ABSTRACT
The most familiar pollutant species are carbon oxides, nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide, but the low-molecular-mass hydrocarbons and chlorofluorocarbons are also important. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons occur in connection with soot formation. This chapter addresses how these compounds affect the environment, their combustion sources, and the measures that are being taken to control emissions. Photochemical smogs are encountered to varying extents within very many urban environments worldwide as a result of increased combustion emissions. The primary pollutants emitted by combustion appliances undergo reaction in the atmosphere to produce secondary pollutants which give rise to smog. The main sources of sulphur doixide emissions are the burning of coal, the combustion of oil, refinery operations and smelting of non-ferrous ores. Most of the sources of pollution are located close to Earth’s surface, but aircraft may generate their combustion products in the stratosphere. The products of complete combustion of hydrocarbon fuels are carbon dioxide and water.
