The Atmosphere and Air Quality. Gaseous Composition of the AtmosphereGaseous Composition of the...

The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality


• Gaseous Composition of the Gaseous Composition of the AtmosphereAtmosphereGas % Volume PPMN2 78.1 780,840O2 21.0 209,460Ar 0.93 9,340

CO2 0.035 350CO 0.00003 0.3Ne 0.0018 18He 0.00052 5.2

CH4 0.00014 1.4N2O 0.00005 0.5O3 0.000007 0.07


• Types of Urban Air PollutantsTypes of Urban Air Pollutants– Primary Pollutant - a pollutant Primary Pollutant - a pollutant

that directly enters the air as a that directly enters the air as a result of natural events or human result of natural events or human activitiesactivities


• Types of Urban Air PollutantsTypes of Urban Air Pollutants– Secondary Pollutant - a pollutant Secondary Pollutant - a pollutant

that is formed in the air through that is formed in the air through chemical reactions between or chemical reactions between or among primary pollutants or among primary pollutants or between primary pollutants and between primary pollutants and other gases in the atmosphereother gases in the atmosphere


• Chemical Classes of Urban Air Chemical Classes of Urban Air PollutantsPollutants– Carbon OxidesCarbon Oxides– Sulfur OxidesSulfur Oxides– Nitrogen OxidesNitrogen Oxides– Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)– Suspended Particulate Matter Suspended Particulate Matter

(SPM)(SPM)


• Chemical Classes of Urban Air Chemical Classes of Urban Air PollutantsPollutants– Photochemical OxidantsPhotochemical Oxidants

•OO33 (tropospheric ozone) (tropospheric ozone)

•HH22OO22 (hydrogen peroxide) (hydrogen peroxide)

•PANs (peroxyacetylnitrates) PANs (peroxyacetylnitrates)


• Chemical Classes of Urban Air Chemical Classes of Urban Air PollutantsPollutants– Radioactive SubstancesRadioactive Substances– Toxic MetalsToxic Metals


• Regulation of Urban Air Regulation of Urban Air PollutionPollution– Clean Air ActsClean Air Acts

•Passed in 1970, 1977, 1990Passed in 1970, 1977, 1990• Enacted federal air pollution Enacted federal air pollution

regulations that are enforced by regulations that are enforced by each stateeach state

• Established Established National Ambient Air National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)Quality Standards (NAAQS)


• Regulation of Urban Air PollutionRegulation of Urban Air Pollution– NAAQSNAAQS

• 7 Criteria Pollutants7 Criteria Pollutants– SPMsSPMs– Sulfur OxidesSulfur Oxides– Carbon MonoxideCarbon Monoxide– Nitrogen OxidesNitrogen Oxides– Tropospheric OzoneTropospheric Ozone– VOCsVOCs– LeadLead


• Regulation of Urban Aair Regulation of Urban Aair PollutionPollution– NAAQSNAAQS

•Primary NAAQS - standards Primary NAAQS - standards established to protect human healthestablished to protect human health

•Secondary NAAQS - standards Secondary NAAQS - standards established to protect all organismsestablished to protect all organisms

•Nonattainment Area - any area that Nonattainment Area - any area that does not meet primary or secondary does not meet primary or secondary NAAQS for a criteria pollutant NAAQS for a criteria pollutant


National Ambient Air Quality National Ambient Air Quality StandardsStandards

Carbon MonoxideCarbon Monoxide9 ppm over 8-hr period, not 9 ppm over 8-hr period, not to to be exceeded more than be exceeded more than once a once a year; 35-ppm for year; 35-ppm for 1-hr period1-hr period

Ozone Ozone 0.12 ppm for 1-hr period, not 0.12 ppm for 1-hr period, not to to be exceeded more than be exceeded more than once once per yearper year


National Ambient Air Quality National Ambient Air Quality StandardsStandards

Sulfur DioxideSulfur Dioxide 0.03 ppm annual 0.03 ppm annual average; 0.14 average; 0.14 ppm for 24-ppm for 24-hr period, not to be hr period, not to be exceeded more than once per exceeded more than once per

yearyear

Nitrogen OxidesNitrogen Oxides 0.05 ppm annual average0.05 ppm annual average


• Regulation of Urban Air PollutionRegulation of Urban Air Pollution– Criteria PollutantsCriteria Pollutants

