Industrial enterprises as sources of environmental pollution. Atmospheric pollution by the main industries

Change gas composition atmosphere is the result of a combination of natural phenomena in nature and human activity. But which of these processes prevails at the present time? In order to find out, we first clarify what pollutes the air. Its relatively constant composition throughout recent years subject to significant fluctuations. Let's take a look at the main problems of emissions control and air pollution control using the example of this work in cities.

Does the composition of the atmosphere change?

Standing next to a smoldering garbage heap is like being on the most gassed street in a metropolis. Danger carbon monoxide is that it binds hemoglobin in the blood. The resulting carboxyhemoglobin can no longer deliver oxygen to the cells. Other substances that pollute the atmospheric air can cause disruption of the bronchi and lungs, poisoning, exacerbation of chronic diseases. For example, when carbon monoxide is inhaled, the heart works with an increased load, since not enough oxygen is supplied to the tissues. In this case, cardiovascular disease may worsen. An even greater danger is the combination of carbon monoxide with pollutants in industrial and transport emissions.

Pollutant concentration standards

Harmful emissions come from metallurgical, coal, oil and gas processing plants, energy facilities, construction and utilities industries. Radioactive contamination from explosions at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and nuclear power plants in Japan has spread on a global scale. There is an increase in the content of carbon oxides, sulfur, nitrogen, freons, radioactive and other hazardous emissions in different parts of our planet. Sometimes toxins are found far away from the place where the enterprises that pollute the air are located. The situation that has arisen is an alarming and difficult to solve global problem of mankind.

Back in 1973, the relevant committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) proposed criteria for assessing the quality of atmospheric air in cities. Experts have found that the state of human health is 15-20% dependent on environmental conditions. Based on many studies in the 20th century, acceptable levels of the main pollutants that are harmless to the population were determined. For example, the average annual concentration of suspended particles in the air should be 40 µg/m 3 . The content of sulfur oxides should not exceed 60 µg/m 3 per year. For carbon monoxide, the corresponding average is 10 mg/m 3 for 8 hours.

What are Maximum Permissible Concentrations (MACs)?

The Decree of the Chief State Sanitary Doctor of the Russian Federation approved the hygienic standard for the content of almost 600 harmful compounds in the atmosphere of settlements. pollutants in the air, compliance with which indicates the absence of adverse effects on people and sanitary conditions. The standard specifies the hazard classes of compounds, the magnitude of their content in the air (mg / m 3). These indicators are updated when new data on the toxicity of individual substances become available. But that's not all. The document contains a list of 38 substances for which a ban on release has been introduced due to their high biological activity.

How is state control in the field of atmospheric air protection carried out?

Anthropogenic changes in air composition lead to negative consequences in the economy, deteriorating health and shortening life expectancy. The problems of increasing the entry of harmful compounds into the atmosphere are of concern to both governments, state and municipal authorities, and the public, ordinary people.

The legislation of many countries provides for before the start of construction, reconstruction, modernization of almost all economic facilities. Rationing of pollutants in the air is being carried out, measures are being taken to protect the atmosphere. The issues of reducing the anthropogenic load on the environment, reducing emissions and discharges of pollutants are being addressed. Russia has adopted federal laws on the protection of the environment, atmospheric air, and other legislative and regulatory legal acts regulating activities in the environmental sphere. State environmental control is carried out, pollutants are limited, and emissions are regulated.

What is PVD?

Enterprises that pollute the air should make an inventory of the sources of harmful compounds entering the air. Usually, this work finds its logical continuation when determining the need for obtaining this document is related to the regulation of the technogenic load on atmospheric air. On the basis of the information included in the MPE, the company receives a permit to release pollutants into the atmosphere. Data on regulatory emissions are used to calculate payments for negative environmental impact.

If there is no volume of MPE and a permit, then for emissions from pollution sources located on the territory of an industrial facility or another industry, enterprises pay 2, 5, 10 times more. Rationing of pollutants in the air leads to a reduction in the negative impact on the atmosphere. There is an economic incentive to carry out measures to protect nature from the ingress of foreign compounds into it.

Payments for environmental pollution from enterprises are accumulated by local and federal authorities in specially created budgetary environmental funds. Financial resources are spent on environmental activities.

How is the air cleaned and protected at industrial and other facilities?

Purification of polluted air is carried out different methods. Filters are installed on the pipes of boiler houses and processing enterprises, there are dust and gas trapping installations. Through the use of thermal decomposition and oxidation, some toxic substances are converted into harmless compounds. Capture of harmful gases in emissions is carried out by condensation methods, sorbents are used to absorb impurities, catalysts for purification.

Prospects for activities in the field of air protection are associated with work to reduce the release of pollutants into the atmosphere. It is necessary to develop laboratory control of harmful emissions in cities, on busy highways. Work should be continued on the introduction of systems for trapping solid particles from gaseous mixtures at enterprises. Looking for cheap modern devices for purification of emissions from toxic aerosols and gases. In the field of state control, an increase in the number of posts for checking and adjusting the toxicity of car exhaust gases is required. Energy industry enterprises and motor vehicles should be switched to less harmful, from the point of view of the environment, types of fuel (for example, natural gas, biofuels). When they are burned, less solid and liquid pollutants are released.

What role do green spaces play in air purification?

It is difficult to overestimate the contribution of plants to the replenishment of oxygen reserves on Earth, to the capture of pollution. Forests are called "green gold", "lungs of the planet" for the ability of leaves to photosynthesis. This process consists in the absorption of carbon dioxide and water, the formation of oxygen and starch in the light. Plants emit phytoncides into the air - substances that have a detrimental effect on pathogenic microbes.

Increasing the area of green spaces in cities is one of the most important environmental measures. Trees, shrubs, herbs and flowers are planted in the courtyards of houses, in parks, squares and along roads. Landscaping the territory of schools and hospitals, industrial enterprises.

Scientists have found that plants such as poplar, linden, and sunflower absorb dust and harmful gaseous substances from the emissions of enterprises and transport exhausts best of all. Coniferous plantations emit the most phytoncides. The air in pine, fir, juniper forests is very clean and healing.

1) Industrial pollution of the natural environment.

At all stages of its development, man was closely connected with the outside world. But since the emergence of a highly industrial society, the dangerous human intervention in nature has increased dramatically, the scope of this interference has expanded, it has become more diverse and now threatens to become a global danger to humanity. The consumption of non-renewable raw materials is increasing, more and more arable land is leaving the economy, so cities and factories are being built on them. Man has to intervene more and more in the economy of the biosphere - that part of our planet in which life exists. The Earth's biosphere is currently undergoing increasing anthropogenic impact. At the same time, several of the most significant processes can be distinguished, none of which improves the ecological situation on the planet.

