1. Where Does Air Pollution Come From
Where Does Air Pollution Come From? + What Kinds of Health Effects Does It Cause?

2. What is Air Pollution?
Particles or gases in the air that are not part of the normal composition of air
“Smog” is visible air pollution
Many pollutants, including some of the most dangerous, are invisible
So what is air pollution? Things that aren’t natually in the air
Visible – we can see it
Invisible – we cannot see it
Have you looked at the sky and seen pollution?
Do you think we can see all the types of pollution in the air?

3. Where Does Air Pollution Come From?
Human-made pollution
Burning fuel
Such as coal, oil, wood, and other fuels to power vehicles (ships, trains, trucks, cars)
Industrial activity
Power plants, factories

4. Two Major Sources of Air Pollution
Stationary sources
Mobile sources
Air Pollution comes from two major sources….
Stationary means they stay in one place
Mobile sources are ones that move around
?? Re ports and airports…. Area sources?
Different government agencies are in charge of stationary and mobile sources.

5. Important Air Pollutants
Ozone (O3)
Particulate Matter (PM)
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Nitrogen Oxides (NO)
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
Lead (Pb)
These pollutants are regulated by government agencies. They are required to be monitored all over the U.S.
We’re going to talk more about the first two – ozone and particulate matter, because they are some of the most common air pollutants. Then we will tell you a little about diesel pollution (which comes from burning diesel fuel), which is made up of both particles and gases.

6. Ozone (O3) (Smog) + =
Emissions
Sunlight
Ozone (smog)
Ozone is not emitted directly into the air, it is formed by emissions (like NOx) reacting in the presence of sunlight. This is called a photochemical reaction.
Ozone in the air is often called smog.
Ozone in the atmosphere is good because it protects our planet from strong UV rays from the sun. Ozone is bad for us at the ground level, it is an air pollutant that irritates the lungs.
(Photochemical reaction) Ozone - good up high, bad nearby

7. It’s like getting a sunburn in your lungs
Lungs & OZONE
It’s like getting a sunburn in your lungs

8. Particulate matter
Now we’re going to talk about particles. Who has ever wiped off black dust from their windowsill or car or somewhere in the house?
That is PM. Pass around the balls. We are going to say these are PM under a microscope. What’s different about these? What do you notice?

9. Particulate Matter Particles that float in the air
Created by burning fuel
also dust and pollen
Darryl pass out balls – remember to give someone the sprinkles

10. Cross Section of a Human HairPM
Particulate Matter
Cross Section of a Human Hair
10 to 100 times smaller than the width of a human hair!
PM 10
PM 2.5
Ultrafine PM
This stuff is the most dangerous!

11. Particles in the Body
Particles travel with the air people breathe into the respiratory system
The larger a particle is, the more likely it is to get stuck in the body’s first defenses
The smaller a particle is, the more likely it is to travel on to the lungs
Ultrafine particles (the tiniest) can get into the bloodstream and move to other organs
Along the way, the particles can stick to the sides of the airways or travel deeper into the lungs. The larger a particle is, the more likely it is to get stuck in the mucous of your noise or caught by nose hairs. The smaller the particle, the more likely it is to travel on to the lungs.
Which type of particle do you think is most harmful to the lungs? The tiniest of particles can get into the bloodstream, where they can even get into your cells. Studies found tiny particles in the mitochondria of cells, and even in the brain.

12. Lungs &
particulate matter

13. Routes of entry into the body
Breathing in, eating, absorb through the skin
In the lungs, pollution can directly damage the lung tissue causing illness or disease
From the lungs, they can get into the bloodstream and be transported to organs throughout the body
How do air pollutants get into your body?
Breathing them in through the lungs, ingestion by swallowing them, absorbing them through the skin.

14. Air Pollution Health Effects
Acute and chronic effects
Acute effects like itchy eyes
Premature babies (born earlier than they should be)
Heart disease
Cancer
Define acute versus chronic
Studies have linked air pollution to… (slide)
Studies show that pregnant women who live near freeways are more likely to have premature babies.
Other studies show that when the particle pollution in the air is at high levels, more residents die from heart disease
And there is a link between air pollution and cancer.
STOP HERE IF OUT OF TIME

15. USC Children’s Health Study
Children are more vulnerable to air pollution
In the more polluted communities, children have:
More doctors’ visits
More missed school days
Reduced lung growth
and function
Makes asthma worse
More new cases of asthma
near freeways

16. What can we do about it? It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3…
Protect ourselves
Try to pollute less
Take action to stop air pollution

17. Air Quality Index www.AirNow.gov
Lets you know when it is a high pollution day
Stay inside to reduce risk when AQI is at 100 or higher
AQI can be found in newspapers, TV, radio, internet
Point out AQI on poster
It is important to exercise, but there are things you can do to reduce your risk from air pollution. Summer often has the most days with bad air. Pollution levels are normally highest between 3pm and 6pm. Try to have activities and play sports in an area that is not close to a freeway.

18. Air Quality Index (AQI) Values
Levels of Health Concern
When the AQI is in this range:
...air quality conditions are:
0 to 50
Good
51 to 100
Moderate
101 to 150
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
151 to 200
Unhealthy
201 to 300
Very Unhealthy
301 to 500
Hazardous

19. Polluting less Carpool Ride your bike or walk Take the bus
Use vehicles and equipment that is well maintained or electric

20. Take Action Teach others about what you have learned
Tell government agencies that you want clean air

21. Credits Presentation created by Carla Truax, through the
Southern California Environmental Health Sciences Center
and the Trade, Health, and Environment Impact Project
Selected graphics (including lung animation):
Carolina Simunovic & Fresno Metro Ministries
Photos:
Andrea Hricko, Carolina Simunovic, and Communities for a Better Environment