Dr. Nijil R S Lecturer, Dept. of Swasthavritta
Dr. Nijil R S Lecturer, Dept. of Swasthavritta
Dr. Nijil R S Lecturer, Dept. of Swasthavritta
Dr. Nijil R S
Lecturer, Dept. of Swasthavritta
• Air is a mixture of gases, mainly nitrogen (78%), oxygen
(21%) and carbon dioxide (0.03%), remaining by other gases
such as argon, neon, helium, xenon, etc. strictly speaking
there is no pure air.
• CHANGES IN THE AIR DUE TO HUMAN OCCUPANCY
• Due to human occupancy, the air in the room is vitiated. The changes that take
place in the air of such an occupied room are:
• Physical changes are:
• 1. Rise in temperature
• 2. Rise in relative humidity
• 3. Decrease in the air movement
• 4. occurrence of unpleasant odours
• Chemical changes:
• 1. Increase in the CO2 Concentration
• 2. Decrease in the O2 Concentration
• Effects of vitiated air
• Acute effects are lassitude, headache, nausea, vertigo, vomiting and even
collapse. Death may occur in extreme cases.
• Chemical pollutants
• Particulate matter: dust, smoke, soot, sand, grit, etc.
• Gases: CO, CO2, H2S, CH4, NO2, SO2, MIC (Methyl isocyanide), fluorohydrocarbons,
etc.
• Metals: arsenic, beryllium, copper, zinc, lead etc.
• Biological pollutants
• These include pathogens (microbes), spores, etc.
• Sources of air pollution
• Domestic sources: burning of fire wood, kerosene oil, coal, etc.
• For example, London disaster in England and Bhopal gas tragedy in India.
• Delayed and Chronic Effects
• These are chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, emphysema, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchial asthma and even
lung cancer.
• Global Effects of Air Pollution
• i. Acid rain: It is the end result of several processes occurring in the
atmosphere.
• Sulfur dioxide emitted from combustion of coal produces sulfuric acid by getting
dissolved in water vapor of the atmosphere.
• Normally, the atmospheric gasses have a ‘green-house effect’, i.e. like the
glass of a green-house, allow light and warmth to reach the earth but they do not
allow warmth to be lost, thus maintaining life on earth.
•
• Sulphur dioxide:
• SO2 is a colourless gas with a sharp odour, results from the combustion of sulphur
containing fossil fuel, the smelting of sulphur containing ores, and other industrial
processes.
• Domestic fires, power generation and motor vehicles can also produce emissions
containing sulphur dioxide.
• SO2 can affect the respiratory system and the functions of lungs, and causes
irritation of eyes.
• Inflammation of respiratory tract causes coughing, mucus secretion, aggravation
of asthma and chronic bronchitis, and makes people more prone to infections of
respiratory tract.
• Carbon dioxide:
• This is not commonly regarded an air pollutant, although man generates
enormous amount of it in combustion process using coal, oil and gas.
• It is a natural constituent of air. It does not take part in any chemical reactions
with other substances in the air. However its global concentration is rising above
the natural level by an amount that could increase global temperature enough to
affect climate remarkably.
• Prevention and control of air pollution
• 1. Engineering technology:
• Within the industry, the process causing air pollution should be replaced by
the process preventing air pollution, ex: using electricity instead of fuels,
using LPG in place of coal, etc.
• 3. General measures;
• Population stabilization
VENTILATION
• VENTILATION
• Ventilation means not only the replacement of vitiated air (stagnant, warm and
moist air) by the drier, cooler and moving air but also control of quality of
• Perflation means blowing of the air through a room, when the doors and
rooms are open, which is natural result of air movement. When air is moving, it
drives the air before it, lessens the pressure around it and causes the surrounding
air to move towards it by aspiration
• B. Effects of difference of temperature:
• Air always moves from high density to low density. Outer cooler air of high
density, rushes in through every opening of the room.
• The greater the difference of temperature between the outer cooler air and the
inner warmer air, greater will be the velocity of the incoming air, until the
temperature of both outside and inside air become equal. Since the incoming air
gets warmed up, a constant current is maintained. This is the basis of natural
ventilation.
• C. Diffusion of gases: this means passing of the air through the smallest
openings or spaces such as cracks and crevices. As a ventilating agent, it is of little
value.
• Artificial ventilation:
• These are of four types,
• 1. Vacuum system: foul, vitiated air is extracted or exhausted to the outside
by using exhaust fans, operated electrically, so that vacuum is created and fresh
air enters in and fill its place.
• They are usually provided in large halls, auditorium, and cinema halls and are
fixed near the roof, because the vitiated air warmer and moves up.
• 2. Plenum ventilation: fresh are is pushed or propelled or blown into the
room by centrifugal fans or high pressure fans. This creates a positive pressure
and displaces the vitiated air.
•
• Thermal comfort
• It is defined as “ a state of mind in humans that expresses