Chapter 3

Environmental Pollution
Air pollution

Green-house effect: Definition, causes and consequences.

Depletion of ozone layer: CFC, destruction of ozone layer by
CFC, consequences, the effect of ozone modification,
Photochemical smog, Bhopal gas tragedy.
Greenhouse effect
The greenhouse effect is a natural process that warms the Earth’s surface.
To understand the greenhouse effect, we need to understand how a real
greenhouse works
What is green house?
A Greenhouse (also called a
Glasshouse) is a building where plants
are grown. It has glass walls and a
glass roof. People grow vegetables,
flowers, and other plants in them. A
greenhouse stays warm inside even
during the cold season.
Greenhouses also protect plants from
weather phenomena such as snowstorms
or duct forms. In tropical countries,
greenhouses are used by commercial
plant growers to protect flowering and
ornamental plants from harsh weather
conditions and insect attacks.
 How a greenhouse works
 Greenhouses allow sunlight to enter but prevent heat from
escaping.
 The transparent covering of the greenhouse allows visible light to
enter without obstruction.
 It warms the inside of the greenhouse as energy is absorbed by the
plants, soil and other things inside the building.
 Air warmed by the heat
inside is retained in the
building by the roof and
walls.
 The transparent covering
also prevents the heat from
leaving by reflecting the
energy into the walls and
preventing outside winds
from carrying it away.
The greenhouse effect is a naturally occurring phenomenon that is
responsible for the heating of the Earth’s Surface and atmosphere

The greenhouse effect is the process by which radiation from a

planet's atmosphere warms its surface to a temperature above what
it would be without this atmosphere.
 If the greenhouse effect is natural, that keeps our Earth’s climate regular and
comfortable

 The man-made greenhouse effect enhances the natural greenhouse effect

(made from burning fossil fuels, petroleum, coal, and natural gas).

 If the greenhouse effect is too strong, Earth gets warmer and warmer. Too
much carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in air can make the
greenhouse effect stronger, which would result to global warming.
 Greenhouse Gases
Greenhouse gas is any gas that accumulates lower-energy
infrared radiation. These gases consist of:

 Water vapour

 Carbon dioxide

 Methane

 Troposphere ozone

 Nitrous oxide
 Sources of greenhouse gases
 Water vapor (H2O) is the gaseous phase
of water.
 It is one state of water within the
hydrosphere.
 Water vapor can be produced from the
evaporation or boiling of liquid water or
from the sublimation of ice.
 Carbon dioxide (CO2) is naturally
produced when people and animals
breathe.

 Plants take in and use CO2 to produce

their food. When food is oxidized in the
cells, CO2 is given off as a waste product.

 It is also returned to the air as a product

of combustion and decomposition.
 Methane (CH4) is emitted by natural sources
such as wetlands, as well as human activities
such as leakage from natural gas systems and
raising livestock.
Ozone (O3) is created by sunlight acting on
oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic
compounds in the air.

There are thousands of types of sources of these gases. Some familiar

sources include gasoline vapors, chemical solvents, combustion
products of fuels, and consumer products.
Nitrous oxides are naturally present in
the atmosphere as part of the nitrogen
cycle and have a variety of natural
sources.

Human activities such as agriculture,

fossil fuel combustion, wastewater
management, and industrial processes are
increasing the amount of nitrous oxide in
the atmosphere.

Due to the increasing use of fossil fuels, burning of forest lands

to increase agricultural production, decaying of agricultural
products, and other human activities, the concentration of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has been increasing,
resulting in an ‘enhanced greenhouse effect’ which is often
referred to as global warming.
 Consequences of the Greenhouse effect
 Rising temperatures cause water of the
oceans along with the sea to increase

 Increasing temperatures melt ice as it

starts to flow into the seas of Antarctic
and Greenland.

