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Air Pollution Chapter 44A
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Pollution Pollution is the release of waste matter or energy into the environment by man so that it causes damage or deterioration to living systems and/or environment. Photo from National Geographic Society - Exploring your world
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Pollutants NO2 C6H6 CO C particles A pollutant is any substance brought about by human activities or source of energy which, at an unacceptable level, causes damage to the environment or is harmful to living systems.
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Some air pollutants Carbon monoxide Sulphur dioxide Nitrogen oxides
Hydrocarbons Ozone Particulates
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Carbon monoxide A poisonous gas, can cause death.
Combines with haemoglobin in red blood cells to form stable complex, carboxyhaemoglobin. The haemoglobin is NOT available for carrying oxygen. May cause death.
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Sulphur Dioxide Causes damage to respiratory systems and increase in asthma attacks(哮喘). Acid rain – damage buildings, thought to be responsible for the deaths of large numbers of trees in Europe and America.
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Nitrogen oxides A poisonous gas that damage lung tissues and blood vessels. Acid rain Give rise to photochemical smog.
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Hydrocarbons Cause photochemical smog.
Some hydrocarbons, e.g. benzene, are known carcinogens.
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Ozone Irritates the eyes. Makes more serious asthma. Damages plants.
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Particulates Impair lung function by constricting respiratory passage and damaging lung tissue, cause respiratory disease. Certain particles are suspected to cause cancer.
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Harmful effect Concentration (ppm) Duration of exposure CO
4000 ppm or higher cause death in 1 hour ( or 1000 ppm for 4 hours)
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Concentrations ppm = number of molecules of pollutants per million (106) molecules of air % by volume Microgram per cubic metre ( g m-3)
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Concentrations Convert 0.05 ppm of CO into other concentration units
% volume g m-3
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Answers a. 0.000005% In 1 m3 , there is 0.05/106 m3 of CO
Using Ideal gas equation, m = pVMr / RT Mass of CO = 101x103 x 0.05 x 10-6 x 28 / 8.31 x 298 = 5.71 x g = g Thus, the concentration = g/m3
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Acid rain Normal rainwater pH = 6.5
pH 2.5 has been recorded in some parts of the world SO2 + H2O H2SO3 SO2 + O2 SO3 H2SO4 4NO2 + 2H2O + O2 4HNO3
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Effect of acid rain pH < 4.5, calcium metabolism in fresh water fish will be affected, poor health and growth. Soil of pH < 4.5, absorption of cations by plants will be affected, death of plants. Corrodes metals and accelerates the deterioration of building, rock and statue.
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Photochemical smog NO2 NO + O (under U.V. light) O + O2 + M O3 + M
O + hydrocarbons aldehydes O3 + hydrocarbons aldehydes Hydrocarbons + O2 + NO2 CH3- C-O-O-NO2 (PAN molecule) O
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Photochemical smog Smoke + Fog (Brownish haze)
Reaction initiated by sunlight + NOx + hydrocarbons Effects: 1. Cause headaches, eye, nose and throat irritations. 2. Impair lung function, coughing. 3. Cause rubber and fabrics to deteriorate. 4. Damage plants, loss of crops.
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Sources and properties of Ozone
In lower part of atmosphere NO2 NO + O (under UV light) O + O2 O3 From air by electric sparks in engines, photocopiers, motors. Lightning Too reactive to remain for a long time Adverse effect on health
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Desirability of ozone Stratosphere (20 –50 km above earth’s surface), filter out 99% dangerous UV: Create: O2 + uv light (250 nm) 2 O• O• + O2 + M O3 + M Destroy: O3 + uv light ( nm) O2 + O• O• + O3 2O2
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Depletion of the ozone layer
OO=O Ozone Hole
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Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Unreactive , low flammability and toxicity. Use as : Aerosol propellants, solvents, refrigerants, blowing agents in foam plastic. Causes for accumulation: Unreactive, lifetime about 75 years Insoluble in water
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Depletion of ozone layer
CFCs give Cl free radicals which destroy ozone. CCl3F+uv light CCl2F. + Cl. Cl. + O3 ClO. + O2 (1) ClO. + O Cl. + O2 (2) Repeat (1) (2) Step (1) is considerably faster than O + O3 2O2 Disturb the balance in the production and destruction of ozone.
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Adverse effect of ozone depletion
Reduced crop yield Higher incidence of skin cancer and eye cataract
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Control of the ozone depletion problem
Control the production and consumption of CFCs (Montreal Protocol) Recycling of CFCs Using substitutes
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Possible alternatives for CFCs
Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) such as CF3CHCl2 , they break down more quickly in atmosphere, though lower % of Cl, could damage if overused. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) such as CF3CH2F, no chlorine and ‘ozone safe’, toxicity problem still unsolved.
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Possible alternatives for CFCs
Hydrocarbons such as butane and propane, no chlorine, flammable and poisonous. Water and steam, effective for some cleaning applications.
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Pollution control in H.K.
Environmental protection department (EPD), established 1986 Formulating policy Monitoring Enforcing legislation Planning Handling complaints and enquiries
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Measures to improve air quality
Use of unleaded petrol Installation of catalytic converters in car Limitation of sulphur content in fuel Desulphurization of Flue Gas Installation of Electrostatic Precipitators in power plants Low nitrogen oxide burners
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Web page Environmental Protection Department
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Past AL papers Ozone depletion (1998 5b) Catalytic converter (1998 6b)
SO2, ppm calculation (1999 6d) SO2 (2000 5a) Smog (2000 5b) CFC (2001 6a)
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