AIM: What are the effects of air pollution on human health and the environment Do Now: Describe some ways in which air pollution can affect our health. HW: Article and Questions #2 due Friday

Humans Can cause respiratory disease Bronchitis- bronchi inflamed Emphysena- air sacs break down Cancer- uncontrolled cell growth

Plants Brittle stems 10 billion dollars of crops lost each year

Animals Eye and lung irritation cancer

Air pollution can also be absorbed into the grass!!! Animals can eat the grass Pollutants can seep into the groundwater

Global Effects of Air Pollution Acid Precipitaiton Ozone Depletion Global Warming

Acid Precipitation

Acid Precipitation Rain or snow becomes acidic Normal rain/snow has a pH of 5.6 Reacts with CO2 forming carbonic acid (weak acid) Other pollutants form much stronger acids Ex: sulfuric acid (sulfur dioxide), nitrogen oxide

What happens when acid starts to accumulate in lakes? Fish die- water is too acidic for them Disrupts the food chain Affects the entire ecosystem

Other problems associated with acid rain Damages trees Damages crops Damages buildings Damage costs about 5 billion dollars per year!!!!

Ozone Depletion The ozone layer absorbs UV radiation from the sun Has been thinning tremendously over the last twenty years Increases the amount of UV radiation Sunburn, blindness, skin cancer Severe crop damage Kills aquatic organisms (disrupts food chains)

Causes of Ozone Depletion CFC’s- chlorofluorocarbons Freon (coolants) Do not break easily in the atmosphere UV breaks them down- releases chlorine and fluorine, which breaks down the ozone