Air Pollution Examples: “any unwanted substance in the air that is at unhealthy levels” Examples: Gases Pollen smoke

Types of Air pollutants Primary Pollutants Secondary Pollutants “Pollutants put in the air directly from human activities” CO – Carbon Monoxide NO2 - Nitrogen Oxides PM - Particulate matter SO2 - Sulfur dioxide 5. VOCs – Volatile Organic Compounds Lead (Pb) Ozone (O3) “Pollutant that forms from the combination of primary pollutants or pollutants combining with naturally occurring substances” 1. Acid Rain (NO2/SO2 + rain) 2. Ground Level Ozone ( PP + UV) 3. Smog ( PP + VOC’s + UV)

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Clean Air Act The Clean Air Act of 1970 (CAA) is the comprehensive federal law that regulates air emissions from stationary and mobile sources. Among other things, this law authorizes EPA to establish National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to protect public health and public welfare and to regulate emissions of hazardous air pollutants. Aggregate emissions of six common pollutants dropped 73% between 1970 and 2017.

Air Pollution Short Term Effects Headache Nausea Irritation to the eyes,nose,throat Tightness of the chest Coughing Upper respiratory infections – bronchitis,pneumonia Long Term Effects Emphysema Lung cancer Heart disease Worsen weaker immune systems like older adults/children

Indoor Air Pollution! The quality of air inside a home or a building is sometimes worse than the quality of the air outside.  Chemicals used to make carpets, building materials, paints, and furniture are major sources of pollution.

Sick Building Syndrome “Buildings with poor air quality” SBS is very common in hot places where buildings are tightly sealed to keep out the heat (ex – Florida) Mold tends to grow in the air ducts, ceiling tiles, carpets, and furniture

Common Indoor Air Pollutant Sources

Radon Gas Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas It is Radioactive From the decay or uranium Can lead to CANCER (2nd leading cause of lung cancer in the US) Seeps from the ground into your house through cracks and holes in foundations

Asbestos Minerals that form in long, thin fibers and valued for their strength and resistance to heat Insulation, fire retardant, building materials Banned in 1970 – if inhaled can cut and scar the lungs which is called Asbestosis which can cause death Must be removed from buildings

Noise Pollution “unwanted sound” Irritating, damages our hearing Hearing loss has doubled in the US in the last 30 years! About 12% of teens have permanent hearing loss. One study found that people living in Africa had better hearing at the age of 80 than most Americans at 30 

Light Pollution Does not present a direct hazard to human health Does negatively affect our environment Dims our view of the night sky Energy Waste! Turtles confused!

Acid Precipitation “precipitation such as rain, sleet, or snow that contains a high concentration of acids” Secondary Pollutant NO2 + rain = Nitric Acid SO2 + rain = Sulfuric Acid Can kill living things, decline or loss of plant and animal populations

Acid Precipitation

Acid Precipitation Affects on Soil and Plants An increase in the concentration of acid is called ACIDIFICATION This causes nutrients to dissolve and wash away by rainwater. Aluminum and other toxic metals get released and absorbed by the roots of plants. This can damage the roots. It can also clog the pores on the surface of plants

Acid Precipitation and Aquatic Ecosystems Aluminum that leaches from the soil runs into lakes and accumulates in the gills of fish and interferes with oxygen and salt exchange – suffocating them. Quickly melting acid snow during the spring that accumulates in a lake is called ACID SHOCK. Affects the reproduction of fish and amphibians – fewer eggs and birth defects.

Acid Precipitation and Humans Toxic metals such as Mercury and Aluminum can be released into the environment – like crops, water, and fish. This finds poisons the human body through Biomagnification. It can also cause respiratory problems Affect livelihood of fishermen Dissolve calcium carbonate in common building materials and monuments.

International agreement? Unfortunately the areas of the world that create the pollution are not always the ones to suffer it’s effects…. 1991 US Air Quality with Canada and sulfur dioxide emissions in the US and canada