An exponential rise in air pollution and its consequences for human health and environment
have raised serious concerns, warranting appropriate solutions for remediation. Polluted
air primarily comprises of solid particles suspended in air, called particulate matter (PM),
and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Typical PM are composed of both organic and
inorganic (SOx, NOx, F-)1 species, minerals (such as calcite, dolomite, anorthite, feldspar)2
and soil dust. 2.5 10) are of
prime importance as they can enter lungs, and their prolonged exposure can cause diseases
including cancer. Adverse health effects pertaining to VOCs are well known: headaches
and nausea, damage to the central nervous system, kidney, lung3 to name a few. There is a
rise in polluted air in the recent past in different parts of India and other developing nations
of South-East Asia. This seminar gives an overview of the effects of dust on health and
environment, filtration of PM by the electrospun fibers and recent advances in the
understanding of capture mechanisms of dust by such fibers.
References
1. Kassotis, C. D. et al., Environ. Sci. Technol. 2017, 51 (15), 8735 8745.
2. Badarinath, K. V. S. et al., Glob. Planet. Change. 2010, 72 (3), 164 181.
3. Lintermann, A. et al., Eur. J. Mech. - B/Fluids. 2017, 63, 73 89.