• Tropospheric OzoneTropospheric Ozone– Source:Source: Chemical reactions between VOCs, Chemical reactions between VOCs,

nitrogen oxides, and sunlightnitrogen oxides, and sunlight– Health EffectsHealth Effects: Reduced lung function; asthma; : Reduced lung function; asthma;

congestioncongestion– Environmental ImpactsEnvironmental Impacts: Reduced visibility; : Reduced visibility;

plant damage, reduced photosynthesis and plant damage, reduced photosynthesis and nutrient uptake, crop destruction; forest nutrient uptake, crop destruction; forest diebacksdiebacks

– Property DamageProperty Damage: Rubber; plastics: Rubber; plastics



•Carbon MonoxideCarbon Monoxide– Source:Source: Incomplete combustion of fossil Incomplete combustion of fossil

fuelsfuels– Health EffectsHealth Effects: Reduced oxygen levels; : Reduced oxygen levels;

impaired visual perception; reduced lung impaired visual perception; reduced lung function; asthma; congestionfunction; asthma; congestion

– Environmental ImpactsEnvironmental Impacts: Reduced visibility; : Reduced visibility; plant damageplant damage

– Property DamageProperty Damage: Rubber; plastics: Rubber; plastics



•Nitrogen and Sulfur OxidesNitrogen and Sulfur Oxides– Source:Source: Incomplete combustion of fossil Incomplete combustion of fossil

fuelsfuels– Health EffectsHealth Effects: Lung damage; respiratory : Lung damage; respiratory

illnessesillnesses– Environmental ImpactsEnvironmental Impacts: Acid deposition; : Acid deposition;

plant damage; photochemical smog; crop plant damage; photochemical smog; crop destructiondestruction

– Property DamageProperty Damage: Enhanced chemical : Enhanced chemical weatheringweathering



•SPMsSPMs– Source:Source: Incomplete combustion of fossil Incomplete combustion of fossil

fuels; agriculture; unpaved roadsfuels; agriculture; unpaved roads– Health EffectsHealth Effects: Lung damage; respiratory : Lung damage; respiratory

illnessesillnesses– Environmental ImpactsEnvironmental Impacts: Reduced visibility : Reduced visibility

(haze(haze– Property DamageProperty Damage: Discoloration of clothing : Discoloration of clothing

and structuresand structures


• Regulation of Urban Air Regulation of Urban Air PollutionPollution– Criteria PollutantsCriteria Pollutants

• LeadLead– Source:Source: Leaded gasoline; lead paint; Leaded gasoline; lead paint;

smelters; lead-acid batteriessmelters; lead-acid batteries– Health EffectsHealth Effects: Damage to nervous system; : Damage to nervous system;

cancer; mental retardation; digestive cancer; mental retardation; digestive disordersdisorders

– Environmental ImpactsEnvironmental Impacts: Harmful to wildlife: Harmful to wildlife


• Photochemical (Brown-Air) Photochemical (Brown-Air) Smog Smog – A mixture of primary and A mixture of primary and

secondary pollutants (mostly secondary pollutants (mostly tropospheric ozone) formed tropospheric ozone) formed under the influence of sunlightunder the influence of sunlight


• Photochemical (Brown Air) Photochemical (Brown Air) SmogSmog– Factors of FormationFactors of Formation

• Topography Topography • Local climateLocal climate•Population densityPopulation density•Amount of industryAmount of industry• Industrial fuel types Industrial fuel types


• Industrial (Gray-Air) SmogIndustrial (Gray-Air) Smog– Mixture of sulfur dioxide, suspended Mixture of sulfur dioxide, suspended

droplets of sulfuric acid, and SPMsdroplets of sulfuric acid, and SPMs

– Found mostly in LDCs where coal Found mostly in LDCs where coal and heavy oils are burnedand heavy oils are burned•ChinaChina•UkraineUkraine• Eastern EuropeEastern Europe


