Air Pollution - Monitoring, Modelling, Health and Control

Pollution is now a common place term that our ears are attuned to. We hear about the various forms of pollution and read about it through the mass media. Air pollution is one such form that refers to the contamination of the air, irrespective of indoors or outside. A physical, biological or chemical alteration to the air in the atmosphere can be termed as pollution. It occurs when any harmful gases, dust, smoke enters into the atmosphere and makes it difficult for plants, animals and humans to survive as the air becomes dirty. Air pollution has always been a trans-boundary environmental problem and a matter of global concern for past many years. Air pollution is a huge problemand not just for people living in smog-choked cities: through such things as global warming and damage to the ozone layer, it has the potential to affect us all. Sulphur dioxide emitted from the combustion of fossil fuels like coal, petroleum and other factory combustibles is one the major cause of air pollution. Pollution emitting from vehicles including trucks, jeeps, cars, trains, airplanes cause immense amount of pollution. We rely on them to fulfil our daily basic needs of transportation. But, there overuse is killing our environment as dangerous gases are polluting the environment. Carbon Monoxide caused by improper or incomplete combustion and generally emitted from vehicles is another major pollutant along with Nitrogen Oxides that is produced from both natural and man-made processes. Ammonia is a very common by product from agriculture related activities and is one of the most hazardous gases in the atmosphere. Use of insecticides, pesticides and fertilizers in agricultural activities has grown quite a lot. Manufacturing industries release large amount of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, organic compounds, and chemicals into the air thereby depleting the quality of air. Household cleaning products, painting supplies emit toxic chemicals in the air and cause air pollution. The effects of air pollution are alarming. They are known to create several respiratory and heart conditions along with Cancer, among other threats to the body. Several millions are known to have died due to direct or indirect effects of air pollution. Children in areas exposed to air pollutants are said to commonly suffer from pneumonia and asthma. Another direct effect is the immediate alterations that the world is witnessing Global warming, acid rain, eutrophication and depletion of Ozone layer. Several attempts are being made worldwide on personal, industrial and governmental levels to curb the intensity at which air pollution is rising and regain a balance as far as the proportions of the foundation gases are concerned. Air Pollution - Monitoring, Modelling, Health and Control covers several monitoring techniques of air pollutants, their predictions and control. It also comprises topics describing the exposure and health consequences of air pollutants on living biota in different countries across the globe.