Air Pollution

What is Air Pollution? Some gases Aerosols: microscopic liquid and solid particles –Dust –Carbon –Pollen –Sea salts –microorganisms

Composition of the Atmosphere ComponentConcentration (vol %) Constant Nitrogen, N Oxygen, O Argon, Ar0.93 Neon, Ne Helium, He Hydrogen, H Variable Water, H 2 O0 to 4 Carbon Dioxide, CO Methane, CH Ozone, O Carbon Monoxide, CO Other<

What Factors Determine the Level of Air Pollution? Quantity of pollutants entering air Space into which pollutants disperse Removal of pollutants

Removal of Pollutants: Hydroxyl Radical

Two Kinds of Smog (smoke+fog) Industrial Smog: –Combination of smoke and fog –Depends on concentration of industry –Coal as primary energy/heating source –China, Korea, Eastern Europe –Combination of soot, sulfurous compounds, water vapor Photochemical Smog: –Auto exhaust + sunlight –Starts in AM, dissipates in PM –LA, NYC, etc

Weather Conditions Can Make Smog Worse: Inversion

Air Pollution Disasters Donora, PA: Smog of 1948 – ½ town population sickened – 20 dead London: Great Smog of 1952 – 4000 dead