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Chapter 18 Air Pollution
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Lichens alga/fungus some are sensitive to specific pollutants (e.g. SO 2 )
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Atmosphere 1. troposphere (surface - 11mi): 78% N 2, 21% O 2, <1% Ar,.036% CO 2,.01 - 5% H 2 O a) tropopause: temperature abruptly rises b) each layer ends when temp gradient reverses) 2. stratosphere (11-30 mi) 1000x less water, 1000x more O 3 3O 2 + UV ----> 2O 3
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3. mesosphere (30 - 50 mi) 4. thermosphere (50 - 75 mi) 5. human impact on nutrient cycle a) we add 1/4 as much CO 2 to atm as nature does b) we add 3x as much NOx (from fossil fuels, fertilizer) c) SO 2 from fossil fuels
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Air pollutants (wrong chemical in the wrong place at the wrong concentration) 1. primary pollutants: formed at surface of the earth 2. secondary pollutants: formed from reactions in troposphere 3. motor vehicles produce more pollution than any other activity
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6 Criteria Air Pollutants Carbon Monoxide (CO) Nitrogen Dioxide (NO 2 ) Sulfur Dioxide (SO 2 ) Suspended Particulate Matter (aerosols) Ozone (O 3 ) Lead (Pb) Know health effects of each p 438
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Photochemical smog a) mix of primary and secondary pollutants influenced by sunlight NOx + VOC’s + light + heat -----> O 3 + aldehydes + PAN’s + HNO 3 Note: formaldehyde: H - C = O I H PAN’s: peroxyacyl nitrates b) NO ---> NO 2 <--- brown, so brown-air smog
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Mechanism surface: N 2 + O 2 ---> 2NO (primary) (at high temp: auto engines, boilers) 2 NO + O 2 ---> 2 NO 2 3 NO 2 + H 2 O ---> 2 HNO 3 + NO NO 2 + UV ----> NO + O O + O 2 ----> O 3 O + O 3 + C x H y ----> aldehydes O 2 + hydrocarbons + NO 2 ----> PAN’s
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Click to view animation. Animation Acid deposition animation.
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Photochemical oxidants NO 2, O 3, PAN’s - b/c they are strong oxidizers (take electrons away) 1. common in warm, sunny climate with lots of cars - NO,NO 2 concentrations increase as traffic builds and unburned hydrocarbons rise and react, in sunlight, to produce photochemical smog (peaks in afternoon)
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Click to view animation. Animation Formation of photochemical smog.
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Industrial Smog 1.Combo of SO 2, H 2 SO 4 droplets, suspended particles 2. Burning coal, oil –S + O 2 ---> SO 2 –SO 2 + O 2 ---> SO 3 –SO 3 + H 2 O---> H 2 SO 4 –NH 3 + H 2 SO 4 ---> (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4, a particulate solid Combo of (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 and soot, C, produces gray-air smog
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PreventionCleanup Reduce air pollution by improving energy efficiency Reduce coal use Increase natural gas use Increase use of renewable resources Burn low-sulfur coal Remove SO 2 particulates, and NO x from smokestack gases Remove No x from motor vehicular exhaust Tax emissions of SO 2 Add lime to neutralize acidified lakes Add phosphate fertilizer to neutralize acidified lakes
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Temperature Inversion Warm air mass gets trapped above cooler air mass (acts as a lid), so surface air can ‘ t rise and dilute pollutants in cleaner air Early morning surface air is cool, clouds block sun so ground stays cool, upper air is warmer so there is no convection current Tends to happen in cities located in a valley (like Los Angeles)
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Warmer air Inversion layer Cool layer Mountain Valley Decreasing temperature Increasing altitude
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Wind Transformation to sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4 ) and nitric acid (HNO 3 ) Nitric oxide (NO) Acid fog Ocean Sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) and NO Windborne ammonia gas and particles of cultivated soil partially neutralize acids and form dry sulfate and nitrate salts Dry acid deposition (sulfur dioxide gas and particles of sulfate and nitrate salts) Farm Lakes in deep soil high in limestone are buffered Lakes in shallow soil low in limestone become acidic Wet acid deposition (droplets of H 2 SO 4 and HNO 3 dissolved in rain and snow) Limestone in soil buffers acid deposition Limestone is sometimes added to lakes Adding phosphate to lakes can raise pH.
