JNTU B.Tech III AIR POLLUTION AND CONTROL Previous Question Paper (February - 2023 - R16)

Primary pollutants are emitted directly into the atmosphere from identifiable sources, such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter released from industrial stacks or vehicle exhausts. In contrast, secondary pollutants are not emitted directly but are formed in the atmosphere through chemical or photochemical reactions between primary pollutants and other atmospheric components, such as the formation of ground-level ozone or peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN).

In air pollution, sources are classified based on their spatial distribution and geometry:

Line sources represent emissions from a series of points arranged in a line, typically associated with mobile sources. Examples include vehicular emissions along highways, roads, or railway lines, where the pollutant concentration is modeled along a linear path.

Area sources represent emissions spread over a two-dimensional geographic region rather than a single point or line. These are often small, numerous, and stationary sources that are difficult to monitor individually. Examples include residential heating, agricultural burning, construction sites, or urban areas where multiple small sources collectively contribute to the total pollutant load.