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Air Pollution Notes

Air Pollution Notes. AP Environmental Science 2013-2014. General effects of air pollution. Reduction of visual range and atmospheric clarity.

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Air Pollution Notes

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  1. Air Pollution Notes AP Environmental Science 2013-2014

  2. General effects of air pollution • Reduction of visual range and atmospheric clarity

  3. Harmful to health (damages plants, lung disease, cancer, birth defects, eye and respiratory system irritation, greater susceptibility to heart disease, aggravation of asthma and emphysema)

  4. Synergistic effects—ex. sulfate and nitrate may attach to small particles in the air, making it easier for them to penetrate deeper into lung tissue • Subsequent pollution of water and soil

  5. Sources of air pollution • Stationary sources have a relatively fixed location and include point sources, fugitive sources, and area sources. • Point sources emit pollutants from one or more controllable sites, such as power-plant smokestacks.

  6. Sources of air pollution • Fugitive sources generate air pollutants from open areas exposed to wind. Examples include burning for agricultural purposes, as well as dirt roads, construction sites, farmlands, storage piles, surface mines, and other exposed areas.

  7. Sources of air pollution • Area sources are well-defined areas that contain several sources of air pollutants. Examples include urban complexes and agricultural areas.

  8. Sources of air pollution • Mobile sources of air pollution include automobiles, aircraft, ships, trains, and anything else that pollutes as it moves from place to place.

  9. Primary and secondary pollutants • Primary pollutants are emitted directly into the air. Ex. particulates, SO2, CO, NOx, hydrocarbons • The primary pollutants that account for nearly all air pollution problems are CO (58%), VOCs (11%), NOx (15%), SOx (13%), and particulates (3%) • Secondary pollutants are produced by reactions between primary pollutants and normal atmospheric compounds. Ex. ozone

  10. Criteria Pollutants • The six most common classes of pollutants; the EPA has set specific limits on the levels of these compounds

  11. Sulfur Dioxide, SO2 • Description: Colorless, odorless gas normally present at Earth’s surface in low concentrations • Major Anthropogenic Source(s): Burning of fossil fuels (particularly coal), production of paper/cement,/aluminum • Adverse Effects: Lung damage, precursor to acid rain, corrosion of paint and metals

  12. Nitrogen oxides, NOx • Description: NO2 is a brownish gas • Major Anthropogenic Source(s): Automobiles, burning of fossil fuels • Adverse Effects: Contribute to smog and acid rain; eutrophication; respiratory irritation

  13. Carbon Monoxide, CO • Description: Colorless, odorless gas; extremely toxic even at low concentrations • Major Anthropogenic Source(s): Incomplete combustion (fires, automobiles, etc.) • Adverse Effects: Asphyxiation, birth defects

  14. Ozone, O3 • Description: Special form of oxygen, not as stable as O2; “good up high, bad nearby” • Major Anthropogenic Source(s): Automobiles and industrial processes (secondary pollutant) • Adverse Effects: Causes injury to living things, especially in respiratory system

  15. Particulates • Description: Tiny particles • Major Anthropogenic Source(s): Pretty much all industrial processes, farming • Adverse Effects: Can be released into bloodstream; linked to lung cancer, bronchitis; interfere with photosynthesis

  16. Lead • Description: Heavy metal • Major Anthropogenic Source(s): Car exhaust (not anymore…) • Adverse Effects: Toxic to wildlife and people

  17. Air toxics • Pollutants known or suspected to cause cancer and other serious health problems after either long-term or short-term exposure—more than 150 are known • Hydrogen sulfide, H2S • Highly toxic corrosive gas with a rotten-egg odor • Emitted from geysers, swamps, and bogs; also petroleum refineries and metal smelters • Hydrogen fluoride, HF • Extremely toxic; in aqueous solution, it can etch glass • Produced through aluminum production and processing/burning of fossil fuels

  18. Air toxics • Mercury, Hg • Heavy metal released into air by burning of coal and mining, as well as volcanic eruptions • VOCs (hydrocarbons) • Largest source = automobiles

  19. Air Toxics • Benzene, C6H6 • Gasoline additive and industrial solvent; component of cigarette smoke

  20. Controlling common pollutants • Sulfur dioxide • Technology that “cleans up coal”, switching from high-sulfur to low-sulfur coal, washing coal, coal gasification; in power plants, a process called scrubbing removes sulfur from flue gas after the coal is burned

  21. Controlling common pollutants • Carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons • Automobile emissions standards/catalytic converters; converts CO to CO2 and hydrocarbons to CO2 and water • NOx are reduced by recirculating exhaust gases inside automobiles

  22. Controlling common pollutants • Particulates • Settling chambers can be used to control emissions of coarse particulates from power plants and industrial sites by letting particles settle in a location where they can be collected and disposed of in landfills

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