1. Air Pollution 15.4

2. Definition: Chemical or physical agent that when added to the environment impacts people, wildlife, plants or ecosystems. Natural causes Human causes

3. Monitoring Air Quality Lichens = natural indicators of air quality Monitoring stations take air samples on a continuous basis and provide alerts to state & federal agencies.

4. Primary pollutants Released directly into the air Examples of natural primary pollutants: Dust Sea salt Volcanic gas & ash Forest fire smoke Pollen

5. Primary pollutants Human sources of primary pollutants: Carbon monoxide Dust Smoke Paint Vehicle exhaust Burning fossil fuels

6. Examples of primary pollutants: SO 2 Burning coal CO & CO 2 Burning hydrocarbons NO x Fuel combustion Smogformed through solar action Particulatesindustry, agriculture, urban

7. Secondary pollutants Enter the air and undergo reactions Photochemical smog Acid rain

8. National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) Ozone Particulate matter Carbon monoxide Sulfur dioxide Nitrogen oxides Lead

9. Indoor pollution Tobacco smoke Hydrocarbons Vinyl chlorides Asbestos Carbon monoxide Radon

10. Acid precipitation Sulfur dioxide + rain = sulfuric acid Nitrogen oxide + rain = nitric acid Problems with acid rain: –Forests: damages plants & habitats –Amphibian populations decline with acidity –Plants damaged –Aquatic ecosystems decline

11. Ozone hole 1985 discovered Caused by CFCs breaking down ozone Montreal Protocol (treaty) to eliminate CFC production Problem: it reduces the ability to block UV rays

12. CFC Molecules Active for 60 – 120 years Affect ozone layer of the atmosphere

13. Human Health Groups most susceptible: –Children –Elderly people –People with asthma, allergies, lung problems & heart problems

14. Long term effects of exposure Emphysema Lung cancer Permanent lung damage Heart disease

15. Short term effects Headache Nausea Eye irritation Coughing Asthma aggravation Emphysema aggravation

16. Human Health impacts Lead = central nervous system damage Smog Sulfur dioxide = damages lung tissue Carbon monoxide = toxic. Binds to hemoglobin & displaces oxygen Particulates = damage respiratory tissue

17. Solutions Clean Air Act = incentives & penalties –Passed in 1970 –Purpose: control of air pollutants, setting standards for clean air

18. Reducing Pollution Scrubbers on smoke stacks Cleaner burning fuels Hybrid cars Catalytic converters in engines Remove source of pollution from indoors Improve ventilation indoors

19. Allowance Trading allows: Companies to sell pollutants that they’ve been allowed to discharge

20. Airnow Website http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow. displaymaps&Pollutant=OZONE&StateID= 60&domain=superhttp://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow. displaymaps&Pollutant=OZONE&StateID= 60&domain=super