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Published byDeirdre French Modified over 9 years ago
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AIR POLLUTION
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Primary vs Secondary Primary pollutants: enter atmosphere directly –Ex: CO 2, NO x, SO x, Particulates and Hydrocarbons Secondary pollutants: form due to chemical rxns occurring in air. – Ex: Trop. Ozone & Acid Rain
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Case Study: Acid Rain Secondary Pollutant: Sulfuric Acid, H 2 SO 4 SO 2 + H 2 O H 2 SO 4 Burning coal Reduces crop yields, irritates lungs
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Effects of Air Pollution Damages lungs and reduces visibility Corrodes materials Contributes to global warming, acid rain, and ozone depletion Bangkok Popo
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Little Kids More Susceptible… Higher metabolisms… Lungs are still developing…
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Burning Fossil Fuels Causes most air pollution energy Fossil fuel: fuel formed in earth from ancient plant /animal remains. Ex’s: coal, oil, natural gas
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Benxi: Pollution from steel mills blows over residential buildings
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Controlling Air Pollutants Burn < Fossil Fuels!
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…By using alternative energy sources
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Wet Scrubb er - - mix liquid w/ air pollutant pollutant sinks w/ liquid.
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Electrostatic Precipitator Give air pollutants a charge stick to negative plate wipe plate clean
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Catalytic Converter Reduces emissions from combustion engines 3 tasks: A) take CO CO 2 B) Take NOx O 2 and N C) Take HCs CO 2 and H 2 O
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Its required by the law!!!….unless your car is older than 1973
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Clean Air Act of 1970 Set air quality standards for primary & secondary pollutants Established “criteria pollutants”- human DANGER States must develop clean air plans and test cars! Bush signs ‘90 amendment for NAAQS
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Particulate Matter AKA aerosols: dust, lead, asbestos, salt, ash Enters by: hair, skin, gas, fire retardant, volcanoes – A– A– A– All eventually settle –R–R–R–Reduces amount of sun that reaches earth’s surface. Dust x 12000
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Nitrogen Oxides (NO x ) –Damage: Inhibits plant growth, causes asthma, major cause of photochemical smog
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NOx’s enters by: 1) combustion of gasoline from autos 2) fertilizer application 3) burning crop residues
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Photochemical Smog Sun + NOx + Vol. Org Compounds (VOC’s) Smog Smog PSA LA
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Reacts in atmosphere acid rain (H 2 SO 4 ) Irritates respiratory tracts; degrades metals & stone Sulfur Oxides (SOx)
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–Enters by: Coal and oil burning for energy utilities –Can be taken out with calcium oxide (lime) after coal burning flue gas desulfurization Sulfur Oxides (SOx)
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CO, Carbon monoxide: poisonous, reduces red blood cells ability to carry O 2 CO 2 Carbon dioxide: adds to global warming Carbon Oxides (COx)
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Enters: solid waste, fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal), and wood are burned. Also, animal respiration. Carbon Oxides (COx)
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Case Study: Lake Nyos Lake Nyos on top of magma in Cameroon. CO 2 leaks into the lake from magma. Huge CO 2 bubble released in 1986. Killed 1800 people and 3500 livestock. Cow suffocated
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Case Study: Lake Nyos
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Before and After
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Highly volatile (unstable) compounds, cause cancer & contribute to global warming.Highly volatile (unstable) compounds, cause cancer & contribute to global warming. Hydrocarbons
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Formed by: Engine combustion of fossil fuel, cow farts, wetland decompositionFormed by: Engine combustion of fossil fuel, cow farts, wetland decomposition Hydrocarbons
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Major Air Pollutants Tropospheric ozoneTropospheric ozone –Secondary pollutant –NO 2 + light NO + O –O + O 2 O 3 –Damage: coughing, inflammation of lungs.
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Nature Helps Us! Gravity Rain and Snow Salty Sea Spray Winds Chemical Reactions All Ways to Reduce Levels of Outdoor Air Pollution
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