The most large-scale and significant is the chemical pollution of the natural environment by pollutants of industrial origin. Over the past hundred years, the development of industry has "gifted" us with such production processes, the consequences of which at first man could not yet imagine.

AIR POLLUTION.

Basically, there are three main sources of air pollution: industry, domestic boilers, transport. It is now generally accepted that industrial production pollutes the air the most. The main sources of air pollution are: thermal power plants and heating plants (burning fossil fuels), metallurgical enterprises, mechanical engineering, chemical production, mining and processing of mineral raw materials, open sources (mining, agricultural lands, construction). Atmospheric pollutants are divided into primary, entering directly into the atmosphere, and secondary, resulting from the transformation of the latter. So, sulfur dioxide entering the atmosphere is oxidized to sulfuric anhydride, which interacts with water vapor and forms droplets of sulfuric acid. Specific pollutants entering the atmosphere are given in Table 1.

The main sources of air pollution. Table 1.

Group	Aerosols	Gaseous emissions
Boilers and industrial furnaces	Ash, soot	NO 2, SO 2, as well as aldehydes (HCHO), organic acids, benzo(a)pyrene
Oil refinery industry	Dust, soot	SO 2, H 2 S, NH 3, NOx, CO, hydrocarbons, mercaptans, acids, aldehydes, ketones, carcinogens
Chemical industry	Dust, soot	Depending on the process (H 2 S, CS 2, CO, NH 3, acids, organic matter, solvents, volatile substances, sulfides, etc.)
Metallurgy and coke chemistry	Dust, oxides	SO 2 , CO, NH 3 , NOx, fluoride compounds, cyanide compounds, organic substances, benzo(a)pyrene
Mining	Dust, soot	Depending on the process (CO fluorine compounds, organic matter)
food industry		NH 3 , H 2 S (multicomponent mixtures of organic compounds)
Industry Building materials		CO, organic compounds

POLLUTION OF NATURAL WATER.

Industry is the main source of pollution of natural waters. Therefore, it turns out that when using water, it is first polluted, and then dumped into reservoirs. Inland waters are polluted sewage various industries (metallurgical, oil refining, chemical, etc.).

Pollutants are divided into biological (organic microorganisms) that cause water fermentation; chemical, changing the chemical composition of water; physical, changing its transparency, temperature and other indicators. Biological pollution enters water bodies with industrial effluents mainly from enterprises of the food, biomedical, pulp and paper industries. Chemical pollution enters water bodies with industrial effluents. These include: petroleum products, heavy metals and their compounds, mineral fertilizers, detergents. The most dangerous of them: lead, mercury, cadmium. Physical pollution enters the reservoir with industrial effluents, discharges from mine workings, quarries, washouts from the territories of industrial zones, cities, highways, due to the deposition of atmospheric dust.

As a result of anthropogenic activity, many water bodies of the world and our country are extremely polluted. The level of water pollution according to individual indicators exceeds the maximum permissible norms by dozens of times. Anthropogenic impact on the hydrosphere leads to a decrease in drinking water reserves; changes in the state and development of the flora and fauna of water bodies; violation of the circulation of many substances in the biosphere; a decrease in the biomass of the planet and, as a result, to the reproduction of oxygen. Dangerous are not only primary pollution of surface waters, but also secondary ones, which were formed as a result of a chemical reaction of substances in the aquatic environment.

POLLUTION OF THE WORLD OCEAN

Oil and oil products are the most common pollutants in the oceans. The greatest losses of oil are associated with its transportation from production areas. Emergencies, discharge of washing and ballast water overboard by tankers - all this leads to the presence of permanent pollution fields along sea routes. Over the past 30 years, since 1964, about 2,000 wells have been drilled in the World Ocean, of which 1,000 and 350 industrial wells have been equipped in the North Sea alone. Due to minor leaks, 0.1 million tons are lost annually. oil. Large masses of oil enter the seas along rivers, with domestic and storm drains. Every year, 0.5 mln.t. oil. Getting into the marine environment, oil first spreads in the form of a film, forming layers of various thicknesses.

Pesticides The industrial production of pesticides is accompanied by the appearance of a large number of by-products that pollute wastewater. In the aquatic environment, representatives of insecticides, fungicides and herbicides are more common than others. Synthesized insecticides are divided into three main groups: organochlorine, organophosphorus and carbonates.

Synthetic surfactants. Detergents (surfactants) belong to an extensive group of substances that lower the surface tension of water. They are part of synthetic detergents (SMC), widely used in everyday life and industry. Together with wastewater, surfactants enter the mainland waters and the marine environment. SMS contains sodium polyphosphates, in which detergents are dissolved, as well as a number of additional ingredients that are toxic to aquatic organisms.

Heavy metals. Heavy metals (mercury, lead, cadmium, zinc, copper, arsenic) are common and highly toxic pollutants. They are widely used in various industrial productions, therefore, despite the treatment measures, the content of heavy metal compounds in industrial wastewater is quite high. Large masses of these compounds enter the ocean through the atmosphere. About half of the annual industrial production of mercury (910 thousand tons/year) enters the ocean in various ways. In areas polluted by industrial waters, the concentration of mercury in solution and suspension is greatly increased. Contamination of seafood has repeatedly led to mercury poisoning of the coastal population. Lead is a typical trace element found in all environmental components: in rocks ah, soils, natural waters, atmosphere, living organisms. Finally, lead is actively dispersed into the environment during human activities. These are emissions from industrial and domestic waste, with smoke and dust from industrial enterprises, with exhaust gases from internal combustion engines. The migration flow of lead from the continent to the ocean goes not only with river runoff, but also through the atmosphere. With continental dust, the ocean receives (20-30) tons of lead per year.

Discharge of waste into the sea for the purpose of disposal (dumping). Many countries with access to the sea undertake marine disposal of various materials and substances, in particular soil excavated during dredging, drill slag, industrial waste, construction waste, solid waste, explosives and chemical substances, radioactive waste. The volume of burials amounted to about 10% of the total mass of pollutants entering the World Ocean. The basis for dumping in the sea is the ability of the marine environment to process a large amount of organic and inorganic substances without much damage to the water. However, this ability is not unlimited.

Therefore, dumping is considered as a forced measure, a temporary tribute to the imperfection of technology by society. Industrial slags contain a variety of organic substances and heavy metal compounds. During the discharge, the passage of the material through the water column, part of the pollutants goes into solution, changing the quality of the water, the other is sorbed by suspended particles and goes into bottom sediments. At the same time, the turbidity of the water increases. The presence of a large amount of organic matter creates a stable reducing environment in the soil, in which a special type of interstitial water appears, containing hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, metal ions.

