1. Air Pollution

2. Clean air –Mixture of nitrogen and oxygen gas Polluted air –Has additional solids, liquid, or gasses –Sources Human-made Natural

3. Types of Pollutants Primary pollutant –Put directly into the air by human activity Soot from smoke Secondary pollutant –Primary + primary or natural substance (water vapor)  chemical reaction Car emissions + UV light  Ozone

4. Sources of Primary Air Pollution Power plants, motor vehicles, household products, etc. –Carbon monoxide –Nitrogen oxides –Sulfur dioxides –Volatile organic compounds VOCs –Particulate matter

5. Motor Vehicle Emissions Accounts for 1/3 of our air pollution –We drive over 2.6 trillion miles/year 90% of it in personal cars Clean Air Act (1970) –EPA regulates emissions –Eliminated lead in gasoline Reduced lead pollution by 90%

6. Zero Emission Vehicles By 2016, California has vowed to require 16% of all vehicles sold to be ZEVs –Electric –Hydrogen fuel cell Partial emission vehicles –Hybrids

7. Industrial Air Pollution Burning fossil fuel for electricity –Release of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide Dry cleaners, oil refineries, furniture refinishers, auto repair shops, etc. –VOCs Re-released when products are used

8. Industrial Regulations Clean Air Act –Requires scrubbers Uses a spray of water to remove pollutants –Some use electrostatic precipitators Removes dust particles –20 million tons/year from coal burning

9. Smog Air pollution hanging over an urban area –Reaction between: Sunlight Air Car exhaust Ozone –Responsible for almost 4,000 premature deaths in the US/year

10. Temperature Inversions Warm air traps pollution at Earth’s surface –Surface (sometimes polluted) air is usually able to rise If trapped by a layer of warm air – can’t rise Cities in valleys more susceptible –LA

11. Short Term Health Effects Can cause bronchitis, pneumonia, or: –Headache –Nausea –Irritation to eyes, nose or throat –Tightness of the chest –Coughing Can worsen someone’s asthma or emphysema

12. Long-Term Health Effects Emphysema Lung cancer Heart disease Tends to add to the effects of existing disease –Air pollution not recognized as the cause

13. Indoor Air Pollution Plastics and industrial chemicals found in: –Carpets –Building materials –Paints –Furniture Sick-building syndrome –Condition of building with very poor air quality Hot places, building sealed well, poor ventilation

16. Indoor Air Pollution Radon gas –Colorless, tasteless, odorless –Radioactive, produced by decay of uranium Occurs naturally in Earth’s crust –Seeps through cracks of the foundation Adheres to dust particles –Damages DNA –2 nd leading cause of cancer

17. Indoor Air Pollution Asbestos –Long thin fibers Insulation –Banned in the early 1970’s Adheres to, cuts, and scars lungs –Difficult to breathe  heart failure

18. Noise Pollution All sound = noise –Unnecessary noise  pollution Affects health and quality of life –Traffic –Airplanes –Factories –Appliances –Lawn equipment

19. Noise Pollution Health problems –Loss of hearing –High blood pressure –Stress Decibel –Intensity of sound measurement ~120dB is painful –Continuous exposure  deafness

20. 0-Threshold of hearing 10-rustle of leaves, a quiet whisper 20-average whisper 20-50-quiet conversation 40-45-hotel, theater between performances 50-65-loud conversation 65-70-traffic on a busy street 65-90-train 75-80-factory noise( light/medium work) 90-heavy traffic 90-100-thunder 110-140-jet aircraft at takeoff 130-threshold of pain 140-190-space rocket on takeoff

21. Light Pollution Not a direct health hazard Inefficient lighting –Energy waste Billboards lit from below Bottom lit buildings Some streetlamps Solution –Shielding light –Time controls –Sodium lights