Air Pollution

1
Chapter 18

• Air Pollution

2
The Atmosphere
Fig. 18.3

• 78 N, 21 O

• Ozone layer

• Greenhouse effect

3
AIR POLLUTION

• Some primary air pollutants may react with one
  another or with other chemicals in the air to
  form secondary air pollutants.

Figure 18-4
4
Major Air Pollutants

• Suspended particulate matter (SPM)
• Consists of a variety of solid particles and
  liquid droplets small and light enough to remain
  suspended in the air.
• The most harmful forms of SPM are fine particles
  (PM-10, with an average diameter lt 10
  micrometers) and ultrafine particles (PM-2.5).
• According to the EPA, SPM is responsible for
  about 60,000 premature deaths a year in the U.S.

5
Your Bodys Natural Defenses Against Air
Pollution Can Be Overwhelmed

• The respiratory system protects from air
  pollutants through
• Hair
• Cilia
• Mucus
• Effects of smoking and prolonged air pollution
  exposure
• Chronic bronchitis
• Emphysema

6
Major Components of the Human Respiratory System
7
Major Air Pollutants

• Ozone (O3)
• Is a highly reactive gas that is a major
  component of photochemical smog.
• It can
• Cause and aggravate respiratory illness.
• Can aggravate heart disease.
• Damage plants, rubber in tires, fabrics, and
  paints.

8
Temperature Inversions

• Cold, cloudy weather in a valley surrounded by
  mountains can trap air pollutants (left).
• Areas with sunny climate, light winds, mountains
  on three sides and an ocean on the other (right)
  are susceptible to inversions.

Figure 18-11
9
ACID DEPOSITION

• Acid deposition consists of rain, snow, dust, or
  gas with a pH lower than 5.6.

Figure 18-12
10
Acid Deposition and Humans

• Respiratory diseases

• Toxic metal leaching

• Decreased visibility

• Damage to structures, especially containing
  limestone

• Decreased productivity of fisheries, forests, and
  farms

11
Acid Deposition and Aquatic Systems

• Fish declines

• Undesirable species

• Acid shock

12
Air Pollution Damage to Trees
13
Acid Deposition, Plants, and Soil

• Nutrient leaching

• Heavy metal release

• Weakens trees

Fig. 18-14
14
Some Important Indoor Air Pollutants
15
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION

• Indoor air pollution usually is a greater threat
  to human health than outdoor air pollution.
• According to the EPA, the four most dangerous
  indoor air pollutants in developed countries are
• Tobacco smoke.
• Formaldehyde.
• Radioactive radon-222 gas.
• Very small fine and ultrafine particles.

16
Air Pollution is a Big Killer

• Each year, air pollution prematurely kills about
  3 million people, mostly from indoor air
  pollution in developing countries.
• In the U.S., the EPA estimates that annual deaths
  related to indoor and outdoor air pollution range
  from 150,000 to 350,000.

17
Air Pollution is a Big Killer

• Spatial distribution of premature deaths from air
  pollution in the United States.

Figure 18-21
18
Case Study Radioactive Radon

• Radon-222, a radioactive gas found in some soils
  and rocks, can seep into some houses and increase
  the risk of lung cancer.

Sources and paths of entry for indoor radon-222
gas.
Figure 18-18
19
Solutions

• Clean Air Act -1970,1977, 1990

• Primary and secondary standards (limits)
• 6 major outdoor air pollutants
• Carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide,
• sulfur dioxide, SPM, ozone, lead.

20
Solutions

• National emission standards for 188 hazardous air
  pollutants.
• Toxic Release Inventory (1990)
• 20,000 refineries, power plants, factories
• Report releases and waste management methods for
  667 toxic chemicals.
• Available on Internet
• Since implemented emissions have dropped

21
Solutions

• 2012 Coal-burning power plants build after 2013
  keep carbon dioxide emissions below a specified
  level.
• Result will be less new coal plants constructed
  because of costly equipment.

22
Using the Marketplace to Reduce Outdoor Air
Pollution

• To help reduce SO2 emissions, the Clean Air Act
  authorized and emission trading (cap-and-trade)
  program.
• Enables the 110 most polluting power plants to
  buy and sell SO2 pollution rights.
• Between 1990-2002, the emission trading system
  reduced emissions.

23
We Can Use the Marketplace to Reduce Outdoor Air
Pollution

• Emission trading or cap-and-trade program
• Success depends on
• How low initial cap is set
• How often it is lowered

24
Solutions

• What else can be done?
• Improve fuel efficiency standards for motor
  vehicles
• Better regulation of emissions from motorcycles
  and two-cycle gas engines like chainsaws,
  lawnmowers, scooters.
• A gas power riding lawn mower (1 hour) 34 cars
  for 1 hour.
• Stricter regulations for oceangoing ships and
  airports.

25
Solutions

• 2013 EPA proposed stricter motor vehicle
  emissions standards.
• Savings 7 health care costs for every 1 spent
  to implement new standards.

26
Solutions

• There are a of number of ways to prevent and
  control air pollution from motor vehicles.
• Because of the Clean Air Act, a new car today in
  the U.S. emits 75 less pollution than did
  pre-1970 cars.
• There is and increase in motor vehicle use in
  developing countries and many have no pollution
  control devices and burn leaded gasoline.

27

What Can You Do?
Indoor Air Pollution
Test for radon and formaldehyde inside your
home and take corrective measures as needed.
Do not buy furniture and other products
containing formaldehyde.
Remove your shoes before entering your house to
reduce inputs of dust, lead, and pesticides.
Test your house or workplace for asbestos fiber
levels and for any crumbling asbestos materials
if it was built before 1980.
Don't live in a pre-1980 house without having
its indoor air tested for asbestos and lead.
Do not store gasoline, solvents, or other
volatile hazardous chemicals inside a home or
attached garage.
If you smoke, do it outside or in a closed room
vented to the outside.
Make sure that wood-burning stoves, fireplaces,
and kerosene- and gas-burning heaters are
properly installed, vented, and maintained.
Install carbon monoxide detectors in all
sleeping areas.
28

• Emissions of sulfur dioxide down 49 since 1970.
• LA 1976-1990 average 150 days in violation in
  2004 is was 27 days.
• End chapter 18