CHAPTER 12: AIR AND AIR POLLUTION

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CHAPTER 12 AIR AND AIR POLLUTION

• LICHENS AND CANARIES ARE INDICATOR SPECIES

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Figure 12-2Page 256
Atmospheric pressure (millibars)
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
120
75
110
65
Thermosphere
100
90
55
80
Heating via ozone
45
Mesosphere
70
60
Altitude (miles)
Altitude (kilometers)
35
50
Stratosphere
40
25
30
15
Ozone layer
20
Heating from the earth
Troposphere
10
5
Pressure 1,000 millibars at ground level
0
80
40
0
40
80
120
(Sea Level)
Temperature (C)
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Figure 12-3Page 257
40
25
35
20
Stratosphere
30
25
Stratospheric ozone
15
Altitude (kilometers)
Altitude (miles)
20
10
15
10
5
Troposphere
5
0
0
0
5
10
15
20
Ozone concentration (ppm)
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Figure 12-4Page 258
Primary Pollutants
CO
CO2
Secondary Pollutants
SO2
NO
NO2
SO3
Most hydrocarbons
HNO3
H2SO4
Most suspended particles
H2O2
O3
PANs
Most
and
salts
Natural
Sources
Stationary
Mobile
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Figure 12-5Page 260
Solar radiation
Ultraviolet radiation
NO Nitric oxide
O2 Molecular oxygen
NO2 Nitrogen dioxide
H2O Water
O Atomic oxygen
Hydrocarbons
PANs Peroxyacyl nitrates
O3 Ozone
Aldehydes (e.g., formaldehyde)
HNO3 Nitric acid
Photochemical smog
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Figure 12-6 (1)Page 261
40
Nitric oxide
Nitrogen dioxide
Ozone
30
20
Parts per million
10
0
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
A.M.
Noon
P.M.
Time
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Figure 12-6 (2)Page 261
Smoggy day
Clear day
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Figure 12-7Page 261
Ultra Fine Particles
Fine Particles
Large Particles
Sea salt nuclei
PARTICLE SIZE OF A POLLUTANT IS IMPORTANT
Fly ash
Carbon black
Pollens
Paint pigments
Tobacco smoke
Cement dust
Milled flour
Combustion nuclei
Coal dust
Oil smoke
Metallurgical dust and fumes
Photochemical smog
Insecticide dusts
0.001
0.01
2.5
10.0
100.0
Average particle diameter (micrometers or microns)
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Figure 12-8 (1)Page 263
Warmer air
Inversion layer
Cool layer
Mountain
Mountain
Valley
Inversion layer
Mountain range
Figure 12-8 (2)Page 263
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Figure 12-9Page 264
Wind
Transformation to sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and
nitric acid (HNO3)
Windborne ammonia gas and particles of cultivated
soil partially neutralize acids and form dry
sulfate and nitrate salts
Wet acid deposition (droplets of H2SO4 and HNO3
dissolved in rain and snow)
Dry acid deposition (sulfur dioxide gas and
particles of sulfate and nitrate salts)
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) and NO
Nitric oxide (NO)
Acid fog
Farm
Ocean
Lakes in shallow soil low in limestone become acid
ic
Lakes in deep soil high in limestone are buffered
ACID RAIN IS A BIG PROBLEM IN THE NE U.S. FOR
FRESHWATER LAKES, RIVERS AND STREAMS
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Figure 12-10Page 265
Potential problem areas because of sensitive soils
Potential problem areas because of air
pollution emissions leading to acid deposition
Current problem areas (including lakes and rivers)
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Figure 12-11Page 266
Water boatman
Whirligig
Yellow perch
Lake trout
Brown trout
Salamander (embryonic)
Mayfly
Smallmouth bass
Mussel
6.5
6.0
5.5
5.0
4.5
4.0
3.5
pH
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Figure 12-12Page 267
Emission
Acid deposition
SO2 H2O2 PANs
NOX O3 Others
Increased Susceptibility to drought, extreme
cold, insects, mosses, and disease organisms
Direct damage to leaves and bark
Reduced photosynthesis and growth
Soil acidification
Tree death
Reduced nutrient and water uptake
Leaching of soil nutrients
Release of toxic metal icons
Root damage
Acid
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Figure 12-13Page 268
Prevention
Cleanup
Reduce air pollution by improving
energy efficiency
Add lime to neutralize acidified lakes
Add phosphate fertilizer to neutralize acidified
lakes
Reduce coal use
Increase natural gas use
Increase use of renewable resources
Burn low-sulfur coal
Remove SO2 particulates, and NOx from
smokestack gases
Remove Nox from motor vehicular exhaust
Tax emissions of SO2
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Figure 12-15 Page 270
Outlet vents for furnaces and dryers
Open window
Opening around pipes
Cracks in wall
Slab joints
Wood stove
Cracks in floor
Sump pump
Clothes dryer
Furnace
Slab
Radon-222 gas
Uranium-238
Soil
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Figure 12-16 (1)Page 271
Nasal cavity
Oral cavity
Pharynx (throat)
(see figure 17.18b)
Trachea (windpipe)
Bronchus
Right lung
Bronchioles
(see figure 17.18c)
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
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Figure 12-18Page 275
Prevention
Dispersion or Cleanup
Burn low-sulfur coal
Disperse emissions above thermal inversion layer
with tall smokestacks
Remove sulfur from coal
Convert coal to a liquid or gaseous fuel
Remove pollutants after combustion
Shift to less polluting fuels
Tax each unit of pollution produced
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Figure 12-20Page 276
Prevention
Cleanup
Mass transit
Emission control devices
Bicycles and walking
Less polluting engines
Less polluting fuels
Car exhaust Inspections twice a year
Improve fuel efficiency
Get older, polluting cars off the road
Give buyers tax write- offs for buying
low- polluting, energy- efficient vehicles
Restrict driving in polluted areas
Stricter emission standards
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Figure 12-21Page 277
Prevention
Cleanup or Dilution
Cover ceiling tiles and lining of AC ducts
to prevent release of mineral fibers
Use adjustable fresh air vents for work spaces
Ban smoking or limit it to well- ventilated areas
Increase intake of outside air
Set stricter formaldehyde emissions standards
for carpet, furniture, and building materials
Change air more frequently
Circulate buildings air through
rooftop greenhouses
Prevent radon infiltration
Use exhaust hoods for stoves and appliances
burning natural gas
Use office machines in well-ventilated areas
Use less polluting substitutes for harmful cleanin
g agents, paints, and other products
Install efficient chimneys for wood-burning stoves
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Figure 12-22Page 278
Outdoor Air Pollution
Indoor Air Pollution
Improve energy efficiency to reduce fossil
fuel use Rely more on lower-polluting natural
gas Rely more on renewable energy (especially
solar cells, wind, and solar- produced
hydrogen) Transfer technologies for latest
energy efficiency, renewable energy, and
pollution prevention to developing countries
Reduce poverty Distribute cheap and efficient
cookstoves to poor families in developing
countries Reduce or ban indoor smoking Develop
simple and cheap tests for indoor pollutants
such as particulates, radon, and formaldehyde