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Air Pollution

Air Pollution. What is it?. Any visible or invisible particle or gas that has ended up in the air that is not part of the original, normal composition. Air pollution (Particles and gases) endanger the health and well being of organsims.

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Air Pollution

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  1. Air Pollution

  2. What is it?

  3. Any visible or invisible particle or gas that has ended up in the air that is not part of the original, normal composition. Air pollution (Particles and gases) endanger the health and well being of organsims .

  4. Natural:forest fires (smoke), pollen, dust storm, sea salt, volcanic gases and ash, Unnatural: man-made; coal, wood and other fuels used in cars, homes, and factories for energy (carbon monoxide, smoke , chemicals, NOX, SOX, VOCS

  5. Primary Pollutants Pollutants that are put directly into the air by human or natural activity Dust, sea salt, volcanic gases, ash, smoke, carbon monoxide, paint fumes, car exhaust, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds

  6. Secondary Pollutants Pollutants that form when primary pollutants react with other primary pollutants or with naturally occuring substances Ozone, smog, sulfuric acid (precipiation),

  7. How is it measured?

  8. AQI: Air Quality Index • Indicates whether pollutant levels in air may cause health concerns. • Ranges from 0 (least concern) to 500 (greatest concern)

  9. The measured pollutants.....

  10. 5 Major Pollutants: 1..) Carbon Monoxide 2.) Sulfur Dioxide 3.) Nitrogen Dioxide 4.) Particulate Matter 5.) Ground Level Ozone 6.) Lead

  11. Carbon Monoxide • colorless, odorless • produced when carbon does not burn in fossil fuels • present in car exhaust, faulty furnaces in homes • deprives body of O2 causing headaches, fatigue, and impaired vision

  12. Sulfur Dioxide • produced when coal and fuel oil are burned • present in power plant exhaust • narrows the airway, causing wheezing and shortness of breath, especially in those with asthma

  13. Nitrogen Dioxide • reddish, brown gas • produced when nitric oxide combines with oxygen in the atmosphere • present in car exhaust and power plants • affects lungs and causes wheezing; increases chance of respiratory infection

  14. Particulate Matter • particles of different sizes and structures that are released into the atmosphere • present in many sources including fossil fuels, dust, smoke, fog, etc. • can build up in respiratory system • aggravates heart and lung disease; increases risk of respiratory infection

  15. Ground Level Ozone • at upper level, ozone shields Earth from sun’s harmful UV rays • at ground level, ozone is harmful pollutants • formed from car, power and chemical plant exhaust • irritate respiratory system and asthma; reduces lung function by inflaming and damaging lining of lungs

  16. These 5 together form.....

  17. SMOG

  18. Combination of gases with water vapor and dust • Combination of words smoke and fog • Forms when heat and sunlight react gases (photochemical smog) • Occurs often with heavy traffic, high temperatures, and calm winds

  19. Its effects.....

  20. 1st smog related deaths were in London in 1873; death toll 500 people; can you imagine how much worse the atmosphere is now?! • Limits visibility • Decreases UV radiation • Yellow/black color over cities • Causes respiratory problems and bronchial related deaths

  21. The other problems.....

  22. The Greenhouse Effect

  23. Global Warming

  24. Thinning of Upper OZone Layer

  25. Acid Rain

  26. Indoor Air Pollution

  27. Yes! Air pollution can occur indoors Americans spend about 85% of their time indoors Plastics, carpets, furniture, paints, building materials, asbestos, fungi, bacteria, radon, smoke, benzene and other compounds can be sources of pollution Sick building syndrome is where a building has very poor air quality

  28. So, What can YOU do? How much progress has been made ? What are businesses and industry doing?

  29. Laws and regulations EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) regulates laws and emissions Clean Air Act

  30. Clean Air Act Passed in 1970 and strengthened in 1990 Regulates automobile emissions Eliminated lead in gasoline Mandated catalytic converters and cleaner exhaust systems for cars Requires industry to use scrubbers or other pollution control devices (especially in power plants and factories)

  31. Ride your bike • Tell your friends and family about pollution • Make sure your parents get pollution checks on their cars • Ride the school bus

  32. Learn more; stay up to date • Join a group to stop pollution • Encourage your parents to carpool to work • Switch off lights, fan, heat, etc. when you leave the room

  33. We only have one world..... Do you want it like this?

  34. Credits • Insel, Paul M. and Roth, Walton T. Core Concepts in Health: 9th edition. McGraw Hill: Boston, 2002. • http://edugreen.teri.in/explore/air.htm • http://www.oneworld.net/penguin/pollution/pollution_home.html • http://www.rcc.org/oem/aqindex.html • http://www.tnrcc.state.tx.us/air/monops/lessoms/mathlesson.html

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