1. Air Pollution

2. The most dangerous city in the world for children due to polluted air…
Mexico City

3. Clean Air Nitrogen gas (78%) and Oxygen gas (21%) Argon Carbon Dioxide
Water Vapor

4. Polluted Air Harmful substances that build up in air
Substances include: solids, liquids, gases

5. Air Pollution
Human Activities: burning fossil fuels

6. Natural Air Pollution Volcanoes (ash and sulfur dioxide) Dust Pollen
Spores

7. Primary Pollutants Put directly into the air by humans TRANSPORTATION
DEMOLITION
INDUSTRY
EXHAUST
BURNING

8. Carbon Monoxide (CO) Odorless, colorless, poisonous gas
Burning…cars, furnace
Drowsiness and death

9. Secondary Pollutants
Chemical reactions between primary pollutants and water vapor
SMOG
ACID RAIN

10. Nitrogen Oxide Gas with brownish haze
Burning…cars, power plants, boilers
Lung cancer, acid rain, respiratory probs

11. Sulfur Dioxide Gas (smells like rotten eggs)
Burning…coal, power plants
Acid Rain
Harms plants/fish
Respiratory probs
Corrosive

12. World Air Quality Problems
As countries become more developed they are more likely to use fossil fuels
Most air pollution comes from cars and industry
Motor Vehicle Emissions: About one/third of all air pollution comes from burning GAS
The Clean Air Act (1970) required: catalytic converters, unleaded gas, improved mpg

13. Industrial Air Pollution
Industries and power plants: burn fuel for energy
Huge quantities of sulfur dioxide (coal) and nitrogen oxide (oil/gas) are released into the air
Other industries produce VOC’s that form toxic fumes
Dry cleaning, oil refineries, manufacturing, furniture refinisher, auto repair shop, aerosols

14. SMOG
In many urban areas, air pollution gets trapped in cities and appears as a gray haze that reduces visibility.
Made of sun, air, exhaust, and ozone
Worst places for smog: LA
Denver
Phoenix

15. Temperature Inversion
Diagram: