ABSTRACT
Air pollution has been increasing in recent years. Air emissions have many adverse environmental effects, such as global warming, ozone depletion, and acidification or eutrophication of natural ecosystems as well as biodiversity of freshwater bodies. On the other hand, long-term exposure to air pollution has a significant impact on human health, affecting the respiratory system (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)), heart and central nervous system. The principal air pollutants are nitrogen oxides (NO2), sulfur oxides (SO2), CO2, CO, hydrocarbons, heavy metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and inorganic gases, as well as particulate matter. Air pollutants can be reduced by using a wide range of control strategies, including modern technologies, in order to prevent their potential risk to the environment and human health. The decision for application of the suitable control devices depends on the type of air pollutants and prevailing condition at the source point. After beginning a mitigation program, the adverse effects of air pollution on human health are brought under control. This chapter presents some of the facts about air pollutants and their management through technologies followed by a case study of seasonal variations of air pollution at Bareilly (India) for 2017 and 2018 and air monitoring during the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in 2020.
