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Air Pollution

Chapter 19. Air Pollution. The Atmosphere as a Resource. Atmospheric composition: Nitrogen = 78% Oxygen = 21% Carbon dioxide = 0.038%. Smog. Winter Smog. Summer Smog. Temperature Inversions. A warmer, less dense air mass moves over a cooler, more dense air mass.

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Air Pollution

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  1. Chapter 19 Air Pollution

  2. The Atmosphere as a Resource • Atmospheric composition: • Nitrogen = 78% • Oxygen = 21% • Carbon dioxide = 0.038%

  3. Smog Winter Smog Summer Smog

  4. Temperature Inversions A warmer, less dense air mass moves over a cooler, more dense air mass. Commonly occurs at night during the winter when angle of the sun is low Occurs around coastal areas with cold currents – California - Fog

  5. London Fog or Smog(1952) http://www.theenergylibrary.com/node/13085

  6. Atlanta 2000 - Ranked 6th for Soot Ranked 12 for Ozone 2010 – Ranked 16th for particle pollution and 19th for ozone.

  7. Air Pollution Effect & At Risk Effects: Suppress Immune System Constrict Airways Reduced O2 Intake Headaches & Fatigue Coughing & Burning Eyes At Risk: Pregnancy Age Heart Condition Respiratory Ailment

  8. Clean Air Act Timeline: 1923 Leaded Gasoline 1967 Air Quality Act - no standards 1970 Clean Air Act (standards) / Earth Day 1980 Lead drops 50% in environment & drops 37% in blood 1980 Vice President Bush proposes ending phase out as the chairman of Regulatory Relief 2000 Milestones: Carbon Monoxide: 31% decrease Sulfur Dioxide: 27% decrease VOC’s down 42% Particulate Matter* (PM-10): 71% decrease Lead: 98% decrease cap & trade marketThe based Tax or Cap of C02 Story of Stuff http://www.storyofstuff.org/

  9. Clean Air Act • Particulate matter • Nitrogen oxides • Sulfur dioxides • Carbon Monoxides • Ozone • Lead

  10. Clean Air Act Emissions in the US, 1970 vs. 2000

  11. Types of Air Pollutants (HNO2) Nitrous Acid (HNO3) Nitric Acid (H202) Hydrogen Peroxide SOx - Sulfate Compounds (SO3) Sulfur Trioxide (H2SO4) Sulfuric Acid (PANs) Peroxyacetyl nitrate Nox - Nitrate Compounds (O3) Ozone (H2CO3) Carbonic Acid Synergism? • Particulate matter • Lead • 3. Nitrogen oxides • 4. Sulfur oxides 5. Carbon oxides 6. Hydrocarbons 7. Ozone

  12. Photochemical Smog Nox + Voc’s = smog

  13. Auto Emissions Carbon Monoxide Nitrogen Dioxide Sulfur Dioxide PM 10 Benzene Formaldehyde - half life 1-10 days Polycyclic Hydrocarbons Carbon Dioxide - pollutant?

  14. um

  15. Air Quality Index (AQI) • Purpose:The AQI is calculated for the five major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act: • ground-level ozone • particle pollution • carbon monoxide • sulfur dioxide • nitrogen dioxide. • AQI figures are reported in all metropolitan areas with populations exceeding 200,000 • The AQI converts the pollutant concentration to a scale of 0 to 500. The most important number on this scale is 100 - allowable standard under Clean Air Act • A 0.14 ppm reading for sulfur dioxide or a 0.08 ppm reading for ozone would translate to an AQI level of 100. • EPD Issues: Alert / Warning / Emergency • Index value = pollutant concentration / pollutant goal concentration x (100)

  16. AQI Colors Atlanta Air Quality http://www.gaepd.org/air/smogforecast/stats.php

  17. Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Sources: Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a colorless reactive gas that is ordorless at low concentrations, but pungent at very high concentrations. Emitted primarily when fossil fuels and ores (coal) that contain sulfur are burned or processed. Health: Several studies of chronic effects have found that people living in areas with high PM and SO2 levels have a higher incidence of respiratory illnesses Air Quality:The air quality standard for SO2 is 0.14 ppm, averaged over 24 hours. The significant harm level, at which serious and widespread health effects occur to the general population, is 1.0 ppm of SO2.

  18. Ozone (03) Sources: Ozone (O3), a colorless gas, is the major constituent of smog. Produced by the chemical reaction of nitrogen dioxide with volatile organic compounds (voc’s) - such as hydrocarbons in automobile exhaust or vapors from cleaning solvents - in the presence of sunlight. Health: Ozone irritates the mucous membranes of the nose, throat and airways; ninety percent of the ozone inhaled into the lungs is never exhaled. Air Quality: The air quality standard for ozone is 0.08ppm, averaged over eight hours. The significant harm level, at which serious and widespread health effects occur among the general population, is 0.60 ppm of ozone, averaged over two hours.

  19. Carbon Monoxide (CO) Carbon Monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas that is a by-product of the incomplete burning of fuels. Health: CO weakens the contractions of the heart, binds chemically to hemoglobin Air Quality: The air quality standard for CO is 9 parts per million, averaged over 8 hours. The significant harm level, at which serious and widespread health effects occur to the general population, is 50 ppm of CO.

  20. Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a light brown gas that can become an important component of urban haze. Health: Many animal studies suggest that NO2 impairs respiratory defense mechanisms and increases susceptibility to infection. Air Quality:The air quality standard for NO2 is 0.053 ppm, annual average. The significant harm level, at which serious and widespread health effects occur to the general population, is 2.0 ppm of NO2.

  21. Particulate (PM10) Sources: Particulate matter (PM) is solid matter or liquid droplets from smoke, dust, fly ash, or condensing vapors that can be suspended in the air for long periods of time. Health:observed human health effects of PM include breathing and respiratory symptoms, aggravation of existing respiraory and cardiovascular disease, alterations in the body's defense system against inhaled materials and organisms, and damage to lung tissue. Air Quality:The air quality standard for PM10 is 150 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3), averaged over 24 hours. The significant harm level, at which serious and widespread health effects occur to the general population, is 600 µg/m3 of PM10.

  22. Types and Sources of Air Pollution • Sources of Outdoor Air Pollution

  23. Types and Sources of Air Pollution • Hydrocarbon emissions in Atlanta, Georgia

  24. Electrostatic precipitator Turned ON Turned OFF Controlling Air Pollution in the United States • Controlling Air Pollutants

  25. Scrubber Controlling Air Pollution in the United States Centrifugal Forces - vortex

  26. Carbon Sequestering

  27. Scrubbers (dry or wet)

  28. Indoor Air Pollution

  29. Indoors

  30. Indoor Air Pollution • Radon gas - emitted by bedrock containing uranium

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