Air Pollution Air Pollution Notes Also At

Air pollution is estimated to cause 2 million premature deaths worldwide every year. Air pollution is estimated to cause 2 million premature deaths worldwide every year.

Section 1: Pollution of The Atmosphere What are the main sources of air pollution? What are the main sources of air pollution? Describe how smog forms Describe how smog forms Explain what a temperature inversion is and how it can make are pollution worse. Explain what a temperature inversion is and how it can make are pollution worse. TERMS: primary and secondary air pollution, catalytic converter, ZEVs, smog, temperature inversion TERMS: primary and secondary air pollution, catalytic converter, ZEVs, smog, temperature inversion

What Causes Air Pollution? Air pollution is harmful substances in the air To plants, animals and other organisms Impact ecosystem functions WHAT SHOULD BE IN THE AIR?

Some Natural Most Human Made Can you think of other human made AND natural sources of air pollution?

Primary vs. Secondary Primary pollutant: put directly in the air (soot from smoke) Secondary forms when primary pollutant react with other pollutants (Smog)

Primary vs. Secondary

Major Classes of Air Pollution Table 1 Carbon Oxides (CO and CO2) Sulfur Oxides (SO2) Nitrogen Oxides (NO and NO2) Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs – CFCs) Suspended Particulate Matter (soot, dust, asbestos, lead etc.) Photochemical Oxidants (ozone O3) Radioactive Substances (Radon) Hazardous Air Pollutants (carcinogens, etc.)

Sources of Air Pollution Main Sources of Air Pollution Burning fossil fuels in cars and at power plants (coal, oil and natural gas) Urban areas vehicles and industry Mobile vs. Stationary Sources

What can you learn from this graph ? 1.Producing electricity largely emits SOx followed by Nox. 2.Industry produces mostly VOCs and CO. 3.Transportation mostly emits CO followed by NOx and VOCs

Human Made vs. Natural

History of Air Pollution Not a new problem Why do you think world air-quality today is a bigger problem?

History of Air Pollution Not a “new” problem, but scale has changed during industrial revol. London “smog” killed 2,000 in 1880, 1,000 in 1911 and between 4,000 and 12,000 in Donora PA 6,000 sick 1963 NYC 300 killed

Today’s U.S. Air Quality U.S. Government Web Site With Up To Minute Air Quality Data From Monitors Across the country U.S. EPA Air Quality Data: Tons of data regarding air quality across the U.S. EPA report on air trends in U.S.

Smog (Smoky – Fog) Smog Secondary Pollutant in many urban areas Forms from chemical reaction Vehicle exhaust Needs sunlight and warm temperatures OZONE a main component of smog

Smog VOCs + NOx + heat + Sunlight = Ground Level Ozone (O3) Huge Problem in cities like LA…WHY? Smog Levels Are Influenced By: Local climate Topography Population Density Amount of industry Transportation

Smog: Why care? Smog Impacts: Breathing Problems Coughing, Eye Irritation Aggravates asthma, heart problems Speeds up aging of lung tissue Damage plants Reduce Visibility

Smog and Temperature Inversion Normally as you go up in the troposphere what happens to temperature? Temperature Inversion occurs when a warmer layer forms above a cooler layer Traps air near ground

Temperature Inversion

Helena Montana

Clean Air Act U.S. Law Passed Congress in 1970 and strengthened 1990 Has been huge success 93% lower Pb, 41% CO, 40% VOCs, 34%, SO2, 15% NOx, 14% O3, PM %

Since the Clean Air Act was first enacted in 1963, emissions of the worst pollutants in the U.S. have decreased by 57%.

Clean Air Act Cars today are about 95% cleaner running

Catalyst Converter A Catalyst is used to control pollution in cars. A Catalyst is used to control pollution in cars. It converts harmful gases into less harmful gases. It converts harmful gases into less harmful gases. When you feel the car with gasoline, VOC’s escape into the atmosphere. When you feel the car with gasoline, VOC’s escape into the atmosphere. Car exhaust is a major source of Nox, CO, and HC. Car exhaust is a major source of Nox, CO, and HC.

