AIR POLLUTION CHAPTER 12. When harmful substances build up in the air it is called:...
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Transcript of AIR POLLUTION CHAPTER 12. When harmful substances build up in the air it is called:...
AIR POLLUTION
CHAPTER 12
• When harmful substances build up in the air it is called: ______________________________
– Air should have ________, _________, and small amounts of argon, CO2, and water vapor
2 kinds of air pollution
• PRIMARY – a pollutant put into the air by human activity– Electrical production.
Why?_________________– Industry– Transportation
• SECONDARY – when primary pollutants mix with other pollutants or other things in the air (like_______ ________) to make new pollutants
• SMOG
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
http://daac.gsfc.nasa.gov/oceancolor/locus/images/LA-smog-2.jpg
SMOG
• sunlight affecting and mixing with air, exhaust and ozone
• Hard to see
• Unhealthy to breathe
PRIMARY POLLUTANTS
• CO ______________• NOx _____________• SOx _____________• Particulate Matter• VOCs____________
CO
• Odorless, colorless gas
• Sources- cars, industry
• Interferes with the body’s ability to carry oxygen
Noxnitrongen oxide
• “brown” smog
• Sources- burning fuels in cars, power plants, industry
• Can contribute to respiratory problems, cancer, ACID RAIN
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
http://i.treehugger.com/images/2007/10/24/smog-jj-001.jpg
Soxsulfur dioxide
• “gray” smog
• Sources- burning fossil fuels, volcanic eruptions
• Contributes to ACID RAIN, secondary pollutants cause respiratory problems
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
http://www.epcc.pref.osaka.jp/apec/eng/history/images/ab11_01.gif
VOCs
• Volatile means :vaporize (evaporate) into the air easily, and form toxic fumes
• Sources- burning fuels and off-gassing solvents (dry-cleaning)
• Contribute to SMOG, cause health problems, harm plants
Particulates
• Tiny bits of liquid or solid matter in the air
• Sources- construction, forestry, fires, vehicles, household products
• Can cause respiratory problems, cancer, erode buildings
SECONDARY POLLUTANTSGround level
ozone
Wait a second…I thought we liked ozone?????
Ozone in the Stratosphere
• Helps protect the Earth from UV Rays
Ozone in the troposphere
• Pollutant• Causes respiratory
problems- asthma, shortness of breath, permanent lung injury
Ozone
• Energy from _________________ causes primary pollutants (NOx and VOCs) to interact and to attack O2
• Changes it to O3
• Worse in summer/ winter?
• Worse in urban/ rural areas?
What can be done about air pollution?
• Clean Air Act (1970, enhanced in 1990)– Regulates vehicle emissions- catalytic converters
– Outlawed lead in gasoline• 95% fewer emissions than 30 years ago
– Requires industry to clean and monitor emissions• Scrubbers (electrostatic precipitators)-remove
What can be done about air pollution?
• Emissions trading• Companies can only pollute so much• But can sell “extra” pollution rights
California’s Zero-emission vehicle program
• Adopted in 1990
• No tail-pipe emissions
• Hybrid cars
• Battery operated cars
• http://serc.carleton.edu/images/research_education/yellowstone/inversion.jpg
What can make air pollution worse?
• Temperature inversions
– Layers of HOT air on top of COLD air
– If colder air is on bottom, polluted air is trapped
– Examples: LA, Mexico City, Donora PA
Donora, PA 1948 at 12 noon
Major employer was a zinc smelting factory – lots of air pollution
• Temperature inversion + smog + no wind
• 20 people died• 7,000 ill from smog
• Spectators couldn’t see football players on field
Air Pollution and health
SHORT TERM• Headache• Nausea• Eye and nose
irritation• Coughing• Respiratory infections
LONG TERM• Emphysema• Lung cancer• Heart disease• Lung damage
Indoor air pollution
• Sick building syndrome
• Newer houses are so air tight that they _________________ pollutants inside/outside
Indoor air pollutants
• VOCs-– Paints – Cleaners– Dry cleaning
• Radon– Gas from breakdown of uranium in underground rocks– 2nd leading cause of cancer in U.S.
• Asbestos– Insulation and Fire Retardant– Causes asbestosis
Indoor air pollutants
• Moth balls• Air fresheners• Candles• Cigarettes/ pipes• Unvented stoves/ heaters, fireplaces• Dirty air conditioning ducts• Paints• Formaldehyde from new cabinets , furniture,
rugs• CO from faulty heaters
Other air pollution
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx_yWFQvJT4