Air Quality

1
Air Quality

• Brief History and Introduction to ENVH 440 Air
  Quality

2
Air Quality

• Note that the name of this course is air quality,
  not air pollution
• What might be the significance of this?

3
Air Quality Text

• Air Quality by Thad Godish, 3rd Ed.
• We will use this book extensively over the first
  half of the semester you must read or you will
  be left behind.

4
Air Pollution

• Of all the different types of pollution affecting
  human health, by far the most important is air
  pollution
• Why would we say this?
• Air pollutants enter the body (primarily) through
  which route? Why is that significant?

5
What is Air Quality?
6
Air Pollution

• Of all the major US EPA statute areas (air,
  water, pesticides, conservation, drinking water,
  toxic control, liability), it has been estimated
  that 86-96 of all social benefits stem from the
  regulation of air pollution.
• Therefore, the Clean Air Act of 1970 (and
  subsequent amendments, including the most recent
  in 1990) could be called the most successful
  environmental regulation in the U.S.

7
Air Pollution

• Is air pollution a modern phenomenon?
• No, air pollution has been a major nuisance for
  most of civilization.
• The air of the western world has not been as
  clean as it is now for a long time.

8
Air Pollution

• In ancient Rome, the statesman Seneca complained
  about "the stink, soot and heavy air" in the
  city.

9
Air Pollution

• In 1285 London's air was so polluted that Edward
  I established the world's first air pollution
  commission.
• Shelley wrote "Hell must be much like London, a
  smoky and populous city."

10
Air Pollution of London

• Historically, London is famous for air pollution
  daylight was so blocked that the middle of the
  day seemed like dusk (or even night-time at
  times).
• Dickens often wrote about the heavily polluted
  London skies.
• Deaths from Air Pollution were common place.

11
Air Pollution

• What might have been the roots of these polluted
  conditions?
• Industrialization
• Urbanization (whats the difference between these
  two?)
• Lack of knowledge about the effects of A.P. or
  lack of concern

12
Industrial Revolution

• Coal-fired equipment became the centerpiece of
  all industrialized cities in Europe and the U.S.
  (Industrialization)
• Open burning of rubbish was the preferred method
  of waste disposal (Urbanization)
• Transportation planes, trains and automobiles
  became more common. (Both)

13
What is Air Pollution?

• Particles, Vapors, or Gases dispersed in the air
  that may harm human health
• Pollutants that are either introduced into the
  air (primary pollutants),or
• Pollutants that are formed in the air (secondary
  pollutants)

14
Primary Issues For This Semester

• Air Pollution Sources
• Types of Air Pollutants
• Dispersion
• Inversions
• Regulations
• Air Pollution Effects
• Environmental Indicators of Pollution

15
Generation of Air Pollutants

• It is important to remember that air pollutants
  may be natural as well as man-made
  (anthropogenic). Well talk about this later.

16
6 Major Primary Pollutants

• Carbon Monoxide (CO)
• Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx)
• Particulates
• Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
• Hydrocarbons
• Lead
• You will need to commit these to memory

17
Secondary Pollutants

• Secondary air pollution occurs when weather
  conditions, like sunlight, low precipitation,
  moderate to high temperatures, and low winds,
  cause primary pollutants to react in the
  atmosphere to form secondary pollutants.
• The most common is photochemical smog which
  includes ozone

18
Pollutant Classes

• So tell me, what is the difference between
  primary (10) and secondary (20) pollutants?
• Are 10 more hazardous than 20?
• Are 10 more plentiful than 20?
• Are 10 more important, environmentally, than 20?

19
Dispersion

• Dispersion is simply the horizontal spread of an
  air pollutant from its point source
• Although not discussed extensively in this class,
  the color of the plume tells us much about the
  source and the content of the plume

20
Dispersion

• Dispersion is the single most important factor in
  determining threat to human health from Air
  Pollution!
• Lets all repeat that together
• Can anyone tell me why that might be?
• We will study various plumes to determine
  dispersion likelihoods

21
Inversions

• Inversions are thermal layers of atmosphere
• Does Western North Carolina experience
  inversions?
• How do inversions effect air pollutants?
• We will examine and study the effects of
  inversions

22
Local Inversions Jackson Paper
23
Environmental Indicators

• In E.H., we often study, measure, and analyze
  indicators of various types of pollution. Give
  me examples
• What might be some environmental indicators of
  air quality?
• Human health effects, dirty buildings, soil
  changes, plant damage, rubber damage, paint
  damage, corrosion, toxicant levels, etc.
• In this course, we will associate various
  indicators with certain pollutants

24
(No Transcript)
25
Acid Rain

• The predominant weather pattern in the U.S. is?
• West to East
• REPEAT
• Most air pollution occurs in the Midwest states
  Why and what is the significance to us?
• We will examine several climatic conditions that
  effect air pollution increase or decrease its
  negative effects

26
Acid Rain

• This pollution is picked up and carried
  east-ward.
• These pollutants react to form acids and other 20
  pollutants which are disseminated through rainfall

27
Acid Rain Reactions

• SO2 H2O ? H2SO4
• Sulfuric Acid makes up approximately 65 of the
  total of all acid rain
• NO H2O ? HNO3
• Nitric Acid makes up approximately 30 of the
  total of acid rain

28
Acid Rain Effects?
29
(No Transcript)
30
What does Acid Rain Do?

• Causes acidification of lakes and streams which
  subsequently damages aquatic life
• Contributes to damage of trees at high elevations

31
What Does Acid Rain Do?

• Contributes to damage of many sensitive forest
  soils.
• Accelerates the decay of building materials and
  paints, including irreplaceable buildings,
  statues, and sculptures that are part of our
  nation's cultural heritage

32
OZONE (O3)

• Generally, there are 2 types of ozone that we are
  concerned about in the atmosphere
• Tropospheric
• Stratospheric
• What is the difference in the two?

33
Human Effects
34
Health Effects of Air PollutantsExamples

• Carbon Monoxide reduces the bodys ability to
  utilize O2 aggravates cardiovascular diseases,
  may be fatal
• NOx respiratory irritation, flu like illnesses
• SO2 respiratory toxin
• Particulates respiratory irritant

35
Air Pollution Effects to Plants

• 2 Effects
• Damage
• Injury
• What is the difference?
• How are plants damaged/injured?
• How does this effect humans?
• We will examine closely, the effect that various
  pollutants have on plants and you will be asked
  to identify the pollutant based upon a picture or
  description of damage.

36
(No Transcript)
37
Air Pollution Impact to Structures

• Building materials affected
• limestone both from soiling building exteriors
  and actual damage to the building structure via
  acid rain
• Metals corrosion
• Fabrics weakening, loss of color
• Paint pits, fades, cracks, chips

38
Air Quality

• From an Environmental Health perspective, we must
  consider the health effects from both natural and
  anthropogenic A.P. sources to both the
  environment and humans.
• In order to do so, we must examine sources,
  effects, and controls.
• That will be the focus for most of this class

39
Questions for Thought

• What do you want to get out of this class?
• What are your biggest concerns with air quality?
• What do you do about air quality when the economy
  is down (depression or recession) and companies
  tell you that they will go out of business if
  theyre forced to comply with the CCA?

40
Questions for Thought

• What is the role of air quality for the
  environmental health professional?
• How do you feel about the global air quality
  issues like
• Global warming
• Ozone depletion
• Acid Rain