Thermal pollution. Thermal pollution of the surface of reservoirs and coastal marine areas occurs as a result of the discharge of heated wastewater from power plants and some industrial production. The discharge of heated water in many cases causes an increase in water temperature in reservoirs by 6-8 degrees Celsius. The area of hot water patches in coastal areas can reach 30 sq. km. A more stable temperature stratification prevents water exchange between the surface and bottom layers. The solubility of oxygen decreases, and its consumption increases, since with increasing temperature, the activity of aerobic bacteria that decompose organic matter increases.

SOIL POLLUTION

Violation of the upper layers earth's crust occurs during: extraction of minerals and their enrichment; disposal of domestic and industrial waste; conducting military exercises and tests.

Every year, a huge amount of rock mass is extracted from the bowels of the country, and about a third is involved in circulation, about 7% of the production is used in production. Most of the waste is not used and accumulates in dumps. Significant land pollution as a result of sedimentation of toxic substances from the atmosphere. Non-ferrous and ferrous metallurgy enterprises pose the greatest danger. The main pollutants include nickel, lead, benzpyrene, mercury, etc. Emissions from waste incineration plants containing tetraethyl lead, mercury, dioxins, etc. are dangerous. TPP emissions contain benzpyrene, vanadium compounds, radionuclides, acids and other toxic substances. The zone of soil contamination near the pipes has a radius of 5 km or more. Arable lands are intensively polluted when fertilizers are applied and pesticides are used. Of particular danger is the use of industrial wastewater sludge as a fertilizer, usually saturated with waste from galvanic and other industries.

The problem of environmental pollution is becoming more and more urgent. In every city there are at least a few factories that emit harmful substances into the environment. Some enterprises install cleaning filters and emit harmful substances decreases significantly. Moreover, the choice of funds directly depends on the type of activity of the enterprise: a metallurgical, chemical or construction plant. It will not be superfluous to study the legislation on hazardous waste passports.

Industrial enterprises emit nitrogen oxides, dust, smoke and other harmful substances into the air. Many factories release production waste into the reservoir and pollute rivers and seas. Significant sums are required to clean them up. Especially dangerous are chemical wastes that are buried in the ground. They are what lead to global pollution environment.

The most common filters are air filters. With their help, the air in the premises is already purified, because. they filter the air in ventilation systems. However, it is much cheaper for many enterprises to pay fines for environmental pollution than to bleed cleaning systems, because they are many times more expensive. Therefore, fines for environmental pollution should be at least doubled, because it will require much more money to clean it up.

Air pollution negatively affects not only human health, but also the planet itself as a whole. Irreparable harm is done to animals and plants around us.

Metallurgical plants and factories that produce aluminum, steel, release chemicals and pollute the environment the most. Many industrial enterprises I throw out a small amount of pollution, but quite regularly.

Smog is one of the most common pollution from factories, which, in combination with various chemical processes and weather conditions, is extremely dangerous for human health. Smog negatively affects the respiratory, circulatory system of a person, weakens his immunity.

Due to environmental pollution, the number of heart diseases and cancers is increasing every year.

Factories that are engaged in the processing of the chemical, nuclear industry can emit very toxic and even radioactive substances into the atmosphere. Harmful substances emitted by these wastes can cause the development genetic diseases in humans and can be deadly.

Each state regulates at the legislative level the amount of emissions and their disposal. Many factories simply bury their garbage in the ground, in containers. This cannot be done due to the high risk of waste leakage.

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Title Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution

higher professional education

"Ural State Mining University"

Atmospheric pollution from industrial processes

Lecturer: Boltyrov V.B.

Student: Ivanov V.Yu.

group: ZChS-12

Yekaterinburg - 2014

Introduction

Conclusion

Introduction

Scientific and technological progress in modern world has a great influence on the development of civilizations. At the same time, the impact of the ever-increasing share of industry on the environment is undeniable.

The Earth's biosphere is currently undergoing increasing anthropogenic impact. Technical progress and related industries every year generate new types of waste that have Negative influence on the environment.

The most large-scale and significant is the chemical pollution of the environment by substances of a chemical nature unusual for it. Among them are gaseous and aerosol pollutants of industrial and household origin. The accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is also progressing. Further development of this process will strengthen the undesirable trend towards an increase in the average annual temperature on the planet.

As a result of human activities on an industrial scale, the control of atmospheric pollution, as well as the limitation of hazardous emissions, is currently becoming an urgent problem. An important part of the industrialization process is the introduction of high-tech and safe production processes and, accordingly, the use of efficient industrial waste disposal systems.

One of the areas of stabilization and subsequent improvement of the environment is the introduction of non-waste production, as well as the creation of an effective system of environmental certification of production and other facilities that are sources of environmental pollution.

Chapter 1. Classification of industrial pollution and waste

Environmental pollution is a complex of various impacts of human society, leading to an increase in the level of harmful substances in the atmosphere, the emergence of new chemical compounds, particles and foreign objects, an excessive increase in temperature, noise, radioactivity, etc.

Sources of pollution modern enterprise depending on the situation of occurrence, they are divided into operational and emergency.

Operational sources of pollution, in turn, include three large groups.

The first group combines sources of pollution resulting from the imperfection of technology. Thus, at an oil refinery, the first group of sources of air pollution is associated with the processes of catalytic cracking (coke burning), elemental sulfur production (afterburning of residual hydrogen sulfide), bitumen production (afterburning gases of oxidizers cubes), production of synthetic fatty acids (afterburning of saponification gases). The main sources of water pollution by technological waste are: electrical desalination of oil (water with a high content of salts and oil); processes of alkaline sulfuric acid purification of oil products - sulfuric-alkaline effluents; steam distillation (effluents containing oil products); alkylation processes (acidic effluents); selective purification of oils, etc.

The second group of pollution sources is the equipment of the main technological shops and auxiliary industries. The polluting effect of the equipment does not depend on the technology of the process, but is the result of design flaws and the specifics of the operation of the equipment. The second group of pollution sources includes: stoves technological installations, barometric condensers, storage tanks for oil and oil products, oil traps, settling ponds, sludge collectors, pumps and compressors, flare equipment, unloading racks, drying ovens for catalyst plants, catalyst circulation system at catalytic cracking units. The group of equipment - sources of pollution - is the most numerous both in terms of the number of source points and the volume of emitted pollution.