Zero-Emission Vehicles (ZEV) Have no tailpipe emissions

Chevy Volt 2010: will travel 30 miles on a battery before gas engine kicks in Nissan Leaf travels about 100 miles before needing to be charged again watch?v=f48x9baSuF0

Clean Air Act Requires industries to clean up smokestack emissions Requires Scrubbers

Scrubbers

Monitors like these can tell us air quality data in real time

Section Review What are the main sources of air pollution? What are the main sources of air pollution? Describe how smog forms Describe how smog forms Explain what a temperature inversion is and how it can make are pollution worse. Explain what a temperature inversion is and how it can make are pollution worse. TERMS: primary and secondary air pollution, catalytic converter, ZEVs, smog, temperature inversion TERMS: primary and secondary air pollution, catalytic converter, ZEVs, smog, temperature inversion

Delhi’s Daunting Air Problem /business/2010/08/24/qmb.future.cities.de lhi.air.cnn.html /business/2010/08/24/qmb.future.cities.de lhi.air.cnn.html

Section 2: Air, Noise and Light Pollution GOALS: Describe human health impacts of air pollution. What is indoor air pollution? Why is noise pollution and light pollution a problem? TERMS: sick-building syndrome, asbestos, decibel.

How do we breathe?

CNN Human Health and Air rban.toxic.air/index.html?eref=rss_latest& utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=fe ed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn _latest+%28RSS%3A+Most+Recent%29& utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

Short-term health impacts Short term exposure to air pollution include: Headache, nausea, eye and throat irritation, coughing Asthma attacks

Short-term Impacts

Long-term impacts Long term exposure to air pollution can lead to Lung cancer, other lung diseases, heart disease, emphysema, premature death Elderly and children most at risk

Normal looking lung Lung term smoker exposed to air pollution

Indoor Air Pollution Air quality is sometimes worse inside our homes and buildings People spend 70-98% of time indoors

Sick Building Syndrome Buildings with poor air quality and poor ventilation Headache Fatigue Runny nose Fixed with improved ventilation, cleaning air ducts, opening windows

Sources of indoor air pollution Plastics, carpets, cleaning fluids, radon

Indoor Air Pollution: Radon Radon: colorless, odorless gas Naturally occurring in certain rocks Seeps into homes through cracks Carcinogen (Causes Cancer)

NJ, of the annual 4,700 lung cancer deaths, as many as may be associated with radon exposure.

Indoor Air Pollution: Asbestos Naturally occurring Long thin fibers Used for many years for insulation and fire retardant When inhaled can cause cancer and other lung problems

Scars the lungs when inhaled

Asbestos in El Dorado, CA /watch/?id=692139n /watch/?id=692139n

Noise Pollution Common in most urban areas Can lead to stress, high blood pressure and hearing loss 12% of teens have permanent hearing loss WHY DO YOU THINK?

Light Pollution Common in urban areas Has a negative impact on our environment Energy wasted Solutions?

Review Section Describe human health impacts of air pollution. What is indoor air pollution? Why is noise pollution and light pollution a problem? TERMS: sick-building syndrome, asbestos, decibel.

Section 3: Acid Precipitation GOALS: Explain how acid precipitation is caused Describe the impacts of acid precipitation Identify ways that the acid precipitation problems can be solved TERMS: acid precipitation, pH and acid shock

pH Is a number scale used to measure how acidic or basic a substance is. Scale is 0 to 14

Acid Precipitation Rain, snow, sleet, freezing rain or hail with high concentration of acids Tap Water pH = 7 “Normal” rain pH = 5- 6 Acid rain pH below 5

Acid Rain Secondary Pollutant Sulfur and Nitrogen oxides

Main source of Sulfur Dioxide in U.S. is coal burning at power plants

Impacts of Acid Precipitation Damages soil and aquatic ecosystems Damages statues and buildings Destroys forests

Acid Precipitation

Good news : Clean Air Act in U.S. has led to much lower SO2 and NOx pollution

What will be the future?