Air PollutionAir Pollution

Clean AirClean AirConsists of Consists of Nitrogen 78%Nitrogen 78% Oxygen 21%Oxygen 21% Argon, COArgon, CO22, Water vapor 1%, Water vapor 1%

Air PollutionAir Pollution When harmful substances end up in When harmful substances end up in

the air at unhealthy levelsthe air at unhealthy levels

PrimarilyPrimarily human activities human activities

BUT can come from BUT can come from naturalnatural sourcessources dust, pollen, sporesdust, pollen, spores

VolcanoVolcano particles, SO particles, SO22

Types of PollutantsTypes of PollutantsPrimary PollutantPrimary PollutantSecondary PollutantSecondary Pollutant

Primary PollutantsPrimary PollutantsPut into air by human activityPut into air by human activity

Examples:Examples: carbon monoxide (CO)carbon monoxide (CO)

sulfur oxides (SOsulfur oxides (SOxx))

nitrogen oxides (NOnitrogen oxides (NOxx))

volatile organic compounds (VOCs)volatile organic compounds (VOCs)particulate matter (PM)particulate matter (PM)

Major Sources of Primary Major Sources of Primary PollutantsPollutants

Stationary SourcesStationary Sources Combustion of fuels for power and heat – Combustion of fuels for power and heat –

Power PlantsPower Plants Other burning such as Wood & crop burning Other burning such as Wood & crop burning

or forest firesor forest fires Industrial/ commercial processesIndustrial/ commercial processes Solvents and aerosolsSolvents and aerosols

Mobile SourcesMobile Sources Highway: cars, trucks, buses and motorcyclesHighway: cars, trucks, buses and motorcycles Off-highway: aircraft, boats, farm equipment, Off-highway: aircraft, boats, farm equipment,

construction machinery .construction machinery .

Nitrogen Dioxide (NONitrogen Dioxide (NO22)) PropertiesProperties:: reddish brown gas, formed as reddish brown gas, formed as

fuel burnt in car, strong oxidizing agent, fuel burnt in car, strong oxidizing agent, forms Nitric acid in airforms Nitric acid in air

EffectsEffects:: acid rain, lung and heart acid rain, lung and heart problems, decreased visibility (yellow problems, decreased visibility (yellow haze), suppresses plant growthhaze), suppresses plant growth

SourcesSources:: fossil fuels combustion, power fossil fuels combustion, power plants, forest fires, volcanoes, bacteria in plants, forest fires, volcanoes, bacteria in soilsoil

ClassClass:: Nitrogen oxides (NO Nitrogen oxides (NOxx)) (Environmental Protection Agency) EPA(Environmental Protection Agency) EPA

StandardStandard:: 0.053 ppm 0.053 ppm

Carbon Monoxide (CO)Carbon Monoxide (CO) PropertiesProperties:: colorless, odorless, heavier than colorless, odorless, heavier than

air, 0.0036% of atmosphereair, 0.0036% of atmosphere EffectsEffects:: binds tighter to Hb than Obinds tighter to Hb than O22, mental , mental

functions and visual acuity, even at low functions and visual acuity, even at low levelslevels

Sources:Sources: incomplete combustion of fossil incomplete combustion of fossil fuels 60 - 95% from auto exhaustfuels 60 - 95% from auto exhaust

ClassClass:: carbon oxides (COcarbon oxides (CO22, CO), CO) EPAEPA StandardStandard:: 9 ppm 9 ppm 5.5 billion tons enter atmosphere/year5.5 billion tons enter atmosphere/year

Suspended Particulate Matter Suspended Particulate Matter PropertiesProperties:: particles suspended in air particles suspended in air ..

