Air Quality Topic #1072 Sarah Barry (Microsoft ClipArt)

Objective Determine major sources of air pollution Determine major sources of air pollution Brainstorm how to improve air quality Brainstorm how to improve air quality

Air Colorless Colorless Odorless Odorless Tasteless Tasteless Mixture of gasses Mixture of gasses 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 1% other gases such as CO 2 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 1% other gases such as CO 2

Water Clear Clear Odorless Odorless Tasteless Tasteless Colorless Colorless Liquid Liquid Chemical makeup is 2 parts oxygen to one part hydrogen Chemical makeup is 2 parts oxygen to one part hydrogen

Soil Top layer of Earths surface Top layer of Earths surface Suitable for growth of plant life Suitable for growth of plant life Made of broken down rocks and organic matter (OM) from the breakdown of plant and animal life Made of broken down rocks and organic matter (OM) from the breakdown of plant and animal life ORGANIC- Living materials or materials that used to be living ORGANIC- Living materials or materials that used to be living

Effects of Air Pollution Greenhouse effect Greenhouse effect Global warming Global warming What do we do about global warming? What do we do about global warming? Health issues- cancer

Air Necessary to life Necessary to life 21% O 2 or the brain will die in 4 to 6 min 21% O 2 or the brain will die in 4 to 6 min Polluting the air in your area may have effects in far away countries and not your own. Why? Polluting the air in your area may have effects in far away countries and not your own. Why? We need to work together as a society to reduce pollution. We need to work together as a society to reduce pollution.

Major Threats to Air Quality Sulfur Sulfur Hydrocarbons Hydrocarbons Nitrous Oxides and Lead Nitrous Oxides and Lead Carbon Monoxide Carbon Monoxide Radon Radon Radioactive Dust Radioactive Dust Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) Pesticides Pesticides Asbestos Asbestos

Sulfur A pale yellow element found in nature A pale yellow element found in nature Found in coal & crude oil Found in coal & crude oil When oil/coal is burned it combines with oxygen to form harmful gasses When oil/coal is burned it combines with oxygen to form harmful gasses Gas combines w/ moisture in air to form Sulfuric Acid which will kill plant life & corrode metals. Gas combines w/ moisture in air to form Sulfuric Acid which will kill plant life & corrode metals.

Hydrocarbons A product of burning fuel A product of burning fuel abundant due to factories and motor vehicles abundant due to factories and motor vehicles Emission controls in cars such as: Emission controls in cars such as: Crankcase ventilation Crankcase ventilation Air injection Air injection Engine refinements Engine refinements 4 valves per cylinder 4 valves per cylinder

Nitrous Oxides & Lead Come from automobile exhaust Come from automobile exhaust Most difficult & expensive to remove Install catalytic converters Most difficult & expensive to remove Install catalytic converters Lead has been removed from gasoline to clean air Lead has been removed from gasoline to clean air

Carbon Monoxide Cannot be removed from car exhaust with the current technology. Cannot be removed from car exhaust with the current technology. Colorless, odorless, poisonous. Colorless, odorless, poisonous. Kills people in automobiles that have leaking systems or in areas with poor ventilation- victim falls asleep then dies. Kills people in automobiles that have leaking systems or in areas with poor ventilation- victim falls asleep then dies. Reduce emissions by keeping engines tuned. Reduce emissions by keeping engines tuned.

Radon Radioactive gas from disintegration of Radium. Radioactive gas from disintegration of Radium. Colorless & odorless Colorless & odorless Moves up thru soil & enters atmosphere Moves up thru soil & enters atmosphere Problems occur when building in these areas Problems occur when building in these areas fix by sealing cracks fix by sealing cracks

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) A compound of chlorine, fluorine, hydrogen & carbon. A compound of chlorine, fluorine, hydrogen & carbon. Used in aerosols & cooling systems such as refrigerators Used in aerosols & cooling systems such as refrigerators Generally very stable Generally very stable But when released into atmosphere it can survive for 100 years!! But when released into atmosphere it can survive for 100 years!!

The chlorine atoms destroy Ozone The chlorine atoms destroy Ozone a layer of gas that protects the earth from harmful UV rays a layer of gas that protects the earth from harmful UV rays Increased numbers of skin cancer & immune system damage Increased numbers of skin cancer & immune system damage CFC’s have been replaced with less damaging agents CFC’s have been replaced with less damaging agents countries agreed to schedule cutbacks on the use of CFC’s countries agreed to schedule cutbacks on the use of CFC’s

Pesticides Pest Pest Living organism that is a nuisance Living organism that is a nuisance Pesticides control pests by killing them Pesticides control pests by killing them Contain toxic chemicals that can kill many living things Contain toxic chemicals that can kill many living things

Asbestos A heat & friction resistant material once used in the clutch and break line of most vehicles, insulation, ceiling panels & other products A heat & friction resistant material once used in the clutch and break line of most vehicles, insulation, ceiling panels & other products Fibers are VERY damaging to the lungs & cause disease & death Fibers are VERY damaging to the lungs & cause disease & death National laws to remove asbestos from public places & general use National laws to remove asbestos from public places & general use