1. Pollution and Air Quality
Types of Pollutants/definition
Weather Effects
Emissions and Legislation
Major Pollution issues
Acid Rain our focus
Mercury Contamination
Ozone, high and low
Smog
Greenhouse gases

2. Pollution Types Chemical (air, water, soil) Noise Light
Definition: The contamination of air, water, or soil by substances that are harmful to living organisms.
Effects of SO2 and NO2:
Lung Damage
Heart attacks
Acid Rain formation
Smog formation
Ground ozone formation
Note: Air pollution comes from natural and
anthropogenic sources

3. Types of air pollution:
Anthropogenic Processes producing primary air pollutants
Combustion (Power generation, Industrial, Transportation, Heating)
Chemical Processes (Industrial refining processes)
Farming (Pesticides, Herbicides, Fertilizers, Dust, Methane)
Natural processes producing pollutants
Volcanoes
Breaking waves
Pollens, terpenes (pine-tree scent)
Forest Fire
Blowing Dust
Secondary pollutant prodution
1)･Photodissociation (sun energy breakup) of primary pollutants -> new pollutants
2)･Wet chemistry in cloud drops
3)･Surface chemistry on ice crystal surfaces

4. Types of air pollution:
Major primary pollutants produced by human activity include:
1)･Sulfur oxides (SOx) especially sulfur dioxide (SO2)
2)･Nitrogen oxides (NOx) especially nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
3)･Carbon monoxide (CO)
4)･Carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas
5)･Volatile organic compounds (VOC), such as hydrocarbon fuel vapors and solvents
6)･Particulate matter (PM), such as smoke and dust.
PM10 is used to describe suspended particles 10 microns in diameter and smaller,
PM2.5 has a maximum particle size of 2.5 microns.
7)･Metal oxides, especially those of lead and mercury, and to a lesser degree cadmium, copper, and iron
8)･Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), harmful to the ozone layer
9)･Ammonia (NH3)
Secondary pollutants include:
1)･Particulate matter and SOx forming smog
2)･Ground level ozone (O3)
3)･Acid Rain

5. General Effects of Weather on surface air pollution
Worse
Better
Why?
Low wind speed
High wind speed
Surface inversion
Unstable sounding
Strong sun and heat
Cool and cloudy
Upwind sources
Oceanic air upwind
Light precipitation
Heavy Precipitation
Warm sector
Post-cold frontal passage

6. US Pollution emission trends
Percent Change in Air Quality
Percent Change in Air Quality
Percent Change in Emissions

7. US Pollution emission trends
Percent Change in Emissions
US Pollution emission trends
Percent Change in Air Quality
Percent Change in Air Quality
For most pollutants, emissions are being reduced and air quality is improving steadily
This is not true for CO2
Some cities and regions still experience very bad air quality on a regular basis
Developing nations often have more severe air quality problems
Emission changes
1980 vs 2006
1990 vs 2006 CO
-50
-38 Pb
-97
-40
NOx
-33
-29
VOC
-52
-37
Direct PM10
-28
-20
Direct PM2.5
---
-31
SO2
-47
Air Quality
1980 vs 2006
1990 vs 2006 CO
-75
-62
O3  (8-hr)
-21 -9 Pb
-96
-54
NO2
-41
-30
PM10 (24-hr)
---
PM2.5 (annual)
-14
PM2.5 (24-hr)
-15
SO2
-66
-53

9. US Pollution emission trends
Percent Change in Air Quality
Percent Change in Emissions
Percent Change in Air Quality
Worst ozone
Worst particulate
Rank
Metropolitan Areas 1
LOS ANGELES-LONG BEACH-RIVERSIDE, CA 2
VISALIA-PORTERVILLE, CA 3
BAKERSFIELD, CA 4
FRESNO-MADERA, CA 5
PITTSBURGH-NEW CASTLE, PA 6
DETROIT-WARREN-FLINT, MI 7
ATLANTA-SANDY SPRINGS-GAINESVILLE, GA 8
CLEVELAND-AKRON-ELYRIA, OH 9
HANFORD-CORCORAN, CA
BIRMINGHAM-HOOVER-CULLMAN, AL 11
CINCINNATI-MIDDLETOWN-WILMINGTON, OH-KY-IN 12
KNOXVILLE-SEVIERVILLE-LA FOLLETTE, TN 13
WEIRTON-STEUBENVILLE, WV-OH 14
CHICAGO-NAPERVILLE-MICHIGAN CITY, IL-IN-WI 15
CANTON-MASSILLON, OH 16
CHARLESTON, WV 17
MODESTO, CA 18
NEW YORK-NEWARK-BRIDGEPORT, NY-NJ-CT-PA
MERCED, CA 20
ST. LOUIS-ST. CHARLES-FARMINGTON, MO-IL 21
WASHINGTON-BALTIMORE-NORTHERN VIRGINIA, DC-MD-VA-WV 22
LOUISVILLE-ELIZABETHTOWN-SCOTTSBURG, KY-IN
HUNTINGTON-ASHLAND, WV-KY-OH 24
YORK-HANOVER-GETTYSBURG, PA
LANCASTER, PA
COLUMBUS-MARION-CHILLICOTHE, OH
Rank
Metropolitan Statistical Areas 1
LOS ANGELES-RIVERSIDE-ORANGE COUNTY, CA 2
FRESNO, CA 3
BAKERSFIELD, CA 4
VISALIA- -PORTERVILLE, CA 5
HOUSTON-BAYTOWN-HUNTSVILLE, TX CMSA 6
MERCED, CA 7
SACRAMENTO-ARDEN-ARCADE--TRUCKEE, CA-NV 8
HANFORD-CORCORAN, CA 9
KNOXVILLE-SEVIERVILLE-LA FOLLETTE, TN 10
DALLAS-FORT WORTH, TX CMSA 11
WASHINGTON-BALTIMORE-NORTHERN VIRGINIA, DC-MD-VA-WV 12
PHILADELPHIA-WILMINGTON-ATLANTIC CITY, PA-NJ-DE-MD CMSA 13
NEW YORK-NEWARK-BRIDGEPORT, NY-NJ-CT-PA 14
CHARLOTTE-GASTONIA-SALISBURY, NC-SC 15
CLEVELAND-AKRON-ELYRIA, OH 16
GREENSBORO--WINSTON-SALEM--HIGH POINT, NC 17
PITTSBURGH-NEW CASTLE, PA 18
PHOENIX-MESA-SCOTTSDALE, AZ
SAN DIEGO,-CARLSBAD-SAN MARCOSCA 20
MODESTO, CA 21
ATLANTA-SANDY SPRINGS-GAINSVILLE, GA 22
MORRISTOWN-NEWPORT, TN 23
RALEIGH-DURHAM-CARY, NC
LANCASTER, PA 25
SHEBOYGAN, WI
Worst in the World: Mexico City, Beijing, Shanghai, Tehran, Calcutta