The third group of sources of environmental pollution is the result of a low culture of equipment operation. Pollution of this group manifests itself both in emergency situations and under normal operation conditions with low responsibility and qualification of personnel or organizational shortcomings. The reasons for the appearance of this group of sources are, for example, leakage of oil and oil products during sampling, overflows during filling of tanks, overflows during filling of tanks on unloading racks, depressurization of equipment and fittings due to its malfunction, descent of oil products and reagents into the sewer in emergency situations and when preparing equipment for repair.

Thus, harmful emissions are divided into three groups:

1) technological waste, the sources of which are polluting processes;

2) loss of products as a result of equipment imperfection and low culture of its operation;

3) flue gases generated during the combustion of fuel in furnaces of technological installations, during the combustion of gases in a flare, etc.

The share of each group of pollutants in the total balance of harmful emissions varies at different enterprises.

Industrial pollution of the biosphere is divided into two main groups: material (i.e. substances), including mechanical, chemical and biological pollution, and energy (physical) pollution.

Mechanical contaminants include aerosols, solid bodies and particles in water and soil.

Chemical pollution - a variety of gas, liquid and solid chemical compounds that interact with the biosphere.

Biological pollution - microorganisms and products of their vital activity - this is qualitatively the new kind pollution resulting from the use of processes of microbiological synthesis of various types of microorganisms (yeast, actinomycetes, bacteria, mold fungi, etc.).

Energy pollution includes all types of energy - thermal, mechanical (vibration, noise, ultrasound), light (visible, infrared and ultraviolet radiation), electromagnetic fields, ionizing radiation (alpha, beta, gamma, X-ray and neutron) - as a waste of various industries. Some types of pollution, such as radioactive waste and emissions from explosions of nuclear weapons and accidents at nuclear power plants and enterprises, are both material and energetic.

To reduce the level of energy pollution, mainly shielding of noise sources, electromagnetic fields and ionizing radiation, noise absorption, damping and dynamic vibration damping are used.

Sources of environmental pollution are divided into concentrated (point) and dispersed, as well as continuous and periodic action. Pollution is also separated by persistent (indestructible) and destructible under the influence of natural chemical and biological processes.

Production waste includes the remains of multicomponent natural raw materials after the extraction of the target product from it, for example, waste ore, overburden of mining, slag and ash from thermal power plants, blast-furnace slag and burnt earth of metallurgical production flasks, metal shavings engineering enterprises etc. In addition, they include significant waste from the forestry, woodworking, textile and other industries, the road construction industry and the modern agro-industrial complex.

In industrial ecology, production waste is understood as waste in a solid state of aggregation. The same applies to consumer waste - industrial and household.

Consumption waste - products and materials that have lost their consumer properties as a result of physical (material) or obsolescence. Industrial consumption waste includes machines, machine tools and other obsolete equipment of enterprises.

Household waste - waste generated as a result of human activity and disposed of by them as unwanted or useless.

A special category of waste (mainly industrial) is radioactive waste (RW) generated during the extraction, production and use of radioactive substances as fuel for nuclear power plants, vehicles (for example, nuclear submarines) and other purposes.

Toxic waste poses a great danger to the environment, including some of the non-hazardous waste at the stage of their appearance, which acquire toxic properties during storage.

Chapter 2. Chemical pollution of the atmosphere

Atmospheric air is the most important life-supporting natural environment and is a mixture of gases and aerosols of the surface layer of the atmosphere, formed during the evolution of the Earth, human activities and located outside residential, industrial and other premises.

Atmospheric pollution is a change in its composition when impurities of natural or anthropogenic origin enter. There are three types of pollutants: gases, aerosols and dust. Aerosols are dispersed solid particles emitted into the atmosphere and suspended in it for a long time.

The main atmospheric pollutants include carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur and nitrogen dioxide, as well as small gas components that can affect the temperature regime of the troposphere: nitrogen dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons (freons), methane and tropospheric ozone.

Major contribution to high level Air pollution is brought in by enterprises of ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, chemistry and petrochemistry, the construction industry, energy, the pulp and paper industry, and in some cities even boiler houses.

Atmospheric pollutants are divided into primary, entering directly into the atmosphere, and secondary, resulting from the transformation of the latter. So, sulfur dioxide entering the atmosphere is oxidized to sulfuric anhydride, which interacts with water vapor and forms droplets of sulfuric acid. When sulfuric anhydride reacts with ammonia, ammonium sulfate crystals are formed. Similarly, as a result of chemical, photochemical, physico-chemical reactions between pollutants and atmospheric components, other secondary signs are formed. The main source of pyrogenic pollution on the planet are thermal power plants, metallurgical and chemical enterprises, etc.

The main harmful impurities of pyrogenic (secondary) origin are the following:

1) carbon monoxide - obtained by incomplete combustion of carbonaceous substances. It enters the air as a result of burning solid waste, with exhaust gases and emissions from industrial enterprises. At least 250 million tons of this gas enters the atmosphere every year. Carbon monoxide is a compound that actively reacts with the constituent parts of the atmosphere and contributes to an increase in the temperature on the planet and the creation of a greenhouse effect;

2) sulfur dioxide - is released during the combustion of sulfur-containing fuel or the processing of sulfur ores (up to 70 million tons per year). Part of the sulfur compounds is released during the combustion of organic residues in mining dumps. In the US alone, the total amount of sulfur dioxide emitted into the atmosphere was 85 percent of the world's emissions;

3) sulfuric anhydride - is formed during the oxidation of sulfurous anhydride. The end product of the reaction is an aerosol or solution of sulfuric acid in rainwater, which acidifies the soil and exacerbates human respiratory diseases. The fallout of sulfuric acid aerosol from smoke flares of chemical enterprises is observed at low cloudiness and high humidity air. Pyrometallurgical enterprises of non-ferrous and ferrous metallurgy, as well as thermal power plants, annually emit tens of millions of tons of sulfuric anhydride into the atmosphere;

4) hydrogen sulfide and carbon disulfide - enter the atmosphere separately or together with other sulfur compounds. The main sources of emissions are enterprises for the production of artificial fiber, sugar, coke-chemical, oil refineries, as well as oil fields. In the atmosphere, when interacting with other pollutants, they undergo slow oxidation to sulfuric anhydride;

5) nitrogen oxides - the main sources of emissions are enterprises producing nitrogen fertilizers, nitric acid and nitrates, aniline dyes, nitro compounds, viscose silk, celluloid. The amount of nitrogen oxides entering the atmosphere is 20 million tons per year;

6) fluorine compounds - sources of pollution are enterprises producing aluminum, enamels, glass, ceramics, steel, phosphate fertilizers. Fluorine-containing substances enter the atmosphere in the form of gaseous compounds - hydrogen fluoride or dust of sodium and calcium fluoride. The compounds are characterized by a toxic effect. Fluorine derivatives are strong insecticides.

