4. Smog
โข Smog = Smoke + Fog
โข Oxidizing smog or photochemical smog
โข The mixture of smoke + fog is characterized by
presence of SO2 ๏ reducing smog or
sulphorous smog
5.
6. Smog forming reactions
โข Hydrocarbons from number of chemical and
photochemical reactions ๏ noxious secondary
pollutant and intermediates ๏ photochemical
smog.
โข Photochemical reactions of Methane (CH4)
CH4 + O ๏ H3Cโข [alkyl (methyl) radical] + HOโข
(hydroxyl radical)
7. โข H3Cโข + O2 + M (energy-absorbing third body,
usually a molecule of N2 or O2) ๏ H3COOโข
(methyl peroxyl radical) + M
โข Such radicals participate in a variety of
subsequent chain reactions๏ smog formation.
โข CH4 + HOโข (hydroxyl radical) ๏ H3Cโข (methyl
radical) + H2O
โข H3COOโข (methyl peroxyl radical) + NO ๏
H3COโข + NO2
โข VOCs + NOx + sunlight ๏ Photochemical smog
8. Air pollution episodes
Location Date Pollutants Effects
Meuse valley,
Belgium
Dec. 1930 SO2 63 excess deaths
Donora PA,
USA
Oct. 1948 SO2 20 deaths
Poza Rica,
Mexico
Nov. 1950 H2S 22 excess deaths
London Dec. 1952 SO2 4000 excess deaths
New York Nov. 1966 SO2 168 deaths
9. London Smog
โข December 5-9, 1952
โข Damp and foggy condition in winter, subsidence
inversion
โข Fuel use was maximum and air near stagnant
โข A white fog was formed
โข Coal as a source of fuel for space heating and
electricity production (Sulphur, 1.5%)
โข White fog ๏ black fog
โข Smoke conc. during fog was five times higher
โข SO2 conc. was six times than usual level
10. โข Sulphur dioxide dissolve into the water that
condensed around smoke particles
โข SO2(g) + H2O(l) H(aq) + HSO3 (aq)
โข Bulid up pollutants combined with smog
โข Zero visibility
โone canโt see ones hande infornt of his faceโa
white collar shirt becomes almost black within 20
minโ
โข Cough, nasal discharge, sore throat, irritation
of eyes and bronchi, and vomating
11. โข Casualties of 4000 people
โข Died were of old age and history of chronic
bronchitis, asthma, bronco-pneumonia and
other lung and heart diseases
โข Similar but mild air pollution episodes had
occurred previously Dec. 1873, Jan 1880, Feb
1882, Dec 1891, Dec 1892, Nov 1948, Dec
1950 (1000 deaths)
13. Los Angeles Smog
โข Subsidence inversion was responsible
โข Los Angeles has mountains to the north and
the east; horizontal air movement restricted
โข This situation acts as a trap for obnoxious
gases from automobiles
โข Ozone (ground level) was formed, photo-
chemical reactions of NOx + HC (automobiles)
14. โข Temperature inversion increases the conc. of
exhaust gases and photochemical smog is
formed
โข Irritation of eyes, nose and throat