6 AIR “I thought I saw a Blue Jay this morning. But the smog was so bad that it turned out to be a Cardinal holding its breath.” Michael J. Cohen, Poli-sci prof. Israel

Define Air Pollution Air pollution is defined as harmful substances that end up in the air at unhealthy levels.

What Causes Air Pollution

Primary Air Pollutant is one that is put directly into the air by human activity.

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Secondary Air Pollution occurs when two or more primary pollutants combine or react together. This may include naturally occurring substances such as water vapor. 33% of our air pollution comes from vehicles.

2000 American Vehicles traveled 2.7 trillion miles. 70% was family vehicles (1.8 Trillion Mi) 30% commercial transportation. (.9 Trillion Miles)

VEHICULAR CONTRIBUTIONS

Interior Contains Vinyl Chloride which is volatile. 2.2 lbs of CFC’s released when air conditioning is installed. Approx 1lb released when refilled.

Body and Frame Body Steel smelters send of tons of sulfur dioxide into the air each year. Many factories in Mexico, Eastern Europe, and Asia lack pollution control measures.

Fuel Tank Gas fumes escape into the air while pumping gas. Leaking fuel tanks onto roadways. – Water pollution (NP) – Vapors escape into the atmosphere

Exhaust Major source of Nitrogen Oxides, Carbon Monoxide, and hydrocarbons. Each car releases approx. 5 tons of CO2 per year.

Solutions If one person would carpool with one other person there would be 33 million pounds less CO2 each year.

Catalytic Converters Contain rare metals that convert CO, NO, and HC into less harmful H2O, CO2 & trace N2. Gas + Burn  CO + HC + NO Gas + Burn  CO + HC + NO   CO2 + H2O + Traces

Ethanol Over 4 million cars in Brazil run on ethanol What is ethanol? It is fermented corn mash. Can also be made from remnants of sugar cane plants. (do not need the entire plant)

Ethanol Combustion Ethanol + Burn --> H2O+CO2 Autos can run without any conversions (WHO WOULD LIKE THIS... WHO WOULD NOT???) Why don’t we convert to ethanol?

Electric Name ten things that we use electric for. What is electricity?

Electric Power Plants Electric power plants are responsible for the production of many pollutants. 2/3 of all SO2 1/3 of NOx 1/3 of all particulate matter that pollute the air Other products such as electronic equipment use solvents to clean and vapors escape into the air.

Scrubbers and Electrostatic Precipitators These are devises used to reduce the amount of pollutants released from “smoke stacks.” These are very expensive devises. Mostly used in developed countries with very stringent regulations.

Thermal Inversions Increase the effects of air pollution by trapping the pollutants close to the surface. This usually occurs if the city is in a valley such a LA.

Smog Smog is the combination of smoke and fog. It is a dense haze that traps pollution close to the Earth’s surface. Mexico City, LA and other cities have cancelled school and posted warnings to stay indoors. Sunlight is a driving force behind this problem.

Ozone Warnings Ground level pollution that develops as a result of UV light reacting with pollutants trapped close to the ground. This is increased when there is a lot of sunshine and few clouds.

Ozone layer Located in the stratosphere far above the earth’s surface. Primary function is to filter UVB light from penetrating to the Earth’s surface. UVB causes many problems w/ life as we know it.

Effects on Human Health

Human Disease Very often a person dies from a disease that could be attributed to air pollution The cause is listed as the disease – emphysema – cancer – asthma Could be listed as cause (ie asbestos or radon exposure)

Sick-building-syndrome Primarily caused by poor indoor air quality Examples include: Dust, Radon, VOCs, CO CO2, asbestos and pathogens.

Radon Gas invisible, tasteless, odorless and radioactive Produced by the radioactive decay of uranium which is natural Found in soils that are on top of rocks that contain uranium Radon element adheres to dust particles and enters the lung Radioactive bombardment causes tissue damage and genetic material destruction

Asbestos A fiber that contains several types of material Mostly made of silica fibers. Valued for its strength and heat resistance. Was used to make breaks for autos, floor tile, home siding, and garments to protect from fire. Fiber will get into lung and cut and scar tissue making it very hard to breath. Eventually most patients of asbestosis die of heart failure

Acid Precipitation

Refer to pH scale

Three Types of Acid Rain Carbonic Acid CO2 + H2O  H2CO3 Nitric Acid NO2 + HO  HNO3 Sulfuric Acid SO2 + H2O + O  H2SO4

Acid Shock pH range of tolerance is exceeded causing damage to the ecosystem poor production of fertile eggs if reproduction occurs they are usually defective plant or animal cannot reproduce

International Issues Some countries are polluting the air and the acid rain falls on another. This is a source of international conflict. Diplomatic negotiations are crucial to reduce the conflict.

Monitoring of Acid Shock Localities often tests and neutralize the acidic ecosystem. How do you think they could do this?

Examples of Acid Shocked Regions: Ruhr Valley in Germany. Rain patterns move north to Scandinavian Countries. Adirondack Mountain Area has lost nearly all the fish Industrialized North in America pollutes Canada Karkonoski National Park in Poland.

Legislation: Helsinki Declaration 1985 Cut sulfur emissions by 30% over ten yrs. (USA did not sign) Why would we not sign this? UN Sophia Protocol NOx reduction USA signed this one.

Continued 1990 & 1997 USA strengthened its own clean air laws 2002 Congress voted to reduce regulations of Clean Air Act of This permitted cheaper electric production