7) chlorine compounds - enter the atmosphere from chemical enterprises producing hydrochloric acid, chlorine-containing pesticides, organic dyes, hydrolytic alcohol, bleach, soda. In the atmosphere, they are found as an admixture of chlorine molecules and hydrochloric acid vapors. The toxicity of chlorine is determined by the type of compounds and their concentration.

The volume of emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere from stationary sources in Russia is about 22-25 million tons per year.

2.1 Aerosol pollution of the atmosphere and its impact on the ozone layer of the Earth

Aerosols are solid or liquid particles suspended in the air. The solid components of aerosols in some cases are especially dangerous for organisms, and cause specific diseases in humans. In the atmosphere, aerosol pollution is perceived in the form of smoke, fog, mist or haze. A significant part of aerosols is formed in the atmosphere when solid and liquid particles interact with each other or with water vapor.

Aerosols are divided into primary (discharged from sources of pollution), secondary (formed in the atmosphere), volatile (transported over long distances) and non-volatile (deposited on the surface near the zones of dust and gas emissions). Persistent and finely dispersed volatile aerosols (cadmium, mercury, antimony, iodine-131, etc.) tend to accumulate in lowlands, bays and other relief depressions, and to a lesser extent on watersheds.

According to their origin, aerosols are divided into artificial and natural. Natural aerosols arise in natural conditions without human intervention; they enter the atmosphere during volcanic eruptions, combustion of meteorites, and dust storms that raise from earth surfaces particles of soil and rocks, as well as forest and steppe fires. During volcanic eruptions, black storms or fires, huge dust clouds are formed, which often spread over thousands of kilometers.

Regardless of the origin and conditions of formation, an aerosol containing solid particles smaller than 5.0 microns in size is called smoke, and containing the smallest liquid particles is called fog.

The average size of aerosol particles is 1-5 microns. About 1 cubic meter enters the Earth's atmosphere every year. km of dust particles of artificial origin. A large number of dust particles are also formed during the production activities of people. The main sources of artificial aerosol air pollution are thermal power plants that consume high-ash coal, enrichment plants, metallurgical, cement, magnesite and carbon black plants. Aerosol particles from these sources are distinguished by a wide variety of chemical composition. Most often, compounds of silicon, calcium and carbon are found in their composition, less often - oxides of metals: iron, magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper, nickel, lead, antimony, bismuth, selenium, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, molybdenum, as well as asbestos. An even greater variety is characteristic of organic dust, including aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, acid salts. It is formed during the combustion of residual petroleum products, during the pyrolysis process at oil refineries.

Permanent sources of aerosol pollution are industrial dumps - artificial mounds of redeposited material, mainly overburden, formed during mining or from waste from processing industries, thermal power plants. The source of dust and poisonous gases is mass blasting. So, as a result of one medium-sized explosion (250-300 tons of explosives), about 2 thousand cubic meters are released into the atmosphere. m of standard carbon monoxide and more than 150 tons of dust.

The production of cement and other building materials is also a source of air pollution with dust. Main technological processes these industries - grinding and chemical processing of charges, semi-finished products and products obtained in hot gas streams is always accompanied by emissions of dust and other harmful substances into the atmosphere. Atmospheric pollutants include hydrocarbons - saturated and unsaturated, containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms. They undergo various transformations, oxidation, polymerization, interacting with other atmospheric pollutants after being excited by solar radiation. As a result of these reactions, peroxide compounds, free radicals, compounds of hydrocarbons with oxides of nitrogen and sulfur are formed, often in the form of aerosol particles.

Aerosol pollution of the atmosphere disrupts the functioning of the earth's ozone layer. The main danger to atmospheric ozone is a group of chemicals grouped under the term "chlorofluorocarbons" (CFCs), also called freons. For half a century, these chemicals, first obtained in 1928, were considered miracle substances. They are non-toxic, inert, extremely stable, non-flammable, insoluble in water, easy to manufacture and store. And so the scope of CFCs has expanded dynamically. CFCs have been used for over 60 years as refrigerants in refrigerators and air conditioning systems, as foaming agents in fire extinguishers, and in dry cleaning of clothing. Freons have proven to be very effective at washing parts in the electronics industry and have found wide application in the production of foam plastics. And with the beginning of the worldwide aerosol boom, they were most widely used (they were used as propellants for aerosol mixtures). Their world production peaked in 1987-1988. and amounted to about 1.2-1.4 million tons per year. industrial pollution smog atmosphere

The mechanism of action of freons is as follows. Once in the upper layers of the atmosphere, these inert substances at the Earth's surface become active. Under influence ultraviolet radiation chemical bonds in their molecules are broken. As a result, chlorine is released, which, when colliding with an ozone molecule, “knocks out” one atom from it. Ozone ceases to be ozone, turning into oxygen. Chlorine, having temporarily combined with oxygen, again turns out to be free and "sets off in pursuit" of a new "victim". Its activity and aggressiveness is enough to destroy tens of thousands of ozone molecules.

An active role in the formation and destruction of ozone is also played by oxides of nitrogen, heavy metals (copper, iron, manganese), chlorine, bromine, and fluorine. Therefore, the overall balance of ozone in the stratosphere is regulated by a complex set of processes in which about 100 chemical and photochemical reactions are significant.

In this balance, nitrogen, chlorine, oxygen, hydrogen and other components participate as if in the form of catalysts without changing their "content", therefore, the processes leading to their accumulation in the stratosphere or removal from it significantly affect the ozone content. In this regard, even relatively small amounts of such substances entering the upper atmosphere can have a stable and long-term effect on the established balance associated with the formation and destruction of ozone.

Violating the ecological balance, as life shows, is not difficult at all. It is immeasurably more difficult to restore it. Ozone depleting substances are extremely resistant: different kinds freons, once in the atmosphere, can exist in it and do their destructive work from 75 to 100 years.

2.2 Photochemical fog (smog)

Photochemical smog or photochemical fog is a relatively new type of atmospheric pollution. He is up to date environmental problem the largest cities, where a huge number of vehicles are concentrated.

Photochemical smog is a multicomponent mixture of gases and aerosol particles. The main components of smog are ozone, oxides of sulfur and nitrogen, as well as numerous organic peroxide compounds, which are collectively called photooxidants.

Smog can form under almost any natural and climatic conditions in major cities and industrial centers with heavy pollution air. Smog is most harmful during warm periods of the year, in sunny calm weather, when the upper layers of the air are warm enough to stop vertical circulation. air masses. This phenomenon is often found in cities protected from the winds by natural barriers, such as hills or mountains.