10. Clean Air acts (1963, 1966, 1970, 1990) Clear Skies Act (2003)
Passed in the 1960’s
Major strengthening, enforcement in 1970
Ammended in 1990 to include emission trading allowances
Title I - Air Pollution Prevention and Control
Part A - Air Quality and Emission Limitations
Part B - Ozone Protection (replaced by Title VI)
Part C - Prevention of Significant Deterioration of Air Quality
Part D - Plan Requirements for Nonattainment Areas
Title II - Emission Standards for Moving Sources Title IV - Acid Deposition Control
Title V - Permits
Title VI - Stratospheric Ozone Protection
Clear Skies Act (2003)
Clear Skies Act of 2003 is a proposed federal law of the United States. The official title as introduced is "a bill to amend the Clean Air Act to reduce air pollution through expansion of cap-and-trade programs, to provide an alternative regulatory classification for units subject to the cap and trade program, and for other purposes.“
It was not passed, but the executive branch has attempted to implement many of its provisions through other channels.
PRO – Supported by many industries because
Provides market-based incentive for clean technology
Strict enforcement of current Clean Air Act provisions may be impossible
Would help provide cost-certainty for industry
May be more effective than the current legislation for some major pollutants
CON – Opposed by most conservation groups because
Weakens controls on mercury pollution levels compared to what would be achieved by enforcing the Clean Air Act stringently.
Weakens the current cap on nitrogen oxide pollution levels from 1.25 million tons to 2.1 million tons, allowing 68 % more NOx pollution.
Delays the improvement of sulfur dioxide (SO2) pollution levels compared to the Clean Air Act requirements.
Delays enforcement of smog-and-soot pollution standards until 2015.

11. Even clean, natural precipitation is slightly acidic (~6 pH) due to carbonic acid:
H2O + CO2 = H2CO3

12. Mechanisms for acid rain formation and deposition:
Solar energy is a key step

13. Chemical Mechanisms for acid rain formation
Gas phase reaction (OH produced in presence of sunlight)
SO2 + OH· → HOSO2·
which is followed by:
HOSO2· + O2 → HO2· + SO3
In the presence of water, sulfur trioxide (SO3) is converted rapidly to sulfuric acid:
SO3(g) + H2O(l) → H2SO4(l)

14. Impacts of Acid Rain:

15. Calcium carbonate (limestone/marble neutralizes acid)
CaCO3 (s) + H2SO4 (aq) ⇌ CaSO4 (aq) + CO2 (g) + H2O (l)
Limestone can mitigate adverse effects of acid deposition
So can organic matter in soils
Lots of exposed igneous bedrock or sand + low pH -> ecosystem problems
From EPA studies: “In the New Jersey Pine Barrens over 90 percent of the streams are acidic, which is the highest rate of acidic streams in the nation.”

16. North American Mercury Emissions Sources

17. Global Mercury Emissions Sources

18. Categories and Trends in Mercury Emissions

19. Mercury Cycles: Approximately 65% of cycle is anthropogenic

20. EPA ADVISORY ON MERCURY:
By following these recommendations for selecting and eating fish or shellfish, women and young children will receive the benefits of eating fish and shellfish and be confident that they have reduced their exposure to the harmful effects of mercury.
Do not eat Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, or Tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury.
Eat up to 12 ounces (2 average meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury.
Five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish.
Another commonly eaten fish, albacore ("white") tuna often has more mercury than canned light tuna. So, when choosing your two meals of fish and shellfish, you may eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) of albacore tuna per week.
Check local advisories about the safety of fish caught by family and friends in your local lakes, rivers, and coastal areas. If no advice is available, eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) per week of fish you catch from local waters, but don't consume any other fish during that week.
Follow these same recommendations when feeding fish and shellfish to your young child, but serve smaller portions.