 Sea levels rise by 20-40 cm causing

floods in areas with low coast areas e.g.
Bangladesh and Netherland

 Flood in many areas case a danger for

living things
 Consequences of Greenhouse effect
 Changes in the weather affect the growing
crops around the world

 Crops of wheat and rice grow well in high

temperatures
 Sugarcane and maize don’t survive in high
temperatures and end up dying

 Changes in the amount of rainfall affect the

growth, leading to shortage of food
 Changes make it hard for humans to adjust and adapt to
climate
 While weather and temperature changes, the homes of plants
and animals will be affected
 New homes for animals may not be safe causing loss in animal
population
Control of Greenhouse effect
 Ozone layer depletion
 A gas composed of three atoms
of oxygen (O3)

 Bluish gas that is harmful to

breathe

 Nearly 90% of the Earth's

ozone is in the stratosphere
and is referred to as the ozone
layer

 Ozone absorbs a band of

ultraviolet radiation called UV
Band (280-315 nm)
 Ozone layer depletion
 O3 is produced continuously by reacting molecular oxygen O2 with
an oxygen atom.
 Oxygen atoms are generated by the dissociation of molecular
oxygen in the presence of UV radiation of the sun
U
V2 O
O
2
2
4
2n
m

O
2+O O
3

 O3 formed in the stratosphere distributes itself and forms a layer

 O3 further absorbs UV radiation and dissociates into molecular
oxygen and atomic oxygen
U
V O
+
O
O
3 2
3
2
0n
m
 Ozone is continuously created and destroyed by the sun’s radiation,
this results in equilibrium concentration of ozone.
242 nm
O2 + O O3
320 nm
 Causes of Ozone Layer Depletion
The ozone layer depletion is a significant concern and is associated with
a number of factors.

1. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
 CFCs are the leading cause of ozone layer depletion.

 Releasing of solvents, spray aerosols, refrigerators, air-conditioners,

etc.

 The molecules of CFCs in the stratosphere are broken down by

ultraviolet radiations and release chlorine atoms. These atoms react
with ozone and destroy it.
 Causes of Ozone Layer Depletion
2. Nitrogenous Compounds
Nitrogenous compounds such as NO2, NO, N2O are highly
responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer.

3. Natural Causes
 Specific natural processes like sunspots deplete the ozone layer.

 It does not cause more than 1-2% of the ozone layer depletion.

 The volcanic eruptions are also responsible for the depletion of the
ozone layer.
 Ozone-depleting Substance(s) (ODS):
Ozone-Depleting Sources
Substances
Chlorofluorocarbons Refrigerators, air-
(CFCs) conditioners, solvents,
dry-cleaning agents, etc.
Halons Fire-extinguishers
Carbon tetrachloride Fire extinguishers,
solvents
Methyl chloroform Adhesives, aerosols
Hydrofluorocarbons Solvent cleaning, fire
extinguishers, solvent
cleaning
NO Jet fuels
 Effects of Ozone Layer Depletion
The depletion of the ozone layer has harmful effects on humans,
animals, and the environment.

Effects on Human Health

 Humans will be directly exposed to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet
radiations due to the depletion of the ozone layer.

 This might result in serious health issues among humans, such as

skin diseases, cancer, sunburns, cataracts, quick aging, and a
weakened immune system.

Effects on Animals
 Direct exposure to ultraviolet radiations leads to skin and eye cancer
in animals.
 Effects of Ozone Layer Depletion
Effects on the Environment

 Intense ultraviolet rays may lead to minimal plant growth,

flowering, and photosynthesis.

 The forests also have to bear the harmful effects of the ultraviolet
rays.

Effects on Marine Life

 Planktons are greatly affected by the exposure to harmful ultraviolet
rays.

 These are higher in the aquatic food chain. If the plankton are
destroyed, the organisms present in the lower food chain are also
affected.
 Solutions to Ozone Layer Depletion
The depletion of the ozone layer is a severe issue, and various
programs have been launched by the government of various countries
to prevent it. However, steps should be taken at the individual level as
well to prevent the depletion of the ozone layer.
Avoid Using Pesticides
Natural methods should be implemented to get rid of pests and weeds
instead of using chemicals.

One can use eco-friendly chemicals to remove the pests or weeds

manually.

