Air Pollution Analysis with a Possibilistic and Fuzzy Clustering Algorithm Applied in a Real Database of Salamanca (México)

Abstract

Air pollution is one of the most important environmental problems in developed and undeveloped countries and it is associated with significant adverse health effects. Air pollution is characterized by the presence of a heterogeneous, complex mixture of gases, liquids and particulate matter in air. Pollution is caused by both natural and man-made sources, and it may greatly vary from one region to another according to the geography, demography, climate, and topography of these ones. For example, pollutant concentrations decrease significantly when the urban area meets certain characteristics as topography or large rain season (Celik & Kadi, 2007). Forest fires, volcanic eruptions, wind erosion, pollen dispersal, evaporation of organic compounds, and natural radioactivity are among natural causes of air pollution. Major man-made sources of air pollution include: industries, transportation, agriculture, power generation, and unplanned urban areas (Fenger, 2009). Air pollutants exert a wide range of impacts on biological, physical, and ecosystems. Their effects on human health are of particular concern. The World Health Organization (WHO) consider air pollution as the mayor environmental risk to health and is estimated to cause approximately 2 million premature deaths worldwide per year (WHO, 2008). This type of pollution is classified in criterio and non-criterio pollutants, the firsts are considered dangerous to human and animal health, its name was given after the result of various evaluations regarding air pollution published by the United States of America (EPA, 2008). Six criteria of pollutants are defined: Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Particulate Matter (PM), Lead (Pb), and Ozone (O3). The objective of this classification is to establish permissible levels to protect human and animal health and for the preservation of the environment. Human health is one of the most important concerns due to the short-term consequences of air pollution, especially in metropolitan areas, health effects are dependent on the type of pollutant, its concentration in air, length of exposure to the pollutant and individual susceptibility. Several groups of individuals react differently to air pollution, Children and elderly people are the most affected by this kind of pollution. Global warming and the greenhouse effect are among long term consequences of the global climate. 4