1. The Atmosphere and Air Quality

2. Gaseous Composition of the AtmosphereGaseous Composition of the Atmosphere

3. The Atmosphere and Air Quality Types of Urban Air PollutantsTypes of Urban Air Pollutants –Primary Pollutant - a pollutant that directly enters the air as a result of natural events or human activities

4. The Atmosphere and Air Quality Types of Urban Air PollutantsTypes of Urban Air Pollutants –Secondary Pollutant - a pollutant that is formed in the air through chemical reactions between or among primary pollutants or between primary pollutants and other gases in the atmosphere

5. The Atmosphere and Air Quality Chemical Classes of Urban Air PollutantsChemical Classes of Urban Air Pollutants –Carbon Oxides –Sulfur Oxides –Nitrogen Oxides –Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) –Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM)

6. The Atmosphere and Air Quality Chemical Classes of Urban Air PollutantsChemical Classes of Urban Air Pollutants –Photochemical Oxidants O 3 (tropospheric ozone)O 3 (tropospheric ozone) H 2 O 2 (hydrogen peroxide)H 2 O 2 (hydrogen peroxide) PANs (peroxyacetylnitrates)PANs (peroxyacetylnitrates)

7. The Atmosphere and Air Quality Chemical Classes of Urban Air PollutantsChemical Classes of Urban Air Pollutants –Radioactive Substances –Toxic Metals

8. The Atmosphere and Air Quality Regulation of Urban Air PollutionRegulation of Urban Air Pollution –Clean Air Acts Passed in 1970, 1977, 1990Passed in 1970, 1977, 1990 Enacted federal air pollution regulations that are enforced by each stateEnacted federal air pollution regulations that are enforced by each state Established National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)Established National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

9. The Atmosphere and Air Quality Regulation of Urban Air PollutionRegulation of Urban Air Pollution –NAAQS 7 Criteria Pollutants7 Criteria Pollutants –SPMs –Sulfur Oxides –Carbon Monoxide –Nitrogen Oxides –Tropospheric Ozone –VOCs –Lead

10. The Atmosphere and Air Quality Regulation of Urban Aair PollutionRegulation of Urban Aair Pollution –NAAQS Primary NAAQS - standards established to protect human healthPrimary NAAQS - standards established to protect human health Secondary NAAQS - standards established to protect all organismsSecondary NAAQS - standards established to protect all organisms Nonattainment Area - any area that does not meet primary or secondary NAAQS for a criteria pollutantNonattainment Area - any area that does not meet primary or secondary NAAQS for a criteria pollutant

11. The Atmosphere and Air Quality National Ambient Air Quality Standards Carbon Monoxide9 ppm over 8-hr period, not to be exceeded more than once a year; 35-ppm for 1-hr period Ozone 0.12 ppm for 1-hr period, not to be exceeded more than once per year

12. The Atmosphere and Air Quality National Ambient Air Quality Standards Sulfur Dioxide0.03 ppm annual average; 0.14 ppm for 24-hr period, not to be exceeded more than once per year Nitrogen Oxides0.05 ppm annual average

13. The Atmosphere and Air Quality Regulation of Urban Air PollutionRegulation of Urban Air Pollution –Criteria Pollutants Tropospheric OzoneTropospheric Ozone –Source: Chemical reactions between VOCs, nitrogen oxides, and sunlight –Health Effects: Reduced lung function; asthma; congestion –Environmental Impacts: Reduced visibility; plant damage, reduced photosynthesis and nutrient uptake, crop destruction; forest diebacks –Property Damage: Rubber; plastics

14. The Atmosphere and Air Quality Regulation of Urban Air PollutionRegulation of Urban Air Pollution –Criteria Pollutants Carbon MonoxideCarbon Monoxide –Source: Incomplete combustion of fossil fuels –Health Effects: Reduced oxygen levels; impaired visual perception; reduced lung function; asthma; congestion –Environmental Impacts: Reduced visibility; plant damage –Property Damage: Rubber; plastics

15. The Atmosphere and Air Quality Regulation of Urban Air PollutionRegulation of Urban Air Pollution –Criteria Pollutants Nitrogen and Sulfur OxidesNitrogen and Sulfur Oxides –Source: Incomplete combustion of fossil fuels –Health Effects: Lung damage; respiratory illnesses –Environmental Impacts: Acid deposition; plant damage; photochemical smog; crop destruction –Property Damage: Enhanced chemical weathering

16. The Atmosphere and Air Quality Regulation of Urban Air PollutionRegulation of Urban Air Pollution –Criteria Pollutants SPMsSPMs –Source: Incomplete combustion of fossil fuels; agriculture; unpaved roads –Health Effects: Lung damage; respiratory illnesses –Environmental Impacts: Reduced visibility (haze –Property Damage: Discoloration of clothing and structures

