This Article is Updated on – 09/07/2023, Originally posted on – 14/10/2022

Primary and secondary pollutants are categorized as air pollutants depending on their formation and source of emission.

There are numerous types of air contaminants, some of which are problematic, depending on their natural and manmade origin.

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) ensure, following the Clean Air Act, that air pollutant formation-dependent sources are taken into account to protect public health and safety from these diverse air pollutants (1970).

In today’s Know Your Facts, we will discuss what this Primary and Secondary Pollutants categorization is and how existing air pollutants are categorized based on it. Read and enjoy the content.

What is a Primary Pollutant?

A primary pollutant is a type of air pollutant that is created principally from any kind of source after it is released into the atmosphere.

The vast majority of primary air pollutants are quite stable and are the primary reason for the production of secondary air pollutants.

As a result of this secondary sort of indirect activity, these air pollutants have the potential to influence a wide range of living beings.

Control of primary air pollutants can be achieved by getting to the source of anthropogenic emissions.

The following is a list of the primary pollutants:

1. Carbon monoxide (CO)

Carbon monoxide is a colorless gas that is very toxic, odorless, tasteless, and combustible. It is produced during the burning of carbon when there is a decreased quantity of oxygen.

This main gas is commonly referred to as a “silent killer” due to the dangerous effect it has on our respiratory system.

It was primarily produced by the majority of the unregulated combustion system, which had a smaller intake of oxygen. More importantly most of the air pollutants can be removed using car air purifiers more effiently.

2. Sulfur dioxide (SO₂)

After the burning of sulfur, one of the stable oxides that are produced is sulfur dioxide.

This oxide is produced by sulfur-containing sources such as fossil fuels, volcanic eruptions, and many other sources.

This main air pollutant is one of the principal contributors to the formation of acid rain, alongside nitrogen oxide.

3. Nitrogen oxides (NO_x – NO/NO₂)

Nitrogen oxides are among the most reactive oxides in the atmosphere, and their harmful effects put them ahead of a large variety of other secondary air pollutants.

In addition to internal combustion engines, other sources of NO_x generation include industrial boilers, cement kilns, and turbines. In the same way, as SO₂ does, NO_x also contributes to the formation of acid rain.

4. Ammonia (NH₃)

After being generated through livestock waste management and the creation of fertilizer relatively frequently, NH₃ is known as a major air pollutant despite the fact that it is odorless and has no color.

This pollutant is responsible for several secondary pollutants.

5. Particulate Matter (PM)

The creation of particulate matter, a known air pollutant, is related to both the primary and secondary categories of air pollution.

The vast majority of primary particulate matter is produced as a result of building sites, dusty roads, wildfires, wood burning, gravel pits, agricultural activities, and a wide variety of other causes.

6. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

The vast majority of volatile organic molecules are chemical products, and they are most frequently discovered at high levels of volatility in either domestic or industrial settings.

Paints, wood preservatives, aerosol sprays, paint strippers, and other solvents are a few examples of products that contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Main Sources Behind Primary Air Pollutants

1. Industrial Exhaust

The following are some of the principal sources that contribute to primary air pollutants.
The contribution of different industries to the pollution of the air varies according to the emissions made by such industries.

The vast majority of economic sectors have some sort of interaction with chemicals, petroleum byproducts, energy, or food.

The majority of these businesses get their power from coal, gas, and other forms of petroleum, and in the process, they send a great deal of pollution into the upper atmosphere as waste products.

2. Emissions from Motor Vehicles

The combustion processes in the majority of automobiles’ internal engines employ petroleum fuels, which results in the emission of a greater quantity of CO, NO_x gases, and particulate matter into the atmosphere at an enormous level.

3. Fertilizers

The majority of the air pollution that is caused by agriculture is in the form of ammonia. This pollutant is released into the atmosphere in the form of gas when excessively fertilized fields and manure from livestock are burned.

Fertilizers have a direct impact on the contamination of water bodies, such as eutrophication, in addition to their contribution to the greenhouse effect.

4. Wildfires

The majority of wildfires are caused by higher-than-normal temperatures in the atmosphere, which is a seasonal phenomenon.

In addition to the activities of humans, factors such as lighting and the rubbing of branches against one another as a result of the wind can cause wildfires, which then release tons of volatile organic compounds (VOC), nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter into the atmosphere.

5. Power Generating Plants

The release of hydrocarbons into the atmosphere is the fundamental source of the photochemical smog effect, and power plants all over the world are one of the primary contributors to this release of hydrocarbons into the environment.

Certain hydrocarbons, such as soprene and isoprene, which are emitted by these plants ultimately result in the creation of ozone. This reaction takes place relatively quickly in the atmosphere with hydroxyl radicals.

6. Volcano Eruptions

When volcanoes are in their natural condition, they contain sources such as sulfur, which, when they erupt, result in the emission of a significant amount of sulfur dioxide gas in addition to particle matter.

Smog is the unintended byproduct that results from the interaction of dust particles and SO2 in the atmosphere.

What is a Secondary Pollutant?

Secondary pollutants, in contrast to primary pollutants, are not produced through sources. The principal causes of these pollutants are the primary contributors to air pollution.

These pollutants, which have somewhat higher stability, are able to influence living organisms, albeit one that is capable of having an indirect impact on them via intermediate pollutants.

However, the major objective of these air pollutants is to harm the ecosystem. Controlling secondary air pollutants requires a complex strategy that involves avoiding the reactions that are caused by or between primary air pollutants.

