Open Access Research Article

Health and Environmental Impacts of Nox: An Ultra- Low Level of Nox (Oxides of Nitrogen) Achievable with A New Technology

Massimo Onofri1*, Raimondo Alberto Bernabeo2 and Kirk Webster3

1MEC SYSTEM s.r.l. and Tongji & Bologna University, Ph.D. candidate, Forli, Italy

2University of Abu Dhabi, UAE

3University of Abu Dhabi, UAE

Corresponding Author

Received Date: May 21, 2019;  Published Date: May 28, 2019

Abstract

The damages to human health and environment result because of various compounds and derivatives in the family of nitrogen oxides, including nitrogen dioxide, nitric acid, nitrous oxide, nitrates, and nitric oxide. Nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere contribute to photochemical smog, to the formation of acid rain precursors, to the destruction of ozone in the stratosphere and to global warming. On the contrary, an increase in Ozone (O3) concentration related to NOx emissions has been observed analyzing chemical and transport processes in the troposphere. Ozone can be transported by wind currents and can cause health impacts far from original sources. Ground-level Ozone (Smog) is formed when NOx and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react in the presence of heat and sunlight. Children, people with lung diseases such as asthma, and people who work or exercise outside, are susceptible to adverse effects such as damage to lung tissue and reduction in lung function. Other impacts from ozone include damaged vegetation and reduced crop yields. These O3 concentration changes, combined with geographically specific demographic data have been used to estimate the increase in mortality and respiratory illness that results from that increase in O3. Over the past 150 years, global emissions of nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere have been increasing steadily. A significant amount of the nitrogen oxide emissions is attributed to combustion of biomass and fossil fuels. This paper reviews existing and some emerging technologies for reduction of NOx emissions from combustion sources and examines the prospects of these technologies for meeting stricter emissions regulations. Both combustion modification and post- combustion methods for NOx reduction are considered. The important role of research on the chemistry of nitrogen oxides in combustion gases in development and optimization of emissions control techniques is described.

Keywords:NOx, NOx emissions; Health impacts; Mortality; Point sources; Cap-and-trade

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