1. Air Quality and YOU

2. Quality of Air = Quality of Life

3. Air pollution is the primary cause of respiratory illness worldwide

4. Clean Air Act Created in 1970 – Amendments added in 1977 & 1990
National Ambient Air Quality Standards
Primary standards
set limits to protect public health
Secondary standards
set limits to protect public welfare, including protection against decreased visibility, damage to animals, crops, vegetation, and buildings

5. Under the Clean Air Act EPA has the responsibility to:
Conduct periodic reviews of the NAAQS for the six principal pollutants
Ensure that air quality standards are met
Reduce emissions of SO2 and NOx that cause acid rain.
And…

6. Reduce air pollutants such as PM, SOx, and NOx, which can reduce visibility across large regional areas
Ensure that sources of toxic air pollutants that may cause cancer and other adverse human health and environmental effects are well controlled and that the risks to public health and the environment are substantially reduced.

7. Six Common Air Pollutants
Ozone
Nitrogen Dioxide
Particulate Matter
Carbon Monoxide
Sulfur Dioxide
Lead

8. Units of measure for the "criteria" pollutants are:
Parts per million (ppm) by volume
Milligrams per cubic meter of air (mg/m3)
Micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m3).

9. Air Pollution Trends Tracked by the EPA
Air Concentrations
actual measurements of pollutant concentrations in the ambient (outside) air at selected monitoring sites throughout the country
Emissions
engineering estimates of the total tons of pollutants released into the air each year.

10. Ground-level Ozone

11. Ozone is a gas that occurs both in the Earth's upper atmosphere and at ground level.
Ozone can be "good" or "bad" for your health and the environment, depending on its location in the atmosphere.
What is ozone?

12. How Can Ozone Be Both Good and Bad?
Ozone occurs in two layers of the atmosphere.
The troposphere
The stratosphere

14. The layer closest to the Earth's surface: Troposphere.
Here, ground-level or "bad" ozone is an air pollutant that is harmful to breathe
It is a main ingredient of urban smog.
It damages crops, trees and other vegetation

15. The Stratosphere -Extends upward from about 6 to 30 miles
-“Good” Ozone is produced naturally in the stratosphere
-It protects life on Earth from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.

16. What Causes "Bad" Ozone?
Ground-level or "bad" ozone is NOT emitted directly into the air
It is created by chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of sunlight.

17. Some of the major sources of NOx and VOCs
Gasoline vapors
Chemical solvents
Emissions from:
-Industrial facilities
-Electric utilities
-Motor vehicle exhaust

19. Coal generates 54% of our electricity, and is the single biggest air polluter in the U.S.
Burning coal causes smog, soot, acid rain, global warming, and toxic air emissions.

20. In an average year, a typical coal plant generates:

21. 10,200 tons of nitrogen oxide (NOx), as much as would be emitted by half a million late-model cars.
NOx leads to formation of ozone (smog) which inflames the lungs, burning through lung tissue making people more susceptible to respiratory illness.

22. and 220 tons of hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds (VOC), which form ozone.

23. Gasoline-Powered Vehicles
Spew 205,596 tons of VOCs
207,384 tons of NOX into the air annually

24. How Does "Bad" Ozone Affect Human Health and the Environment
How Does "Bad" Ozone Affect Human Health and the Environment? -Chest pain, coughing, throat irritation, and congestion. -It can worsen bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma. - Can reduce lung function and inflame the linings of the lungs. Repeated exposure may permanently scar lung tissue.

25. NOx and ozone can also affect crops and other plants.

26. What YOU Can Do Conserve energy
Follow gasoline refueling instructions for efficient vapor recovery.
Keep car, boat, and other engines tuned up
Be sure your tires are properly inflated
Carpool, use public transportation, bike, or walk

27. More that YOU Can Do
Use environmentally safe paints and cleaning products
Follow manufacturers' recommendations for use and properly seal cleaners, paints, and other chemicals to prevent evaporation into the air.

28. Drive fuel efficient vehicles

29. Invest in renewable energy

30. Use Energy Star appliances

31. Use non-toxic products whenever possible

32. Switch from incandescent light bulbs to Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs)

33. Air Quality Action Day tips:
Conserve electricity and set your air conditioner at a higher temperature
Choose a cleaner commute—share a ride to work or use public transportation. Bicycle or walk to errands when possible.
Defer use of gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment.

34. And… Refuel cars and trucks after dusk.
Combine errands and reduce trips
Limit engine idling.
Use household, workshop, and garden chemicals in ways that keep evaporation to a minimum, or try to delay using them when poor air quality is forecast.

35. If EVERYONE pitches in and does what he/she can do, we can all breathe a breath of fresh air!