common environmental factors air pollution noise pollution soil and water pollution and related...
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Common Environmental FactorsAir Pollution Noise PollutionSoil and Water Pollution and Related
Contamintants
i) Air Pollution a) Carbon Monoxide (CO)
- Clear, odourless gas; results from partially burning organic material without enough oxygen; released when people smoke, use spray paint, pain remover, etc.
Air Pollutionb) Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)
- smells; results from burning fuels that contain sulphur
- Example: fossil fuels (oil, coal); volcanoes release SO2; 90% SO2 in North America comes from human activity; can combine with different chemicals in air and form harmful contaminants ie) sulphuric acid – in acid rain
c) Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) - formed when oxygen reacts with Nitrogen at high temperatures; almost all NOx comes from burning fossil fuels in automobile engines and at power stations; cigarette smoke etc; can also react with different chemicals in air to form other contaminants......
Air Pollution
Air Pollutiond) Particulate Matter
- results from many different human activities- air outside can contain: ash from factory smokestacks, smoke from forest fires, manure, soil, fertilizer particles- air inside can contain: fibreglass particles, concrete and wood dust- irritating to skin and respiratory system; acts as vehicle for other harmful contaminants ie) nitric and sulphuric acid
o SO2 + NOx + particulate matter = sulphuric acid (H2SO4), causing acid rain
o Acid Rain lakes too acidic to support aquatic life; reacts with limestone and damages buildings and monuments
e) Hydrocarbons and Photochemical Smog- Hydrocarbons: combination of hydrogen &
carbon that evaporates from fuel, such as gasoline, left over fuels that only partially combusted; only cause health effects to humans when combined with other pollutants - ex. photochemcial smog – ultraviolet radiation
from the sun helps hydrocarbons to combine with NOx to produce photochemical smog photochemical smog: has ozone (O3) and nitrates in
it Ozone destroys plants and injures human lungs Nitrate irritates eyes
Air Pollution
Air Pollution
Overall, large cities surrounded by mountains suffer most; mountains prevent wind from blowing smog away; Calgary, Vancouver, and Los Angeles all receive significant smog when west wind does not disperse airborne pollutants
Air Pollution
Ultraviolet Radiation (UV Rays)Assists in forming photochemical smog & impacts on human
health on its own Form of energy that sun emits; type of electromagnetic
radiationCan cause cell damage & deformities in living organisms (so
much energy in waves)3 types: UVA, UVB, UVC
UVC has most energy = most dangerous; UVA least energetic
Air Pollution: UV RaysOzone layer used to filter out 99% of UV rays, has been
depleted by Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) from human built mechanisms (fridges, air conditions, etc) = more UV rays penetrating earths surface CFC’s no longer being used in most appliances but
already existing ones will continue to erode ozone layer for years until they eventually break down
Chlorofluorocarbons: group of air pollutants called Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) = global warming
GHG Contribution to Global Warming (%)
Carbon Dioxide 60
Chlorofluorocarbons 22
Methane 12
Nitrous Oxide 6
Air Pollutionmore heat = number and strength of
hurricanes and storms increaseextreme heat waves are more common now
Example: Europe, 2003 – caused drought in southern Europe and over 30,000 people died because of heat
Air PollutionIncrease temperature = effect on living organisms
at north and south poles Global Warming = reduce sea ice in arctic ~ ice
reflects sun’s heat back into atmosphere & open water absorbs heat, therefore more heat is being retained Polar Bears need ice to hunt seals and other prey = may
not survive Global Warming
Sources of emissions of air pollutants: