Air Quality Obj-Discuss the sources of air pollution and the importance of air quality relative to plant and animal life.

What is Air? Air: the invisible, tasteless and odorless mixture of gases that surrounds us Gases in the air: Nitrogen Oxygen Carbon Dioxide Hydrogen & more Atmosphere: the mass of air that surrounds the earth

Air Quality The suitability of the air for use by living organisms High quality=free of pollution Low quality=contains hazardous materials

Types of Air Ambient Air Air/atmosphere outside Most important air in air quality Affected by materials released into it i.e. factory smoke, exhaust from car EPA has standards for maximum amount of pollution that can be in ambient air Inside Air Quality of inside air is related to what is released into it Indoor air should have some exchange with ambient air to be healthy for human use Radon: invisible, tasteless, and odorless radioactive gas that comes from the natural decay of uranium in the soil Enters a building through cracks in floor & walls

Air Pollution The presence of materials in the air that damage air quality Greatest problems due to pollution created by humans in factories, automobiles, etc. Air pollutant: any material that causes air pollution Ex) gas, dust, smoke, pollen Air quality standard: the maximum level of atmospheric pollution allowed at one time in a geographical area Set by EPA Designed to limit the amount of pollution forcing those who pollute the air to stop

Air Pollution The nature of air allows widespread pollution Wind currents can move polluted air across continents and over oceans Air will carry pollutants greater distances than water Weather fronts move air pollution across large areas Airshed: geographical area that may release materials into the air Pollution from U.S. power plants may result in acid rain in Canada Since air moves, pollution created in one place can result in pollution problems elsewhere

Air Pollution 2 major types of air pollutants are gases and suspended solid particles

Gas Pollutants 1. Carbon forms-hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide Primarily released by the petroleum industries and combustion (burning) of materials containing carbon Industrial processes from oil refining, steel mills, and chemical manufacturing plants are a major source of air pollution 2. Sulfur oxides Sulfur is usually found as an oxide in the air Sulfur oxides are sulfur dioxide and sulfur trioxide When sulfur compounds mix with water vapor, the end result is acid rain. This the best example of air pollution that affects wildlife, especially fish.

Gas Pollutants  Nitrogen Oxides During combustion, nitrogen in fuel forms nitrogen oxides The oxides formed are nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen dioxide Nitrogen oxides pose health problems similar to sulfur oxides  Photochemical Oxides Primary ingredient=smog The ozone layer of the earth is being damaged by pollutants, namely chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) Freon in refrigerators and air conditioners Spray cans

Suspended Solid Particles Particulate includes small particles similar to dust and droplets of water Includes acid droplets, salts of metals, pollen, and other substances Smoke from factories, burning trash, forest fires, and dusts from roads are sources of solid particles Scrubbing: use of procedures to remove particulate from industrial exhaust Use of a fine spray mist of water through smoke Use of electrostatic precipitators

Suspended Solid Particles Two metals are major causes of air pollution: Lead- a heavy metal used in manufacturing paint and dinnerware Paint containing lead was once widely used Tiny particles of paint could get into food or on toys that small children put into their mouths Most uses of lead have been stopped Mercury- a heavy metal used widely in thermometers Is being eliminated because of mercury poisoning Can cause death of fish Human symptoms=loss of memory, birth defects, involuntary shaking of the body

Effects of Air Pollution Human Health Problems Respiratory diseases i.e. lung cancer, emphysema, bronchitis, black lung disease Asphyxiation- a condition that occurs when the body is not getting adequate oxygen due to carbon monoxide accumulating in the blood Pollution can injure farm animals, pets, and wildlife Feed produced in high pollution areas may be poisoned Fluorides are particularly damaging to animals Acid rain has destroyed fish populations

Effects of Air Pollution Pollution may damage fruits, vegetables, flowers, trees, and lawns Pollution may cause chlorosis (plant leaves turn yellow & fall off) The major effect of air pollution on the climate has been the greenhouse effect Pollutants cause the atmosphere to hold in heat and increase the earth’s temperature Air contents influence climate Contents absorb radiation to protect the earth The contents hold heat against the earth’s surface Visibility is impaired Property damage Acid rain- rust & corrosion on equipment and fish crops lost Damage to buildings Changes the ecosystem by affecting the entire food chain

Determine Air Quality Obj- Summarize how air pollution is detected and controlled

How Air Pollution is Tested & Measured Air quality is difficult to test because of the nature of the air Invisible & moves about Ambient Air Monitoring Samples collected with an air pollution sampling pump: Collects & measures the quantity of air being sampled; then the sample is passed into an absorbing solution. Solution is chemically analyzed. Specially designed kits are used to test for hazardous materials. Point Source Emissions Monitoring Emission: a gas born pollutant that is released into the air (smoke & fumes) Point Source Air Pollution: a specific place where air pollution originates; Examples) factories with tall smoke stacks

Measuring Pollutants Volume per Volume- the number of parts of a pollutant in the air Expressed as “parts per volume” May also be expressed in parts per million (ppm) Weight per Volume- the weight in parts per million (ppm) Used to measure the concentration of a pollutant in the air Stated as micrograms per cubic meter Dimension measurement- used to measure solid particles, called particulate, in the air

Protecting the Air Controlling emissions Scrubbers can be used on smoke stacks to remove gases and particulate Fuels that produce less sulfur and other wastes can be used Emission control devices i.e. catalytic converter Reusing and Recycling Save the release of pollutants that manufacturing a product would generate Conserve limited natural resources Using Alternative Methods New refrigerants have replaced freon in refrigerators and air conditioners No till farming has reduced the need to plow and reduces dust IPM reduces the use of hazardous pesticides Practicing Safety Close windows and stay inside when outside pollution level is high Wear protective masks around hazardous chemicals

So what is going on in our world today? Find a current event that highlights what places or businesses are doing to reduce the pollution they put into the atmosphere Write a ONE PAGE summary of the article. Be sure to include the title of the article, author, and the date published. Several strides have been made toward cleaner air beginning with the Clean Air Act that was last revised in 1990.