1. OUTDOOR & INDOOR AIR POLLUTION

2. What is air made up of? 78% nitrogen 21% oxygen
1% argon, carbon dioxide, neon, helium, methane, etc.

3. What is air pollution?
Any harmful substance released into the atmosphere

4. Is air pollution only caused by humans?
Some natural sources...
Pollen
Volcanic eruptions
Forest fires
Sand/dust storms
Gases from decaying organisms

5. Has air pollution always been a problem?
Most air pollution problems came about during Industrial Revolution in 1800’s.
Large amounts of coal & wood burned to keep up with industrial growth.
No air pollution controls- many death’s resulted from air pollution/smog.

6. Why is air pollution considered a global problem, not just a local problem?
Air is constantly moving.
Air pollution does not just stay in one place, it travels with air currents.
Many countries do not have strict air pollution standards like U.S.

7. What are sources of outdoor air pollution?
Particulates
Tiny solids in air
Easily inhaled & trapped in lungs
From burning fossil fuels
Ash, soot
From natural sources
dust, pollen
From other sources
Mining of lead, iron, etc
Asbestos from brakes
Fertilizer, pesticide dust

8. What are sources of outdoor air pollution?
Gases
From burning fossil fuels
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
Smog- brown haze around cities
From natural sources
Methane- bacteria, decay, flatulence of cows
From other sources
Chlorofluorocarbons- freon, making of styrofoam

10. What are some sources of indoor air pollution?
Cigarette smoke
Deadliest indoor air pollutant
Contain formaldehyde, carbon monoxide
Causes lung cancer, emphysema
Second hand smoke may be worse due to particulates that come from tip.

11. What are some sources of indoor air pollution?
Mold
Moisture in vents, carpets
Allergy symptoms, breathing problems, headache, fatigue

12. What are some sources of indoor air pollution?
Carbon monoxide
Malfunctioning furnace, gas appliances, cars
Blood cannot carry oxygen
Feel sleepy, nausea, dizzy, cause death.

13. What are some sources of indoor air pollution?
Radon
Colorless, odorless, radioactive gas
Comes from soil under basements
Long term exposure can cause lung cancer
Zone 1 (purple) high levels of radon
Zone 3 (yellow) low levels of radon

14. What are some sources of indoor air pollution?
Asbestos
Roofing, flooring, insulation, brakes
OK… unless disturbed or deteriorates
Can cause asbestosis (scarring of lungs) and mesothelioma (type of lung cancer)
Plaque build up (scarring) in lung w/asbestosis

15. What are some sources of indoor air pollution?
Lead
Old homes, toys, lead crystal dishes
Causes behavior & learning problems, slow growth, hearing problems, headaches

16. What are some sources of indoor air pollution?
Formaldehyde
Pressed wood, paneling, particle board, glue, deodorizers
Respiratory irritation, fatigue, skin rash, known to cause cancer

17. What are some sources of indoor air pollution?
8. VOC’s
Paradichlorobenzene- mothballs, insecticides
PERC- dry cleaned clothes
Benzene- paints, cigarettes
Causes respiratory problems, headaches, loss of coordination, nausea, organ damage, cancer

18. How does air pollution affect people?
Chronic bronchitis- coughing, trouble breathing
Asthma- not caused by air pollution, but aggravated by it.
Emphysema- lungs lose elasticity, hard to breathe
Lung Cancer- caused by cigarettes, car exhaust, particulates, asbestos, arsenic, radon

19. How does air pollution affect people?
Sick building syndrome-
Buildings closed up to save energy- no circulation
Effects of fumes intensified
Symptoms: headache, eye or throat irritation, cough, itchy skin, dizziness, nausea, fatigue
Feel better when you get fresh air outside.

20. Pollution
Primary Pollution = pollution put into the air as a result of human actions.
Exp: car exhaust
Secondary Pollution = primary pollution that reacts with anything already in the atmosphere and creates pollution.
Exp: Acid Rain – (formed from car exhaust combining with rainwater)

21. What is acid rain?
Rain or snow that is more acidic than normal precipitation.
Normal rain = pH of 5.6
Acid rain = pH below 5.6
Comes from a primary pollutant- carbon, nitrogen, sulfur
Creates secondary pollutant when combined with water- carbonic acid, sulfuric acid.

22. How does acid rain affect plants?
Kills leaves, kills plant
Prevents sprouting of seeds
Destroys entire forest

23. How does acid rain affect animals/ecosystems?
Mutate eggs/larvae
Fewer eggs produced
Acid rain “leaches” aluminum out of soil, if gets on fish gills, causes suffocation
Kills immediately

24. How does acid rain affect humans?
Destroys monuments/ statues
Calcium carbonate & marble statues dissolve
Metal statues tarnish
Personal property affected
Corrodes steel
Discolors paint
Corrodes tires

25. What can be added to acidic soil or water to neutralize acidity?
Powdered lime

26. What is the greenhouse effect?
Trapping of heat by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Without the greenhouse effect, our planet would be too cold.

27. What are greenhouse gases?
Carbon dioxide
Methane
Sulfur and nitrogen oxides
Ozone
CFC’s

28. How is the greenhouse effect altered?
Greenhouse gas (especially CO2) levels increase because of
Increase in use of fossil fuels
Decrease in plant life

29. What happens when greenhouse gas amounts increase?
Global warming
Increase in Earth’s temperature due to increased greenhouse gas levels

30. What are possible effects of global warming?
Earth’s temp. may rise by 2-4o by the year 2050
Polar ice caps may melt, oceans expand, become less salty
Sea levels rise- flooding of cities & farmland
Weather patterns may change
Most areas will become drier
Decrease in crop yield

31. What are some ways to prevent air pollution problems?
Clean Air Act (1970) established:
Strict emission controls
Catalytic converters
Unleaded fuel
Scrubbers- water, lime, & filters neutralize smoke before it leaves a smokestack

32. How can YOU help stop air pollution?
Carpool
Take mass transit- bus, MARTA, etc.
Don’t waste electricity
Maintain your cars