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Chapter 9
Air Pollution and Global Change
Air pollution, as well as other environmental disturbances, may be local,
regional or global, depending on the area where its consequences are manifested. The air pollution is important for the biosphere because of the vital
role of the atmosphere for the environmental equilibrium of the planet and
for the organisms. On the other hand, the reversibility of the alterations in
the chemical composition of the air is limited. This phenomenon is associated with the partial inability of the atmosphere to assimilate pollution
because the self-purifying processes of the atmosphere are only carried out
in physicochemical ways. The atmosphere does not contain the functions of
an ecosystem, as do the sea or the soil, therefore there are no intricate systemic processes that could increase and accelerate the assimilating capacity.
Especially important are the large-scale air pollution phenomena that have
a global and non-reversible character, e.g. the increase of greenhouse gases
concentrations or the depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer.
9.1 SOURCES AND LOCAL IMPLICATIONS
OF AIR POLLUTANTS
Many forms of air pollution are observed in the lower stratums of the troposphere and mainly affect the locations of pollutant emissions, that is,
cities and industrial areas.
The main source of air pollution is energy production by burning solid
and liquid fuels. The atmosphere of cities and other burdened areas receives
pollutants coming mainly from cars, big and small industries, buildings
where fuels are used for heating or cooking, construction and other technical works that produce dust and other pollutants, garbage incineration
facilities, fluid fuel transport etc. The main air pollutants are:
• Carbon oxides CO and CO 2
• Nitrogen oxides NO x (N 2 O, NO, NO 2 and N 2 O 5 )
DOI: 10.1201/b14609-9
Chapter 9
Air Pollution and Global Change
Air pollution, as well as other environmental disturbances, may be local,
regional or global, depending on the area where its consequences are manifested. The air pollution is important for the biosphere because of the vital
role of the atmosphere for the environmental equilibrium of the planet and
for the organisms. On the other hand, the reversibility of the alterations in
the chemical composition of the air is limited. This phenomenon is associated with the partial inability of the atmosphere to assimilate pollution
because the self-purifying processes of the atmosphere are only carried out
in physicochemical ways. The atmosphere does not contain the functions of
an ecosystem, as do the sea or the soil, therefore there are no intricate systemic processes that could increase and accelerate the assimilating capacity.
Especially important are the large-scale air pollution phenomena that have
a global and non-reversible character, e.g. the increase of greenhouse gases
concentrations or the depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer.
9.1 SOURCES AND LOCAL IMPLICATIONS
OF AIR POLLUTANTS
Many forms of air pollution are observed in the lower stratums of the troposphere and mainly affect the locations of pollutant emissions, that is,
cities and industrial areas.
The main source of air pollution is energy production by burning solid
and liquid fuels. The atmosphere of cities and other burdened areas receives
pollutants coming mainly from cars, big and small industries, buildings
where fuels are used for heating or cooking, construction and other technical works that produce dust and other pollutants, garbage incineration
facilities, fluid fuel transport etc. The main air pollutants are:
• Carbon oxides CO and CO 2
• Nitrogen oxides NO x (N 2 O, NO, NO 2 and N 2 O 5 )
DOI: 10.1201/b14609-9