Minimize the Use of Vehicles

The vehicles emit many greenhouse gases , leading to global warming
and ozone depletion. Therefore, the use of cars should be minimized as
much as possible.
 Solutions to Ozone Layer Depletion

Use Eco-friendly Cleaning Products

Most cleaning products have chlorine and bromine-releasing
chemicals that enter the atmosphere and affect the ozone layer.
These should be substituted with natural products to protect the
environment.

Use of Nitrous Oxide should be Prohibited

The government should take action and prohibit the use of harmful
nitrous oxide that adversely affects the ozone layer. People should
be aware of the harmful effects of nitrous oxide and the products
emitting the gas so that its use is minimized individually.
 Smog
Smog = smoke + fog
At least two distinct types of smog are recognized: Sulfurous smog and
Photochemical smog.
Sulfurous smog
• Also called “London smog,” results from a high concentration of sulfur oxides
(e.g. SO2, SO3) in the air and is caused by using sulfur-bearing fossil fuels,
particularly coal. This smog is aggravated by dampness and a high suspended
particulate matter concentration.
• Great Smog of London, lethal smog that covered the city of London for five
days (December 5–9) in 1952, caused by a combination of
industrial pollution and high-pressure weather conditions.
• Reports estimated that about 12,000 died due to choking and respiratory
problems.
 Difference in London smog and Photochemical smog
London smog Photochemical smog
First observed in London, 1952 First observed in Los Angles, 1943

It involves Smoke + Fog Does not involve Smoke + Fog.

Smog is a name that is incorrectly or
unsuitably applied here.

Occurs in cold weather Occurs in summer or sunny day

Contain-particulates, SOx Contains- NOx, O3, hydrocarbons, PAN

Source-coal, fossil fuels Source-gasoline, combustion.

It has reducing character Chemically it has oxidizing character.

Mainly cause lung problems Mainly cause eye irritation.

