SECTION 1: What causes air pollution? CHAPTER 12: AIR SECTION 1: What causes air pollution?

Objectives: Identify and describe primary and secondary air pollutants Identify major sources of air pollution Describe the way in which smog is formed Explain the way in which a thermal inversion traps air pollution

What is air pollution? Air pollution: Contamination of the atmosphere by wastes from sources such as industrial burning and auto exhaust Can be in form of solid, liquid, or gas Comes mostly from human activities but CAN come from natural sources Ex: Volcanoes-particles and sulfur dioxide Other: dust, pollen, spores

2 Types of Pollutants Primary pollutant: Secondary pollutant: Put directly into the air by human activity Secondary pollutant: Primary pollutant comes into contact with other primary pollutants or naturally occurring substances (water vapor)---this causes a chemical reaction Ex: ground-level ozone- emissions from cars react with oxygen and UV rays

5 Primary Pollutants Carbon Monoxide Nitrogen oxides Sulfur dioxide interferes with blood’s ability to carry oxygen Nitrogen oxides Respirator infections, cancer, brown haze, acid rain Sulfur dioxide Acid rain, harm plant life, respiratory infections

Volatile Organic Compounds Creates smog, cancer, possibly plants Particulate Matter Can cause clouds that reduce visibility, cancer, respiratory problems, corrode metals and erode building and sculptures

Sources of air pollution Motor Vehicle Emissions Industrial Air pollution

SMOG When air pollution hangs over urban areas and reduces visibility-this is called SMOG Formation: 1. Vehicle exhaust reacts with air and sunlight to form ozone 2. Ozone reacts with exhaust to form smog

Temperature Inversions Air circulation usually keeps air pollution from reaching dangerous levels In day, sun heats earth and air near the surface Warm air rises and carries pollutants away from ground and into atmosphere Sometimes-pollution is trapped near surface due to temperature inversion- air above is warmer than air below

Temperature Inversion

Air, Noise, and Light Pollution Ch. 12.2 Air, Noise, and Light Pollution

Objectives: Describe short-term vs. long-term effects of air pollution on human health Explain what causes indoor pollution Describe health problems caused by noise pollution

Health Problems Air pollution causes serious health problems American Lung Association Estimates that Americans pay tens of billions per year in health costs related to health from air pollution

Short-term vs Long-term Effects Reversible Headaches, nausea, eye nose and throat irritation, respiratory infections, coughing Long-term Emphysema, lung cancer, heart disease

Indoor Air pollution Indoor pollution can be just as bad as outdoor pollution.. How? Plastics and other chemicals are majors sources of indoor pollution Found in carpets, building materials, paints, furniture Causes “sick-building syndrome” Good indoor air quality requires ventilation

Noise Pollution Noise can be a pollutant, too!!!! Affects human health and quality of life EX: Airplane noises Construction equipment City traffic Factories Home appliances Lawnmowers

Noise Continued Noise can cause health problems such as: Loss of hearing High blood pressure Stress Loss of sleep-leads to decreased productivity

Light Pollution Light DOES NOT directly harm human health It DOES affect the environment Inefficient lighting: Diminishes view of night sky Energy waste when light is directed upward and lost to space as opposed to directed downward

VIDEO This video takes place where in China? What are contributing factors that are causing pollution in this city? Because the city is located on a basin, this causes the pollution to_________________. What are some symptoms/illnesses that the people living in this city are experiencing?

Ch. 12. 3 Acid Precipitation

Objectives Explain the causes of acid rain Explain how acid rain affects plants, soils, and aquatic ecosystems Describe how acid rain can affect humans

What causes acid precipitation? First, we must know what acid rain is. Acid precipitation- precipitation such as rain, sleet, or snow that contains a high concentration of acids. Caused by burning of fossil fuels-especially power plants

The Process: Fossil Fuels are burned This releases oxides of sulfur and nitrogen The oxides combine with water in atmosphere This forms sulfuric acid and nitric acid Falls as precipitation or acid rain Falls to the ground and flows into lakes, rivers, and streams

Affects on Environment Acid rain can cause a drop in pH in soil and water This increase in concentration of acid is called acidification Soil: Change in pH can cause nutrients to be washed away while other things, such as aluminum, to stay and be absorbed by roots of plants

Aquatic Ecosystems Changes in pH of a lake can kill plants, fish, and other aquatic animals. But it’s not just a pH change… Acid rain causes aluminum to leach out of the soil and this can accumulate in fish gills- fish are slowly suffocated

Acid rain is worse in the spring Due to acidic snow Snow melts and rushes into bodies of water Causes Acid shock- the sudden influx of acidic water

Reversing the affects on ecosystems Some states in US and some countries spray powdered limestone (CaCO3) on lakes to restore the natural pH Lime is alkaline (basic) However, enough lime cannot be spread to offset all acidic damage

Acid Rain & Humans When aluminum and mercury are released (due to soil acidity increasing)- these toxic metals can get into our crops, water, and fish… Humans eat these- and therefore, can get into our bodies May be linked to respiratory infections

Acid Rain & historic monuments Acid rain can also affect important monuments and sculptures

Video What are some reasons the ocean is important? What is causing ocean acidification? The atmosphere touches the ocean over ____% of Earth’s surface What happens when CO2 mixes with ocean water? Why are thinning shells of sea life a concern? How can we stop acidification?

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