Consider the main sources of air pollution. Currently, there are two large groups: anthropogenic and natural. Each of them has its own distinctive features and characteristics.
Natural Views
Natural sources of air pollution are those groups that have a plant, mineral or microbiological nature. What can be cited as an example? These are plant pollen, animal excrement, dust, products of volcanic eruptions. Man has no opportunity to influence these sources of air pollution. The only thing that is in the power of mankind is to use the best methods to reduce the negative impact of them on public he alth.
Artificial Species
Anthropogenic sources of air pollution are the products of human life that enter the earth's atmosphere. There is a division into several groups, each of which deserves detailed consideration and study.
Transport pollutants
Due to the significant deterioration of the ecological situation on our planet, it is necessary to look for alternative energy sources, the combustion of which will not emit large amounts of carbon oxides. The car is a source of air pollution. According to the results of sociological studies, it was found that in some countries there are 1-2 vehicles per family. Millions of vehicles today move along the streets of large cities, and the content of toxic exhaust gases is increasing in the air. In Russian cities, automobile emissions of CO/CH into the atmosphere have long exceeded emissions from the operation of huge production workshops. The total capacity of automobile engines in our country is much higher than the installed capacity of all thermal power plants in the country. Such sources of air pollution are a serious threat to public he alth.
There are many different substances in the composition of car exhaust gases. They contain hydrocarbons - unburned or incompletely burned parts of the fuel, the amount of which increases significantly when the engine is running at low speeds.
The intervals of time when the car starts to pull away sharply are also a serious danger. When the driver presses the gas pedal, ten times more unburned chemical compounds are released into the atmosphere than during the operation of the engine in standard mode.
These artificial sources of air pollution have a negative effect on the mental state of a person.
Harm from a gasoline engine
This is a special kind of piston engineinternal combustion, in which the process of ignition of the air and fuel mixture in the cylinders occurs forcibly with the help of an electric spark. Gasoline engines use gasoline as fuel.
Atmospheric pollution is caused by hydrocarbons that make up this type of fuel.
A four-stroke engine is a reciprocating internal combustion engine in which the work process in each of the cylinders takes two complete revolutions of the crankshaft, that is, four strokes of the piston, called cycles.
Exhaust composition
Let's take a closer look at these sources of air pollution. The exhaust gases of an engine running on high-quality gasoline contain about 2.7% carbon monoxide. In the case of a decrease in speed, this figure increases to 3.9%, and at low speeds it reaches 6.9%. Carbon monoxide, in the formation of chemical compounds with blood hemoglobin, negatively affects the process of oxygen transfer to different tissues of the body. Exhaust gases contain aldehydes, which have an unpleasant pungent odor that causes an allergic reaction.
A serious source of air pollution are unsaturated hydrocarbons of the ethylene series: hexenes, pentenes. These organic compounds found in exhaust gases depress the human central nervous system, causing attacks of aggression and irritability.
The maximum amount of various resins and soot is formed if there are seriousmalfunction.
These sources of air pollution are especially dangerous at the moment when the driver increases the work of the gasoline engine, while reducing the ratio of air and fuel, trying to create a "rich gasoline mixture." In such situations, a tail of smoke trails behind the vehicle, which contains a significant amount of polycyclic hydrocarbons, such as benzapyrene.
If natural sources of atmospheric pollution appear periodically, then exhaust gases have a constant negative effect on the Earth, systematically destroying its atmosphere.
Effects of CO/CH on the atmosphere and human he alth
We have already identified some sources and consequences. Atmospheric pollution leads to the destruction of green plants, the emergence of many genetic diseases. It's all about exhaust gases. Let's dwell on this issue in more detail.
Scientists have found out that when a significant amount of exhaust gases enter the earth's atmosphere, there are serious problems with the development of the fetus in the womb, both in late and early pregnancy.
With the location of settlements near major highways along which vehicles with gasoline engines move, women often give birth to babies with serious he alth problems.
This is interesting
American scientists in the course of research have found that exhaust gases cause significant damage to neurons thataffect the functioning of the brain, cause memory loss. They also lead to inflammation, which is associated with premature aging and the development of Alzheimer's disease. The particles of unburned hydrocarbons in the exhaust gases are small in size, so they are not captured by the car's filtration system. Unfortunately, scientists have not yet been able to find an effective way to protect the population from the negative effects of gasoline combustion products.
