Abstract The atmosphere interacts with the Earth’s surface. Thus, air pollutants may be transferred toward surfaces and emitted (or reemitted) from surfaces toward the atmosphere. Atmospheric deposition processes are important…
Abstract Several gaseous chemical species may lead to adverse health effects and, therefore, several of those are regulated. Brief descriptions of those chemical species, including their major sources and atmospheric…
Abstract This chapter describes the processes that lead to the formation of atmospheric pollutants in clouds and fogs via aqueous chemical transformations. Although the volume occupied by water droplets in…
Abstract Atmospheric dispersion is a very important process in air pollution. The use of tall stacks to minimize the impacts of air pollutant emissions reflected the saying that “the solution…
Abstract Atmospheric particles and, in particular, fine particles are one of the major components of air pollution. They lead to significant adverse health effects, degrade atmospheric visibility, are involved in…
Abstract The health effects of air pollution are difficult to characterize because of the large number of air pollutants present in the atmosphere and the relatively small contribution of their…
Abstract The stratospheric ozone layer results from the photolysis of molecular oxygen by ultraviolet (UV) solar radiation in the high atmosphere. This large atmospheric layer is stable and, therefore, affects…
Abstract Air pollutants may be transferred via dry and wet deposition to other media such as soil, surface waters, vegetation, and buildings. These pollutants may then contaminate these surfaces and…
Abstract Improving air quality by decreasing air pollutant concentration levels requires promulgating regulations that protect public health, ecosystems, the agriculture, buildings, and atmospheric visibility. Then, public policies must be implemented…
Abstract Population exposure to air pollution occurs mostly near the Earth’s surface. Furthermore, most air pollution sources are located near the Earth’s surface (some exceptions include tall stacks, aircraft emissions,…