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AirAir

Chapter 12Chapter 12

What Causes Air PollutionWhat Causes Air Pollution

1273- King Edward I banned burning lignite 1273- King Edward I banned burning lignite (a form of dirty coal) because of air pollution.(a form of dirty coal) because of air pollution.

Air pollution- the contamination of the Air pollution- the contamination of the atmosphere by waste from sources such as atmosphere by waste from sources such as industrial pollution and car exhaust.industrial pollution and car exhaust.– Can be in the form of solid, liquids, or gasesCan be in the form of solid, liquids, or gases– Some pollution is natural- dust, pollen, spores, Some pollution is natural- dust, pollen, spores,

and sulfur dioxide.and sulfur dioxide.


Primary pollutants- pollutants put directly Primary pollutants- pollutants put directly into the atmosphere by human or natural into the atmosphere by human or natural activity. (ex. Smoke)activity. (ex. Smoke)

Secondary pollutants- a pollutant that forms Secondary pollutants- a pollutant that forms from a chemical reaction with primary from a chemical reaction with primary pollutants, natural components in the pollutants, natural components in the atmosphere, or bothatmosphere, or both


Sources of primary pollutants-Sources of primary pollutants-– Vehicles and Coal burning power plantsVehicles and Coal burning power plants

Carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide (NOx), particulatesCarbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide (NOx), particulates

– Power plants-Power plants- Sulfur oxide (Sox)Sulfur oxide (Sox)

– Vehicles and gas stations-Vehicles and gas stations- Volatile organic compounds (VOC’s)Volatile organic compounds (VOC’s)

– Course particulatesCourse particulates Cement plants, mining, incinerators, wood-burning Cement plants, mining, incinerators, wood-burning

fireplaces, fields, and roadsfireplaces, fields, and roads


Controlling vehicle emissionsControlling vehicle emissions– 2.6 million miles driven in 1996 (90% by 2.6 million miles driven in 1996 (90% by

passenger vehicles)passenger vehicles)– Clean Air Act (1970 & 1990)- gave the EPA the Clean Air Act (1970 & 1990)- gave the EPA the

authority to control vehicle emissions.authority to control vehicle emissions. Declined lead in fuel= decrease in lead emissionsDeclined lead in fuel= decrease in lead emissions Catalytic converter- decreased the emissions coming Catalytic converter- decreased the emissions coming

out of the tail pipe of the carout of the tail pipe of the car


Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV)Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV)– Electric carsElectric cars– Hydrogen fuel cellsHydrogen fuel cells


Industrial pollutionIndustrial pollution– Power plants produce 2/3Power plants produce 2/3rdrd of the SOx and 1/3 of the SOx and 1/3rdrd

of the NOx of the NOx – Scrubbers are used to remove pollutant gases Scrubbers are used to remove pollutant gases

from industrial emissionsfrom industrial emissions


Smog results from a Smog results from a chemical reaction chemical reaction between sunlight, air, between sunlight, air, automobile exhaust, automobile exhaust, and ozone.and ozone.

What Causes Air PollutionWhat Causes Air Pollution Temperature Inversion- Air normally cools Temperature Inversion- Air normally cools

with altitude, but when a temperature with altitude, but when a temperature inversion occurs warm air rides on top of inversion occurs warm air rides on top of cooler air.cooler air.

Air, Light, and Noise PollutionAir, Light, and Noise Pollution

Short term effects of air pollutionShort term effects of air pollution– HeadacheHeadache– NauseaNausea– Irritation to eyes, nose, throatIrritation to eyes, nose, throat– Tightness in chestTightness in chest– CoughingCoughing– Upper respiratory infectionsUpper respiratory infections


Long-term health effects of air pollutionLong-term health effects of air pollution– EmphysemaEmphysema– Lung cancerLung cancer– Heart diseaseHeart disease


Indoor air quality is frequently much worse Indoor air quality is frequently much worse than outdoor air quality because air than outdoor air quality because air movement is decreased indoors.movement is decreased indoors.

Sick-building syndrome= buildings with very Sick-building syndrome= buildings with very poor air qualitypoor air quality

Methods of improving indoor air qualityMethods of improving indoor air quality– VentilationVentilation– Mixing indoor air with outdoor airMixing indoor air with outdoor air– Removing the pollutants Removing the pollutants


Indoor Air PollutionIndoor Air Pollution– Radon Gas- colorless, odorless, and tasteless Radon Gas- colorless, odorless, and tasteless

radioactive gas.radioactive gas.– Asbestos- a chemical compound that is used for Asbestos- a chemical compound that is used for

insulation and as a fire retardant. It can be insulation and as a fire retardant. It can be classified as a carcinogen (cancer causing classified as a carcinogen (cancer causing agent)agent)


Light PollutionLight Pollution– No human health hazardsNo human health hazards– Negative affect on the environmentNegative affect on the environment– Wasted energy with lights projecting up in to the Wasted energy with lights projecting up in to the

atmosphereatmosphere


Noise PollutionNoise Pollution– Can affect human Can affect human

health and the quality health and the quality of lightof light

– As sound over 120dB As sound over 120dB can cause permanent can cause permanent hearing loss.hearing loss.

Acid PrecipitationAcid Precipitation Acid precipitation is any rain sleet or snow Acid precipitation is any rain sleet or snow

with high levels of acid dissolved into it.with high levels of acid dissolved into it.– pH is a measure of how acidic or basic a pH is a measure of how acidic or basic a

substance is. (1-6.9 is acid-7 is neutral-7.1-12 is substance is. (1-6.9 is acid-7 is neutral-7.1-12 is base)base)

Acid PrecipitationAcid Precipitation


Acidification- the lowering of the pH of the Acidification- the lowering of the pH of the soilsoil– Kills plantsKills plants– Washes away nutrientsWashes away nutrients

Acid is aquatic ecosystemsAcid is aquatic ecosystems– Acid Shock- rapid change in the pH of waterAcid Shock- rapid change in the pH of water

Kills large #’s of fish and amphibiansKills large #’s of fish and amphibians Limestone is spread on some lakes to counteract the Limestone is spread on some lakes to counteract the

effects of decrease in pH.effects of decrease in pH.


Acid precipitations affects on humansAcid precipitations affects on humans– Can cause health problemsCan cause health problems

Increase in respiratory problemsIncrease in respiratory problems

– Destroy buildings made of concrete and Destroy buildings made of concrete and limestone limestone

To control acid precipitation international To control acid precipitation international cooperation is needed.cooperation is needed.– Canada- U.S. Air Quality Agreement 1991Canada- U.S. Air Quality Agreement 1991

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Documents

pollutants air

cooler air

air movement

outdoor air quality

poor air qualitymethods

warm air rides

air pollution1273 king

noise pollutionair