1. Pollution and the Environment

2. 2 Types of Pollution:
Point Source Pollution: pollution generated by a specific source
ex. factory wastes, car exhaust, sewage plant waste

3. ex. excess fertilizers, herbicides, car oil, road salt, garbage
Non-Point Source Pollution: pollution that comes from many different sources and is moved by runoff after it rains
ex. excess fertilizers, herbicides, car oil, road salt, garbage

4. Non-point source pollution is harder to control and monitor than point source pollution because it comes from many different sources and it moved about randomly from its place of origin

5. Air Composition of Air: 78% Nitrogen 21% Oxygen
1% Carbon Dioxide and other gases

6. definition: a change to the atmosphere that has harmful effects
What is Air Pollution?
definition: a change to the atmosphere that has harmful effects

7. Pollutant: substance that causes pollution
Examples:
carbon monoxide
hydrocarbons (from cars)
sulfur dioxide (from burning of coal and oil)

8. Emissions: Particles and gases that are released into the air

9. Emissions come from things like factories, power plants and transportation!

10. Air Pollution from Natural Sources
Volcanic Eruptions
Forest Fires
Pollen
Dust from Soil

11. Major source of smog: gases emitted by automobiles
Smog: thick brownish haze formed when hydrocarbons in the air react with sunlight (contains ozone)
Major source of smog: gases emitted by automobiles

12. Acid Rain
When fossil fuels are burned, gases called nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides are released. These gases react with water vapor in the air, forming nitric acid and sulfuric acid.

13. Acid rain can be harmful to many things including fish, forests, buildings and cars
Most acid rain comes from fossils fuels burned in factories!

14. Types of Indoor Air Pollution
Radon
Environmental Tobacco Smoke
Biological Contaminants (bacteria, mold, dust mites)
Combustion Products (CO)
Household Products (Cleaning Products)
Lead

15. The Ozone Layer
Definition: upper layer of the atmosphere (about 30 km above Earth’s surface)
gives protection from UV radiation

16. What is the connection between the ozone layer and global warming?
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

17. Global Warming
Theory that predicts that the increase of carbon dioxide in the air will cause the average temperature to increase

18. The increase in carbon dioxide is due to the burning of fossil fuels

19. Greenhouse Effect
Definition: trapping of heat near the Earth’s surface
water vapor, carbon dioxide and other gases allow sunlight to reach Earth’ surface but prevent heat from escaping back into space

21. Without the greenhouse effect, Earth would be about 33º colder

22. Reducing Air Pollution
scrubbers are filters are used to trap emissions from industries
catalytic converters are used in cars to reduce emissions
CFC use has been drastically reduced

23. Environmental Laws Clean Air Act, 1990 Kyoto Protocol
National Law that puts limits on air pollution and smog
Kyoto Protocol
International treaty to reduce greenhouse gases
Over 170 countries are participating
exception – U.S.