Photochemical smog
o Also known as “Los Angeles smog,” occurs most prominently in urban
areas with large numbers of automobiles.
o It requires neither smoke nor fog. This smog originates in
the NOx and hydrocarbon vapors emitted by automobiles and other
sources, which undergo photochemical reactions in the
lower atmosphere.
o It is visible as a brown haze and is most prominent during the morning
and afternoon, especially in densely populated, warm cities.
o This type of smog has four main requirements: oxygen (O2), nitrogen
oxides (NOx), hydrocarbons, and ultraviolet light (UV).
The most significant contributor is automobiles, while coal-fired power
plants and others also produce the necessary pollutants to facilitate their
production. Due to its abundance in areas of warmer temperatures,
photochemical smog is most common in the summer. Photochemical smog—
a mixture of ozone, nitric acid, aldehydes, peroxy acyl nitrates (PANs),
and other secondary pollutants.
NOx produced in car engines, factories, power plants, etc., are
introduced into the atmosphere, which may combine with water to
form nitric acid or react with sunlight to produce
singular oxygen atoms, which then combine with molecular oxygen to
produce ozone.
Aldehydes
Peroxyacyl nitrates (PAN)
PAN is produced in the atmosphere when oxidized volatile organic
compounds combine with NO2.
PANs can remain in the atmosphere for about three months after
formation under cold conditions (-20°C and lower). However, in
warmer areas, PANs persist only for a few hours.
Effects of Photochemical Smog
• When combined with hydrocarbons, the chemicals contained within
it form molecules that cause eye irritation.
• Radicals in the air interfere with the nitrogen cycle by preventing
the destruction of ground-level ozone.
• Reduced visibility, respiratory and lung problems
• High levels of smog also trigger asthma attacks.
• Some plants, such as tobacco, tomato, and spinach, are highly
responsive to ozone so photochemical smog can destroy these
sensitive crops, trees, and other vegetation.
• Ozone causes necrotic (dead) patterns on the upper surfaces of the
leaves of trees.
• It corrode metals, rubber, and painted surfaces.
 Bhopal Gas Tragedy
• Also referred to as the Bhopal disaster, it was a gas leak incident on the night of
• 2–3 December 1984 at the Union Carbide India
Limited (UCIL) pesticide/insecticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh (India).
• It is considered among the world's worst industrial disasters.
• About 45 tons of the dangerous gas methyl isocyanate escaped from
an insecticide plant that the Indian subsidiary of the American firm Union Carbide
Corporation owned.
• The gas drifted over the densely populated neighborhoods around the plant,
killing thousands immediately and creating a panic as tens of thousands of others
attempted to flee Bhopal.
• The final death toll was estimated to be between 15,000 and 20,000. Some half a
million survivors suffered respiratory problems, eye irritation or blindness, and
other maladies resulting from exposure to the toxic gas.
Background
The UCIL factory was built in 1969 to produce the pesticide Sevin (UCC's
brand name for carbaryl) using methyl isocyanate (MIC) as an
intermediate. An MIC production plant was added to the UCIL site in 1979.
The chemical process employed in the Bhopal plant
had methylamine reacting with phosgene to form MIC, which was then
reacted with 1-naphthol to form the final product, carbaryl.
What is Methyl Isocyanate (MIC)?
• Methyl Isocyanate is a colorless liquid used for making pesticides.
• MIC is safe when maintained properly.
• The chemical is highly reactive to heat (boiling point: 39 oC).
• When exposed to water, the compounds in MIC react, causing a heat reaction.
 The Bhopal UCIL facility housed three underground 68,000-litre liquid MIC
storage tanks.
 UCC safety regulations specified that no one tank should be filled more than 50%
(here, 30 tons) with liquid MIC. Each tank was pressurized with inert nitrogen
gas.
 This pressurization allowed liquid MIC to be pumped out of each tank as needed
and kept impurities out of the tanks.
The introduction of water into the tank subsequently resulted in
a runaway exothermic reaction, which was accelerated by contaminants, high
ambient temperatures, and various other factors, such as the presence of iron from
corroding non-stainless steel pipelines
By early December 1984, most of the plant's MIC-related safety systems were
malfunctioning, and many valves and lines were in poor condition.
• The pressure in the tank (E610), although initially nominal at 2 psi at 10:30 p.m.,
reached 10 psi by 11 p.m. Two different senior refinery employees assumed the
reading was an instrumentation malfunction.
• By 11:30 p.m., workers in the MIC area were feeling the effects of minor
exposure to MIC gas and began to look for a leak.
• One was found by 11:45 p.m. and reported to the MIC supervisor on duty. The
decision was made to address the problem after a 12:15 a.m. tea break, and in the
meantime, employees were instructed to continue looking for leaks. MIC area
employees discussed the incident during the holiday.
• Five minutes after the tea break ended at 12:40 a.m., the reaction in tank E610
reached a critical state at an alarming speed. Temperatures in the tank were off the
scale, maxed out beyond 25 °C (77 °F), and the pressure in the tank was indicated
at 40 psi (275.8 kPa). One employee witnessed a concrete slab above tank E610
crack as the emergency relief valve burst open, and pressure in the tank continued
to increase to 55 psi (379.2 kPa); even though atmospheric venting of toxic MIC
gas had already begun. Direct atmospheric venting should have been prevented or
at least partially mitigated by at least three safety devices that were
malfunctioning, not in use, and insufficiently sized.
Safety Precautions/Maintenance
• A refrigeration system meant to cool tanks containing liquid MIC shut
down in January 1982, and whose freon had been removed in June 1984.
Since the MIC storage system assumed refrigeration, its high-
temperature alarm, set to sound at 11 °C (52 °F), had long since been
disconnected, and tank storage temperatures ranged between 15 °C and
40 °C.
• A flare tower, to burn the MIC gas as it escaped, which had a connecting
pipe removed for maintenance and was improperly sized to neutralize a
leak of the size produced by the tank.
• A vent gas scrubber, which had been deactivated at the time and was in
'standby' mode, and similarly had insufficient caustic soda (NaOH).
Alternate/Safe route for the synthesis of Carbaryl
On commission with press agency Rapho,
Photographer Pablo Bartholomew took an iconic
color photograph of a burial of the December
4, Bhopal gas disaster girl.

The photo became symbolic of the suffering of

victims of the Bhopal disaster, and Bartholomew
went on to win the 1984 World Press Photo of
the Year.

For more details, kindly see the following link:

https://alchetron.com/Bhopal-disaster

Lecture 2 ends here…