1. AIR POLLUTION
CHAPTER 12

2. When harmful substances build up in the air it is called: ______________________________
Air should have ________, _________, and small amounts of argon, CO2, and water vapor

3. 2 kinds of air pollution SMOG
PRIMARY – a pollutant put into the air by human activity
Electrical production. Why?_________________
Industry
Transportation
SECONDARY – when primary pollutants mix with other pollutants or other things in the air (like_______ ________) to make new pollutants
SMOG

4. SMOG sunlight affecting and mixing with air, exhaust and ozone
Hard to see
Unhealthy to breathe

5. PRIMARY POLLUTANTS CO ______________ NOx _____________
SOx _____________
Particulate Matter
VOCs____________

6. CO Odorless, colorless gas Sources- cars, industry
Interferes with the body’s ability to carry oxygen

7. Nox nitrongen oxide “brown” smog
Sources- burning fuels in cars, power plants, industry
Can contribute to respiratory problems, cancer, ACID RAIN

8. Sox sulfur dioxide “gray” smog
Sources- burning fossil fuels, volcanic eruptions
Contributes to ACID RAIN, secondary pollutants cause respiratory problems

9. VOCs
Volatile means :vaporize (evaporate) into the air easily, and form toxic fumes
Sources- burning fuels and off-gassing solvents (dry-cleaning)
Contribute to SMOG, cause health problems, harm plants

10. Particulates Tiny bits of liquid or solid matter in the air
Sources- construction, forestry, fires, vehicles, household products
Can cause respiratory problems, cancer, erode buildings

11. SECONDARY POLLUTANTS Wait a second…I thought we liked ozone?????
Ground level ozone
Wait a second…I thought we liked ozone?????

12. Ozone in the Stratosphere Ozone in the troposphere
Helps protect the Earth from UV Rays
Ozone in the troposphere
Pollutant
Causes respiratory problems- asthma, shortness of breath, permanent lung injury

13. Ozone
Energy from _________________ causes primary pollutants (NOx and VOCs) to interact and to attack O2
Changes it to O3
Worse in summer/ winter?
Worse in urban/ rural areas?

14. What can be done about air pollution?
Clean Air Act (1970, enhanced in 1990)
Regulates vehicle emissions- catalytic converters
Outlawed lead in gasoline
95% fewer emissions than 30 years ago
Requires industry to clean and monitor emissions
Scrubbers (electrostatic precipitators)-remove

15. What can be done about air pollution?
Emissions trading
Companies can only pollute so much
But can sell “extra” pollution rights

16. California’s Zero-emission vehicle program
Adopted in 1990
No tail-pipe emissions
Hybrid cars
Battery operated cars

18. What can make air pollution worse?
Temperature inversions
Layers of HOT air on top of COLD air
If colder air is on bottom, polluted air is trapped
Examples: LA, Mexico City, Donora PA

19. Donora, PA 1948 at 12 noon
Major employer was a zinc smelting factory – lots of air pollution
Temperature inversion + smog + no wind
20 people died
7,000 ill from smog
Spectators couldn’t see football players on field

20. Air Pollution and health
SHORT TERM
Headache
Nausea
Eye and nose irritation
Coughing
Respiratory infections
LONG TERM
Emphysema
Lung cancer
Heart disease
Lung damage

21. Indoor air pollution Sick building syndrome
Newer houses are so air tight that they _________________ pollutants inside/outside

22. Indoor air pollutants VOCs- Radon Asbestos Paints Cleaners
Dry cleaning
Radon
Gas from breakdown of uranium in underground rocks
2nd leading cause of cancer in U.S.
Asbestos
Insulation and Fire Retardant
Causes asbestosis

23. Indoor air pollutants Moth balls Air fresheners Candles
Cigarettes/ pipes
Unvented stoves/ heaters, fireplaces
Dirty air conditioning ducts
Paints
Formaldehyde from new cabinets , furniture, rugs
CO from faulty heaters

24. Other air pollution