AIR, NOISE, WATER, AND SOLID WASTE POLLUTION. Donora, PA 1946.
-
Upload
loreen-owen -
Category
Documents
-
view
217 -
download
0
Transcript of AIR, NOISE, WATER, AND SOLID WASTE POLLUTION. Donora, PA 1946.
AIR, NOISE, WATER, AND SOLID WASTE
POLLUTION
Donora, PA 1946
Assumptions About Air Pollutants which are
NOT TRUE!
There are threshold levels of tolerable air pollutants- Wrong!
Dilution is the solution to air pollution- Wrong!Air pollutants can be assimilated by nature-
Wrong!Air pollutants do not travel- Wrong!Air pollution accidents will not happen-
Wrong!
Atmospheric Pollution
Air-pollution essentialsMajor air pollutants and their sourcesImpacts of air pollutants: health and
environmentBring air pollution under controlRegulatory issues
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
Air pollution: Primary Sources
Primary Pollutants: Emitted directly into air from: Natural sources like volcanoes Mobile sources like cars Stationary sources like smoke stacks
Examples: PM10 –Particulate matter, solid matter suspended in a
gas used to describe particles of 10 micrometers or less (soot)
Nitric Oxide (NO) Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) Sulfur dioxide (SO2) Carbon dioxide (CO2) and monoxide (CO)
Air pollution: Secondary Sources
Secondary Pollutants result from the reaction of primary pollutants in the atmosphere to form a new pollutant
Example: Sulfur trioxide (SO3) Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4) Ozone (O3) Chemicals in photochemical smog:
PANS are powerful respiratory and eye irritants Peroxyacyl nitrates; Free radical reactions catalyzed by UV
light from the sun oxidize hydrocarbons to aldehydes, ketones, and dicarbonyl compounds, whose secondary reactions create peroxyacyl radicals, which combine with nitrogen dioxide to form peroxyacyl nitrates.
In bright sunlight nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and oxygen
interact chemically to produce powerful oxidants like ozone (O3) and peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN).
Major Air Pollutants
1. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)Production
Forms when fuels are burned at high temperatureResults from forest fires, volcanoes, lightening and
bacterial decomposition in soilMakes (HNO3) nitric Acid which causes:
Acid rain“Cultural” eutrophication; man caused
Human and environmental impactLung irritation and damageMay be cancer causingSuppresses plant growth
Major Air Pollutants
2. Ozone (O3) Production
Major component of photochemical smog Formed by sunlight reacting with Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOC) and NOx Human and environmental impact
Lung irritation and damage, bronchial constriction, coughing, wheezing and eye irritation
Damages plants, rubber and plastics
Major Air Pollutants
3. Peroxyacyl Nitrates (PAN) Production
Hydrocarbons + O2 + NO2 + sunlight CH3COOONO2 (PAN)
PANs transport NOx away from urban areas where it easily produces O3
Human and environmental impact In very small concentrations causes eye irritation (few
ppbs)gh Higher concentrations cause extensive damage to
vegitation
Major Air Pollutants
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)Production
Coal burning, metal smelting, paper manufacturing ad burning high sulfur oils
Combines with water vapor to produce acid precipitation
Human and environmental impact Reduces productivity of plants Causes breathing difficulty
There have been major decreases inSO2 concentrations in the US, this is due to success of the Acid Rain Program and the Clean Air Act.
The Hydroxyl Radical: Nature’s Cleanser
Major Air Pollutants
Suspended Particulate Matter (PM10) ; particles with diameter of 1/7th the width of a human hair or less.
Production Includes; smoke, dust, diesel soot, lead, and asbestos
Human and environmental impact Lung irritation and damage Carcinogens and mutagens Highest measurable health benefits with reduction of
these particles
Major Air Pollutants
VOC’s : organic compounds with a high vapor pressure. (600+ different cmpds) Ex. Toluene, xylene, formaldehyde, benzene, and acetone
Production Found in paints, aerosol sprays, dry-cleaning fluids, and
individual solvents.
Human and environmental impactRespiratory irritation and damageCarcinogenic and cause liver, kidney and CNS
damageConcentrations may be as much as 1000X higher
indoors!
