Chapter 21 guided viewing / reading
What does it mean that the atmosphere is a “sink”?
It holds a lot of waste like greenhouse gases and other harmful pollutants.
What does the word “Smog” mean?
Smog is the mixture of smoke and fog
What are the two main types of air pollution? Explain each.
Two main types of air pollution are stationary sources (those that have a fixed location) and mobile sources, sources of pollution that move from place to place while emitting pollutants
Athens, Greece- Number of deaths higher on bad air quality days
Hungary- 1 in 17 deaths contributed to air pollution
U.S.- 300,000deaths/year
China- Large cities have major air pollution issues
What are the general effects of air pollution?
The general effects of air pollution are the visual qualities, vegetation, animals, soil, water quality, natural and artificial structures and human health.
What does it mean if pollution has “synergestic” effects?
Pollution does greater damage to the lungs than a combination of the of the two pollutants would be expected to do based on their separate effects
Define Primary and Secondary Pollutants:
Primary pollutants are pollutants that are emitted directly into the air
Secondary pollutants are produced through reactions between primary pollutants and normal atmospheric compounds
Where do some of the natural air pollutants come from? Explain.
Release of sulfur dioxide from volcanic eruptions, release of hydrogen sulfide, release of ozone in the lower atmosphere, emission of particles from wildfires. These pollutants come from natural sources and have nothing to do with the humans emitting these pollutants.
What are the 6 criteria pollutants? LIST
The 6 criteria pollutants are 6 of the most common pollutants in our atmosphere. They are:
Sulfur Dioxide
Nitrogen Oxides
Carbon Monoxide
Ozone (Photochemical)
Particulate Matter (PM)
Lead
Effects of Air Toxins- Cancer, respiratory, neurological, reproductive or immune diseases
Hydrogen Sulfide- Highly toxic corrosive gas produced from geysers, plants that produce petroleum, causes damage to plants functionality
Hydrogen Fluoride-Toxic gaseous pollutant release by industrial activities
Methyl Isocyanate- Common ingredient in pesticides, causes irritation to eyes, nose, throat and lungsVOC’s- Organic compounds used as solvents in industrial processes
Benzene- Additive in gasoline and industrial solvent, produced during incomplete combustion
Arcolein- Volatile hydrocarbon that irritates nose, eyes and respiratory system produced from combustion of petroleum
What causes some variability of air pollution?
Problems of air pollution vary by regions of the country and world and seasonally.
Las Vegas- Has a problem with particulates, little vegetation is present and wind can pick up and transport fine dust
Haze From Afar- Air quality concerns are not restricted to urban areas, Alaska has air pollution that travel over on the jet stream from Eurasia
Urban Air Pollution- Smog: Photochemical and sulfurous, causes damage to green plants and aggravation of chronic disease
Atmospheric Inversion-Occurs when warmer air is found above cooler air
Topography- Cities situated in a valley are more susceptible to smog problems
What are the 4 factors (potential) for Urban Air Pollution?
Rate of emissions per unit area, downwind distance that a mass of air moves through, average speed of wind, elevation to which pollutants can be mixed by naturally moving air.
What are the future trends for future air pollution?
Optimistic- air quality will improve and we will develop effective ways to reduce pollutants
Pessimistic- population pressures and economics will dictate what happens
United States- LA is a good area to look for strategies for pollution abatement, air quality plan involving urban region includes following features: stricter emissions, discourage automobile use
Mexico City- 25 million people with 50,000 buses and millions of cars. Topographically located in a natural basin, perfect situation for severe air pollution problem
How can we controlling common pollutants?
Reduce, collect, capture and retain
Particulates- Control dust, settling chambers cause particulates to settle out
Automobiles- Reduce the number or type of cars
Sulfur Dioxide- Abatement measures, cleaner coal technology makes fuel more expensive, switch to low sulfur coal
Precipitators- Converts coal to gas in order to remove sulfur, removes ash
Scrubber- slurry of water and lime reacts with SO2 to remove it from gases
The Clean Air Act- Regulation of acid rain, toxic emissions, ozone depletion, automobile exhaust, buying and selling sulfur dioxide emissions, nitrogen dioxides, toxins
Ambient Air Quality Standards- Tied to emission standards that attempt to control air pollution
Air Quality Index (AQI) - Used to describe air pollution on a given day, AQI 100= UNHEALTHY, AQI>200 ALERT, AQI>300 HAZARDOUS, AQI>400 EMERGENCY
What is the cost of outdoor air pollution control?
Increasing air pollution controls, capital cost increase
control for air pollution increase, loss from pollution damage decrease
total cost of air pollution is cost of pollution control plus environmental damages
What is Ozone?
Triatomic form of oxygen in which three oxygen atoms are bonded
How does Ozone block UV light?
