1. CHAPTER 5 AIR POLLUTION CAUSES EFFECTS ON HUMANS ACID RAIN

2. I. CAUSES OF AIR POLLUTION A) AIR POLLUTION-- condition in which the air contains substances harmful to living things B) MAJOR POLLUTANTS— 1)Carbon monoxide –2) nitrogen oxide –3) sulfur oxide –4) volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) –5) Particulates ( solid particles)

3. CARBON MONOXIDE 1) DESCRIPTION—odorless; colorless; poisonous gas 2) SOURCE_ cars, trucks, small engines, and some industrial processes 3) PRODUCED by incomplete burning of fossil fuels 4) EFFECTS TO HUMANS—interfers with blood’s ability to carry oxygen ; causes headaches, stress on heart, and even death

4. NITROGEN OXIDE 1) DESCRIPTION– formed when burning temperatures exceed 538 degrees Celcius or 1000 degrees F 2) SOURCE;-- burning fuels in vehicles, power plants, and industrial boilers 3) EFFECT- makes the body vulnerable to respiratory infections, lung disease, and possibly cancer 4) Can cause metal corrosion and deterioration of fabrics

5. SULFUR DIOXIDE 1) DESCRIPTION- produced by chemical interactions between sulfur and oxygen 2) SOURCE-Burning fossil fuels; released from petroleum refineries, paper mills, smelters, chemical plants, and coal plants 3) EFFECTS– Acid rain, which damages lakes, forests, metals and stone 4) SOME secondary pollutants harm plant life and irritate animal respiratory systems

6. VOC’S ( VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS) 1) DESCRIPTION– organic chemicals that vaporize readily, producing toxic fumes ( gasoline, benzene, and toluene) 2) SOURCE– burning fuels, from solvents, paints and glues 3) EFFECT– contribute to smog formation, cause serious health problems (cancer) and harm plants

7. PARTICULATES 1) DESCRIPTION– smoke, ash, soot, dust, lead, and any other particle from burning fuel 2) SOURCE– industrial processes, motor vehicles, burning wood, dust from agriculture and construction 3) EFFECT- form clouds that reduce visiblity cause respiratory problems, corrode metals, erode buildings and sculptures, damage fabrics

8. CATEGORIES OF POLLUTANTS 1) PRIMARY-pollutant put directly into air by human activity 2) SECONDARY– formed when a primary pollutant comes in contact with other primary pollutants ex: Ozone– UV rays and exhaust emissions

9. POLLUTION FROM VEHICLES ** Accounts for 33% of air pollution ** 80% if this is from personal autos ** Control of Vehicle Pollution ( CLEAN AIR ACT OF 1970 – gives EPA the authority to regulate vehicle emissions)

10. ACTIONS OF EPA **Eliminated lead as a gasoline additive ** Set new emission control requirements for new vehicles ** Approved alternate fuel sources ( Ethanol)

11. VEHICLE POLLUTANTS 1) INTERIOR– plastics that contain VOC’s CFC’s in air conditioners 2) BODY AND FRAME– Steel is manufactured by smelters ( sulfur dioxide) 3) FUEL TANK– VOC’s escape when filling the gas tank 4) EXHAUST– Nitrogen oxides from burning fuel; Use of catalytic converters to help reduce

12. INDUSTRIAL AIR POLLUTION * Many Industries and power plants burn fuel to get energy * Large amount of oxides released from burning * Some produce VOC’s

13. CONTROLLING INDUSTRIAL AIR POLLUTION 1) CLEAN AIR ACT– a) Requires use of scubbers to remove toxic materials; scubbers inject water into gases to remove pollutants b) Electrostatic precipitators are used in cement factories and coal plants

14. THERMAL INVERSION * Normal condition– air temperature decreases with height in atmosphere ** Inversion– Air above is warmer than air below due to trapped pollutants near the earth’s surface

15. SMOG * A combination of smoke and fog * Results from chemical reactions involving sunlight, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons * Biggest problems in warm, sunny areas ( Los Angeles, Denver, Mexico City)

16. HUMAN HEALTH PROBLEMS 1) Chronic Bronchitis and Asthma- *Due to perpetual pollutant irritation * Causes inflammation of bronchial * Difficult breathing * Particulates, oxides, and acids of sulfur/nitrogen

17. 2) Emphysema and lung cancer— a) Air sacs in lungs lose their elasticity and can no longer push air out of lungs b) Leads to oxygen depletion c) cigarette smoke, exhaust and particulates

18. INDOOR AIR POLLUTION * Sometimes inside air is more polluted than outside air * Caused by plastics, industrial compounds, paint, etc

19. SICK-BUILDING SYNDROME * Buildings with low quality air * Most common in desert Southwest, Southern California, and Florida because buildings are tightly sealed * Use of air filters helps eliminate pollutants

20. TWO MAJOR INDOOR POLLUTANTS 1) RADON GAS--- Invisible, tasteless, odorless, radioactive Gets into houses by attaching to dust particles Can lead to cancer

21. 2) ASBESTOS– Contains silica, resistant to heat, very strong Used to reinforce cement, make tiles and siding Fibers cut and scar the lungs which may lead to heart failure

22. ACID RAIN * Highly acidic precipitation that is the result of the burning of fossil fuels * Oxides of sulfur and nitrogen combine with atmospheric water * Forms sulfuric and nitric acids

23. ADRIRONDACK MOUNTAINS Entire ecosystem destroyed by acid rain Located in New York One particular lake is crystal clear, yet nothing lives in it

24. AFFECTS ON ECOSYSTEM LAKES * increase acidity ( lower pH) can kill fish and other aquatic life * Acidity causes aluminum to leach out of soil * Alumninum accumulates on fish gills a * fish suffocates

26. forests Water intake through roots Plants are tolerant of certain pH range If pH too acidic, plants can not function properly and die Big problem in NE US and Canada

27. INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT 1) Logistic Problems--- * who is responsible? * Weather Patterns 2) United Nations Helsinki Declaration * Regulates sulfur-oxide emissions * US did not sign

28. 3) United Nations Sofia Protocol--- Regulates nitrogen oxide emissions ( US did not sign) Responsibility for air pollution is always a debatable topic