SYNERGY IN AIR POLLUTION AND ITS SYNERGETIC EFFECTS

Synergy is strictly defined as occurring if the effect of the combined exposure is greater than the sum of the two or more individual component of the mixture. The term is used loosely and sometimes applied to any effect of a combination of pollutants that is greater than the effect of one of the component alone. This effect of the combination is greater than

the sum of individual effects be termed as synergism or synergetic effects of air pollution. There are following examples of synergy in air pollution: -

1) SO2 with other pollutants like air-borne particles causes synergetic effects in air pollution than the individual pollutants SO2 or air-borne particles & other co-pollutant with SO2;

2) O3 with other pollutants act as synergic in air pollution and effect greater than individual ones. The co-pollutants may be unban PM, cigarette smoke, H2SO4, HNO3, NO2, PAN, endotoxin, and antigen. These co-pollutants are all possible classes of environmental air contaminants;

3) Combination of H2SO4 with carbon particles and diesel emission with virus, etc.

Hence, we can conclude that the control of air pollution that are primary in nature such as SO2, NO2, CO, Pb, O3 and PM may be controlled but when it comes in form of synergy then it becomes very difficult to control and it can cause measurable effects on living organisms.