Other Major Air Pollutants
Industrial and Photochemical Smog
Los Angeles, Early Morning
Los Angeles, Noon
Impacts of Smog: Heat Islands
Occur in metropolitan areas which are much warmer than their surroundings Can be 10 degrees warmer Warmer air holds more water vapor, increased rainfall
downwind
Buildings reduce radiation of heat to the night sky Materials store heat
Lack of vegitation and still water increases tempCars, air conditioners, and industry causes localized
greenhouse effectImpact human health; 1000ppl/yr die in US –heatCan alter wind patterns, cloud dev. ,lightning,
precipitation
Impacts of Smog: Temperature Inversion
Occurs when air temp. rises with height rather than decreasing with height
Can trap smog close to the ground Cause asthma, emphysema and more lung cancer
Usually occurs at night when the solar heating stops and surface cools, cooling the atmosphere right above it
The warm mass moving over the cold traps the cooler air below and wind calms
Dust, pollutants are trapped and concentrations increase
Impacts of Smog: Temperature Inversion
Major Air Pollutant Sources
Industry Pollution
Formation of Industrial Smog
Industrial Smog: tends to be sulfur based (AKA grey-air smog)•Results from Oil and coal burning
Formation of Photochemical Smog
Acid Rain
A broad term used to describe several ways that acid falls out of the atmosphere (aka acid deposition)
2 parts; wet and dry (approx. 50%) Wet: rain, fog, snow
As the acidic water flows over and through the ground, it affects plants and animals Severity of effects depends on acid concentration, soil type,
types of organisms in the area (approx. 50%) Dry: acidic gasses and particles
Blown into buildings, cars, homes and on trees Can be washed off by rain, increasing the acidity of the rain
further.
Acid Deposition
pH Scale
Acid precipitation = pH < 5.5
pH = measurement of H ions in solution
Acid Deposition in Eastern North America
Standard Smokestack Height
Major Sources of SO2 Emitters
Impacts of Air Pollutant 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-causingChronic example: lead poisoningAcute example: death - Bhopal, IndiaCarcinogenic example: lung cancer
The Human Respiratory System
Normal and Emphysemic Lungs
Impacts of Air Pollutants on the Environment
Plants Necrotic: kills plant cells Chlorotic: destroys chlorophyll reducing
photosynthesis Increases susceptibility to disease and pests
Ozone most serious pollutant
Countryside Around Copper Smelting Plant
Ozone Impact on Crop Yields
Impact of Acid Deposition on Environment
Acidification of lakes and streams Acid shock from snow melt, with dry acid deposits,
concentrates acids 5-10x more than acid rain
Contributes to tree damage, particularly at high elevations
Contributes to sensitive forest soil damage through nitrogen saturation and by creating conditions which decomposers can not tolerate
Accelerates decay of building materials, paints, statues and sculptures Loss of color, increased Oxidation and Corrosion Decreases real estate values
Effect of Pollutants on Monuments
Impact of Air Pollutants on Forests
Impacts of Air Pollutants on the Environment
ForestsLeaching of nutrients from soil
(Ca2+, K+ and Mg2+)Release of aluminum into solutionRapid changes in soil chemistryReduced growth and diebacks of
plants and animals
Impacts of Air Pollutants on the Environment
ForestsIncreased plant vulnerability to
natural enemiesIncreased soil erosionIncreased floodingIncreased sedimentation of
waterways
Effects of Acid Deposition
Alteration of plant and animal reproductionLeaching of other toxic elements, e.g.,
aluminumEutrophic to seemingly oligotrophic ( having
very little nutrients) conditionsTotal loss of biota from aquatic ecosystemsAlterations of food chains
Impact of Buffers on Acid Deposition
Indoor Air Pollution (Sick Building Syndrome)
Restricted air circulation with pollutants 25%-60% greater than outdoor levels
Most common pollutants found indoors Molds Bacteria Carbon monoxide Radon Allergens Asbestos Tobacco smoke Formaldehyde and other VOCs
Symptoms of pollution effects: headaches, respiratory problems, cancer, CNS problems
Bringing Air Pollution Under Control