The following is a list of the secondary pollutants:

1. Ozone

Ground-level ozone, in contrast to the protective conceptions we have heard about the ozone layer, is a fairly hazardous molecule and is formed when two major pollutants react in sunlight and stagnant air.

Ground-level ozone can degrade synthetic fabrics, produce fractures in rubber, accelerate the fading of dyes, and quicken the deterioration of some paints, among other things.

NO_x and VOCs are the most prevalent primary pollutants that form ozone, which can be found in outdoor atmosphere slightly.

2. Sulfur Trioxide

After sulfur dioxide, sulfur trioxide is another frequent component that is responsible for the development of acid rain.

This pollutant, classified as a reactive one, is known to cause eye irritations and skin burns, and is toxic by inhalation. Additionally, it is formed through SO₂, which makes it a hazardous substance.

When combined with water, SO₃ gas can quickly produce sulfuric acid.

3. Sulfuric Acids / Nitric Acids

These acids are secondary pollutants by the SO_x and NO_x after they react with water.

These acids are quite common in acid rain and can be identified in both dry and wet acid deposition.

4. Particulate Matter

While there are primary sources of PM_2.5 in the atmosphere, fine particulate matter can also be formed by the chemical and physical processes that operate on particles.

Directly emitting air contaminants into the atmosphere, secondary PM sources help produce or contribute to the formation of particulate matter (PM).

Because of this, we consider these pollutants to be precursors to the generation of PM. These secondary pollutants include sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and ammonia.

The levels of particulate matter (PM) in the environment are typically improved through control methods that cut down on the emissions of PM precursors.

Other than these common secondary air pollutants there are several air pollutants formed by primary pollutants like Peroxy nitrates (PAN), and Photochemical oxidants.

Impact Of The Secondary Pollutants

1. Enhancement of the Greenhouse Effect

The increasing greenhouse effect caused by pollutants such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides, and water vapor act as a barrier to the fallen sun’s heat by preventing it from escaping outside.

This large increase in the interior temperature of the planet causes global warming. Which ultimately leads to Sea-level rise, the melting of polar glaciers, the loss of coastal land, droughts and floods, and a great deal more.

2. Ozone Depletion

The ozone shield is the region of the earth’s stratosphere that absorbs a significant portion of the sun’s extremely dangerous ultraviolet rays.

This absorption mechanism consists of an ultraviolet-powered cycle between ozone and oxygen. When most pollutant gases such as CFC, Halons (Cl or Br), and Hydrocarbons are emitted by an industrial process, the ozone layer is severely damaged.

Gases have gained access to the high atmosphere as a result of human activities; ozone interacts with these gases to generate patches that openly invite all destructive rays.

This phenomenon is referred to as Ozone depletion. In addition to their effect on the ozone, these UV radiations can readily cause skin damage and a variety of medical disorders.

3. Effect of Photochemical Reactions or Smog

The photochemical impact is comparable to July smog, as opposed to traditional wintertime smog.

Photochemical smog formation occurs when UV light from the sun interacts with the principal pollutant NOx (nitrogen Oxide) and secondary pollutants of ozone peroxyacetyl nitrates (PAN) and volatile organic compounds contained in the smoke.

In addition to its effects on humans, smog has direct effects on the photosynthetic process.

4. Acid Rainfall

Acid rain is an obvious consequence of secondary pollutants such as sulfuric and nitric acids. Acid rain can lead to a variety of problems.

Being exposed to acid rains, there are several repercussions, including damage to material surfaces, effects on flora, effects on soil, problems in water bodies, and effects on wildlife, aquatic life, and humans.

In addition to having an impact on the environment, this puts humans at risk for a variety of health problems.

Comparison of Primary and Secondary Pollutants

Here are summarized properties of Primary and Secondary Pollutants

	Primary Pollutants	Secondary Pollutants
Source	Direct pollution sources	Primary Pollutant are the most common sources
Impact	Living Beings	Ecosystem
Stability	Unstable ( react and convert into secondary pollutants)	Stable
Control	Practical	Complicated
Examples	PM, CO, SO2, NOx, VOCs, heavy metals	O3, PAN, NH4+, SO3, HNO3, H2SO4, fine PM

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FAQs

Q: What are the 4 types of air pollution?

A: The four types of air pollution are:

1. Particulate Matter (PM)
2. Ground-Level Ozone (O₃)
3. Carbon Monoxide (CO)
4. Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)

Q: Is lead a primary or secondary pollutant?

A: Lead is considered a primary pollutant. It is emitted directly into the atmosphere from various sources such as industrial processes, mining activities, and the combustion of leaded gasoline.

Q: Is particulate matter a primary or secondary pollutant?

A: Particulate matter (PM) can be both a primary and secondary pollutant. Primary PM refers to particles emitted directly into the air from sources like vehicle exhausts and industrial emissions.

Secondary PM forms when gases such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides undergo chemical reactions in the atmosphere.

Q: How can we reduce primary and secondary pollutants?

A: To reduce primary and secondary pollutants, several strategies can be implemented:

• Implementing stricter emissions standards and regulations for industries and vehicles.
• Promoting the use of cleaner energy sources like renewable energy.
• Encouraging sustainable transportation options such as electric vehicles and public transit.
• Adopting improved industrial processes that minimize emissions.
• Raising awareness and educating individuals about the importance of pollution reduction and encouraging personal actions like conserving energy and reducing waste.

Lassowond

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