The Ozone absorbs the hazardous ultraviolet radiation from the sun
What happens to UVC in the Ozone layer?
UVC is strongly absorbed in the stratosphere and negligible amounts reach the Earth's surface
What are the effects of UVA? UVB?
UVA-Damage living cells
UVB- Depletion of ozone results in an increase of UVB reaching surface of the Earth
How is Ozone measured?
Dobson unit, 1DU= 1ppb of O3
Ozone and CFC’s
Ozone in the stratosphere is being depleted by CFCs
The Antarctic Ozone Hole
Since 1958, ozone depletion has been observed in the Antarctic, thickness is decreasing and geographic area is increasing
What are the environmental effects of the Ozone hole? /UV Exposure?
Damage to food chain, damage to human health (skin cancer, cataracts)
What is the Montreal Protocol?
Plant to reduce the global emissions of CFCs to 50% of 1986 emissions
What is the future for Ozone Depletion?
CFCs will return to pre-1980 levels by 2050
Sources of Indoor Air Pollution
Secondhand Smoke- Most hazardous and common
Legionnaire’s Disease- bacterium causing pneumonia
Radon Gas- Second leading cause of lung cancer
Pesticides- Toxic to people, applied in buildings to control pests
Asbestos- Causes particular type of lung cancer
Formadehyde- VOC used in materials found in homes and offices
Dust Mites- Irritate respiratory system, nose, eyes and skin
Why is indoor air pollution more concentrated than outdoors?
Many pollutants originate within buildings and may be concentrated because of lack of proper ventilation. Indoors has less space, so more pollutants are concentrated together. Outdoors is large and the concentration of the pollutants are more spread out.
What happens on windward/leeward sides of buildings?
Wind- Areas of high pressure may develop
Lee- pressure is lower and protected.
What is the chimney effect?
Temperature differential between indoor and outdoor environments
ETS (Environmental Tobacco Smoke)
Secondhand smoke, people who are exposed to ETS are called passive smokers. It is hazardous because it contains several thousand chemicals, reduce airway functions and cause about 43,000 deaths a year.
What is sick-building syndrome?
Symptoms people report cannot be traced to any one known cause. Complaints result from combined effects of a number of contaminants present, environmental stress from another source responsible, employment related stress may be leading to symptoms reported, pollutants may present.
How can indoor air pollution be controlled?
Financial incentives, meet minimum indoor air quality standards, diluting pollution, air cleaning systems, and education.
It holds a lot of waste like greenhouse gases and other harmful pollutants.
What does the word “Smog” mean?
Smog is the mixture of smoke and fog
What are the two main types of air pollution? Explain each.
Two main types of air pollution are stationary sources (those that have a fixed location) and mobile sources, sources of pollution that move from place to place while emitting pollutants
Athens, Greece- Number of deaths higher on bad air quality days
Hungary- 1 in 17 deaths contributed to air pollution
U.S.- 300,000deaths/year
China- Large cities have major air pollution issues
What are the general effects of air pollution?
The general effects of air pollution are the visual qualities, vegetation, animals, soil, water quality, natural and artificial structures and human health.
What does it mean if pollution has “synergestic” effects?
Pollution does greater damage to the lungs than a combination of the of the two pollutants would be expected to do based on their separate effects
Define Primary and Secondary Pollutants:
Primary pollutants are pollutants that are emitted directly into the air
Secondary pollutants are produced through reactions between primary pollutants and normal atmospheric compounds
Where do some of the natural air pollutants come from? Explain.
Release of sulfur dioxide from volcanic eruptions, release of hydrogen sulfide, release of ozone in the lower atmosphere, emission of particles from wildfires. These pollutants come from natural sources and have nothing to do with the humans emitting these pollutants.
What are the 6 criteria pollutants? LIST
The 6 criteria pollutants are 6 of the most common pollutants in our atmosphere. They are:
Sulfur Dioxide
Nitrogen Oxides
Carbon Monoxide
Ozone (Photochemical)
Particulate Matter (PM)
Lead
Effects of Air Toxins- Cancer, respiratory, neurological, reproductive or immune diseases
Hydrogen Sulfide- Highly toxic corrosive gas produced from geysers, plants that produce petroleum, causes damage to plants functionality
Hydrogen Fluoride-Toxic gaseous pollutant release by industrial activities
Methyl Isocyanate- Common ingredient in pesticides, causes irritation to eyes, nose, throat and lungsVOC’s- Organic compounds used as solvents in industrial processes
Benzene- Additive in gasoline and industrial solvent, produced during incomplete combustion
Arcolein- Volatile hydrocarbon that irritates nose, eyes and respiratory system produced from combustion of petroleum
What causes some variability of air pollution?
Problems of air pollution vary by regions of the country and world and seasonally.
