Air Pollution Harmful to life or materials Materials

Air Pollution Ø Harmful to life or materials Ø Materials - soiled, corrosion of metals Ø Plants - stunting, damage (crops, forests) Ø Animals - respiratory, nervous system damage Ø Humans - eye irritation, headache, dizziness, bronchitis, emphysema, cancer - young, old, heart and lung patients susceptible

Air Pollution Ø Primary pollutants Ø Secondary pollutants

Natural Sources - most primary pollutants Ø Decay processes, winds, volcanic eruptions, sea spray Ø Widely dispersed - do not reach harmful levels

Human Sources - more important Ø Concentrated where the people are 1) Stationary fuel 2) combustion 3) 2) Industry 4) 3) Transportation

Air pollution problems influenced by: Ø Topography (thermal inversions) Ø Climate (cool-moist, warm-dry)

Temperature Inversions Ø Especially in valleys Ø Los Angeles, Denver, Winona

Industrial Smog Ø Cool, moist Ø Primary pollutants Ø Worst in winter, at night Ø Chicago, London

Photochemical Smog Ø Warm, dry Ø Secondary pollutants Ø Worst in summer, midday Los Angeles NO from cars

Widespread Secondary Air Pollution: Acid Deposition Ø Wet deposition Ø Dry deposition

Acid Deposition in the U. S.

Acid Deposition and Aquatic Systems Ø Fish declines Ø Undesirable species Ø Aluminum toxicity Ø Acid shock

Acid Deposition, Plants, and Soil Ø Nutrient leaching Ø Heavy metal release Ø Weakens trees

Industrial Smog Control sulfur dioxide and particulates Ø Burn less fossil fuels Ø Use alternative energy sources Ø Burn low-sulfur coal Ø Remove sulfur from coal (chemicals) Ø Stack scrubbers, electrostatic precipitators

Photochemical Smog Control nitrous oxide emissions Ø Use mass transit Ø Develop new engines Ø Develop new fuels Ø Develop new emission controls

Solutions: Preventing and Reducing Air Pollution Ø Clean Air Acts (1970, 1977) 1) Industrial emissions standards 2) Automotive emissions standards 3) Deadlines for meeting standards Ø Standards becoming stricter, requests to extend deadlines - better technology needed