Air pollution

Introduction

Air pollution is a combination of particles in the air; they contain harmful amounts of solid and gas particles. This occurs when the air contains harmful amount of gases, dust, fumes and odors.

Everyone on earth knows that air pollution is hazardous to health. The effects of air pollution can have devastating effects on your health and the environment.

1- http://eschooltoday.com/pollution/air-pollution/air-pollution-facts.html

2- http://ccair.org/facts-about-air-pollution/10-air-pollution-facts

Key reasons

Coal.

Natural gases.

Petroleum.

Green house gases (Carbon/Methane/Sulfur).

1- http://eschooltoday.com/pollution/air-pollution/air-pollution-facts.html

2- http://ccair.org/facts-about-air-pollution/10-air-pollution-facts

Air Pollution

Key facts

Fact 1: Inhaling Air pollution takes away at least 1-2 years of a typical human life.

Fact 2: Air pollution is not a recent occurrence. In 1952, the Great smog of London killed 8000 people.

Fact 3: 70% of the air pollution caused in Chinese cities is due to tailpipes. Fact 4: 5,000 premature deaths in Southern California are caused due to pollution from diesel trucks. Fact 5: Air pollution in California kills 25,000 people per year and costs $200 million worth of medical expenses.

1- Air Pollution Facts. (n.d.). Retrieved December 1, 2014, from

http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/various-air-pollution-facts.php

Factors causing

air pollution

3 Factors that cause air pollution

1. The first factor is the use of coal as energy.

2. The second factor is the use of natural gas as energy

3. The third factor is the use of petroleum as energy.

All three contribute to air pollution in our world today

Key point 1

Coal is made of hydrocarbons. These hydrocarbons are aromatic hydrocarbons Since coal has more carbon in relationship to hydrogen when used as energy it lets off a lot of soot. This soot gets in the atmosphere and contributes to air pollution.

1- (Wysession, Frank, Yancopoulos, 2004, p. 267).

Key point 2

Natural gas is made up of methane. It also contain other gases like: "ethane, propane and isomers of butane" When used as energy these gases are let in the atmosphere which contribute to air pollution.

1- (Wysession, Frank, Yancopoulos, 2004, p. 267).

Key point 3

Petroleum, like coal is made up of hydrocarbons, but it is very complex. In order for petroleum to be used it must be separated. When used as energy petroleum lets off residue that contributes to air pollution.

1- (Wysession, Frank, Yancopoulos, 2004, p. 267).

Green House Gases

1. The first "greenhouse gas" is Carbon dioxide.

2. The second "greenhouse gas is methane.

3. The third factor "greenhouse gas is sulfur dioxide.

All three contribute to air pollution in our world today.

1- (http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-

warming/pollution-overview/)

Key point 1

Carbon dioxide is "the main pollutant that is warming the Earth. This pollutant is put in air not only from living things, but mostly from machines that burn fossil fuels. Man by using these machines has put more carbon dioxide in the air and raised "its levels higher than they have been for hundreds of thousands of years."

1- "(http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-

warming/pollution-overview/)

Key point 2

Methane is a gas that comes primarily from animals like cows and sheep. It also come from natural environmental sources like swamps that let off this gas.

1- "(http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-

warming/pollution-overview/)

Key point 3

Sulfur dioxide is another gas that contributes to air pollution. This gas is found in smog, and smog is the outcome of burning fossil fuel in machines. As a gas that causes air pollution sulfur dioxide reflects " light when released in the atmosphere, which keeps sunlight out and causes Earth to cool." It also causes acid rain.

1- ."(http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-

warming/pollution-overview/)

Effects of air pollution

Pollutant Health effects

Nitrogen Dioxide

These gases irritate the airways of the lungs, increasing the symptoms of those suffering from lung diseases

Particles Fine particles can be carried deep into the lungs where they can cause inflammation and a worsening of heart and lung diseases | | effects on breathing and respiratory

systems, damage to lung tissue, cancer, and premature death. The elderly, children, and people with chronic lung disease, influenza, or asthma, tend to be especially

sensitive to the effects of particulate matter.