Alternative engine options
Since the main sources of air pollution discussed above are a serious threat to humanity, scientists have long worked on the creation of an electric engine that does not involve the use of gasoline in the course of its operation. An electric motor is an installation in which electrical energy is converted into mechanical work, and heat is also released. Such a system consists of two parts: a fixed stator, a rotating rotor.
Many engineers refer to electric motors as zero carbon vehicles. Its efficiency reaches 95% (for gasoline, this figure does not exceed 60%). Among the advantages of an electric motor, we highlight the insignificant maintenance costs, the operation of such vehicles.
After analyzing what are the sources of air pollution, how they are related to the composition of the fuel, we can conclude that electric vehicles are the best option for the environment.
No need to put in themmechanical brakes, and it is precisely when the vehicle stops that a significant amount of exhaust gases is released into the atmosphere.
Environmental aspects of the electric motor
Batteries are manufactured using certain chemicals to process them. For example, chemical sources of atmospheric pollution such as hexafluoride (SF6) are 20,000 times more dangerous for global warming than carbon dioxide. But this substance used in electric motors is much smaller in volume, and therefore, electric motors can rightfully be considered environmentally friendly types.
To understand the difference between petrol cars and electric cars, let's do a comparison.
Since the main sources of air pollution are associated with gasoline transport, suppose that it takes 3,785 liters of liquid fuel to move a car 64 kilometers. To pass such a path by a car with an electric motor, 10 kWh of energy will be required. In the process of combustion of 3.785 liters of gasoline, 8.887 grams of carbon dioxide is released into the earth's atmosphere. During the generation of alternative 10 kWh of electrical energy, including the process of extraction, production, transmission and combustion, 900 g of CO2 is generated for hydroelectric power plants, 550 g for solar stations, 150 g for nuclear power.
Electric vehicles do not have a negative impact on the human nervous system, do not interfere with living organisms to fully breathe, enjoy clean air.
Whenthinking through technologies for recycling used electric batteries, these types of engines will be the best option for improving the environmental situation on Earth.
Industrial emissions
When analyzing the main sources of air pollution, it is necessary to dwell on the various technological processes necessary to provide the population with chemicals, clothing, food, household appliances, and thermal energy. Currently, the share of industrial emissions into the atmosphere is decreasing, as large enterprises install efficient gas recovery units. In our country, industrial emissions into the atmosphere are regulated on a legislative basis, which also helps to reduce harmful chemical emissions.
Household pollutants
This group includes compounds that are formed during the processing of various household waste, and also enter the earth's atmosphere in combustion processes. Their share in the volume is much less than emissions from transport, the operation of industrial enterprises.
Classification options
If schoolchildren are asked the question: "Name the sources of air pollution", they, answering it, use the division of such substances into several groups. Consider some of the criteria used for this classification:
- In composition. Allocate mechanical impurities, such as dust obtained during the combustion of solid fuel compounds, the manufacture of cement. This also includes soot,tire components rubbing against the road surface.
- Chemical pollutants in the gaseous or solid state contribute to processes whose products adversely affect the atmosphere. Among them: ammonia, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, aldehydes, ketones.
- Radioactive sources include isotopes and radiation.
- Biological airborne contaminants are fungal, microbial, viral organisms.
Conclusion
Currently, the earth's atmosphere is under attack from a variety of pollutants. By their nature, they can be natural, artificial origin. Let us dwell on the processes associated with volcanic eruptions. Processes are carried out in the bowels of the earth, the result of which is the formation of various compounds of organic and inorganic nature.
During a volcanic eruption, in addition to dust and other solid components, many compounds enter the atmosphere: hydrogen sulfide, sulfur oxides, sulfates. These contaminants are unpredictable and therefore cannot be manipulated by humans.
Recently, issues related to reducing negative emissions into the earth's atmosphere have received special attention all over the world. There are many international organizations whose main goal is to find the best methods and means of protecting flora and fauna from chemical, industrial, natural pollution.
Among those effective measures that have a positive impact onreducing emissions of carbon monoxide, sulfur compounds, nitrogen, one can name a gradual transition to high-quality fuel, as well as a partial rejection of gasoline engines. Many major automotive concerns are developing electric and hydrogen engines that do not release harmful chemicals into the atmosphere.
