Air Pollution Air Pollution Has many effects on

Air Pollution

Air Pollution: • Has many effects on public health and the environment. • Comes in different forms and from many sources. • Ozone and Particulate matter are two types of Air Pollution that affect Kansas.

What is AQI? • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=tn. R 7 by. HOOLA

The Air Quality Index (AQI) Values 0 to 50 51 to 100 101 to 150 Levels of Health Concern Good Moderate Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 151 to 200 Unhealthy 201 to 300 Very Unhealthy 301 to 500 Hazardous

What Makes a Bad Ozone Day in Kansas?

Smog Alert Service • Notifies you by e‑mail or fax when ozone levels are predicted to be unhealthy in your area. • Is available in most areas in New England. • Is a free service. • To receive Smog Alerts, register at (www. epa. gov/region 01/oms) Smog Alert Notification Areas Interior CT Or contact Maine DEP’s Ozone Hotline at 1 -800 -223 -1196 or www. state. me. us/dep/air/ozone. htm Coastal CT Rhode Island Southeastern MA Central & Northeastern MA Western MA Southern NH Coastal ME

Primary Air Pollutants • Carbon Monoxide CO vehicles from gas burning • Nitrogen Oxides Nox and cars • Sulfur Dioxide S 02 fuels from power plants from burning fossil • Volatile Organic Compounds VOC burning fuels, vehicles are major source • Particulate Matter PM from construction, agriculture, forest, fires from

Man Made Sources of NOx

Go Outdoors with CO 2 Monitors

• https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=UJx. QFJ 5 c. Eo g • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=o. YVIAP 2 rdaw

What is Ozone? • An odorless, colorless gas composed of three oxygen atoms. • Ozone in the upper atmosphere protects us from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. • At ground-level in the air we breathe, ozone (smog) poses serious risks to human health.

There is a “hole’ in our Good Ozone

Where Does Ozone Come From? Ozone is created by a chemical reaction: + = O 3 VOC + NOx + Heat + Sunlight = Ozone VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) and NOx (Nitrogen Oxides) come from motor vehicles, power plants, industrial facilities, and other sources.

Why is Ozone Bad to Breathe? • The average adult breathes enough air to fill over 3, 000 balloons each day. Children breathe even more! • Ozone can irritate lungs and airways, and cause inflammation much like a sunburn on your lungs. • Ozone can aggravate respiratory illnesses like asthma. • 10 to 20% of summertime respiratory-related hospital visits in the Northeast are associated with ozone pollution. • Children and people with chronic lung diseases risk. are particularly at

Health Effects of Exposure to Ozone • Coughing • Nose and throat irritation • Chest pain • Reduced lung function • Increased susceptibility to respiratory illnesses • Aggravation of asthma

What is Particulate Matter? • particles of different substances suspended in the air • in the form of solid particles and liquid droplets • particles vary widely in size

Where does Pm come from? Fine particles come from a variety of sources: • • • diesel trucks and buses construction equipment power plants woodstoves wildfires Also, Chemical reactions in the atmosphere can transform gases into fine particles.

How Fine is Fine? • Fine particles are only a fraction of the size of a human hair. Cross section of a human hair (magnified to 60 mm) Coarse Particles (10 mm) Fine Particles (2. 5 mm)

Why are Fine Particles Bad to Breathe? • Scientific studies have linked fine particles with a series of significant health problems. • Fine particles easily reach the deepest parts of the lungs. • Particulate matter causes 15, 000 premature deaths every year in the US. • Fine particles from Diesel exhaust can cause lung cancer.

Health Effects of Exposure to Fine Particles • Premature death • Aggravated asthma • Respiratory-related emergency room visits and hospital admissions • Acute respiratory symptoms • Chronic bronchitis • Decreased lung function (shortness of breath) • People with existing heart and lung disease, as well as the elderly and children, are particularly at risk

What Can You Do? Reduce vehicle emissions: Ø Drive less Ø Keep cars well maintained and tires properly inflated Ø Turn off the engine when your vehicle is not in motion Ø Purchase low-emitting and fuel efficient vehicles Ø Share a ride, take public transportation bike, or walk Ø Cut your grass after 6 p. m. Ø Refuel your car after 6 p. m. Ø Combine errands into one trip

What Can You Do? Conserve electricity: Ø do not over-cool or over-heat buildings Ø turn off lights and appliances when not in use Ø Purchase electronics/appliances with energy star labels To protect your health, avoid strenuous outdoor activities when ozone levels are high