Air and Air Pollution

Air and Air Pollution G. Tyler Miller’s Living in the Environment 13th Edition Chapter 17 Dr. Richard Clements Chattanooga State Technical Community College

Key Concepts • Structure and composition of the atmosphere • Types and sources of outdoor air pollution • Types, formation, and effects of smog • Sources and effects of acid deposition • Effects of air pollution • Prevention and control of air pollution

The Atmosphere Fig. 17-2 p. 419 • Troposphere • 78% N, 21% O • Stratosphere • Ozone layer • Greenhouse effect

Outdoor Air Pollution Fig. 17-4 p. 421 • Primary pollutants • Secondary pollutants- • Often more dangerous than primary See Table 17-2 p. 422 See Table 17-1 p. 420

Photochemical Smog Fig. 17-6 p. 424 • Brown-air smog- from the combustion of fossil fuels and industry, • Health: 65K-200K deaths • From outdoor pollutants/year • Photochemicalreaction • Photochemicaloxidants • Damage crops, trees, • Respiratory tract

Industrial Smog Fig. 17-8 p. 426 • Gray-air smog- • Carbon and sulfur from combusted coal in • Air react with oxygen, gray from soot • Industrial smog- • Problem in developing countries w/ limited • Controls and high coal use. • Sulfuric acid - • Sulfur dioxide- • Colorless, suffocating gas, also from smelting • Metal ores • Particulates

Temperature Inversions Fig. 17-9 p. 427 • Subsidence inversion-mass of warm air into high altitude • Floats over colder air on ground. Keeps air over ground stagnant-no mixing, doesn’t last long • Radiation inversion-occurs at night as ground air cools faster, • Air mixes around lunchtime when air warms

Regional Outdoor Air Pollution from Acid Deposition Fig. 17-10 p. 428 • Acid deposition • Wet deposition • Dry deposition

Acid Deposition in the US Fig. 17-11 p. 429

Acid Deposition and Humans • Respiratory diseases • Toxic metal leaching • Decreased visibility • Damage to structures, especially containing limestone • Decreased productivity and profitability of fisheries, forests, and farms

Acid Deposition and Aquatic Systems Fig. 17-14 p. 431 • Fish declines • Undesirable species • Aluminum toxicity • Acid shock • Indian Ocean

Acid Deposition, Plants, and Soil Fig. 17-15 p. 432 • Nutrient leaching • Heavy metal release • Weakens trees

Indoor Air Pollution/Sick Building Syndrome Fig. 17-17 p. 434

Radon Fig. 17-18 p. 436 • Radon-222 • Decays into radioactive particles • Occurs in certain areas based on geology • Associated with uranium and organic material in rock

Effects of Air Pollution on Living Organisms and Materials • Damage to mucous membranes • Respiratory diseases (see Fig. 17-19 p. 438) • Damage to plant leaves and roots • Reduction in primary productivity • Deterioration of materials (See Table 17-3 p. 440)

Solutions: Preventing and Reducing Air Pollution • Clean Air Act • Montreal Protocol-substances that deplete ozone 1987 • National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)-6 principle pollutants- CO, Pb, NO2, PM, O3, SO2 • Primary and secondary standards • Primary –human health, secondary –environmental health and damage • Output control vs. input control

Emission Reduction Fig. 17-22 p. 441 Fig. 17-23a p. 442

Reducing IndoorAir Pollution Fig. 17-25 p. 443

Figure 17-16Page 433 Prevention Cleanup Reduce air pollution by improving energy efficiency Add lime to neutralize acidified lakes Add phosphate fertilizer to neutralize acidified lakes Reduce coal use Increase natural gas use Increase use of renewable resources Burn low-sulfur coal Remove SO2 particulates, and NOx from smokestack gases Remove Nox from motor vehicular exhaust Tax emissions of SO2

Prevention Cleanup Reduce air pollution by improving energy efficiency Add lime to neutralize acidified lakes Add phosphate fertilizer to neutralize acidified lakes Reduce coal use Increase natural gas use Increase use of renewable resources Burn low-sulfur coal Remove SO2 particulates, and NOx from smokestack gases Remove Nox from motor vehicular exhaust Tax emissions of SO2

Air and Air Pollution