Remediation and Reduction strategies designed to improve air quality Tax incentives for pollution control vs. fines and penalties Set legislative standards for energy efficiency Increase funding for research into renewables Incentivize air pollution reduction in trade policies Solar cookstove distribution to developing countries to
replace coal and firewood Phase out 2-cycle gasoline engines Change building codes, construction solvents, improve air
movement Provide incentives to use mass transit
Limiting pollutants from motor vehiclesCoping with acid deposition
Strategies to Reduce Acid Rain
Design more efficient engines; reduce NOX emissionsIncrease the efficiency of coal burning plants; reduce
SO2 , NOX and particulates via coal washing, using scrubbers, advanced filtration on
smokestacks, electrostatic precipitators and catalytic burners with afterburners
Increase penalties on stationary sources who do not reduce emissions and Tax incentives to those who do
Incentives to consumers to purchase appliances that are rated efficient (energy star)
Increase CAFE (corporate average fuel economy) standards: improve ave. gas milage on cars, trucks
EPA’s Acid Rain Program
To achieve Reductions in SO2 , NOX Uses traditional and innovative market-based
approaches and Encourages efficiency and pollution prevention Allowance trading system (optional program) Set new emissions standards for NOX for existing coal
plants Permit process to allow flexibility in finding most cost-
effective way to reduce emissions CEM (continuous emissions monitoring) accurate
recording of achievement of goals, incentivizes self policing. (trading)
Trends in Automobile Emissions
Catalytic Converter
Bringing Air Pollution Under Control
Clean Air Act identifies most widespread pollutants: e.g., Particulates, SO, CO, NO, lead = criteria pollutants Originally signed in 1963; just air pollution 1990 addressed acid rain, urban smog, ozone, VOCs, air
pollutants and marketing pollution rights Credited with much success and with saving 15,000
lives/year
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) set levels that protect environmental and human healthset national emission standards for
hazardous air pollutants
Title IV Clean Air Act 1990
Reduce SO emission 50% below 1980 levelsImprove methods of reducing SO emissionsAllow emissions allowances and tradingEmissions purchasesReduce NO emissions
Industries’ Response to Title IV
Fuel switchingScrubbersEmissions allowance tradingUsing low-sulfur coals
Regulatory Issues
Costs versus benefits of air pollution controlStatus of “new source” review and
enforcementImproving fuel efficiency – hybrid carsImproving mass transit systemsReducing commuting distances
Control Strategies: Kyoto Protocol
1997Would have required US to reduce GHG emissions
by 7% from 1990 levels, over 5 years.Penalties would have occurred if goals were not
met150 nations signedUS did not sign!
Saw goals as unattainable and that the protocol held developed countries responsible
for cutting, but not developing nations Cost would be too high Time frame too short Not enough evidence connecting CO2 to global warming
Noise Pollution
Unwanted human-created sound that disrupts the environment
Dominant form is from transportation Motor vehicles Aircraft noise Rail transport noise
Other sources Office equipment, factory machinery, appliances, power
tools, sound systems
Regulation began in US, 1972; Federal Noise Control Act
Noise Pollution: Federal Noise Control Act
National policy to promote “harmful noise” free environment Coordinates federal research and activities in noise
control Establishes noise emission standards for products and
informs public of noise levels
Control measures Noise barriers, reduced speed limits, new road
surface technologies, computer-controlled traffic flow devices, change tire design, quieter jet engines, reschedule takeoff and landing times
Local laws to govern times of machine use
Noise Pollution: Effects
Three Kinds of Hearing Loss Conductive loss Sensory loss; caused by the inner ear, most commonly
associated with noise Neural loss
Cardiovascular problems: accelerated heart beat, high blood pressure
GI problemsDecreased alertness and difficulty memorizing,
nervousness, pupil dilation, decrease of visionLong-term effects: insomnia, nervousness, bulimia,
high-blood pressure, anxiety, depression, sexual dysfunction
Water Pollution
