1 when people think about air pollution, they usually think about smog, acid rain, cfc's, and...

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When people think about air pollution, they usually think about smog, acid rain, CFC's, and other forms of outdoor air pollution. Ambient air pollution can be a major contributor to health problems.Let's take a closer look at the various types of air pollution, the effects that they have on people, and what is being (or not being) done to correct the problem.

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Air is the ocean we breathe. Air supplies us with oxygen which is essential for our bodies to live. Air is 99.9% nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor and inert gases.

Human activities can release substances into the air, some of which can cause problems for humans, plants, and animals.

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Some scientists used to call them the NOBLE gases.

These atoms have full electron shells. All of the inert gases have full outer shells with eight electrons… except for helium (He) with a valence level that is full with two electrons.

The list of gases in this group includes... Helium (He), Neon (Ne), Argon (Ar), Krypton (Kr), Xenon (Xe) and Radon (Rn). Neon is used in advertising signs. Argon is used in light bulbs. Helium is used to cool things and in balloons. Xenon is used in headlights for new cars.

That NONREACTIVITY is why they are called inert.

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Ambient air pollution can be classified in two different ways. It can be:

• Primary:

• Secondary:

When a pollutant is emitted directly from a source.

When primary pollutants recombine in the atmosphere to form new products.

As we proceed through this PPT, classify each of the pollutants as either primary, or secondary.

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Particulate matter, or PM, is the term for particles found in the air, including dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets.

Some particles are directly emitted into the air. They come from cars, trucks, buses, factories, construction sites, tilled fields, unpaved roads, stone crushing, and burning of wood.

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Other particles may be formed in the air from the chemical change of gases. They are indirectly formed when gases from burning fuels react with sunlight and water vapor.

Particulates can form clouds that reduce visibility and cause a variety of respiratory problems. Particulates have also been linked to cancer. They corrode metals, erode buildings and sculptures.

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• Particulate matter exposure is associated with increased hospital admissions and emergency room visits for people with heart and lung disease.

•Exposure is associated with work and school absences.

• Exposure is the major source of haze that reduces visibility in many parts of the United States

•Settles on soil and water and harms the environment by changing the nutrient and chemical balance.

•Causes erosion and staining of structures including culturally important objects such as monuments and statues.

Denver, on a clear…and not so clear day

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Often the biggest offenders to the PM problem are associated with the energy industry.

• Choice of fuel

• Clean your fuel

• Control emissions scrubbers

City ordinances, like burn bans are established not only because of the danger of wild-fires, but also to help reduce particulate matter in our atmosphere.

use calcium from limestone in the smokestack to convert sulfur dioxide into gypsum, a useful mineral used in wallboard

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Carbon monoxide, or CO, is a colorless, odorless gas that is formed when carbon in fuel is not burned completely.

Higher levels of CO generally occur in areas with heavy traffic congestion.

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Carbon monoxide is poisonous even to healthy people at high levels in the air.

Carbon monoxide affects people with heart disease.

• Carbon monoxide can affect the central nervous system.

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• CO interferes with the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, slowing reflexes and causing drowsiness.

• In high enough concentrations it can cause death

• Headaches and stress on the heart can result from CO being inhaled from sitting in heavy traffic.• CO can impair the growth and development of the fetus in pregnant women

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Across the nation, the EPA has set air quality stations to measure the levels of CO and other pollutants in the air.

Starting in the early 1970's, EPA set national standards that have considerably reduced emissions of CO and other pollutants from motor vehicles, including tailpipe emissions, new vehicle technologies, (such as catalytic converters) and clean fuels programs.

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Nitrogen oxides, or NOx, is the generic term for a group of highly reactive gases, all of which contain nitrogen and oxygen in varying amounts.

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

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Nitrogen oxides form when fuel is burned at high temperatures, as in a combustion process.

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NOx is one of the main ingredients involved in the formation of tropospheric ozone, which can trigger serious respiratory problems.

NOx can cause respiratory problems. NOx contributes to formation of acid rain.