EffectsEffects:: lung damage, mutagenic, lung damage, mutagenic, carcinogenic, teratogeniccarcinogenic, teratogenic

Sources:Sources: burning coal or diesel, burning coal or diesel, volcanoes, factories, unpaved roads, volcanoes, factories, unpaved roads, pollen, spores, burning fieldspollen, spores, burning fields

ClassClass:: SPM: dust, soot, asbestos, lead, SPM: dust, soot, asbestos, lead, dioxins, pesticidesdioxins, pesticides

EPA StandardEPA Standard:: 50 ug/m 50 ug/m33 (annual mean) (annual mean)

VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) PropertiesProperties:: organic compounds (hydrocarbons) that organic compounds (hydrocarbons) that

evaporate easily . evaporate easily . EffectsEffects:: eye and respiratory irritants; carcinogenic; eye and respiratory irritants; carcinogenic;

liver, CNS, or kidney damage; damages plants; lowered liver, CNS, or kidney damage; damages plants; lowered visibility due to brown haze; global warmingvisibility due to brown haze; global warming

Sources:Sources: vehiclesvehicles (largest source),(largest source), evaporation of evaporation of solvents or fossil fuels, aerosols, paint thinners, dry solvents or fossil fuels, aerosols, paint thinners, dry cleaningcleaning

ClassClass:: HAPs (Hazardous Air Pollutants) HAPs (Hazardous Air Pollutants) MethaneMethane BenzeneBenzene Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), etc.Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), etc.

Concentrations indoors up to 1000x outdoorsConcentrations indoors up to 1000x outdoors 600 million tons of CFCs 600 million tons of CFCs

Sulfur Dioxide (SOSulfur Dioxide (SO22)) PropertiesProperties:: colorless gas with irritating colorless gas with irritating

odorodor EffectsEffects:: produces acid rain (H produces acid rain (H22SOSO44), ),

breathing difficulties .breathing difficulties . SourcesSources:: burning high sulfur coal or oil, burning high sulfur coal or oil,

smelting or metals, paper manufacturesmelting or metals, paper manufacture ClassClass:: sulfur oxides sulfur oxides EPA StandardEPA Standard:: 0.3 ppm (annual mean) 0.3 ppm (annual mean) Combines with water and NHCombines with water and NH44 to increase to increase

soil fertilitysoil fertility

Secondary PollutantsSecondary PollutantsWhen a primary pollutant comes When a primary pollutant comes

in contact with another primary in contact with another primary pollutant OR with naturally pollutant OR with naturally occurring substances and a occurring substances and a chemical reaction takes place.chemical reaction takes place.

Ex:Ex: O O22 reacts w/ VOCs reacts w/ VOCs O O33

Photochemical SmogPhotochemical Smog

Primary Pollutants

NO2 + Hydrocarbons

Auto Emissions

UV radiation

H2O + O2

Secondary Pollutants

HNO3 O3

nitric acid ozone

Photochemical Smog

Pollution on WheelsPollution on Wheels

Cars/ VehiclesCars/ Vehicles

Car exhaust Car exhaust Major Source Major Source

Gasoline burnsGasoline burns NO NO22, CO, CO22, CO, , CO,

HCs releasedHCs released

Fuel Tanks Fuel Tanks VOCs released VOCs released when being filledwhen being filled

IndustryIndustry Industries and Industries and

power plants power plants burn fossil burn fossil fuels fuels large large amounts of amounts of oxides releasedoxides released

Industrial PollutionIndustrial Pollution Electric Power plant Electric Power plant 2/3 of 2/3 of

SO2, 1/3 NOs, 1/3 particulatesSO2, 1/3 NOs, 1/3 particulates Petroleum RefineriesPetroleum Refineries Use VOCs Use VOCs crude oil to gasoline crude oil to gasoline

Auto & Airplane Auto & Airplane VOCs when VOCs when paintingpainting

Thermal InversionThermal InversionCool air traps pollution Cool air traps pollution

because air above is because air above is warmer.warmer.

