Question

What are primary pollutants and secondary pollutants give with examples?

Answer 1

Primary Pollutant:

1. They are pollutants which are passed into environment in the form they are produced.


2. They belong to various categories like particulate, aerosol, reduced, oxidized.

3. They are less toxic.

4. They do not show synergism.


5. Primary pollutants persist in the form they are released in the environment.

Secondary Pollutants:

1. The pollutants develop as a result of interaction of primary pollutants and environmental constituents.

2. They are generally oxidizing.

3. They are more toxic.

4. Secondary pollutants show synergism.

Answer 2

Examples of primary pollutants include sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOX), and particulate matter (PM). Examples of secondary pollutants include photochemical oxidants (ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur trioxide) and secondary particulate matter.