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Understanding Air Pollution: Causes and Effects

Learn about the primary and secondary pollutants, history, motor vehicle emissions, industrial pollution, and health effects of air pollution.

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Understanding Air Pollution: Causes and Effects

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  1. Chapter 12- AIR What Causes Air Pollution?

  2. What causes air pollution? • Clean air: Mostly N & O, small amounts of argon, CO2 and H2O. • Air pollution- harmful substances in the air @ unhealthy levels. • Most from human activities • Natural sources: volcanoes, dust, pollen and spores

  3. Primary and Secondary Pollutants • Primary pollutants are put directly into air by human activity • Secondary pollutants form when primary pollutants come in contact with each other naturally occurring substances. • Ex: Ground level ozone- Emissions from cars and natural sources mix with oxygen and react with UV rays.

  4. Sources of Primary Pollutants

  5. Primary Air Pollutants

  6. Sources of Primary Air Pollutants • Particulate matter- Fine and coarse particles • From cement plants, mining, incinerators, wood-burning fireplaces, fields, and roads • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)- Carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and chemicals • From household products, power plants, and motor vehicles

  7. The History of Air Pollution • 2000 years ago, Roman philosopher, Seneca, complained of foul air. • 1273, King Edward I made burning sea-coal illegal • Worse today due to burning of fossil fuels

  8. Motor Vehicle Emissions • 1/3 of air pollution • Clean Air Act, 1970 & 1990, gives EPA authority to regulate vehicle emissions • Reduce lead in gasoline • Catalytic converters • 35% more fuel efficient with 95% fewer emissions than 30 years ago

  9. Motor Vehicle Emissions • California Zero-Emission Vehicle Program • 1990, CA Air Resources Board est. ZEV prgm. • Vehicles w/ no tail pipe emissions and no emission control systems that deteriorate over time • By 2016, 16% of vehicles sold in CA will be ZEV • Electric • Advanced batteries • Hydrogen fueled • Low emission cars • Hybrid electric cars • Methanol fueled cars

  10. Industrial Air Pollution • Clean Air Act requires many industries to use scrubbers or other pollution-control devices • Electrostatic precipitators- Remove dust particles from smoke stacks • Remove 20 million tons of ash from coal plants each year • Scrubbers- Remove harmful chemicals from gases by spraying them with water. • Ex: Removal of ammonia

  11. Industrial Air Pollution • Temperature Inversions- The air above is warmer than the air below, trapping air pollution near the earth’s surface • Cities in valleys or surrounded by mountains (Ex: L.A.) • Smog- Air pollution that hangs over urban areas and reduces visibility • Main cause: pollutants released by vehicles and industry • L.A., Denver, and Phoenix

  12. Short-Term Effects of Air Pollution • Headache • Nausea • Irritation to eyes, nose, and throat • Tightness in chest • Coughing • Upper respiratory infection • Worsen emphysema and asthma

  13. Long-Term Health Effects of Air Pollution • Emphysema • Lung cancer • Heart disease • Worsen various medical conditions

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