1. 1 Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. It can be natural. It can be anthropogenic. It can affect land, air and water. It can even come in the form of light, noise, heat, and visual. https://youtu.be/sz7FngmNM00 https://youtu.be/ITkmFxW32ts

2. 2 Types Effects Corrective measures

3. 3 Human activities cause pollution Anthropogenic Problems for: Humans, other animals, and plants 99% of our atmosphere is composed of nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor and inert gases…with oxygen being essential for our bodies’ survival. (Cellular Respiration)

4. 4 The list of gases in this group includes... Helium (He), Neon (Ne), Argon (Ar), Krypton (Kr), Xenon (Xe) and Radon (Rn). Uses: Advertising signs. Light bulbs. Coolant and in balloons Headlights in newer cars Non-reactive due to complete valence level

5. 5 Ambient air pollution can be classified in two different ways. It can be: Primary: Secondary: When a pollutant is emitted directly from a source. When primary pollutants recombine in the atmosphere to form new products. As we proceed through this PPT, try to classify each of the pollutants as either primary, or secondary.

6. 6 Particulate matter, or PM, is the term for particles found in the air, including dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets. Some particles are directly emitted into the air. They come from cars, trucks, buses, factories, construction sites, tilled fields, unpaved roads, stone crushing, and burning and combustion of wood, and fossil fuels.

7. 7 Some particles may be formed in the air from the chemical change of gases. They are indirectly formed when gases from burning fuels react with sunlight and water vapor. Particulates can form clouds that reduce visibility and cause a variety of respiratory problems. Particulates have also been linked to cancer. They corrode metals, erode buildings and sculptures. Cleopatra’s Needle

8. 8 Increased hospital admissions and emergency room visits for people with heart and lung disease. Associated with work and school absences. Major source of haze that reduces visibility in many parts of the United States Settles on soil and water and harms the environment by changing the nutrient and chemical balance. Causes erosion and staining of structures including culturally important objects such as monuments and statues. Denver, on a clear…and not so clear day

9. 9 Often the biggest offenders to the PM problem are associated with the energy industry. Choice of fuel Clean your fuel Control emissions  scrubbers City ordinances, like burn bans are established not only because of the danger of wild-fires, but also to help reduce particulate matter in our atmosphere. use calcium from limestone in the smokestack to convert sulfur dioxide into gypsum, a useful mineral used in wallboard

10. 10 Carbon monoxide, or CO, is a colorless, odorless gas that is formed when carbon in fuel is not burned completely. Higher levels of CO generally occur in areas with heavy traffic congestion.

11. 11  Carbon monoxide is poisonous even to healthy people at high levels in the air.  Carbon monoxide affects people with heart disease. Carbon monoxide can affect the central nervous system.

12. 12 CO interferes with the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, slowing reflexes and causing drowsiness. In high enough concentrations it can cause death Headaches and stress on the heart can result from CO being inhaled from sitting in heavy traffic. CO can impair the growth and development of the fetus in pregnant women

13. 13 Nationally, EPA has set air quality stations to measure the levels of CO and other pollutants in the air. In the 1970s EPA set national standards that have considerably reduced emissions of CO and other pollutants from motor vehicles. tailpipe emissions, new vehicle technologies, (such as catalytic converters) and clean fuels programs.

14. 14 Are particulates primary or secondary pollutants…or both? Why is oxygen such an important gas in our atmosphere? How can particulates be reduced? What is a scrubber, and how does it work? Why is CO such a worry? What is being done to reduce CO in our atmosphere?

15. 15 Nitrogen oxides, or NOx, is the generic term for a group of highly reactive gases, all of which contain nitrogen and oxygen in varying amounts. Nitrogen Dioxide (NO 2 ) Nitrogen oxides form when fuel is burned at high temperatures, as in a combustion process.

16. 16  NOxs help form tropospheric ozone, which can trigger serious respiratory problems.  NOxs contribute to formation of acid rain.  NOxs contribute to deteriorating water quality.  NOxs contribute to atmospheric particles, that cause visibility impairment NOxs are greenhouse gases, and contribute to global warming. NOxs can make the body vulnerable to respiratory infections, lung disease, and possibly cancer.

17. 17 Acid rain damages; causes deterioration of cars, buildings and historical monuments; and causes lakes and streams to become acidic and unsuitable for many fish. When NOxs combine with water, nitric acid is formed. It is one of the leading causes of acid rain.

