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Air Pollution

Air Pollution. 15.4. Definition:. Chemical or physical agent that when added to the environment impacts people, wildlife, plants or ecosystems. Natural causes Human causes. Monitoring Air Quality. Lichens = natural indicators of air quality

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Air Pollution

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  1. Air Pollution 15.4

  2. Definition: • Chemical or physical agent that when added to the environment impacts people, wildlife, plants or ecosystems. • Natural causes • Human causes

  3. Monitoring Air Quality • Lichens = natural indicators of air quality • Monitoring stations take air samples on a continuous basis and provide alerts to state & federal agencies.

  4. Primary pollutants • Released directly into the air • Examples of natural primary pollutants: • Dust • Sea salt • Volcanic gas & ash • Forest fire smoke • Pollen

  5. Primary pollutants • Human sources of primary pollutants: • Carbon monoxide • Dust • Smoke • Paint • Vehicle exhaust • Burning fossil fuels

  6. Examples of primary pollutants: • SO2 Burning coal • CO & CO2 Burning hydrocarbons • NOx Fuel combustion • Smog formed through solar action • Particulates industry, agriculture, urban

  7. Secondary pollutants • Enter the air and undergo reactions • Photochemical smog • Acid rain

  8. National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) • Ozone • Particulate matter • Carbon monoxide • Sulfur dioxide • Nitrogen oxides • Lead

  9. Indoor pollution • Tobacco smoke • Hydrocarbons • Vinyl chlorides • Asbestos • Carbon monoxide • Radon

  10. Acid precipitation • Sulfur dioxide + rain = sulfuric acid • Nitrogen oxide + rain = nitric acid • Problems with acid rain: • Forests: damages plants & habitats • Amphibian populations decline with acidity • Plants damaged • Aquatic ecosystems decline

  11. Ozone hole • 1985 discovered • Caused by CFCs breaking down ozone • Montreal Protocol (treaty) to eliminate CFC production • Problem: it reduces the ability to block UV rays

  12. CFC Molecules • Active for 60 – 120 years • Affect ozone layer of the atmosphere

  13. Human Health • Groups most susceptible: • Children • Elderly people • People with asthma, allergies, lung problems & heart problems

  14. Long term effects of exposure • Emphysema • Lung cancer • Permanent lung damage • Heart disease

  15. Short term effects • Headache • Nausea • Eye irritation • Coughing • Asthma aggravation • Emphysema aggravation

  16. Human Health impacts • Lead = central nervous system damage • Smog • Sulfur dioxide = damages lung tissue • Carbon monoxide = toxic. Binds to hemoglobin & displaces oxygen • Particulates = damage respiratory tissue

  17. Solutions • Clean Air Act = incentives & penalties • Passed in 1970 • Purpose: control of air pollutants, setting standards for clean air

  18. Reducing Pollution • Scrubbers on smoke stacks • Cleaner burning fuels • Hybrid cars • Catalytic converters in engines • Remove source of pollution from indoors • Improve ventilation indoors

  19. Allowance Trading allows: • Companies to sell pollutants that they’ve been allowed to discharge

  20. Airnow Website • http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.displaymaps&Pollutant=OZONE&StateID=60&domain=super

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