Organic Air Pollutants: Measurement, Properties & Control

Abstract

In last few decades, air pollution has emerged as a major threat to human health and different gaseous and particulates air pollutants are found to be influencing global climate directly or indirectly via altering radiative forcing or of cloud microphysical properties. Organic air pollutants contribute a substantial portion to the total pollutants load and usually, in polluted location, their contribution can go up to 90% of the total particulate phase air pollutants or aerosols. Organic particulate pollutants or aerosols can be both primary or secondary in nature and generally changes their characteristics significantly upon reacting with different atmospheric oxidants like ozone or hydroxyl radicals. Sources and characteristics of organic air pollutants generally display a wide range of spatiotemporal variability. Several techniques are available the detection and measurement of organic air pollutants but time resolution and types of organic pollutants detected by different techniques vary significantly. However, since the characteristics of the organic pollutants can change relatively quickly via atmospheric processing it is desirable to measure these pollutants in real time. Recent advances in mass spectrometric techniques have enabled the scientists to understand the evolution of these organic pollutants in real-time and that led to more accurate source apportionment and identification of factors that influence the formation of secondary organic aerosols. In this chapter readers will get a comprehensive overview of organic air pollutants characteristics, their sources, evolution in the atmosphere and possible ways to control their abundance.