Atmospheric Pollution is a theme which is becoming increasingly important as the discussion on global warming becomes ever more relevant. This textbook introduces the different concepts of Atmospheric Pollution and also introduces the reader to the underlying principles of physics and chemistry, which are constants in this discussion.

I was delighted to respond to an invitation from Ventus Publishing to write a book on atmospheric pollution. It is a topic well enough served by books in the past, but has become increasingly important during these early years of the 21st Century. I believe therefore that there is a place for a review like this one and that notwithstanding the immense activity in the area the book will have a reasonable shelf life. This is because it continually relates the discussion to the principles of physics and chemistry, and these do not change.

To have acknowledged each and every one of the electronic sources I have drawn on would not only have lengthened the book to no real purpose but, more seriously, might even have been a distraction to a reader. I am hopeful that this acknowledgement in the preface of such sources will suffice.

I expect that students will benefit from the book as well as those already professionally involved with atmospheric pollution. I also venture to hope that it will of use to those involved in discussion of such matters in the media. I shall be delighted to hear from readers who have comments or suggestions to make.

J.C. Jones

Aberdeen, September 2008.

1. Introduction: The gas laws
   1. Introduction
   2. The Ideal Gas Equation
   3. The mole concept
   4. Sample calculations
   5. The parts per million (p.p.m.) concept
   6. Nitrogen accompanying oxygen in combustion processes
   7. Concluding comments
2. Sulphur pollutants
   1. Origin of sulphur pollutants
   2. Sulphur in fuels
   3. Form of sulphur in fuels and the fate of the sulphur on combustion
   4. Desulphurisation of fuels
   5. Sulphur credits
   6. Methods of sulphur dioxide detection
   7. Sulphur pollution levels in various countries
   8. Sulphur dioxide emissions from shipping
   9. Acid rain
   10. Acid rain in the age of greenhouse gas reductions
   11. Concluding remarks
   12. References
3. Oxides of nitrogen
   1. Introduction
   2. Denitrogenation of fuels
   3. NOx mitigation during burning: the ‘low NOx burner’
   4. Removal of NOx from flue gas by selective catalytic reduction
   5. NOx from vehicles
   6. NOx from shipping
   7. NOx credits
   8. Means of measuring NOx
   9. Concluding numerical exercise
   10. References
4. Particulate
   1. General introduction
   2. PM10
   3. PM2.5
   4. Smaller particles than PM2.5
   5. Concluding comments
   6. References
5. Volatile organic compounds (VOC) and ozone
   1. Introduction
   2. VOC from vehicles
   3. VOC from refineries
   4. Other sources of VOC
   5. Measurement of VOC
   6. VOC and ozone formation
   7. Ozone
6. Carbon monoxide
   1. Introduction
   2. Contribution from motor vehicles
   3. Miscellaneous sources of carbon monoxide [1]
   4. Detection and measurement of carbon monoxide
   5. Harmful effects of carbon monoxide
   6. Concluding remarks: trends in carbon monoxide levels in air
   7. References
   8. Appendix to Chapter 6
7. Metals in the atmosphere
   1. Lead
   2. Mercury
   3. Cadmium
   4. Nickel
   5. Arsenic
   6. Analysis of air for metallic elements
   7. References
8. Chlorinated pollutants
   1. Hydrogen chloride
   2. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
   3. Elemental chlorine
   4. Dioxins
   5. References
9. Greenhouse gases Part I: Background
   1. Introduction to the greenhouse gas chapters
   2. Gas radiation
   3. Why ‘greenhouse’?
   4. A simplified model for the emissivity of the troposphere
   5. Levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
   6. The distinction between fossil fuel and non-fossil fuel carbon dioxide
   7. Carbon dioxide emissions from natural gas and petroleum fuels
   8. Methane as a greenhouse gas
   9. Sources of carbon dioxide other than fossil fuel combustion
   10. References
10. Greenhouse gases Part II: Mitigation measures, emission targets and carbon trading
    1. Introduction
    2. Reduction of carbon dioxide emissions from power generation
    3. Carbon credits
    4. Carbon dioxide from vehicles
    5. Carbon dioxide from aircraft
    6. Carbon dioxide from shipping
    7. Miscellaneous sources of carbon dioxide
    8. Uptake of carbon dioxide by vegetation
    9. Carbon dioxide sequestration
    10. Concluding remarks
    11. References
11. Radioactivity in the atmosphere
    1. Radon
    2. Uranium
    3. Thorium
    4. Polonium
    5. Cosmic rays
    6. Carbon-14
    7. Iodine
    8. Caesium
    9. Some nuclear incidents
    10. References
12. Postscript
13. Notes