Air Pollution By: Andrew Blake

Primary Information -Measured in ppms (parts per million) -Primary pollutants are emitted directly into the air from natural resources such as volcanoes, mobile sources such as cars, or stationary sources such as industrial smokestacks. -Examples include: Particulate matter, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide. -Secondary pollutants result from the reaction of primary pollutants in the atmosphere to form a new pollutant. -Examples include sulfur trioxide, sulfuric acid, ozone, and chemicals found in photochemical smog such as PANS and peroxyacyl nitrates.

Major Air Pollutants Nitrogen Dioxide- Forms when fuels are burned at high temperatures. Ozone- Major component of photochemical smog. Formed by sunlight reacting with NO2 and VOCs in the air. Peroxyacyl Nitrates- PANs are secondary air pollutants formed from the reaction of various hydrocarbons combining with oxygen and nitrogen dioxide and being catalyzed by ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Sulfur Dioxide- Produced by burning high-sulfur oil or coal, smelting of metals, and paper manufacturing. Suspended Particulate Matter- particles with a diameter of 1/7 the width of a human hair or less and include smoke, dust, diesel soot, lead, and asbestos. Volatile Organic Compounds- Include organic compounds that have high vapor pressure.

Smog -Two Forms: Industrial and Photochemical. Industrial: tends to be sulfur- based and is also called grey- air smog. Photochemical: catalyzed by UV radiation and tends to be nitrogen-based. Also called brown-air smog.

Heat Islands and Temperature Inversions Urban heat islands occur in metropolitan areas that are significantly warmer than their surroundings. Human activities that increase the heat island effect include using automobiles, air conditioners, and industry. Temperatures inversions occur when air temperatures increases with height above the ground, as opposed to normal decrease in temperature with height.

Noise Pollution -Noise pollution is unwanted human-created sound that disrupts the environment. -Effects: Hearing loss, cardiovascular problems, gastric-intestinal problems, a decrease in alertness and ability to memorize, nervousness, pupil dilation, and a decrease in the visual field.

Links Video: atmospheric-pollution More info: ent/pollution clopedia/pollution

Lets see how much you learned. 1) What are the two forms of smog? A) Photogenetic and Photothermal B) Thermal and Nuclear C) Photochemical and Industrial D) Chemical and Acidic E) Industrial and Greenhouse 2) Which of these is not an effect of Noise Pollution? A) Heart Disease B) Nervousness C) Hearing Loss D) Cardiovascular Problems E) Decrease in ability to memorize 3) How is pollution measured? A) PPDs B) PDGs C) GMRs D) PPMs E) PDWs 4) Which of these best describes Industrial Smog? A) Nitrogen based B) Also called brown air smog C) Catalyzed by UV Radiation D) Also called grey air smog and sulfur-based. E) Mainly happens in rural areas. 5) All of the following emit air pollutants except? A) Volcanoes B) Grass growing in a field C) Automobiles D) Industrial smokestacks E) Animal Waste