemical compounds sprayed into the air.

Sulphur dioxide. It is formed from the combustion of coal and the processing of ore, with prolonged exposure it deprives a person of taste sensations, and then leads to inflammation of the respiratory tract and disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
Ozone. A strong oxidizing agent that contributes to the development of oxidative stress.
Hydrocarbons. Petroleum products, both upstream and downstream, are found most in fuel residues, household chemicals, and industrial cleaners.
Lead. Poisonous in any form, now used in acid batteries, paints, including printing, and even ammunition.

Sources of air pollution in settlements now rarely include radioactive materials, but unscrupulous companies do not always follow the rules for their disposal, and some particles penetrate into groundwater, and then, together with fumes, into the air. An active policy is already underway to combat radioactive contamination of soil, water and air, since such pollutants are extremely dangerous and can cause many deadly diseases.