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Air Pollution and Impacts on Ecosystems - an Overview

Air Pollution and Impacts on Ecosystems - an Overview. Alissa Dickerson Environmental Specialist Enviroscientists, Inc. Introduction. Air pollution Ecosystems Interaction Regulation & policy Reality. Air Pollution. Factors that make air pollution a concern Types Emission sources

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Air Pollution and Impacts on Ecosystems - an Overview

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  1. Air Pollution and Impacts on Ecosystems - an Overview Alissa Dickerson Environmental Specialist Enviroscientists, Inc.

  2. Introduction • Air pollution • Ecosystems • Interaction • Regulation & policy • Reality

  3. Air Pollution • Factors that make air pollution a concern • Types • Emission sources • Transport • Deposition

  4. Air Pollution (cont.) • Common pollutants of concern • Nitrogen • Sulfur • Mercury • Particulates • Carbon • Ozone • Secondary pollutants

  5. Ecosystems • Functioning units of nature • Plants • Animals • Micro-organisms • Non-biological components • Climate and weather • Complex interaction

  6. Ecosystems (cont.) • Physical & biological relationship • Cyclic • Spatial boundaries • Identifiable • Various political classifications • Fundamental sustenance • Supports life

  7. Interaction • Various scales • Local to continental • Sources • Natural and human-made • Receptors • Air, land, water, plants, lungs….

  8. Interaction • Weather • Temperature driven • Climate • Weather over time • Exposure • Dose • Effect

  9. Regulation & Policy • Environmental regulations & policy • Clean Air Act • Clean Water Act • Resource Conservation & Recovery Act • National Environmental Policy Act • Pollution Prevention Act • Toxic Substance Control Act

  10. Regulation & Policy • Protection • Discussion • Who upholds these policies? • Is there a process (local or national)? • Do they work?

  11. Reality • Real life impacts include • Pollutants in atmosphere • Transport  Reaction  Deposition • Accumulation • Land, water • Allows for re-entrainment in atmosphere • Imbalance • Natural cycles

  12. Reality • Cascading effects • Bioaccumulation • Acidification • Changes in ecosystem composition • Extinction • Habitat loss • Landscape devastation • Climate change

  13. Reality • Air pollution impacts on tribal ecosystems • Social & economic • Basket-weaving • Selling goods • Environmental & land management • Traditional • Hunting & fishing • Harvesting

  14. Summary • Air pollution impacts complex • Many types of ecosystems • Driving force is interaction • Utilize regulation & policy as tools • Lots to learn

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