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Photochemical Smog

Photochemical smog is a brown haze formed when sunlight reacts with nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the atmosphere, leading to harmful secondary pollutants like ozone and peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN). It originates from both natural sources, such as bushfires and microbial processes, and anthropogenic sources like vehicle emissions and fossil fuel combustion. The smog negatively impacts the environment, human health, and plant growth, necessitating precautions to reduce its formation.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
25 views10 pages

Photochemical Smog

Photochemical smog is a brown haze formed when sunlight reacts with nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the atmosphere, leading to harmful secondary pollutants like ozone and peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN). It originates from both natural sources, such as bushfires and microbial processes, and anthropogenic sources like vehicle emissions and fossil fuel combustion. The smog negatively impacts the environment, human health, and plant growth, necessitating precautions to reduce its formation.

Uploaded by

aneebabutt134
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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PHOTOCHEMICAL SMOG

What is Photochemical Smog?


Photochemicalsmog: is a type of smog produced when ultraviolet light
from the sun reacts with nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere. It is visible as a
brown haze, and is most prominent during the morning and afternoon.
Photochemical Smog can also be defined as a mixture of various gases with
dust particules

vOLATILE PEROXYACYTLY
NITROGEN
ORGANIC NITRATE
OXIDES
cOMPOUN

PHOTOCHEMICAL
SMOG
How is Photochemical Smog Formed?
1)Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) can be broken down by sunlight to form
nitric oxide (NO) and an oxygenradical (0):
NO2 + sunlight NO + (O)
2) Oxygen radicals can then react with atmospheric oxygen (0:)
to form ozone (03).
(O) + 02 03
3) Ozone is consumed by nitric oxide to produce nitrogen dioxide
and oxygen.
03 + NO ’ No2 02
4) Harmful products, such as PAN, are produced by reactions of
nitrogen dioxide with various hydrocarbons (R), which are
compounds made from carbon, hydrogen and other substances:
NO2 + R products (such as PAN)
º 5) The main source of these hydrocarbons is the VOCs.
Similarly, oxygenated organic and inorganic compounds (RO)
react with nitric oxide to produce more nitrogen oxides

Solar radiation
NO
Nitric Oxide

H;0 NO Atomic
Water Nitrogen dioxide Oxygen Molecular oxygen

Hydrocarbons
HNO, PANS
Nitric acid Aldehydes
Ozone

Photochemical smog
Types of pollutants Causing Photo
chemicalSmog
Primary pollutants: The two major primary pollutants,
nitrogen oxides and VOCs, combine to change in sunlight in a
series of chemical reactions, to create what are known as
secondary pollutants.
Secondary pollutants: The secondary pollutant that
causes the most concern is the ozone that forms at ground level.
While ozone is produced naturally in the upper atmosphere, it is
a dangerous substance when found at ground level. Many other
hazardous substances are also formed, such as peroxyacetyl
Nitrate (PAN).
Sources of photochemical Smog
1)Biogenic Sources:
In nature, bushfires, lightning and the microbial processes that occur in soil
generate nitrogen oxides. VOs are produced from the evaporation of naturally
occurring compounds, such as terpenes, which are the hydrocarbons in oils that
make them burn. Eucalypts have also been found to release significant amounts of
these compounds.
2)Anthropogenic Sources:
Nitrogen oxides are produced mainly from the combustion of fossil fuels, particularly
in powerstations and motor vehicles. VOCs are formed from the incomplete
and from
combustion of fossil fuels, from the evaporation of solvents and
burning plant matter such as backyard burning and wood burning stoves.

In Adelaide in 2000, an estimated 66% of nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2) came from
motor vehicles, and a further 20% from fuel combustion. Motor vehicles
contributed 44% of VOC emissions.
Effects of photochemicalsmog:
1. Effects on Environment:
Photochemical smog has devastating effects on the environment. The
collection of chemicals found in photochemical smog causes problems for
plants and animal Life.

Before smiog

After smog
2.Effect on plants
Deposition of particulate matter containing toxic metals affects the
growth of plants.
The particulate matter after deposition in plants leaves block stomata
opening of plants and reduce growth.
Decrease the pH of the soil which makes the soil infertile.
Can lead to extensive damage to crops, trees.and vegetation.
Some plants such as tobacco, tomato and spinach are highly responsive
to ozone, so photochemical smog can decimate these sensitive crops,
trees and other vegetation.
3.Effects On Human Health

It can cause anything from minor pain to


deadly diseases such as lung cancer
,wheezing.
Lung caner
º High levels of smog also trigger asthma
attacks because the smog causes increased
sensitivity to allergens, which are triggers Lunt
for asthma.
Precautions To Reduce photochemical Smog
Take precautionary steps to safeguard against the ill effects of
photochemical smog.
1 Keep your motor vehicle regularly serviced .Reduce your daily pollutant
emissions by driving less, making use of carpools.
2 Other small actions, such as tightly sealing the lids of chemical products
like garden chemicals, solvents, and household cleaners.
3. Use energy efficient appliances and Look for the Energy Star logo when
buying an electricical Appliances.
4. If renovating or buildings use energy-efficient designs and materials. Turn
off unnecessary electrical appliances.
5. Limit your wood fires at home.

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