Air Pollution

By: Brittani Tague

What is Air Pollution?

• It is the contamination of the air by lethal gases and minute particles of solid and liquid matter (particulates) in concentrations that endanger health.

What contributes to Air Pollution?• The major sources of air pollution are transportation engines,

power and heat generation, industrial processes, and the burning of solid waste.

• The burning of gasoline and other hydrocarbon fuels in automobiles, trucks, and jet airplanes produces several primary pollutants: nitrogen oxides, gaseous hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide, as well as large quantities of particulates.

• In the presence of sunlight, nitrogen oxides combine with hydrocarbons to form a secondary class of pollutants, the photochemical oxidants, among them ozone and the eye-stinging peroxyacetylnitrate (PAN).

• Nitrogen oxides also react with oxygen in the air to form nitrogen dioxide, a foul-smelling brown gas.

What contributes to Air Pollution? Pt. 2

• In cities, air is polluted by transportation and also by the burning of fossil fuels (oil and coal) in generating stations, factories, office buildings, and homes and by the burning garbage.

• The burning produces tons of ash, soot, and other particulates responsible for the gray smog of cities like New York and Chicago, along with enormous amounts of sulfur oxides.

• These oxides rust iron, damage building stone, decompose nylon, tarnish silver, and kill plants.

Different types of Air Pollution

• Ozone• Smog• Particle pollution/soot

How does Air Pollution effect our health?

• sulfur oxides=respiratory diseases. • Acid rain=high levels of sulfuric or nitric acids, can

contaminate drinking water and vegetation, damage aquatic life, and erode buildings.

• Indoor air pollution is a problem in developed countries, where insulation keeps pollutants trapped inside .

• In less developed nations, the lack of running water and indoor sanitation can encourage respiratory infections.

• Carbon monoxide drives oxygen out of the bloodstream, causes apathy, fatigue, headache, disorientation, and decreased muscular movements and visual perception.

Air pollution in York County

• York city was actually in the top 25 for worst air pollution according to the American Lung Association but it has subsided a little bit

• 66 Pennsylvania counties failed quality air tests for the number of high ozone and particle pollution days

• Soot is the most common type of air pollution in York County and is around all year

• Short-term and long-term pollutants remain unhealthy for more than 400,000 residents living in and around York City

• Coal plants are the largest contributors to particle pollution, ozone, mercury and global warming

What can we do to eliminate some air pollution?

• Tighter regulations made- EPA increased standards and required industry to clean up its act.

• limit exposure to pollutants• making sure living areas are well ventilated when

using coal and wood during cool months• avoiding cigarettes and other forms of smoke• reducing pollutants by driving less• not burning wood or trash and making repairs to

things such as vehicles and furnaces

Works Cited“50 Tips To Prevent Air Pollution.” www.kirotv.com. Green Living. 1 Mar. 09.

Bellin, Peter. Environmental Impact of Air. 12 Feb. 2009 http://www.csun.edu/~hchsc00b/468/468WK8.pdf

Morrison, Blake, and Brad Heath. Toxic air and America’s Schools/Health

Risks Stack Up. 08 Dec 2008. 2 Feb 2009 www.ebscohost.com

Socha, Tom. “Air Pollution Causes and Effects.” 11 Sept. 2007.28 Feb. 2009