Normal ConditionNormal Condition

Thermal InversionThermal Inversion

Effects on Human HealthEffects on Human Health

Diseases Linked to PollutionDiseases Linked to Pollution

Chronic BronchitisChronic BronchitisAsthmaAsthmaEmphysemaEmphysemaLung CancerLung Cancer

Possible Health EffectsPossible Health Effects Pollution aggravates existing Pollution aggravates existing

respiratory diseases. respiratory diseases. DeathDeath resp. disease, not air resp. disease, not air pollution .pollution .

Who is at RISK ?Who is at RISK ?Old, Young, Smokers, Old, Young, Smokers,

People with lung & heart diseasePeople with lung & heart disease

Body’s DefenseBody’s Defense The body has natural defensesThe body has natural defenses Skin, hairs in the nose, mucus, Skin, hairs in the nose, mucus,

cilia in the resp tract cilia in the resp tract sneezing sneezing & coughing & coughing

ImmunityImmunity

Pollution breaks down body’sPollution breaks down body’s

natural defensesnatural defenses

Indoor Air PollutionIndoor Air Pollution Is it safer indoors or outdoors?Is it safer indoors or outdoors?

We live 70% - 98 % of our We live 70% - 98 % of our time indoorstime indoors

Indoor Air Indoor Air High pollution High pollution

WHY?WHY? Many home products give off Many home products give off

fumesfumes Air circulation is poorAir circulation is poor Buildings are tightly sealedBuildings are tightly sealed

open windows pollution will open windows pollution will circulate & move out .circulate & move out .

Sick Building SyndromeSick Building SyndromeBuildings Buildings Have poor air qualityHave poor air quality Are tightly sealed to keep out heatAre tightly sealed to keep out heat

Occupants have persistent Occupants have persistent symptoms that disappear when symptoms that disappear when they go outsidethey go outside

Main Indoor PollutantsMain Indoor Pollutants

1.1. Formaldehyde,Formaldehyde, a toxic gas, a toxic gas, emitted from furniture, carpets, emitted from furniture, carpets, plywood, cabinets, countertopsplywood, cabinets, countertops

½ mobile homes have high ½ mobile homes have high levelslevels

Indoor Pollutants Indoor Pollutants (cont’d)(cont’d)

2.2. Asbestos Asbestos fibers containing silica fibers containing silica stick to lungs & cause scarringstick to lungs & cause scarring when inhaledwhen inhaled ASBESTOSIS ASBESTOSIS ( difficulty breathing & death due ( difficulty breathing & death due to heart failure) to heart failure)

Asbestos Asbestos insulation, floor tiles, insulation, floor tiles, ceilings, fire proof materials.ceilings, fire proof materials.

Indoor Pollutants Indoor Pollutants (cont’d)(cont’d)

3.3. Radon Gas: Radon Gas: colorless, odorless, colorless, odorless, radioactive gas radioactive gas radium in soil radium in soil breaks down and enters homes breaks down and enters homes through basementsthrough basements

- Sticks to air & enters persons Sticks to air & enters persons lungslungs

- Long exposureLong exposure cancer cancer

Indoor PollutantsIndoor Pollutants (cont’d)(cont’d)

4.4. MicroorganismsMicroorganisms

Ex: bacteria, fungi and Ex: bacteria, fungi and mold stick to ventilation mold stick to ventilation ductsducts

Indoor PollutantsIndoor Pollutants (cont’d)(cont’d)

5.5. Cigarette smokeCigarette smoke

Deadliest of all Deadliest of all particulates, particulates, gases and other chemicalsgases and other chemicals

Controlling Air PollutionControlling Air Pollution

1.1. Regulate emissionsRegulate emissions

2.2. Use unleaded gasoline.Use unleaded gasoline.

3.3. Catalytic convertersCatalytic converters exhaust becomes exhaust becomes less harmfulless harmful

4.4. Alternative fuelsAlternative fuels solar, battery, H solar, battery, H22 Nat. Nat.

Gas, EthanolGas, Ethanol