Chapter 1 - Environmental air pollution: an anthropogenic or a natural issue?

The chapter is dealing with the nature and emissions, transformations and transport of atmospheric pollutants at the global level. Emissions are anthropogenic or natural, emitting species that are then mixing in the far field contributing to local and to background pollution. The estimation of emissions is reported, as well as the evolution of pollutants in terms of formation by the secondary reaction and deposition (wet or dry). Emphasis is given to particulate matter as to its size distribution and chemical content. Ozone pollution is an additional issue which is also considered with other pollutants generated by photochemical pollution. Finally, atmospheric pollution in deposition in remote sites in Arctic and Antarctica with chemical reactions occurring in snow or ice fields are also taken in account.