Stepping Up to Solutions: Ozone and the Clean Air Act

Problems that Cause the Problems that Cause the Problem

• People driving everywhere• Farmers use chemicals to keep bugs/pests

away• Using electricity• People using products made by VOC and NOx

producing industries

Causes of the Problem

• VOCs: petroleum products (vehicle fuels); Chemicals in paints, solvents, pesticides, etc.; (chemicals), Industry

• NOx comes from burning fuel: Power plants, Vehicles, Industrial/Commercial Fuel Combustion

The Problem

• Ozone down near earth’s surface (air pollution) SMOG

• What is ozone? Product of chemical reaction between nitrogen oxides and VOCs in the presence of sunlight.

What Problems Does the Problem Cause?

• Breathing problems• Makes it hard to exercise outside• Kills plants• Less crops = less food• Trees dying = less O2 production, more CO2 in

atmosphere -> global warming• Farmers produce less, make less money

Solutions

• Clean Air Act – sets limits to VOC and NOx emissions from vehicles and industry

• Alternative fuel sources• Removing VOCs from products• Carpooling, public transportations, etc.