Categorized by Origin Point source: harmful substances put directly into a body
of water Ex. Industrial pipe discharging effluent directly into river/bay Usually regulated and carefully monitored in developed
countries Non-point source: deliver harmful substances indirectly
through transport of environmental change Ex. Fertilizer from a farm is carried into a stream by rain
(runoff) Much harder to monitor and regulate! They account for the majority of contaminants in streams,
lakes and bays
Sources of Water Pollution
Air pollutionChemicalsMicrobiological soourcesMiningNoiseNutrientsOil SpillsOxygen-depleting substancesSuspended matterThermal Sources
Water pollution from Air pollution
Mercury, SO2, NO, NH3 fall from the sky
Effects Mercury contamination in fish Acidification : can effect coral reefs, algae and
plankton Eutrophication in lakes and bays
Water pollution from Chemicals
A variety of chemicals from industrial and agricultural sources Ex: metals, solvents, oils detergents, and pesticides, Lawn
products Road runoff brings oil (rate 5 times the amt spilled in Exxon
Valdez 21 million barrels, per year) Oily ballast discharge and wash water contaminate oceans Oil and gas drilling; hurt coastal waters and ground water
Aprox. 100,000 gas storage containers leak (EPA estimate) Prescription and over the counter meds; up to 90%
undigested, effecting aquatic reproduction and development
Effects: Accumulate in fish (biomagnification); poisoning the food
chain Interrupt marine/ aquatic life cycles
Water pollution from Microbes
Bacteria, viruses and protozoa (disease causing) infect drinking supplies, lakes, rivers or oceans
Effects: Swimmers sick, contaminated fish or shellfish, sick people
Water borne Diseases Cholera, typhoid, shigella, polio, meningitis, and hepatitis
Source; sewage overflow, septic tank leaks, storm overflow, untreated sewage dumped (in developing countries)
Water pollution from Mining
Heavy metals and sulfur are exposed, Rainwater leaches causing acid drainage and heavy metal pollution
Rainwater on mining waste piles (tailings) also leaches pollution into water Gold mine tailings are chemically treated to release more
gold: cyanide is used
Pools of mining waste, called slurry, stored behind containment dams sometimes leak into ground water
Mining companies in developing countries dump waste directly
Water pollution from Noise
Marine organisms, including mammals, sea turtles and fish communicate, navigate and hunt via sound
Commercial shipping, military sonar, recreational boating etc. interferes with these activities
Water pollution from Nutrients
Water pollution from Oil Spills
Water pollution from Oxygen- Depleting Substances
Water pollution from Suspended Matter and Thermal sources
Cultural Eutrophication
Groundwater Pollution
Maintaining Water Quality and Purification
Drinking water treatment methods
Water treatment Remediation Technologies
Sewage Treatment/Septic Systems
Primary treatmentSecondary treatmentTertiary treatment
Sewage Treatment: Relevant Laws
Solid WasteTypes
Organic: kitchen, vegetables, leaves, flowers (US yard waste 18%, food 7%) Decomposes within about 2 weeks (wood 10-15 years)
Radioactive: spent fuel rods and smoke detectors Decomposes in 100s of 1000s of years
Recyclable: paper (US 38%), glass (US 7%), metal (US 8%) and some plastics (US 8%) Pare decomp. in 10-30 days; glass no decomp.; metal
decomp. 100-500yrs; plastics up to 1 mil years to decompose
Soiled: hospital waste Cotton and cloth decomp. 2-5 months
Toxic: paints, chemicals, pesticides 100s of years to decompose
Solid Waste Disposal and ReductionBurning, incineration or energy recovery
Pros Heat supplements energy requirements Less landfill use Cheap Volume reduction US burns 15% of waste; France, Sweden, Japan and
Switzerland burns> 40%of their waste to heat and generate electricity
Cons Air pollution; metals, SO2, HCl and dioxins Unknown toxic consequences Ash concentrates toxins Batteries, plastics etc need sorting- expensive Expensive to build Adds to acid deposition and GHG emissions
Composting Pros cons
Remanufacturing Pros cons
Detoxifying Pros cons
Exporting Pros Cons
Land Disposal; Sanitary landfills Pros cons
Land Disposal; Open Dumping Pros cons
Ocean Dumping Pros cons
Recycling Pros cons
Reuse Pros cons
Solid Waste; Relevant laws