Mr. Ross Brown Brooklyn School for Law and Technology Unit 11: Air Pollution Mr. Ross Brown Brooklyn School for Law and Technology

What are the major air pollutants and their sources? 25 April 2018 Which is a source of sulfur dioxide found in nature? Forest fires Lightning strikes Plant emissions Volcanoes Soil

What are the major air pollutants and their sources? Air pollution: the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or microorganisms into the atmosphere at concentrations high enough to harm plants, animals, and materials such as buildings, or to alter ecosystems.

What are the major air pollutants and their sources? 1970 – US Clean Air Act Identified six pollutants that significantly threaten human well-being, ecosystems, and structures. These are called criteria air pollutants, because under the Clean Air Act the EPA must specify allowable concentrations of each

What are the major air pollutants and their sources?

What are the major air pollutants and their sources? Sulfur dioxide Corrosive gas produced during combustion of fuels Respiratory irritant, affects plants Also, volcanos

What are the major air pollutants and their sources? Nitrogen Oxides Two forms Fuel combustion Naturally, forest fires and lightning

What are the major air pollutants and their sources? Carbon Oxides Carbon monoxide, colorless, odorless, formed during incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. Dangerous indoors. Carbon dioxide, colorless, odorless, formed during complete combustion of fossil fuels. Absorbed by plants. Greenhouse gas.

What are the major air pollutants and their sources? Particulate matter (PM) are solid or liquid particles suspended in air.

What are the major air pollutants and their sources? Particulate sizes Range from 0.01 micrometer (µm) to 100 µm. 1 µm = 0.000001 m. Human hair is 50-100 µm. Particulates > 10 µm is filtered out by nose and throat, not regulated by EPA Particulates smaller than 10 µm is written as PM10, are of concern because they can wind up in respiratory tract.

What are the major air pollutants and their sources? Which size of particulate matter causes the greatest health concern? PM2.5 PM10 PM100 PM30 PM15

What are the major air pollutants and their sources? Photochemical oxidants are a class of air pollutants formed as a result of sunlight acting on compounds such as nitrogen oxides. Ozone (O3) is a secondary pollutant made up of three oxygen atoms bound together. Smog is a type of air pollution that is a mixture of smoke and fog, oxidants and particular matter.

What are the major air pollutants and their sources? Others Lead Mercury Volatile organic compounds (VOC) are organic compounds that evaporate at typical atmospheric temperatures. Lighter fluid, dry-cleaning fluid…

What are the major air pollutants and their sources? Primary pollutants come directly out of a smokestack or exhaust pipe or natural source CO CO2 NOx SO2

What are the major air pollutants and their sources?

What are the major air pollutants and their sources? Secondary pollutants are primary pollutants that have undergone transformation in the presence of sunlight, water, oxygen, or other compounds. Ozone

What are the major air pollutants and their sources? 26 April 2018 A secondary pollutant Forms in the stratosphere Is transformed by sunlight or water Cannot be directly tracked Does not directly harm humans Forms primarily from incomplete combustion

What are the major air pollutants and their sources? Which is NOT a criteria air pollutant? Sulfur dioxide Lead Carbon dioxide Particulate matter Tropospheric ozone

What are the major air pollutants and their sources? Natural emissions Volcanoes: SO2, particulate, CO, NOx Forest fires: particulate, CO Large agricultural fields: dustbowls Anthropogenic emissions On-road vehicles, power plants, industry, waste

What are the major air pollutants and their sources? Smog Daytime, NO2 splits, and the free O joins with O2 to form O3. This reverses in evening, with O3 destruction.

What are the major air pollutants and their sources? Thermal inversions Normally, temp decreases as altitude increases, bringing & dispersing pollutants But if warm air should trap cold air below it, the cold air won’t rise. The warm air is the inversion layer

What are the major air pollutants and their sources? Acid deposition

What are the major air pollutants and their sources?

What are the major air pollutants and their sources?

29 March 2018: Unit test today Kindly take a blank Scantron from my low desk. Clear your desk of everything except for your comparisons chart and a pencil. If you need a pencil, you can trade me your ID card for one. Name on Scantron and question paper. You do not need to include student ID. Eyes on your paper only. If you look at a classmate’s paper, you will lose yours. Good luck!