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TRANSCRIPT
A.F.E.W AIR
Air as our most pressing physical need--essential to human life minute-to-minute.
Atmospheric Structure
Air is a gaseous mixture of mostly nitrogen (78 percent) and oxygen (21 percent) along with trace amounts of water vapor, carbon dioxide, argon and other elements.
The key is Oxygen – essential for all animal life. Carbon dioxide used by plants for photosynthesis.
Blanket of air surrounding the earth = atmosphere
Surface of earth protected by ozone layer.
Sources of air pollution
1. natural – forest fires, volcanoes, dust storms, etc
Alaskan Wildfires of 2004: released more carbon monoxide June-August as North America produces in single year
2. anthropogenic
- main source of pollutants is the combustion of fossil fuel
(coal, oil, gas) – Industrial Revolution – releases carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur and nitrogen oxides – all forms of air pollution.
Pollution
Air circulation is responsible for pollution & contaminants existing where they’re not produced
EX: 2011 CA study sought to find source of lead in air
Findings: 1/3 of lead came from Asia (able to “fingerprint” source with new technology)
Global patterns in air and water circulation
Fact: Clean air is harder to maintain globally than clean
water
Due to wide-ranging sources of emissions & their circulatory spread, nations (esp. neighbors) are finding it advantageous
to have multilateral environmental agreements
Society - There is not just an economic, but a geographic divide b/twn rich & poor World-wide, the poor live in areas w/ a higher concentration of air pollution -Zug Island, Detroit; Southern L.A = high asthma rates & lower $$ Economy Affects everyone rich & poor Ex: Asthma: missed workdays = 15 million for $3 billion loss missed school days = 14 million Economic consequences of air pollution are known as externalities (a cost or benefit not reflected in the market price of a good or service). Since polluters aren’t—normally—financially responsible, costs are passed on to those impacted
Air and Sustainability S.E.E
Economy (con’t)
Air pollution & farming: in 2003 b/c of sulfur dioxide emissions, Chinese farmers lost $4.7 billion in reduce crop growth
Environment
World-wide pollution has produced a wide-range of effects Dead leaves, stunted plant & animal development, reduced
resistance to insects, gradual build up in soil & waterways
Acidification – acid rain. Lowers pH – prevents new growth and interrupts reproductive cycles: impacts human health
Mexico City Beijing
Early cave dwellers: blackened lungs; volcanoes
Ancient Air pollution: Roman buildings became darker from the smoke: Roman Senate law “Aerem corrumpere non licet” (“Polluting air is not allowed”)
Middle Ages: Burning of coal in London was so bad, King Edward I wanted to ban the use of coal in 1306 – (didn’t last—obviously)
Industrial Revolution – widespread burning of coal in England.
The history of air pollution: it’s been here forever
October 1948, Donora Pennsylvania: emissions from a zinc-reduction plant, steel mill, and a stagnant weather system created a fog killing 20 people
Led to: 1955 Air Pollution Control Act, then to 1970 Clean Air Act
Dec. 1952, London: fog and emissions led to 4,000 deaths immediately, another 12,000 in a few months
Led to: 1956 British Clean Air Act
Today’s air pollution is more intensified: more than just a mix of common black soot of centuries past.
The history of air pollution: it’s been here forever
Turn to a partner.
Your two-minute discussion task:
“#1: When you consider air pollution, what bothers you the most? #2: What type of air pollution do you think kills the most people yearly? (fyi: often statistics like this are phrased in terms of “premature deaths”)
Considering Air Pollution
Indoor Air pollution
Many consider indoor air pollution worse for human health than outdoor pollution!
2.4 billion people daily cook by indoor fires
carbon dioxide; carbon monoxide = cancer, pneumonia, bronchitis
Harmful Household gases (energy efficient homes are well-sealed) = radon, carbon monoxide, VOC’s (volatile organic compounds such as aerosols, rug glues, synthetic flooring all emit harmful gases
and remember Americans spend ____% of time indoors
90%!!!!!!
WHO (World Health Organization) estimates that 5-6 million people die every year from air pollution.
There is a proven link with pollution and human health
Chinese villagers near factories had 7 X the safe level of lead in systems (factory made lead-acid batteries)
Damages lungs, brain, kidneys, nerves, stomach, physical/mental development
Dioxins – may be formed as unwanted by-products of industrial processes – bleach paper
Almost all air-born toxins make their way into the environment – water table – and therefore into food sources.
Outdoor Pollution
Ground level Ozone – sunlight reacts with pollutants- may be dangerous when inhaled – also contributes to smog
Atmospheric Ozone Depletion – CFCs – created holes in ozone layer. 1987 Montreal Protocol (196 countries have now signed on) agreed to reduce ozone depleting gases.
By middle of this century, the ozone holes should close
Acid Rain – gases dissolve in water – return to earth as acid rain – damage plants, buildings and water
Outdoor Pollution (con’t)
Government Regulations
Ex. Cars = CAFÉ (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) (1975 ) set a minimum fuel efficiency
problems w/ implementation, but a start towards a goal
Power Plants– take two forms:
Gov’t direct intervention or Cap and Trade
U.S. Clean Air Act 1990 cap emissions of sulfur dioxide
Reducing Pollution at the Source
Power Plants– take two forms:
Direct Gov’t Intervention or Cap and Trade
“The cap on greenhouse gas emissions is a limit backed by science. Companies pay penalties if they exceed the cap, which gets stricter over time (the limit declines over time also)”
“The trade part is a market for companies to buy and sell allowances that permit them to emit only a certain amount. Trading gives companies a strong incentive to save money by cutting emissions” (Env. Defense Fund)
Ex: U.S. Clean Air Act 1990 cap emissions of sulfur dioxide
Dir. Gov. Int: Most come from EPA (est. 1970) like Clean Air Act and can be regulated at federal or state level. Oftentimes state laws can be more strict than federal laws.
Reducing Pollution at the Source
Manufacturing Standards
- response to changing markets and consumer demands
Ex: develop paints that emit less pollution
Lead paint: https://youtu.be/SFizKdMDtEw
Auto gasoline: https://youtu.be/YmJLPuNFjmA
Reducing Pollution at the Source
Nepal: https://vimeo.com/alancesarano/smokelessstoves
Project STOKE: https://youtu.be/WU9hFRFKvmg
Solar cookers: https://youtu.be/IqGA31J-LRQ
Cheap:
https://youtu.be/wbYIULZSbrY
https://youtu.be/Uqmgu2L7kek
Reducing Pollution at the Source