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Chapter 18 Air Pollution. Elyse Andrews and Katie Reilly. Case Study- Brown cloud in South Asia. The Asian Brown Cloud Made up of dust, smoke, soot, and other pollutants Damages human health Warms the atmosphere Affects all parts of the world. Layers of the Atmosphere. Troposphere
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Chapter 18Air Pollution Elyse Andrews and Katie Reilly
Case Study- Brown cloud in South Asia • The Asian Brown Cloud • Made up of dust, smoke, soot, and other pollutants • Damages human health • Warms the atmosphere • Affects all parts of the world
Layers of the Atmosphere • Troposphere • Closest to earth’s surface • Its winds are responsible for weather and climate • Stratosphere • 2nd layer • Ozone layer
Sources of Outdoor Air Pollution • Natural sources • Dust, volcanic eruption, wildfires • Human inputs • Burning of fossil fuels • Industrial Revolution
Outdoor Air Pollutants • Primary pollutants • Emitted directly into air • Secondary pollutants • Formed when primary pollutants react with one another to form new harmful chemicals
Types of Outdoor Air Pollutants • Carbon oxides • Nitrogen oxides and nitric acid • Sulfur dioxide and sulfuric acid • Ozone • Volatile organic compounds
Smog • Industrial smog • Caused by burning coal • Photochemical smog • Mixture of primary and secondary pollutants • Formed from UV radiation
Factors that Decrease Air Pollution • Heavy particles settle out • Rain and snow • Salty sea spray • Winds • Chemical reactions
Factors that Increase Air Pollution • Urban buildings • Hills and mountains • High temperatures • Emissions of volatile organic compounds • Grasshopper effect • Temperature inversions
Acid Deposition • Caused by coal-burning power plants and motor vehicle emissions • Acidic substances remain in atmosphere • Wet and dry deposition • Harmful effects
Indoor Air Pollution • Burning of materials expose people to air pollution • Ex. Coal, dung, charcoal • EPA studies revealed alarming facts about indoor air pollution in developed countries • Top of 18 sources of cancer risk list
Sources of Indoor Air Pollution • Pesticides • Living organisms and their excrement • Toxic airborne spores of molds and mildew • Sick building syndrome
4 most dangerous indoor pollutants • Tobacco smoke • Formaldehyde • Radioactive radon-222 gas • Small particles
Health Effects of Air Pollution • Respiratory system • Disease emphysema • EPA statistics wef
Laws and Regulation to Reduce • EPA • National ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) • Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) • Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) • Can be improved
Use the Market Place to Reduce Outdoor Air Pollution • government air pollution allotments • Clean Air Act of 1990 • Pros and Cons