17. The Atmosphere and Air Quality Regulation of Urban Air PollutionRegulation of Urban Air Pollution –Criteria Pollutants LeadLead –Source: Leaded gasoline; lead paint; smelters; lead-acid batteries –Health Effects: Damage to nervous system; cancer; mental retardation; digestive disorders –Environmental Impacts: Harmful to wildlife

18. The Atmosphere and Air Quality Photochemical (Brown-Air) SmogPhotochemical (Brown-Air) Smog –A mixture of primary and secondary pollutants (mostly tropospheric ozone) formed under the influence of sunlight

19. The Atmosphere and Air Quality Photochemical (Brown Air) SmogPhotochemical (Brown Air) Smog –Factors of Formation TopographyTopography Local climateLocal climate Population densityPopulation density Amount of industryAmount of industry Industrial fuel typesIndustrial fuel types

20. The Atmosphere and Air Quality Industrial (Gray-Air) SmogIndustrial (Gray-Air) Smog –Mixture of sulfur dioxide, suspended droplets of sulfuric acid, and SPMs –Found mostly in LDCs where coal and heavy oils are burned ChinaChina UkraineUkraine Eastern EuropeEastern Europe

21. The Atmosphere and Air Quality Acid DepositionAcid Deposition –The falling of acids and acid-forming compounds from the atmosphere to the Earths surface

22. The Atmosphere and Air Quality Acid DepositionAcid Deposition –Components Primary PollutantsPrimary Pollutants –Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) –Sulfur Oxides (SOx) Secondary Pollutants –Nitric Acid (HNO 3 ) –Sulfuric Acid (H 2 SO 4 )

23. The Atmosphere and Air Quality Acid DepositionAcid Deposition –Acid Sources Coal-burning power plantsCoal-burning power plants SmeltersSmelters FactorsFactors Urban areasUrban areas

24. The Atmosphere and Air Quality Acid DepositionAcid Deposition –Environmental Impacts of Acid Deposition A regional environmental problemA regional environmental problem Depends on buffering capacity of soilsDepends on buffering capacity of soils

25. The Atmosphere and Air Quality Acid DepositionAcid Deposition –Environmental Impacts of Acid Deposition Damage to materialsDamage to materials Human healthHuman health Aquatic EcosystemsAquatic Ecosystems –Acid shock –Aluminum toxicity –Formation of methlymercury

26. The atmosphere and Air Quality Acid DepositionAcid Deposition –Environmental Impacts of Acid Deposition Aquatic EcosystemsAquatic Ecosystems –Fun Facts »16,000 lakes in Norway and Sweden contain no fish »9,000 lakes in U.S. are threatened with excess acidity (most in the Great Lakes!)

27. The Atmosphere and Air Quality Acid DepositionAcid Deposition –Environmental Impacts of Acid Deposition Terrestrial EcosystemsTerrestrial Ecosystems –Most damage when pH < 5.1 –Damage to tree foliage bathed in acidic fog

28. The Atmosphere and Air Quality Acid DepositionAcid Deposition –Environmental Impacts of Acid Deposition Terrestrial EcosystemsTerrestrial Ecosystems –Increased susceptibility to various stressors »Cold temperatures »Diseases »Insects »Drought »Depletion of plant nutrients

29. The Atmosphere and Air Quality Urban ClimateUrban Climate –Cities are generally warmer, rainier, foggier, and cloudier than suburbs or rural areas

30. The Atmosphere and Air Quality Urban ClimateUrban Climate –Cities generate enormous amounts of heat AutomobilesAutomobiles FactoriesFactories FurnacesFurnaces LightsLights Air conditionersAir conditioners PeoplePeople

31. The Atmosphere and Air Quality Urban ClimateUrban Climate –Urban Heat Island - the buildup of heat in the atmosphere above an urban area

32. Urban Heat Island Dust Dome

33. The Atmosphere and Air Quality Indoor Air PollutionIndoor Air Pollution –Sources CombustionCombustion Building materials and furnishingsBuilding materials and furnishings Household cleaning productsHousehold cleaning products Personal care productsPersonal care products Central heating/cooling systemsCentral heating/cooling systems Outside sources - radon gas and pesticidesOutside sources - radon gas and pesticides Poor ventilationPoor ventilation

34. The Atmosphere and Air Quality Indoor Air PollutionIndoor Air Pollution –Most Dangerous Indoor Air Pollutants FormaldehydeFormaldehyde AsbestosAsbestos Cigarette smokeCigarette smoke Radon-222Radon-222 FiberglassFiberglass

35. The Atmosphere and Air Quality Indoor Air PollutionIndoor Air Pollution –Leading cause of cancer –High-risk health problem for humans –Sick Building Syndrome