1. 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

2. Air Pollution in Shanghai, China, in 2004

3. China Smog Documentary

4. Air Pollution Chapter 18

5. Core Case Study: South Asia’s Massive Brown Cloud Asian Brown Cloud – Causes – Chemical composition – Areas impacted Air pollution connects the world Steps taken in China and India to reduce air pollution

6. The Atmosphere Consists of Several Layers Atmosphere varies in – Density – Atmospheric pressure – Temperature

7. Air Movements in the Troposphere Play a Key Role in Earth’s Weather and Climate Troposphere – 75–80% of the earth’s air mass – Closet to the earth's surface – Chemical composition of air – Rising and falling air currents: weather and climate – Involved in chemical cycling

8. The Stratosphere Is Our Global Sunscreen Stratosphere – Similar composition to the troposphere, with 2 exceptions Much less water O 3, ozone layer, filters UV – Location

9. Air Pollution Comes from Natural and Human Sources Air pollution (What is a pollutant?) Natural sources – Dust blown by wind – Pollutants from wildfires and volcanoes – Volatile organics released by plants – Withdrawing groundwater Human sources: mostly in industrialized and/or urban areas – Stationary sources – Mobile sources

10. Some Pollutants in the Atmosphere Combine to Form Other Pollutants Primary pollutants Secondary pollutants

11. Donora, PA at noon 11/29/1948

12. What Are the Major Outdoor Air Pollutants? 1. Carbon oxides – Carbon monoxide (CO) – Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) – Sources – Human health and environmental impact

13. What Are the Major Outdoor Air Pollutants? 2. Nitrogen oxides (NO) and nitric acid (HNO 3 ) – Sources – Acid deposition – Photochemical smog – Human health and environmental impact 3. Sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) and sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4 ) Sources Industrial smog Human health and environmental impact

14. What Are the Major Outdoor Air Pollutants? 4. Particulates – Suspended particulate matter (SPM) Fine Ultrafine – Sources – Human health and environmental impact

15. What Are the Major Outdoor Air Pollutants? 5. Ozone (O 3 ) – see lab – Sources – Human and environmental impact 6. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – Hydrocarbons and terpenes – Sources – Human and environmental impact

16. Science Focus: Detecting Air Pollutants Chemical instruments - Satellites Nanotechnology Biological indicators – Lichens EPA Habitable Planet

17. Natural Capital: Lichen Species, Vulnerability to Air Pollutants

19. Chemical Reactions That Form Major Outdoor Air Pollutants EPA

20. A Model of How Pollutants That Make Up Photochemicals Are Formed

21. Photochemical Smog – Chemical composition – Sources VOCs + NO 2 + Heat + Sunlight yields – Ground level O 3 and other photochemical oxidants – Aldehydes – Other secondary pollutants Human health and environmental impact

22. Industrial Smog Chemical composition of industrial smog Reduction of this smog in urban cities of the United States China and smog – Human deaths

23. How Pollutants Are Formed from Burning Coal and Oil, Leading to Industrial Smog

24. Lead: A Highly Toxic Pollutant Does not break down in the environment Sources Human health and environmental impact – Most vulnerable Reduction of lead (Pb) – Unleaded gasoline – Unleaded paint Still problems – 2007: toys with Pb paint recalled – Global ban on lead in gasoline and paint

25. Solutions: Lead Poisoning, Prevention and Control

26. Several Factors Can Decrease or Increase Outdoor Air Pollution Outdoor air pollution may be decreased by – Settling of particles due to gravity – Rain and snow – Salty sea spray from the ocean – Winds – Chemical reactions

27. Outdoor air pollution may be increased by – Urban buildings – Hills and mountains – High temperatures – Emissions of VOCs from certain trees and plants – Temperature inversions – Grasshopper effect

28. Grasshopper effect...

29. Acid Deposition Acid deposition, acid rain – Formation – Local versus regional problems – Effects of prevailing winds – Buffers – Where is the worst acid deposition?

30. Natural Capital Degradation: Acid Deposition, Acid Rain

31. Current and Possible Future Acid Rain Problem Areas

32. Acid Deposition Has a Number of Harmful Effects Human respiratory disorders Aquatic ecosystems affected Release of toxic metals Leaching of soil nutrients Loss of crops and trees Damage to buildings, statues, and monuments know

33. Natural Capital Degradation: Air Pollution Damage to Trees in North Carolina, U.S.

34. Ocean Acidification

35. We Know How to Reduce Acid Deposition Prevention approaches Clean up – Add lime to neutralize acidified lakes and soil – Add phosphate fertilizer to neutralize acidified lakes

36. Indoor Air Pollution Developing countries – Indoor burning – Poor suffer the greatest risk Developed countries – Indoor air pollution is greater than outdoor air pollution Why? 11 of the common air pollutants higher inside than outside Greater in vehicles than outside Health risks magnified: people spend 70–98% of their time is indoors

37. Cont’d Who are at greatest risk from indoor air pollution? – Children under 5 and the elderly – Sick – Pregnant women – People with respiratory disorders or heart problems – Smokers – Factory workers

38. Cont’d Four most dangerous indoor air pollutants – Tobacco smoke – Formaldehyde – Radioactive radon-222 gas – Very small particles Sources of these pollutants Human health risks

39. Other possible indoor air pollutants – Pesticide residue – Pb particles – Living organisms and their excrements E.g., Dust mites and cockroach droppings – Airborne spores of molds and mildews Sick-building syndrome

41. Some Important Indoor Air Pollutants

42. Your Body’s Natural Defenses against Air Pollution Can Be Overwhelmed Respiratory system protection from air pollutants – Role of cilia, mucus, sneezing, and coughing Effect of smoking and prolonged air pollution exposure – Chronic bronchitis – Emphysema

43. Major Components of the Human Respiratory System

44. Normal Human Lungs and the Lungs of a Person Who Died of Emphysema

45. Air Pollution Is a Big Killer 3 Million deaths per year world-wide – Mostly in Asia – Main causes EPA: proposed stricter emission standards for diesel-powered vehicles Link between international trade and air pollution – Cargo ships and pollution

46. Premature Deaths from Air Pollution in the U.S.

47. Laws and Regulations Can Reduce Outdoor Air Pollution United States – Clean Air Acts: 1970, 1977, and 1990 Clean Air Acts: 1970, 1977, and 1990 EPA – National ambient air quality standards (NAAQs) for 6 outdoor criteria pollutants National ambient air quality standards (NAAQs) for 6 outdoor criteria pollutants – National emission standards for 188 hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) Toxic Release Inventory (TRI)

48. Cont’d Good news in U.S. – Decrease in emissions – Use of low-sulfur diesel fuel Cuts pollution Developing countries – More air pollution

49. We Can Use the Marketplace to Reduce Outdoor Air Pollution Emission trading or cap-and-trade program – Mixed reactions to program – SO 2 emissions down significantly – NO 2 will be tried in the future

50. There Are Many Ways to Reduce Outdoor Air Pollution 1980 –2006 – SO 2 emissions from U.S. electric power plants decreased by 66% – NO x emissions by 41% – Particulate emissions by 28% Older plants not governed by the same regulations New cars have better emissions

52. Rather than... “what can we do about the air pollution we produce?” How about... “How can we avoid producing the pollutant in the first place?”

53. Solutions: Stationary Source Air Pollution Solutions: Motor Vehicle Air Pollution, Prevention and Cleanup

54. Reducing Indoor Air Pollution Should Be a Priority Greater threat to human health than outdoor pollution What can be done? – Prevention – Cleanup