18. 18 The cold, deep waters of Lake Minnewaska in New York are sterile. The pH of 4.2-4.7 make it uninhabitable to fish of any species. This lake is sterile due to acid rain. Douglas volcano on the northern tip of the Alaska Peninsula has a small lake. In 1992, the lake had a pH of 1.1 and a temperature of 21 degrees Celsius. This lake is sterile due to volcanic contributions to acidity. Lake Minnewaska in the Shawangunk Mountains

19. 19 The original Clean Air Act was established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the 1970s. At the time, there were few, if any, provisions made for the reduction of acid rain-causing gases. The Clean Air act of the 1970s was the first major legislation aimed at cleaning up our air. Later, in 1990, there were amendments made to the act. It is in these amendments that we obtained regulations for the production of both SO x and NO x.

20. 20 Ground-level, or tropospheric ozone is an air pollutant that causes human health problems, and damages crops and other vegetation. It is a key ingredient of urban smog. Sunlight, hot air, NOx, and VOCs are also necessary ingredients for the formation of harmful concentrations of ground-level ozone. What type of pollutant is ozone?

21. 21  Triggers a variety of health problems even at very low levels  Symptoms of exposure include respiratory difficulties during exercise or outdoor activities.  Repeated exposure may cause permanent lung damage.  Even at very low levels, a variety of health problems are triggered, including aggravated asthma, reduced lung capacity, and increased susceptibility to respiratory illnesses like pneumonia and bronchitis.

22. 22 Ground-level ozone interferes with the ability of plants to produce and store food, making them more susceptible to disease, insects, other pollutants, and harsh weather. Ozone damages the leaves of trees and other plants, ruining the appearance of cities, national parks, and recreation areas.

23. 23 Seasonal mean of ambient ozone concentrations between 9:00am and 4:00pm over the continental United States from July 1 to September 31 2005. Areas shown in brown, orange and red can experience significant crop yield loss and damage to ecosystem function from ambient ozone Why would high concentrations of ozone here during the summer months be such a problem?

24. 24 Some regional strategies for reducing ground-level ozone include: The EPA has traditionally focused on local control strategies in areas of the country with high measured levels of ozone in the air.  reducing NO x emissions from power plants and industrial combustion sources  introduce low-emission cars and trucks  using "cleaner" gasoline improve vehicle inspection programs Ozone can be transported for hundreds of miles, so it may become a regional problem, where ozone should not even exist (such as Denton)

25. 25 What is the main source of anthropogenic NOx? Why do we worry about NOx? How do lakes become sterile? What was the Clean Air Act originally designed to do? Is ozone a primary or a secondary pollutant, and how do you know?

26. Over the past 30 years, sulfur dioxide emissions have decreased by more than one third. EPA has implemented programs to continue the national reductions, and improve local air quality. Sulfur dioxide, or SO 2, belongs to the family of sulfur oxide gases (SOx). These gases dissolve easily in water. Acid rain Sulfur is found in crude oil, coal, and ore that contains common metals like aluminum, copper, zinc, lead, and iron. SOx gases are formed when fuel containing sulfur, such as coal and oil, is burned, and when gasoline is extracted from oil, or metals are extracted from ore. (smelting)

27. 27 For sulfur oxide control, the power industry now employs the use of wet scrubbers (also referred to as wet collectors) Employing this technology results in a byproduct of gypsum which is marketable as drywall. It also results in the removal of 95% SO 2 !

28. 28 SO 2 contributes to respiratory illness, particularly in children and the elderly, and aggravates existing heart and lung diseases. SO 2 contributes to the formation of acid rain, which:  damages trees, crops, historic buildings, and monuments; and  makes soils, lakes, and streams acidic. The Clean Air Act amended in the 1990s to include the removal of SOx as well as NOx emissions from industrial processes.

29. 29 VOCs are organic chemicals that vaporize readily, producing toxic fumes. Some examples are gasoline, benzene, toluene, and xylene. VOCs come from burning fuels and from solvents, paints, and glues. Cars are a major source of VOCs. VOCs contribute to smog formation, and can cause serious health problems such as cancer. They may also harm plants.

30. 30 Tightened emissions standards of motor vehicles. Implemented regulation of VOC content in architectural paints/coatings, printing inks and selected consumer products, such as air fresheners and aerosol insect repellents Require emission reduction devices such as vapor recovery systems on cars and gas stations, to prevent the release of VOCs.

31. 31 Producing electricity from coal and oil releases a wide range of pollutants into the environment.

32. 32 What is the origin of Sulfur, in SOx? How efficient are scrubbers at removing SOx from emissions at coal-fired power plants? Are SOx primary or secondary, and how do you know? Is acid rain primary or secondary, and how do you know? What makes a VOC volatile? Is smog primary or secondary, and how do you know?