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Acid Deposition and Humans Respiratory diseases Toxic metal leaching Decreased visibility Damage to structures, especially containing calcium carbonate Decreased productivity and profitability of fisheries, forests, and farms
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Potential problem areas because of sensitive soils Potential problem areas because of air pollution: emissions leading to acid deposition Current problem areas (including lakes and rivers)
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Indoor air pollution 1. sick building syndrome- def: 20% of occupants get better when they go outside (coughing, dizziness, flu-like symptons) 2. most dangerous indoor pollutants: cigarette smoke, formaldehyde, radon-222, very fine particles 3. Radon enters through cracks in foundation and openings around pipes, inhaled into lungs Reading Prong
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Outlet vents for furnaces and dryers Slab joints Wood stove Cracks in floor Clothes dryer Furnace Radon-222 gas Slab Soil Uranium-238 Sump pump Cracks in wall Open window Openings around pipes Openings around pipes
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Asbestos 1) best to wrap it 2) 1998, foam invented that binds fibers together, nontoxic, still fireproof
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radon - 222 1) produced by radioactive decay of U - 238 2) outside diperses, indoors collects 3) radon is 55% of radiation dose in US 4) acceptable dose? 4 - 20 picocuries/L NOTE: 1 Ci = 3.7 x 10 10 disintegrations/s – a 1g sample of radium has this activity 1 rad is the absorption of 10 -5 joule per gram of tissue
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Effects of air pollution on living organisms A. Humans 1. CO takes up receptor site in hemoglobin so molecule cannot transport O 2 2. 1997 study by World Bank and WHO says 2.7 million people die each year from air pollution (2.2 million from indoor pollution) B. Plants 1. air pollution (esp O 3 ) can break down waxy coating on leaves a) water loss, loss of protection from pests and frost, etc
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Effects of air pollution on living organisms C. Aquatic life 1. acid shock = sudden runoff of highly acidic water and consequently, aluminum ions a) can kill fish and inhibit reproduction, stimulates excessive mucus clogging fish gills b) mildly eutrophic lake can turn into a clear blue oligotrophic lake c) 16,000 lakes in Norway and Sweden have no fish due to xs acidity
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Effects of air pollution on living organisms D. Materials 1. soot and grit ---> cleaning costs a) paint, roofs b) marble statues, historic buildings c) damage to buildings = $5 billion in US
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Natural Defense Soil containing Ca 2+, Mg 2+ salts (buffering ions) can neutralize acid rain to a certain extent Limestone, CaCO 3 deposits
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Solutions 1. Laws: Clean Air Acts of 1970, 1977, 1990 have led to federal regulations a) clean air act requires EPA to set national emission standards for toxic air pollutants (302) compounds) standards not met b) stricter car emission standards by 2002 c) required cleaner burning fuel (oxygenated) in 9 cities, including Philadelphia
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Clean Air Act (cont) d) Clean Air Act is successful. b/w 1970 and 1997 air pollutants levels have dropped 31% e) problems with Clean Air Act of 1990 (most recent) 1) relies on cleanup not prevention 2) no tightening of emission standards for cars and light trucks 3) no restriction of fine particles 4) municipal trash incinerators get 30 year leases 5) weak incinerator emission standards
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Market Place a) 110 power plants in 20 states may buy and sell SO 2 emission rights b) SO 2 credits may be sold and used in the future c) b/w 1994-1997 SO 2 emissions dropped by 30% d) emission credits are also proposed for NOx
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Particulate reduction a) Electrostatic precipitator, baghouse filter and wet scrubber are used technologies b) catalytic converter in a car’s exhaust system: 2 NO + 2 CO -- (Pt)---> N 2 + CO 2 c) 50% of emission control systems have been disabled (estimate) d) controls are needed for outboard motors, lawn mowers, etc e) b/w 1982 and 1993, US smog levels dropped by 8%
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Electrostatic Precipitator Dirty gas Dust discharge Electrodes Cleaned gas
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