Photochemical smog occurs as a result of photochemical reactions under certain conditions: the presence in the atmosphere of a high concentration of nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and other pollutants. Intense solar radiation and calm or very weak air exchange in the surface layer with a powerful and increased inversion for at least a day. Sustained calm weather, usually accompanied by inversions, is necessary to create a high concentration of reactants. Such conditions are created more often in June-September and less often in winter. In prolonged clear weather, solar radiation causes the breakdown of nitrogen dioxide molecules with the formation of nitric oxide and atomic oxygen.

Atomic oxygen with molecular oxygen give ozone. It would seem that the latter, oxidizing nitric oxide, should again turn into molecular oxygen, and nitric oxide into dioxide. But that doesn't happen. The nitric oxide reacts with the olefins in the exhaust gases, which break down the double bond to form molecular fragments and excess ozone. As a result of the ongoing dissociation, new masses of nitrogen dioxide are split and give additional amounts of ozone. A cyclic reaction occurs, as a result of which ozone gradually accumulates in the atmosphere. This process stops at night. In turn, ozone reacts with olefins. Various peroxides are concentrated in the atmosphere, which in total form oxidants characteristic of photochemical fog. The latter are the source of the so-called free radicals, which are distinguished by a special reactivity. Such smog is not uncommon over London, Paris, Los Angeles, New York and other cities in Europe and America. According to their physiological effects on the human body, they are extremely dangerous for the respiratory and circulatory systems and often cause premature death of urban residents with poor health.

There are several types of smog, described above - dry smog, London is characterized by wet smog, i.e. in the atmosphere, due to high humidity, droplets accumulate, which form thick clouds, but in Alaska, smog was recorded, in which, due to cold, small ice floes accumulate in the atmosphere instead of droplets.

The problem of photochemical smog is especially acute for such countries as the USA, Japan, Canada, Great Britain, Mexico, Argentina. Photochemical fog was first recorded in 1944 in Los Angeles. The city is located in a depression surrounded by mountains and the sea, which leads to stagnation of air masses, accumulation of atmospheric pollutants and, as a result, favorable conditions for the formation of this type of smog.

At high concentrations of pollutants, photochemical smog can be observed as a bluish haze, which leads to reduced visibility, which disrupts traffic. At lower concentrations, smog is a bluish or yellow-green haze rather than a solid fog.

People, plants, buildings, and various materials suffer from photochemical smog. Photochemical fog irritates the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and throat in humans. It exacerbates pulmonary and various chronic diseases, in addition, in addition to irritating effects, it can also have a general toxic effect. Smog has an unpleasant smell.

Photochemical smog is particularly bad for beans, beets, cereals, grapes, and ornamental plants. A sign that the plant has been adversely affected by photochemical fog is leaf swelling, which then progresses to the appearance of spots on the upper leaves and white plaque, and on the lower leads to the appearance of a bronze or silver tint. Then the plant begins to wither quickly.

Among other things, photochemical fog leads to accelerated corrosion of building materials and elements, cracking of paints, rubber and synthetic products, and even damage to clothing.

2.3 Maximum allowable concentrations of emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere

Maximum Permissible Concentrations (MACs) are those concentrations that, directly or indirectly affecting a person and his offspring, do not impair their performance, well-being, or sanitary living conditions.

The generalization of all information on MPC, received by all departments, is carried out in the MGO - the Main Geophysical Observatory. In order to determine air values based on the results of observations, the measured values of concentrations are compared with the maximum one-time maximum allowable concentration and the number of cases when the MPC was exceeded, as well as how many times highest value was above the MPC. The average concentration for a month or a year is compared with the long-term MPC - medium stable MPC.

The state of air pollution by several substances observed in the atmosphere of the city is assessed using a complex indicator - the air pollution index (API). To do this, the MPC normalized to the corresponding values and the average concentrations of various substances with the help of simple calculations lead to the value of the concentrations of sulfur dioxide, and then summed up. The maximum one-time concentrations of the main pollutants were the highest in Norilsk (nitrogen and sulfur oxides), Frunze (dust), Omsk (carbon monoxide).

The degree of air pollution by the main pollutants is directly dependent on the industrial development of the city. The highest maximum concentrations are typical for cities with a population of more than 500 thousand inhabitants. Air pollution with specific substances depends on the type of industry developed in the city.

Normative values for MPCs of pollutants in the atmospheric air of populated areas in Russia are approved by a decree of the Chief State Sanitary Doctor of the Russian Federation.

The MPC value is set taking into account various indicators of harmfulness associated with the characteristics of the impact on the body or methods of transfer (exchange between environments). In particular, to assess the MPC value for atmospheric air and natural waters used for water supply, an organoleptic indicator can be used that takes into account not only toxic effects, but also the appearance of unpleasant sensations when inhaling polluted air or drinking polluted water.

For the most toxic substances MPC values are not established. This means that any, even the most insignificant content of them in natural environments pose a risk to human health. Such a high degree of toxicity can have some substances that are synthesized artificially and do not have natural analogues.

Atmospheric air quality is understood as a set of atmospheric properties that determine the degree of impact of physical, chemical and biological factors on people, flora and fauna, as well as on materials, structures and the environment as a whole.

Permissible limits for the content of harmful substances are determined both in the production area (intended for accommodating industrial enterprises, pilot plants of research institutes, etc.) and in the residential area (intended for accommodating housing stock, public buildings and structures) settlements. The main terms and definitions relating to indicators of atmospheric pollution, monitoring programs, the behavior of impurities in the atmospheric air are defined by GOST 17.2.1.03-84.

A feature of atmospheric air quality regulation is the dependence of the impact of pollutants present in the air on the health of the population not only on the value of their concentrations, but also on the duration of the time interval during which a person breathes this air.

The maximum allowable concentration is the maximum one-time (MPCm.r.) - the maximum 20-30 minute concentration, under the influence of which there are no reflex reactions in humans (breath holding, irritation of the mucous membrane of the eyes, upper respiratory tract, etc.).

The maximum allowable average daily concentration (MAC) is the concentration of a harmful substance in the air of populated areas, which should not have a direct or indirect impact with unlimited long (years) inhalation. Thus, MPCs is calculated for all population groups and for an indefinitely long period of exposure and, therefore, is the most stringent sanitary and hygienic standard that establishes the concentration of a harmful substance in the air.

The maximum permissible concentration of a harmful substance in the air of the working area (MAC) is a concentration that, during daily (except weekends) work for 8 hours, or for another duration, but not more than 41 hours a week, throughout the entire working experience should not cause diseases or health conditions that are modern methods research, in the course of work or in the remote periods of life of the present and subsequent generations. A working area should be considered a space up to 2 m above the floor level or an area on which there are places for permanent or temporary stay of workers.

