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Air Pollution Is Tootin Pollutin?. The Science of Farting. The word "FART" can stand for: Frequency Actuated Rectal Tremor a.k.a. Flatulence or Intestinal Gas The average human releases 0.5 to 1.5 litres (1 to 3 U.S. pints ) of flatus (gas) in 12 to 25 episodes throughout the day.
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The Science of Farting • The word "FART" can stand for: • Frequency Actuated Rectal Tremor • a.k.a. Flatulence or Intestinal Gas • The average human releases 0.5 to 1.5 litres (1 to 3 U.S. pints) of flatus (gas) in 12 to 25 episodes throughout the day
Constituents of Flatulence • The primary constituents of flatulence are • nitrogen (the primary gas released) • carbon dioxide • hydrogen • as well as lesser amounts of oxygen (ingested) and methane
Can flatulence be harmful to the environment? • An average cow produces (through flatulence and/or burping) 280 liters of methane a day • What is methane? • CH4 • Greenhouse gas • Flatulence and the Greenhouse Effect • Is Tootin Pollutin?
Why is Cincinnati hazy? March 22, 2006 Ideal Conditions Cincinnati – Hazecam
NOTES What is Air Pollution? • Definition: • The presence of substances (chemical, physical, biological) in the air (due to man) in large enough concentrations to interfere with one’s: • Health • Comfort • Safety • Full use and enjoyment of property
NOTES The Clean Air Act • Government legislation passed in 1963 that focuses on the reduction of smog and atmosphericpollution by enforcing clean air standards. • Amendments made in 1970 and 1990.
NOTES Air Pollution – Fast Facts • The average adult breathes 3,000 gallons of air every day • Children breathe more / lb. of body weight • Respiratory systems developing • More Americans die from automotive air pollution than from highway automobile accidents • 1000 lung cancer deaths in Cincinnati: 900 smoking, 90 radon, 10 environmental • Short and long term exposure to air pollution has shown increased numbers of heart attacks and strokes
NOTES Two types of Air Quality Standards • Primary Standards • Establish limits to protect public health (especially sensitive populations: asthmatics, children, elderly) • Secondary Standards • Establish limits to protect public welfare (visibility, animals, crops, vegetation, buildings)
NOTES Six Criteria Air Pollutants • Ox ~ Ozone (O3) • SOx ~ Sulfur Oxides (SO2) • NOx ~ Nitrogen Oxides (NO2, NO3) • COx ~ Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide (CO, CO2) • POx ~ Lead (Pb) • ROx ~ Particulate Matter (PM) Click on the picture for our current AQI
NOTES Nonattainment Areas - 2002 A geographical area that does not meet air quality standards for one of the six criteria pollutants Map from http://www.epa.gov/airtrends/non.html
NOTES EPA tracks two air pollution trends • Air concentrations • Actual measurements of pollutant concentrations in ambient (outside) air • Performed at monitoring sites • Emissions • Estimates of total tons of pollutants released into the air each year
NOTES What does a “TON” look like? • 1 ton = 2,000 lb
Is Tootin Pollutin? • What do you think?