Carbon Monoxide

This gas prevents the uptake of oxygen by the blood. This can lead to a significant reduction in the supply of oxygen to the heart, particularly in people suffering from

heart disease

Ozone Ozone triggers asthma attacks and makes existing asthma worse. It may also lead to the development of asthma in children. Significantly reduces lung function and

induces respiratory inflammation.

Sulfur Dioxide

Breathing, respiratory illness, alterations in pulmonary defenses, and aggravation of existing cardiovascular disease.

Reference: http://www.epa.gov/region07/air/quality/health.htm http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/air-pollution/effects

Effects of air pollution

Pollutant Effects on environment

Nitrogen Dioxide

Nitrogen oxides in the air are a potentially significant contributor to a number of environmental effects such as acid rain and eutrophication in coastal waters

like the Chesapeake Bay. Eutrophication occurs when a body of water suffers an increase in nutrients that reduce the amount of oxygen in the water,

producing an environment that is destructive to fish and other animal life.

Particles Particles can be carried over long distances by wind and then settle on ground or water. The effects of this settling include: making lakes and streams acidic;

changing the nutrient balance in coastal waters and large river basins; depleting the nutrients in soil; damaging sensitive forests and farm crops; and

affecting the diversity of ecosystems.

Carbon Monoxide

This gas prevents the uptake of oxygen by the blood. This can lead to a significant reduction in the supply of oxygen to the heart, particularly in people

suffering from heart disease

Ozone Ozone is also responsible for several billion dollars of agricultural crop yield loss in the U.S. each year. Ozone also damages forest ecosystems in California and

the eastern U.S.

Sulfur Dioxide Together, SO2 and NOX are the major precursors to acid rain, which is associated with the acidification of lakes and streams, accelerated corrosion of

buildings and monuments, and reduced visibility.

Reference: http://www.epa.gov/region07/air/quality/health.htm http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/air-pollution/effects

Analysis

Why Air pollution is a Global issue?

Analysis

http://epi.yale.edu/pollution-map/

Conserve Energy. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Use energy efficient devices . Improve manufacturing processes Restriction on maximum environmental release based on

relative toxicity

Solutions

Solution #1

Saving energy means decreasing the amount of energy used while achieving a similar outcome of end use.

Using less energy has lots of benefits you can save money and help the environment. Therefore, using

less energy helps us to preserve these resources and

make them last longer in the future.

Solution #2

Reduce means using fewer resources in the first place. Reduce the amount of waste you produce by buying minimally packaged goods.

Reuse Before you recycle or dispose of anything, consider whether it has life left in it.

Recycle keeps resources from being used for a while longer, and from entering the waste stream.

For every pound of waste you eliminate or recycle, you save energy and reduce emissions of CO2 by at least 1 pound.

Solution #3

Efficient appliances don't just save you money; they're good for the environment. The less energy we all use, the

lower our demand on power plants, which means less

pollution.

Solution #4

Toxic air pollutants, or air toxics, are known to cause or are suspected of causing cancer, birth defects,

reproduction problems, and other serious illnesses.

In many countries, factories are obligated to abide by certain environmental laws; others must implement their

own self-imposed methods to stop pollution.

Simple ways to prevent pollution

References

Air Pollution Comes From Many Sources. In National Geographic.

Retrieved December 8, 2014, from http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/pollution-overv iew/.

Reema - http://www.npi.gov.au/reducing-pollution http://www.canadianliving.com/life/green_living/top_10_ways_to_re

duce_air_pollution_2.php http://web.mit.edu/12.000/www/m2015/2015/solutions_for_industria

l_pollution.html Simple Day to Day Solutions -

http://zerowaste.uoregon.edu/Pollution_Prevention.htm Basel- Hsu, A., & Zomer, A. (2014, June 11). An Interactive Air-

Pollution Map. Retrieved from http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/06/the-air-we-breathe/372411/