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Environmental Science: Toward a Sustainable Future Richard T. Wright

Atmospheric Pollution. Air-pollution essentialsMajor air pollutants and their sourcesImpacts of air pollutants: health and environmentBringing air pollution under controlUnresolved issues. Incorrect Assumptions about Air Pollutants. There are threshold levels of tolerable air pollutantsDilution is the solution to air pollutionAir pollutants can be assimilated by natureAir pollutants do not travelAir pollution accidents will not happen.

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Environmental Science: Toward a Sustainable Future Richard T. Wright

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    1. Environmental Science: Toward a Sustainable Future Richard T. Wright Atmospheric Pollution PPT by Clark E. Adams

    2. Atmospheric Pollution Air-pollution essentials Major air pollutants and their sources Impacts of air pollutants: health and environment Bringing air pollution under control Unresolved issues

    3. Incorrect Assumptions about Air Pollutants There are threshold levels of tolerable 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

    4. Pollutants and Atmospheric Cleansing Air pollutants: gases and aerosols in the atmosphere that have harmful effects 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

    5. The Hydroxyl Radical: Nature’s Cleanser

    6. The Appearance of Smog

    7. Impacts of Smog: Temperature Inversion

    8. Air Pollution Effects Adversely affects human health Damages crops and forests Highly corrosive

    9. Major Air Pollutants and Their Sources (see Table 21-1) Suspended particulate matter Volatile organic compounds Carbon monoxide Nitrogen oxides Sulfur oxides Heavy metals Ozone Air toxics

    10. Major Air Pollutant Sources

    11. Major Air Pollutants: Primary (see next slide) Primary pollutants derived directly from burning fuels and wastes Particulates Hydrocarbons Carbon monoxide Nitrogen oxides Sulfur dioxides

    13. Major Pollutants: Secondary (see next slide) Secondary air pollutants derive from reactions that occur between primary pollutants and other atmospheric chemicals Ozone PANs Acids: sulfuric and nitric

    15. Comparison of Growth vs. Emissions

    17. pH Scale

    19. Major Sources of SO2 Emitters

    20. Impacts 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

    21. Impacts of Air Pollutants on Human Health Chronic example: lead poisoning Acute example: death – Bhopal, India Carcinogenic example: lung cancer

    22. The Respiratory System

    24. Impacts of Air Pollutants on the Environment Plants Necrotic: kills plant cells Chlorotic: destroys chlorophyll, reducing photosynthesis Increases susceptibility to disease and pests

    25. Ozone Impact on Crop Yields

    26. Impacts 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

    27. Impacts of Air Pollutants on the Environment Forests Increased plant vulnerability to natural enemies Increased soil erosion Increased flooding Increased sedimentation of waterways

    28. Impacts of Air Pollutants on the Environment Materials Loss of color Oxidation Corrosion Decreased real estate values

    29. Effects 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

    30. Trends in Automobile Emissions

    32. Impact of Buffers on Acid Deposition

    33. Bringing 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

    34. Bringing Air Pollution under Control NAAQS: also set national ambient air quality standards National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants set national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants

    35. Control 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)

    36. 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

    37. Title 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

    38. Industry’s Response to Title IV Fuel switching Scrubbers Emissions allowance trading Using low-sulfur coals

    40. Unresolved Issues Costs versus benefits of air pollution control Status of “new source” review and enforcement Improving fuel efficiency – hybrid cars Improving mass transit systems Reducing commuting distances

    41. End of Chapter 21

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