Title: Atmospheric Pollution
1Atmospheric Pollution
2Pollutants and Atmospheric Cleansing
- Air pollutants gases and aerosols in the
atmosphere that have harmful effects - Living organisms
- Inanimate objects
- Level of air pollution determined by
- The amount of pollutants entering the air
- The amount of space into which the pollutants
dispersed - Mechanisms that remove pollutants from the air
3Myths about Air Pollutants
- There are tolerable threshold levels of air
pollutants - Dilution is the solution to air pollution
- Air pollutants can be assimilated by nature
- Air pollutants do not travel
- Air pollution accidents will not happen
4The Hydroxyl Radical Natures Cleanser
5Major Air Pollutants
- Carbon monoxide dioxide
- Suspended particulate matter
- Volatile organic compounds
- Nitrogen oxides Sulfur oxides
- Ozone
- Hazardous Air Pollutants
- Heavy metals
- Volatile Organic Compounds
- Herbicides Pesticides
6Major Air Pollutant Sources
7Sources of Air Pollution
- Automobiles
- Burning Fossil Fuels --gtCO, CO2, Particulates,
Metals, and NOx - Transporting Fossil Fuels --gt VOCs HAPs
- Secondary Pollutants --gt O3
- Coal Power Plants
- Exhaust --gt CO, CO2, Particulates, Metals, NOx,
SO2, HAPs (metals, radioactive nucleotides, and
VOCs) - Industrial Processes (chemical, dry cleaning,
printing, paints, glues, solvents, agriculture) - Manufacturing --gt HAPs, VOCs, Metals, CFCs
- Waste --gt SO2, Particulates, VOCs, HAPs, and O3
8Sources of Major Air Pollutants
- Automobiles
- Power Plants
- Industrial Processes
- Primary pollutants derived directly from burning
fuels and wastes - Sulfur dioxides
- Nitrogen oxides
- Volatile Organic Compounds
- Particulates
- Carbon monoxide
9Major Pollutants Secondary
- Secondary air pollutants are derived from
reactions that occur between primary pollutants
and other atmospheric chemicals - Ozone
- PANs
- Acids
- Sulfuric
- nitric
10Examining Specific Air Pollutants
- Indoor Air Pollution
- Smog
- Acid Precipitation
11Indoor Air Pollution
12Radon
- Radioactive radon-222
- Lung Cancer Threat
- Occurs in certain geological areas
- Associated with Uranium and organic materials in
rock
13Reducing IndoorAir Pollution
14Smog
- The most visible air pollution
- Two types of smog
- Brown photochemical
- Gray industrial
- Directly linked to human behavior
15Impacts of Smog Temperature Inversion
16Particulates
17Comparison of Growth vs. Emissions
18Acid Deposition
19pH Scale
pH measurement of H ions in solution
Acid precipitation pH lt5.5
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22Major Sources of SO2 Emitters
23Effects of Acid Deposition
- Alteration of plant and animal reproduction
- Leaching of other toxic elements, e.g., aluminum
- Eutrophic to oligotrophic conditions
- Total loss of biota from aquatic ecosystems
- Alterations of food chains
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25Impact of Buffers on Acid Deposition
26Solutions to Acid Deposition
27Air Pollution Effects
- Adversely affects the health of organisms
- People
- Other Animals
- Crops
- Forests
- Highly corrosive to Structures
- Metal
- Stone
28Impacts of Air Pollutants on Human Health
- Chronic gradual deterioration of a variety of
physiological functions over a period of years - Acute life-threatening reactions within a period
of hours or days - Carcinogenic cancer-causing
29Impacts of Air Pollutants on Human Health
- The Respiratory System
- Chronic Bronchitis and Asthma
- Lung Cancer
- Brain
- Birth defects, retardation, nervous system
disorders - Short- Long-term memory loss
- Brain Cancer
- Filtering Organs (Liver Kidneys)
- Short-term disfunction
- Cancer
- Skin
- Overexposure to UV --gt Cancer
30The Respiratory System
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32Impacts of Air Pollutants on the Environment
- Plants
- Necrotic kills plant cells
- Chlorotic destroys chlorophyll, reducing
photosynthesis - Increases susceptibility to disease and pests
Ozone is the most serious pollutant to Plants
33Ozone Impact on Crop Yields
34Impacts of Air Pollutants on the Environment
- Forests
- Leaching of nutrients
- Release of aluminum into solution
- Rapid changes in soil chemistry
- Reduced growth and diebacks of plants and animals
- Increased plant vulnerability to natural enemies
- Increased soil erosion
- Increased flooding
- Increased sedimentation of waterways
35Impacts of Air Pollutants on the Environment
- Building Materials
- Loss of color
- Oxidation
- Corrosion
- Decreased real estate values
36Trends in Automobile Emissions
37Bringing Air Pollution under Control
- Clean Air Act identifies most widespread
pollutants e.g., particulates, SO, CO, NO, lead
criteria pollutants - National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
set levels that protect environmental and human
health
38Bringing Air Pollution under Control
- NAAQS national ambient air quality standards
(EPA) - National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air
Pollutants set national emission standards for
hazardous air pollutants
39Control Strategies
- Command-and-control regulate air pollution so
criteria pollutants remain below primary standard
level - Lack of enforcement and compliance
- 37 reduction of air pollutants
- Forced compliance with state implementation plan
(SIP)
40Can you Match Control Strategies on Right with
Air Pollutants on Left?
- Particulates
- VOCs
- Automobile emissions
- Acid rain
- Catalytic converter
- Reasonably available control strategy (RACT)
- Scrubbers
- Coal washing
41Title IV Clean Air Act 1990
- Reduce SO emissions 50 below 1980 levels
- Improve methods of reducing SO emissions
- Allow emissions allowances and trading
- Emissions purchases
- Reduce NO emissions
42Industrys Response to Title IV
- Fuel switching
- Scrubbers
- Emissions allowance trading
- Using low-sulfur coals
43Reducing Emissions from Point Sources
44Reducing Motor Vehicle Air Pollution
45Unresolved Issues
- Costs vs benefits of air pollution control
- Status of new source review enforcement
- Improving fuel efficiency hybrid cars
- Improving mass transit systems
- Reducing commuting distances
- Should the EPA regulate CO2 as a pollutant?
- Research this question! Come prepared to discuss
your findings in class tomorrow!