Las Vegas- Has a problem with particulates, little vegetation is present and wind can pick up and transport fine dust
Haze From Afar- Air quality concerns are not restricted to urban areas, Alaska has air pollution that travel over on the jet stream from Eurasia
Urban Air Pollution- Smog: Photochemical and sulfurous, causes damage to green plants and aggravation of chronic disease
Atmospheric Inversion-Occurs when warmer air is found above cooler air
Topography- Cities situated in a valley are more susceptible to smog problems
What are the 4 factors (potential) for Urban Air Pollution?
Rate of emissions per unit area, downwind distance that a mass of air moves through, average speed of wind, elevation to which pollutants can be mixed by naturally moving air.
What are the future trends for future air pollution?
Optimistic- air quality will improve and we will develop effective ways to reduce pollutants
Pessimistic- population pressures and economics will dictate what happens
United States- LA is a good area to look for strategies for pollution abatement, air quality plan involving urban region includes following features: stricter emissions, discourage automobile use
Mexico City- 25 million people with 50,000 buses and millions of cars. Topographically located in a natural basin, perfect situation for severe air pollution problem
How can we controlling common pollutants?
Reduce, collect, capture and retain
Particulates- Control dust, settling chambers cause particulates to settle out
Automobiles- Reduce the number or type of cars
Sulfur Dioxide- Abatement measures, cleaner coal technology makes fuel more expensive, switch to low sulfur coal
Precipitators- Converts coal to gas in order to remove sulfur, removes ash
Scrubber- slurry of water and lime reacts with SO2 to remove it from gases
The Clean Air Act- Regulation of acid rain, toxic emissions, ozone depletion, automobile exhaust, buying and selling sulfur dioxide emissions, nitrogen dioxides, toxins
Ambient Air Quality Standards- Tied to emission standards that attempt to control air pollution
Air Quality Index (AQI) - Used to describe air pollution on a given day, AQI 100= UNHEALTHY, AQI>200 ALERT, AQI>300 HAZARDOUS, AQI>400 EMERGENCY
What is the cost of outdoor air pollution control?
Increasing air pollution controls, capital cost increase
control for air pollution increase, loss from pollution damage decrease
total cost of air pollution is cost of pollution control plus environmental damages
What is Ozone?
Triatomic form of oxygen in which three oxygen atoms are bonded
How does Ozone block UV light?
The Ozone absorbs the hazardous ultraviolet radiation from the sun
What happens to UVC in the Ozone layer?
UVC is strongly absorbed in the stratosphere and negligible amounts reach the Earth's surface
What are the effects of UVA? UVB?
UVA-Damage living cells
UVB- Depletion of ozone results in an increase of UVB reaching surface of the Earth
How is Ozone measured?
Dobson unit, 1DU= 1ppb of O3
Ozone and CFC’s
Ozone in the stratosphere is being depleted by CFCs
The Antarctic Ozone Hole
Since 1958, ozone depletion has been observed in the Antarctic, thickness is decreasing and geographic area is increasing
What are the environmental effects of the Ozone hole? /UV Exposure?
Damage to food chain, damage to human health (skin cancer, cataracts)
What is the Montreal Protocol?
Plant to reduce the global emissions of CFCs to 50% of 1986 emissions
What is the future for Ozone Depletion?
CFCs will return to pre-1980 levels by 2050
Sources of Indoor Air Pollution
Secondhand Smoke- Most hazardous and common
Legionnaire’s Disease- bacterium causing pneumonia
Radon Gas- Second leading cause of lung cancer
Pesticides- Toxic to people, applied in buildings to control pests
Asbestos- Causes particular type of lung cancer
Formadehyde- VOC used in materials found in homes and offices
Dust Mites- Irritate respiratory system, nose, eyes and skin
Why is indoor air pollution more concentrated than outdoors?
Many pollutants originate within buildings and may be concentrated because of lack of proper ventilation. Indoors has less space, so more pollutants are concentrated together. Outdoors is large and the concentration of the pollutants are more spread out.
What happens on windward/leeward sides of buildings?
Wind- Areas of high pressure may develop
Lee- pressure is lower and protected.
What is the chimney effect?
Temperature differential between indoor and outdoor environments
ETS (Environmental Tobacco Smoke)
Secondhand smoke, people who are exposed to ETS are called passive smokers. It is hazardous because it contains several thousand chemicals, reduce airway functions and cause about 43,000 deaths a year.
What is sick-building syndrome?
Symptoms people report cannot be traced to any one known cause. Complaints result from combined effects of a number of contaminants present, environmental stress from another source responsible, employment related stress may be leading to symptoms reported, pollutants may present.
How can indoor air pollution be controlled?
Financial incentives, meet minimum indoor air quality standards, diluting pollution, air cleaning systems, and education.