• Acid DepositionAcid Deposition– The falling of acids and acid-The falling of acids and acid-

forming compounds from the forming compounds from the atmosphere to the Earth’s atmosphere to the Earth’s surfacesurface


• Acid DepositionAcid Deposition– ComponentsComponents

•Primary PollutantsPrimary Pollutants– Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)– Sulfur Oxides (SOx)Sulfur Oxides (SOx)

Secondary PollutantsSecondary Pollutants– Nitric Acid (HNONitric Acid (HNO33))

– Sulfuric Acid (HSulfuric Acid (H22SOSO44))


• Acid DepositionAcid Deposition– Acid SourcesAcid Sources

•Coal-burning power plantsCoal-burning power plants•SmeltersSmelters• FactorsFactors•Urban areasUrban areas


• Acid DepositionAcid Deposition– Environmental Impacts of Acid Environmental Impacts of Acid

DepositionDeposition•A A regional regional environmental problemenvironmental problem•Depends on Depends on buffering capacitybuffering capacity of of

soilssoils



DepositionDeposition•Damage to materials Damage to materials •Human healthHuman health•Aquatic EcosystemsAquatic Ecosystems

– Acid shockAcid shock– Aluminum toxicityAluminum toxicity– Formation of methlymercuryFormation of methlymercury

The atmosphere and The atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality


DepositionDeposition•Aquatic EcosystemsAquatic Ecosystems

– Fun FactsFun Facts» 16,000 lakes in Norway and Sweden 16,000 lakes in Norway and Sweden

contain no fishcontain no fish» 9,000 lakes in U.S. are threatened 9,000 lakes in U.S. are threatened

with excess acidity (most in the Great with excess acidity (most in the Great Lakes!)Lakes!)



DepositionDeposition• Terrestrial EcosystemsTerrestrial Ecosystems

– Most damage when pH < 5.1Most damage when pH < 5.1– Damage to tree foliage bathed in acidic Damage to tree foliage bathed in acidic

fogfog



DepositionDeposition• Terrestrial EcosystemsTerrestrial Ecosystems

– Increased susceptibility to various stressorsIncreased susceptibility to various stressors» Cold temperaturesCold temperatures» DiseasesDiseases» InsectsInsects» DroughtDrought» Depletion of plant nutrientsDepletion of plant nutrients


• Urban ClimateUrban Climate– Cities are generally warmer, Cities are generally warmer,

rainier, foggier, and cloudier than rainier, foggier, and cloudier than suburbs or rural areassuburbs or rural areas


• Urban ClimateUrban Climate– Cities generate enormous Cities generate enormous

amounts of heatamounts of heat•AutomobilesAutomobiles• FactoriesFactories• FurnacesFurnaces• Lights Lights •Air conditionersAir conditioners•PeoplePeople


• Urban ClimateUrban Climate– Urban Heat Island - the buildup of Urban Heat Island - the buildup of

heat in the atmosphere above an heat in the atmosphere above an urban areaurban area

Urban Heat Island Dust DomeUrban Heat Island Dust Dome


• Indoor Air PollutionIndoor Air Pollution– SourcesSources

•CombustionCombustion•Building materials and furnishingsBuilding materials and furnishings•Household cleaning productsHousehold cleaning products•Personal care productsPersonal care products•Central heating/cooling systemsCentral heating/cooling systems•Outside sources - radon gas and Outside sources - radon gas and

pesticidespesticides•Poor ventilationPoor ventilation


• Indoor Air PollutionIndoor Air Pollution– Most Dangerous Indoor Air Most Dangerous Indoor Air

PollutantsPollutants• FormaldehydeFormaldehyde•AsbestosAsbestos•Cigarette smokeCigarette smoke•Radon-222Radon-222• FiberglassFiberglass


• Indoor Air PollutionIndoor Air Pollution– Leading cause of cancerLeading cause of cancer– High-risk health problem for High-risk health problem for

humanshumans– ““Sick Building Syndrome”Sick Building Syndrome”

The Atmosphere and Air Quality. Gaseous Composition of the AtmosphereGaseous Composition of the...

Documents

Transcript of The Atmosphere and Air Quality. Gaseous Composition of the AtmosphereGaseous Composition of the...