Air Pollution

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Air PollutionWhats in the Air?

• Speaker Dr. Rachelle Duvall
• US Environmental Protection Agency
• October 28, 2008

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Is this airclean?
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Is This Air Clean?
Shanghai, China at Sunset
Cairo, Egypt
New York City
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What is Air Pollution?

• Contaminants in the air that can negatively
  impact health, property, plant or animal life, or
  prevent us from using or enjoying the outdoors
  (or indoors)

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Why do we care? Short History of Air Pollution

• Donora, PA
• Smog episode on Oct 26-31, 1948
• Toxic emissions released from local steel plant
• 20 people died, 6,000 people suffered illness
• (out of population of 14,000)
• Photo City of Donora on October 29 at 12pm

• London, England
• Smog episode on December 4-9, 1952
• High sulfur dioxide emissions
• Approximately 4,000 people died
• Photo Buses escorted by lanterns at 1030am

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Types of Air Pollutants

• Ozone (O3)
• Particulate Matter (PM)
• Carbon monoxide (CO)
• Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
• Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
• Lead (Pb)
• Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
• Other Hazardous Air Pollutants like Benzene and
  Mercury

Air pollutants in blue are regulated!
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Sources of Air PollutionNatural sources

• Natural
• Volcanoes
• Lightning
• Wind/dust storms
• Sea salt
• Soil dust
• Forest Fires

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Sources of Air PollutionAnthropogenic (Man-made)

• Anthropogenic
• Cars, trucks, buses, aircraft, ships
• Wood burning
• Fossil fuel burning (coal, oil, etc.)
• Biomass burning (e.g. leaves, vegetation, animal
  waste)
• Industries, power plants, factories
• Meat cooking or barbequing

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Is the Air Clean or Dirty?
Air Pollution Monitored Across the Country!
Particles of size 2.5 microns
Ozone
AIRNOW Website www.airnow.gov
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Air Monitoring Equipment
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Mobile Air Monitoring
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Monitoring Around the World
Barrow, Alaska
Ny-Alesund, Norway
Mauna Loa, Hawaii
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Smoke from Fires in Alaska Seen by Satellite
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What sources are present in the air and how much?
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What sources are present in the air and how much?

• Air pollution emitted from different sources
  mixes in the air
• Question How do we determine the types and
  amounts of air pollution in an area?
• Source apportionment modeling!!

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What is in an air pollution source?

• Air pollution sources have a mixture of air
  pollutants (e.g. ozone, sulfur dioxide, PM)
• Each source has different amounts and types of
  chemical compounds in it
• These differences in chemical composition make a
  source unique!
• We call this a Source Profile

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What is a Source Profile?

• Consider two drinks (orange juice and soda)
• What components are in each drink?
• Orange juice oranges, water, sugar
• Soda water, carbon dioxide, sugar
• Each drink has different components (and amounts)
  that make it unique, in other words the drinks
  have a profile

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What is Source Apportionment?
1/4 apple juice
1/4 diet Coke
1/4 water
1/4 Orange juice
Analyze sample
4 different types of liquids mixed up
Computer program
Types of liquids and their amounts
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How is source apportionment modeling used to find
air pollution sources?
Ambient particulate matter samples collected and
analyzed
Sources released and mixed in atmosphere
Burning
Soil
Programs determine type of source present and
amount in atmosphere
Data used by computer programs (receptor models)
Motor
Industry
Vehicles
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Source Apportionment Results

• Air samples collected in cities around the U.S.
• Samples analyzed to determine what chemical
  compounds present
• Models used to determine which sources where
  present and their amounts

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How does air pollution effect the environment?
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Visibility

• Pollution absorbs and scatters light resulting in
  sunsets or brown clouds

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Visibility
Clear Day Excellent Visibility
Hazy Day Poor Visibility
Phoenix Visibility Web Camera http//www.phoenixvi
s.net/
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Acid Rain
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Acid Rain
Acid Rain Impacts (from Sulfur Dioxide)
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Do you know who this is?

• Have you seen him on TV, in newspapers,
• on the Internet, or in a Movie?
• If so, what was the topic he was
• discussing?

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Global Warming
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Some Environmental Impacts of Global Warming
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Health Effects of Air Pollution
Size matters!
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Health Effects of Air Pollution

• Nose
• Removes particles greater than 10 microns
• Mouth
• Removes particles greater than 15 microns
• Smallest particles penetrate deepest in lungs!

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Health Effects of Air Pollution

• Respiratory System (Breathing Problems)
• Coughing
• Throat irritation
• Asthma
• Chronic bronchitis
• More difficult to breathe deeply and vigorously
• Increase susceptibility to respiratory infections
• Cardio Vascular System (Heart Problems)
• Triggers heart attacks, especially individuals
  with existing heart disease

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How Does Air Pollution Effect us Locally?
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How is the Air Quality in North Carolina?
AIRNOW Website www.airnow.gov
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Environmental Issues in North Carolina
Drought

• Impacts
• Decrease in air, water, and soil quality
• Forest fires
• Damage to wildlife, plants and their habitats

NC Drought Management Advisory Council http//www
.ncdrought.org/
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Environmental Issues in North Carolina

• Duke Energy construction of 800 mega-watt
  coal-fired power plant
• Plant will release about 5.5 million tons of
  carbon dioxide each year
• Impacts
• Global warming
• Reduced air quality
• Drought
• Human health
• Acid Rain

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How Can YOU Help?

• At Home and at School
• Recycle/re-use everything you can
• Purchase products that contain recycled materials
• Use water wisely
• Turn the lights and TV off when you leave a room
• Replace incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent
  light bulbs
• Plant trees and bushes
• Purchase energy star products
• Conserve energy

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How Can YOU Help?

• On the road (encourage parents and relatives to
  do these!)
• Purchase fuel efficient vehicles
• Make sure car is well-maintained (oil changes,
  tune ups, etc)
• Combine trips
• Do not let car idle
• Avoid driving if possible (walk, ride bikes,
  skateboard, rollerblades, etc.)

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What can I major in if I would like to work on
air pollution research?

• Engineering (Environmental, Chemical, Mechanical)
• Environmental Science
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Ecology
• Meteorology
• Environmental Health
• Toxicology

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Types of Work Available in the Field of Air
Pollution

• Researcher
• Designer
• Operator
• Professor
• Consulting
• Business
• Federal, state or local agency official
• Lawyer

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Degree Options

• Bachelors Degree (4-5 years)
• (Math, Science, Engineering courses)
• Higher Degree Options
• Masters Degree (1.5-2 years)
• Ph.D. (3-5 years)
• J.D. (3 years)
• MBA (2-3 years)

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How did I become interested in engineering and
air pollution research?
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Questions??