Air Pollution and Environment

Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction to Air Pollution: Definitions, Classifications and History. 2. Effects of air Pollution Control on Climate. 3. Health Effects of Air Pollution. 4. The Effects of Urban Tree on air Quality. 5. Air Pollution: Action in a Changing Climate. 6. Effect of Overloads on Air Pollution and Environment. 7. Global Dimming by air Pollution and Global Warming by Greenhouse Gases. 8. A New Global Warming Strategy: How environmentalists are Overlooking. 9. Indoor Air Pollution in India: A Major Environmental and Public Health Concern. 10. Prevention and Control of Air Pollution. 11. Quantifying the Costs of Air Pollution. 12. Approaches to Pollution Prevention. 13. The Air Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1981. 14. Government Size, Government Quality and Air Pollution. Bibliography. Index.

Air pollution occurs when the air contains gases, dust, fumes or odour in harmful amount. That is, amounts which could be harmful to the health or comfort of humans and animals or which could cause damage to plants and materials. The substances that cause air pollution are called pollutants. Pollutants that are pumped into our atmosphere and directly pollute the air are called primary pollutants. Primary pollutant examples include carbon monoxide from car exhausts and sulfur dioxide from the combustion of coal.

Further pollution can arise if primary pollutants in the atmosphere undergo chemical reactions. The resulting compounds are called secondary pollutants. Photochemical smog is an example of this. In the days before the proliferation of large cities and industry, nature’s own systems kept the air fairly clean. (Jacket)