Page 18 - Adsorption, Ion Exchange & Catalysis- 2007, Elsevier - Copy

Else_AIEC-INGLE_Ch001.qxd 7/13/2006 1:53 PM Page 14
14 1. Air and ater Pollution W

Table 1.10

The concentrations of various pollutants in the atmosphere in various cities in Australia and Ne w
Zealand, in 1995
Country City City Total Sulfur Nitrogen
population suspended dioxide dioxide
( 1000) particulates ( g/m 3 ) ( g/m 3 )
( g/m 3 )
Australia Sydney 3590 54 28 –
Melbourne 3094 35 0 30
Perth 1220 45 5 19
New Zealand Auckland 945 26 3 20

America are continuing to fThese countries are an excellent proof of the fact that eco- all.
nomic growth can keep up with environmental protection through appropriate le gislation
and application of clean technologies.
Latin America

Air pollution in Latin America is a great problem in the major cities of this re i.e. gion,
Mexico City (Me Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), São Paulo (Brazil), and Buenos Aires
xico),
(Argentina). Mexico City and Santiago (Chile) are among the most polluted cities in the
world. Almost 70% of the population lies in urban areas and suffers high concentration v
levels of various pollutants. The major causes of air pollution are population gro wth,
industrialization, and increased vehicle use. The situation is so seere that the health
v
as estimated that o effects associated with air pollution are evident. In 1992, it wver 27 mil-
lion people in Latin America were constantly exposed to high levels of particulate air pol-
lution, which led to approximately 4000 cases of premature mortality each year. Indeed,
the air is so polluted in these cities that they are slowly becoming uninhabitable. Despite
v ate car use), the measures taken (introduction of unleaded gasoline, limitation of priurban
v
air pollution continues to hae a seere effect on the people. If drastic measures are not
v
taken, the day will not be too long before we see the first en vironmental migrants.
Asia
Half the world’s population lives in urban areas in Asia. Although several attempts have been
made to address air pollution in Asia, much progress needs to be made to deal with the issue
of urban air quality in Asian megacities (cities with population over 10 millions). Urban air
pollution in Beijing, Delhi, and Jakarta has worsened because of population gro wth,
increased industrialization, and automobiles. The impact on public health is considerable;
approximately 20–30% of all respiratory diseases are associated with air pollution.
Specifically, rapid urbanization, with the associated growth in industry and transportation
systems, has increased regional concerns with regard to emissions of sulfur dioxide and
nitrogen oxides. According to estimations for the year 2000, sulfur dioxide emissions in
Asia surpassed the emissions of North America and Europe combined. The primary man-
made source of sulfur and nitrogen in the gion is fossil fuel combustion in ic re acif Asia-P