Risk Estimates of Air Pollutants in Developing Countries

Abstract

Air pollution has become ail increasingly important environmental issue in the entire world and in particular developing Countries. High levels of suspended particulates have become a common parameter of many regions. Emissions of gases have been rising steadily as industrialization Occurs. Projections indicate that potentially large increases in emissions may Occur during the next 20-50 years if current development patterns persist. Local concentrations of air pollutants depend upon the strength of their Sources and the efficiency of their dispersion. It was also well understood that air pollution is responsible for many aspects of human health, inefficiency and loss of environmental productivity. It was also realized that natural air pollution may be synergistic with some specific anthropogenic air components leading to prospects of higher damage to health, materials, productivity and economy. Nowadays, air quality is taken as a major aspect of the quality of life leading to sustainable development in many areas of the world. Risk assessment of air pollutants is based on a single question; is the ambient concentration above a level considered to pose a risk to the population?