As follows from the definition, MPKrz is a standard that limits the impact of a harmful substance on the adult working part of the population during the period of time established by labor legislation.

According to the nature of the impact on the human body, harmful substances can be divided into groups:

Irritant (chlorine, ammonia, hydrogen chloride, etc.);

Asphyxiating (carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, etc.); narcotic (nitrogen under pressure, acetylene, acetone, carbon tetrachloride, etc.);

Somatic, causing disturbances in the body's activity (lead, benzene, methyl alcohol, arsenic).

Chapter 3. Main directions of atmospheric air protection

The introduction of non-waste production can be attributed to the main direction for the protection and protection of atmospheric air.

When creating non-waste production, a number of the most complex organizational, technological, technical, economic and other tasks are solved and a number of principles are used:

1. the principle of consistency. In accordance with it, each individual process or production is considered as an element of the dynamic system of the entire industrial production in the region.

2. the complexity of the use of resources. This principle requires the maximum use of all components of raw materials and the potential of energy resources. As you know, almost all raw materials are complex, and on average, more than a third of their number are related elements that can be extracted only with its complex processing. Thus, almost all silver, bismuth, platinum and platinoids, as well as more than 20% of gold, are already obtained as a by-product during the processing of complex ores. This principle in Russia has been elevated to the rank of a state task and is clearly formulated in a number of government resolutions.

3. cyclical nature of material flows. The simplest examples of cyclic material flows include closed water and gas circulation cycles. As effective ways of forming cyclical material flows and rational use of energy, one can point to the combination and cooperation of industries, as well as the development and production of new types of products, taking into account the requirements of its reuse.

4. the principle of limited impact of production on the environment and social environment, taking into account the planned and purposeful growth of its volumes and environmental excellence. This principle is primarily associated with the conservation of such natural and social resources as atmospheric air, water, the Earth's surface, and the health of the population. It should be taken into account that the implementation of this principle is feasible only in combination with effective monitoring, developed environmental regulation and directed nature management.

5. rationality of the organization of non-waste production. The decisive factors here are the requirement for the reasonable use of all components of raw materials, the maximum reduction of energy, material and labor intensity of production, the search for new environmentally sound raw materials and energy technologies, which is largely associated with reducing the negative impact on the environment and causing damage to it, including related industries of the national economy. economy.

Among the many areas of creation of low-waste and waste-free industries, the main ones are:

Integrated use of raw materials and energy resources;

Improvement of existing and development of fundamentally new technological processes and industries and related equipment;

Introduction of water and gas circulation cycles;

The use of continuous processes that allow the most efficient use of raw materials and energy;

Intensification production processes, their optimization and automation;

Creation of power engineering processes.

At the federal level, the protection of atmospheric air is regulated by Law No. 96-FZ "On the Protection of Atmospheric Air". This law summarized the requirements developed in previous years and justified themselves in practice. For example, the introduction of rules prohibiting the commissioning of any production facilities (newly created or reconstructed) if they become sources of pollution or other negative impacts on the atmospheric air during operation. The rules on the regulation of maximum permissible concentrations of pollutants in the atmospheric air were further developed.

The law also provides for requirements to establish standards for maximum allowable emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere. Such standards are established for each stationary source of pollution, for each model of vehicles and other mobile vehicles and installations. They are determined in such a way that the total harmful emissions from all sources of pollution in a given area do not exceed the MPC standards for pollutants in the air. Maximum allowable emissions are set only taking into account the maximum allowable concentrations.

There are also architectural planning measures that are aimed at building enterprises, planning urban development taking into account environmental considerations, greening cities, etc. When building enterprises, it is necessary to adhere to the rules established by law and prevent the construction of hazardous industries in the city. It is necessary to carry out mass greening of cities, because green spaces absorb many harmful substances from the air and help to purify the atmosphere. Unfortunately, in the modern period in Russia, green spaces are not so much increasing as they are declining. Not to mention the fact that the "dormitory areas" built at the time do not stand up to scrutiny. Since in these areas the houses of the same type are located too densely (for the sake of saving space) and the air between them is subject to stagnation.

The law provides not only control over the fulfillment of its requirements, but also responsibility for their violation. A special article defines the role of public organizations and citizens in the implementation of measures to protect the air environment, obliges them to actively promote government bodies in these matters, since only broad public participation will make it possible to implement the provisions of this law. So, it says that the state gives great importance preservation of the favorable state of atmospheric air, its restoration and improvement to ensure best conditions people's lives - their work, life, recreation and health protection.

Enterprises or their separate buildings and structures, the technological processes of which are a source of the release of harmful and unpleasantly smelling substances into the atmospheric air, are separated from residential buildings by sanitary protection zones.

The sanitary protection zone for enterprises and facilities can be increased, if necessary and with proper justification, by no more than 3 times, depending on the following reasons:

a) the effectiveness of the methods envisaged or possible for the treatment of emissions into the atmosphere;

b) lack of ways to clean emissions;

c) placement of residential buildings, if necessary, on the leeward side in relation to the enterprise in the zone of possible air pollution;

d) wind roses and other unfavorable local conditions (for example, frequent calms and fogs);

e) the construction of new, still insufficiently studied, harmful in sanitary terms, industries.

The size of sanitary protection zones for individual groups or complexes of large enterprises in the chemical, oil refining, metallurgical, machine-building and other industries, as well as thermal power plants with emissions that create large concentrations of various harmful substances in the air and have a particularly adverse effect on health and sanitary hygienic living conditions of the population are established in each specific case by a joint decision of the Ministry of Health and the Gosstroy of Russia.

To increase the effectiveness of sanitary protection zones, trees, shrubs and herbaceous vegetation is planted on their territory, which reduces the concentration of industrial dust and gases. In the sanitary protection zones of enterprises that intensively pollute the atmospheric air with gases harmful to vegetation, the most gas-resistant trees, shrubs and grasses should be grown, taking into account the degree of aggressiveness and concentration of industrial emissions. Particularly harmful to vegetation are emissions from chemical industries (sulphurous and sulfuric anhydride, hydrogen sulfide, sulfuric, nitric, fluoric and bromous acids, chlorine, fluorine, ammonia, etc.), ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, coal and thermal power industries.

Conclusion

In the modern world, the problem of environmental pollution, in particular atmospheric air, has become global. The task of preserving the environment, first of all, is faced by the state, which at the federal level, with the help of state control tools, takes all the necessary measures (setting standards, issuing laws and regulations). The introduction of low-waste and waste-free industries also contributes to rational use resources and reduce emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere.

