Air Pollution Major Air Pollutants Air pollutants vary

Air Pollution

Major Air Pollutants • Air pollutants vary from one another • An air-pollutant is something in the wrong place in the wrong concentration • Ex. ) Ozone: Good in the stratosphere – Horrible in the troposphere (kills everything)

History of Air Pollution • Nothing new – 2000 years ago Seneca complained about the foul air of Rome – 1273 King Edward I ordered “dirty” coal to no longer be burned • One man was evened hanged for disobeying the first “clean air act”

Primary Pollutants: These are pollutants that arise from: 1. ) Humans (activities from humans, VOC’s) 2. ) Earth’s natural processes (dust storms, volcanoes, SO 2)

Secondary Pollutants: • These are primary pollutants that mix together – Ex. ) Acid Rain (Car exhaust and dust mixed with water) Pollution of both kinds have been here forever but have increased more dramatically since the industrial revolution

Who is more polluted? • Cities tend to be more polluted with secondary pollutants…why? • These areas are also prone to Smog: – Industrial – Photochemical

The smog brothers… • Photochemical: smog activated by light – This is smog formed by the mixing of primary and secondary by light – N 2 + O 2 = 2 NO (this creates the brown smog) • Industrial: (Gray-Air smog) caused by sulfuric acid drops in the air – Caused by burning coal, rarely a problem today

Temperature Inversions -A factor that influences smog creation and problems -An inversion is when cold air is trapped below a layer of warm air -This inhibits winds from blowing and moving pollutants through the air Figure 18 -11

Industrial Air Pollution: • Emits high levels of SO 2 and NO – Why? – Very inefficient processes are used to generate electricity and power • Cleaning it up: – Smoke stack scrubbers (machine that sprays water) – Electro static Precipitators (electrically charged dust)

12 -3: Acid Precipitation

Air Pollution from Acid Deposition • Acid deposition: When dry chemicals such as SO 2 mix with water they create acid rain – Acidity is expressed in ph – <7 = acid – >7= basic – 7= neutral *This shows up all over the US (East coast is 10 times more acidic with a ph of 4. 3)

What are the effects? • Harmful ecological effects – Destroys aquatic environments (next slide) – Ruins tree foliage and makes them more susceptible to disease, winter and summer • Harmful to humans • Respiratory illnesses (asthma and bronchitis) • Weakens structures (buildings and statues)

Acid Deposition and Aquatic Systems • Fish declines Water boatman Whirligig • Undesirable species • Acid shock Yellow perch Lake trout Brown trout Salamander (embryonic) Mayfly Smallmouth bass Mussel 6. 5 6. 0 5. 5 5. 0 p. H 4. 5 4. 0 3. 5

Acid Deposition, Plants, and Soil Ø Nutrient leaching Ø Heavy metal release Ø Weakens trees Fig. 18 -14

What can we do? • First, is it serious? (1990) – Gov’t: Yes but not a crisis – Coal and Oil: Costs more than the health risks – Since the Clean Air act was passed things have changed. Oil and Coal are required to watch SO 2 levels released – Acid rain rates since then have fallen 35%

12 -2: AIR POLLUTION • Indoor air pollution usually is a greater threat to human health than outdoor air pollution. – People spend 70 -80% more time indoors then outdoors • According to the EPA, the four most dangerous indoor air pollutants in developed countries are: – Tobacco smoke. – Formaldehyde. – Radioactive radon-222 gas. – Asbestos

Inside Air pollutants: • Have been linked to many diseases • Also causes: “sick building syndrome” – When at least 20% of individuals are chronically sick • Formaldehyde is the #1 culprit to sick building syndrome

1. ) Formaldehyde: • Used in dissection materials • How does it get in your house? – Plywood – Paneling – Particle Board *Causes rashes, dizziness, and headaches

2. ) Radioactive Radon • Radon-222: radioactive gas found in some soils and rocks Sources and paths of entry for indoor radon-222 gas – can seep into some houses and increase the risk of lung cancer – 2 nd leading cause of lung cancer Figure 18 -18

3. ) Asbestos • A commercially used product – Fire retardant and insulator • Can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma • Banned now but not always – Roseau High School

Noise Pollution: • Noise can also cause air pollution – Measured in decibels (d. B) • Ex. ) Traffic, cities – Permanent deafness results after 120 d. B

Light Pollution: • Does not present a direct hazard to health – Hurts aesthetic value • Results from inefficient lighting uses – Wastes energy – Burns more fossil fuels

Using the Marketplace to Reduce Outdoor Air Pollution • To help reduce SO 2 emissions, the Clean Air Act authorized and emission trading (cap-and-trade) program. – Enables the 110 most polluting power plants to buy and sell SO 2 pollution rights. – Between 1990 -2002, the emission trading system reduced emissions. – In 2002, the EPA reported the cap-and-trade system produced less emission reductions than were projected.

PREVENTING AND REDUCING AIR POLLUTION • Environmental scientists point out several deficiencies in the Clean Air Act: – The U. S. Congress has failed to increase fuelefficiency standards for automobiles • Obama has now increased all motor vehicle standards – Regulation of emissions from motorcycles and twocycle engines remains inadequate. – There is little or no regulation of air pollution from oceangoing ships in American ports.