NOx contributes to deteriorating water quality.

NOx contributes to atmospheric particles, that cause visibility impairment

• NOx contributes is a greenhouse gas, and contributes to global warming.

NOx can make the body vulnerable to respiratory infections, lung disease, and possibly cancer.

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Acid rain damages; causes deterioration of cars, buildings and historical monuments; and causes lakes and streams to become acidic and unsuitable for many fish.

When NOx combines with water, nitric acid is formed. It is one of the leading causes of acid rain.

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The cold, deep waters of Lake Minnewaska in New York are sterile. The pH of 4.2-4.7 make it uninhabitable to fish of any species. This lake is sterile due to acid rain.

Douglas volcano on the northern tip of the Alaska Peninsula has a small lake. In 1992, the lake had a pH of 1.1 and a temperature of 21 degrees Celsius. This lake is sterile due to volcanic contributions to acidity.

Lake Minnewaska in the Shawangunk

Mountains

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Ground-level, or tropospheric ozone is an air pollutant that causes human health problems, and damages crops and other vegetation. It is a key ingredient of urban smog. Sunlight and hot weather cause ground-level ozone to form in harmful concentrations in the air.

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Triggers a variety of health problems even at very low levels Symptoms of ozone exposure include wheezing, coughing, pain when taking a deep breath, and breathing difficulties during exercise or outdoor activities.

Repeated exposure to ozone pollution for several months may cause permanent lung damage.

Even at very low levels, ground-level ozone triggers a variety of health problems including aggravated asthma, reduced lung capacity, and increased susceptibility to respiratory illnesses like pneumonia and bronchitis.

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Damages plants and ecosystems Ground-level ozone interferes with the ability of plants to produce and store food, which makes them more susceptible to disease, insects, other pollutants, and harsh weather. Ozone damages the leaves of trees and other plants, ruining the appearance of cities, national parks, and recreation areas. Ozone reduces crop and forest yields and increases plant vulnerability to disease, pests, and harsh weather.

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Seasonal mean of ambient ozone concentrations between 9:00am and 4:00pm over the continental United States from July 1 to September 31 2005.  Areas shown in brown, orange and red can experience significant crop yield loss and damage to ecosystem function from ambient ozone

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Some regional strategies for reducing ground-level ozone include:

The EPA has traditionally focused on local control strategies in areas of the country with high measured levels of ozone in the air.

reducing NOx emissions from power plants and industrial combustion sources

introduce low-emission cars and trucks using "cleaner" gasoline

• improve vehicle inspection programs

•Ozone can be transported for hundreds of miles

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Over the past 30 years, sulfur dioxide emissions have decreased by more than one third. EPA has implemented programs to continue the national reductions, and improve local air quality. Sulfur dioxide, or SO2, belongs to the family of sulfur oxide gases (SOx). These gases dissolve easily in water. Sulfur is prevalent in all raw materials, including crude oil, coal, and ore that contains common metals like aluminum, copper, zinc, lead, and iron. SOx gases are formed when fuel containing sulfur, such as coal and oil, is burned, and when gasoline is extracted from oil, or metals are extracted from ore.

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For sulfur oxide control, the power industry now employs the use of wet scrubbers (also referred to as wet collectors)

Employing this technology results in a byproduct of gypsum which is marketable as drywall.

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SO2 contributes to respiratory illness, particularly in children and the elderly, and aggravates existing heart and lung diseases.

SO2contributes to the formation of acid rain, which:

damages trees, crops, historic buildings, and monuments; and

makes soils, lakes, and streams acidic.

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VOCs are organic chemicals that vaporize readily, producing toxic fumes. Some examples are gasoline, benzene, toluene, and xylene.

VOCs come from burning fuels and from solvents, paints, and glues. Cars are a major source of VOCs. VOCs contribute to smog formation, and can cause serious health problems such as cancer. They may also harm plants.

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Producing electricity from coal and oil releases a wide range of pollutants into the environment.