However, an equally important task is to educate Russians in environmental consciousness. The absence of elementary ecological thinking is especially noticeable at the present time. If in the West there are programs through the implementation of which the foundations of ecological thinking are laid in children from childhood, then in Russia there has not yet been significant progress in this area. Until a generation with a fully formed environmental consciousness appears in Russia, there will be no noticeable significant progress in understanding and preventing the environmental consequences of human activity.

List of used literature

1. Federal Law of May 4, 1999 No. 96-FZ "On the Protection of Atmospheric Air"

2. Yu.L. Khotuntsev "Man, technology, environment" - M.: Sustainable world (Library of the journal "Ecology and Life"), 2001 - 224 p.

3. http://easytousetech.com/37-fotohimicheskiy-smog.html

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The science

The ever-increasing anthropogenic influence on nature and the growing scale of its pollution gave impetus to the creation of a branch of chemistry called "Environmental Chemistry". Here the processes and transformations occurring in the soil, hydro- and atmosphere are studied, natural compounds and their origin are studied. That is, the scope of this section scientific activity are chemical processes in the biosphere, the migration of elements and compounds along natural chains.

In turn, environmental chemistry has its own subsections. One studies the processes occurring in the lithosphere, the other - in the atmosphere, the third - in the hydrosphere. In addition, there are departments that study pollutants of natural and anthropogenic origin, their sources, transformations, movement, and so on. At present, another department has been created - ecological, the scope of research of which is very close and sometimes identified with the general direction.

Environmental Chemistry is developing methods and means of protecting nature and is looking for ways to improve existing cleaning and disposal systems. This branch of chemistry is closely related to such areas of scientific research as ecology, geology, and so on.

It can be assumed that the largest source of environmental pollution is chemical industry. But it is not so. Compared to other sectors of industrial production, or transport, enterprises in this industry emit significantly less pollutants. However, the composition of these substances contains much more various chemical elements and compounds. This organic solvents, amines, aldehydes, chlorine, oxides and more. It was at chemical enterprises that xenobiotics were synthesized. That is, this industry pollutes nature with its production and produces products that are an independent source of pollution. That is, for the environment, the sources of chemical pollution and production, and products, and the results of its use.

Chemical Science and Industry, Key Industries human activity. They research, develop, and then produce and apply substances and compounds that serve as the basis for the structure of everything on Earth, including itself. The results of these activities have a real opportunity to influence the structure of living and non-living matter, the stability of the existence of the biosphere, the existence of life on the planet.

Types of pollution and their sources

Chemical pollution of the environment, as well as the corresponding branch of science, is conditionally divided into three types. Each species corresponds to a layer in the Earth's biosphere. These are chemical pollution: lithosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere.

Atmosphere. The main sources of air pollution are: industry, transport and thermal stations, including household boilers. IN industrial production In terms of emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere, metallurgical plants, chemical enterprises and cement plants are in the lead. Substances pollute the air both when they first enter it, and by derivative compounds formed in the atmosphere itself.

Hydrosphere. The main sources of pollution of the Earth's water basin are discharges from industrial enterprises, household services, accidents and ship discharges, runoff from agricultural land, and so on. Pollutants are both organic and inorganic substances. The main ones are: compounds of arsenic, lead, mercury, inorganic acids and hydrocarbons in different types and forms. Toxic heavy metals do not decompose and accumulate in organisms living in water. Oil and oil products pollute water both mechanically and chemically. Spilling a thin film on the surface of the water, they reduce the amount of light and oxygen in the water. As a result, the process of photosynthesis slows down, and decay accelerates.

Lithosphere. The main sources of soil pollution are the household sector, industrial enterprises, transport, heat power engineering and agriculture. As a result of their activities, heavy metals, pesticides, oil products, acidic compounds, and the like get into the ground. Changes in the chemical and physical composition of soils, as well as their structure, lead to the loss of their productivity, erosion, destruction and weathering.

Environmental chemistry has information about more than 5 million types of compounds, and their number is constantly growing, which in one way or another "travel" through the biosphere. More than 60,000 such compounds are involved in production activities.

Main pollutants and elements

Environmental chemistry considers the following elements and compounds as the main pollutants of nature.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas. An active compound that reacts with substances that make up the atmosphere. It underlies the formation of the "greenhouse effect". It is toxic and this property grows in the presence of nitrogen in the air.

Sulfur dioxide and sulfuric anhydride increase the acidity of the soil. Which leads to the loss of its fertility.

Hydrogen sulfide. Colorless gas. Distinguishable by the bright smell of rotten eggs. It is a reducing agent and oxidizes in air. It ignites at a temperature of 225 0 C. It is an accompanying gas in hydrocarbon deposits. It is present in volcanic gases, in mineral springs, and occurs at depths of more than 200 meters in the Black Sea. In nature, the source of its appearance is the decomposition of protein substances. In industrial production, it appears during the purification of oil and gas. used to obtain sulfur and sulfuric acid, various sulfur compounds, heavy water, in medicine. Hydrogen sulfide is toxic. It affects the mucous membranes and respiratory organs. If for most living organisms, it is a toxic substance, then for some microorganisms and bacteria it is a habitat.

nitrogen oxides. It is a poisonous gas that is colorless and odorless. Their danger grows in cities, where they mix with carbon and form photochemical smog. This gas has a negative effect on Airways person and can lead to pulmonary edema. It, together with sulfur oxide, is a source of acid rain.

Sulfur dioxide. A gas with a pungent, colorless odor. Affects the mucous membrane of the eyes and respiratory organs.

A negative impact on nature is caused by an increased content of fluorine, lead and chlorine compounds, hydrocarbons and their vapors, aldehydes and much more.

Substances designed and created to increase land fertility and crop productivity ultimately lead to soil degradation. The low degree of their assimilation at the places of application makes it possible for them to spread over considerable distances and “feed” plants that are not at all the ones for which they are intended. The main medium for their movement is water. Accordingly, a significant increase in green mass is also observed in it. water bodies grow and disappear.

Almost all “chemical” environmental pollutants have such a complex negative effect.

Until now, xenobiotics or artificially synthesized substances are classified as a separate category of pollutants. They do not enter the normal food chain cycle. No and effective ways their artificial processing. Xenobiotics accumulate in soil, water, air, living organisms. They migrate from body to body. How will this accumulation end and what is its critical mass?

The result of human impact on the environment, namely, his activity gave rise to the seemingly impossible pollution of nature by what it consists of, is a change in its fundamental, deep composition and structure. The concentration of some chemical elements and the decrease in the volumes of others, generates unexplored and unpredictable, in terms of consequences, effects in the biosphere.