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Chapter 12Chapter 12
AirAir
12-1 Causes of Air Pollution12-1 Causes of Air Pollution
Clean air = mostly nitrogen and Clean air = mostly nitrogen and oxygen gasesoxygen gases
Air pollution is harmful substances in Air pollution is harmful substances in the form of liquids, solids or gasesthe form of liquids, solids or gases
Primary pollutants are put into the air Primary pollutants are put into the air by human activityby human activity
Secondary pollutants are formed Secondary pollutants are formed when primary pollutants react with when primary pollutants react with normal air components such as water normal air components such as water vaporvapor
SourcesSources Carbon Monoxide: vehiclesCarbon Monoxide: vehicles Nitrogen Oxide: vehicles, power plantsNitrogen Oxide: vehicles, power plants Sulfur Dioxide: burning of coal/oilSulfur Dioxide: burning of coal/oil Volatile organic compounds: vehicles, Volatile organic compounds: vehicles,
gas station spillage, household productsgas station spillage, household products Particulates:Particulates:
Fine: vehicles, power plantsFine: vehicles, power plants Coarse: cement, mining, wood-burning, Coarse: cement, mining, wood-burning,
fields, roadsfields, roads
Although air Although air pollution is pollution is worse today worse today because of because of modern industry, modern industry, it has been a it has been a problem for problem for thousands of thousands of yearsyears
Clean Air Act of 1970Clean Air Act of 1970
EPA has the authority to regulate EPA has the authority to regulate vehicle emissions in the USvehicle emissions in the US
90% of lead pollution reduced when 90% of lead pollution reduced when gasoline became unleadedgasoline became unleaded
Catalytic converters filter pollutantsCatalytic converters filter pollutants Industries must use air scrubbers (pg. Industries must use air scrubbers (pg.
307)307) Electrostatic precipitators clean smoke Electrostatic precipitators clean smoke
stacksstacks
Motor Vehicle EmissionsMotor Vehicle Emissions
1/3 of all air pollution is from vehicles1/3 of all air pollution is from vehicles 1990 California Air Resources Board 1990 California Air Resources Board
established the zero emission vehicle established the zero emission vehicle (ZEV) program(ZEV) program By 2016 16% of vehicles in California By 2016 16% of vehicles in California
must be ZEVsmust be ZEVs Electric, advanced battery, hydrogen Electric, advanced battery, hydrogen
fuel vehicles will qualifyfuel vehicles will qualify Hybrids are partial ZEVsHybrids are partial ZEVs
Industrial Air PollutionIndustrial Air Pollution
Power plants burn fossil fuels releasing:Power plants burn fossil fuels releasing: 2/3 of all sulfur dioxide2/3 of all sulfur dioxide 1/3 of all nitrogen oxides1/3 of all nitrogen oxides VOCsVOCs
Other industries producing VOCs:Other industries producing VOCs: Dry cleaningDry cleaning Oil refineriesOil refineries Chemical manufacturing plantsChemical manufacturing plants Auto repair shopsAuto repair shops Furniture refinishersFurniture refinishers
SmogSmog
Pollution hanging over urban areas Pollution hanging over urban areas that mixes with sunlight and ozonethat mixes with sunlight and ozone
Temperature InversionsTemperature Inversions
Air above is cooler than air below Air above is cooler than air below which traps pollutants that are which traps pollutants that are normally circulated outnormally circulated out
12-2 Air, Noise & Light 12-2 Air, Noise & Light PollutionPollution
Short Term EffectsShort Term Effects
HeadacheHeadache NauseaNausea Eye, nose, throat irritationEye, nose, throat irritation CoughingCoughing Upper respiratory infectionsUpper respiratory infections PneumoniaPneumonia Aggravates Asthma/EmphysemaAggravates Asthma/Emphysema
Long Term EffectsLong Term Effects
EmphysemaEmphysema Lung cancerLung cancer Heart diseaseHeart disease
Indoor Air PollutionIndoor Air Pollution
Sick-building syndrome – Buildings Sick-building syndrome – Buildings with very poor air quality due to:with very poor air quality due to: PlasticsPlastics PaintsPaints New carpeting/furnitureNew carpeting/furniture Building materialsBuilding materials
Common in tightly sealed buildingsCommon in tightly sealed buildings
RadonRadon
Colorless, tasteless, odorlessColorless, tasteless, odorless Produced by the decay of uraniumProduced by the decay of uranium Seeps through the foundations of Seeps through the foundations of
homeshomes 22ndnd leading cause of lung cancer in leading cause of lung cancer in
the USthe US
AsbestosAsbestos
Used as insulator/fire retardantUsed as insulator/fire retardant Banned in the early 70’sBanned in the early 70’s Asbestos fibers can cut and scar the Asbestos fibers can cut and scar the
lungslungs Causes serious illness and deathCauses serious illness and death
Noise PollutionNoise Pollution
May cause health problems too!May cause health problems too! Hearing lossHearing loss High blood pressureHigh blood pressure StressStress
Decibels (dB) – measures sound Decibels (dB) – measures sound intensityintensity
See chart on page 312See chart on page 312
Light PollutionLight Pollution
Doesn’t pose health threatDoesn’t pose health threat Negatively affects the environmentNegatively affects the environment
Diminishes view of night skyDiminishes view of night sky Energy wasteEnergy waste
12-3 Acid Precipitation12-3 Acid Precipitation
CausesCauses
Sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides are Sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides are released from the burning of fossil released from the burning of fossil fuelsfuels
These combine with water in the These combine with water in the atmosphere which falls as acid rainatmosphere which falls as acid rain
Adversely affects ecosystemsAdversely affects ecosystems
pHpH
Scale that determines how acidic or Scale that determines how acidic or basic a substance isbasic a substance is
See page 314See page 314 7 is neutral7 is neutral Lower numbers (below 7) are higher Lower numbers (below 7) are higher
acidityacidity Higher numbers (above 7) are higher Higher numbers (above 7) are higher
basicitybasicity
Affects on Soil/PlantsAffects on Soil/Plants
Increase soil acidityIncrease soil acidity Decreases nutrientsDecreases nutrients Increases toxic metals that are absorbed Increases toxic metals that are absorbed
into rootsinto roots Clogs surface openings on plantsClogs surface openings on plants
Affects on Aquatic Affects on Aquatic EcosystemsEcosystems
Acid shock may be fatal for fish and Acid shock may be fatal for fish and other organismsother organisms
Affects reproductionAffects reproduction Acidified lakes are treated with Acidified lakes are treated with
limestone to raise the pHlimestone to raise the pH
Affects on HumansAffects on Humans
Toxic metals from soil into food chainToxic metals from soil into food chain Increase in respiratory problemsIncrease in respiratory problems Dissolves building materialsDissolves building materials
InternationalInternational
Pollutants released in one area fall as Pollutants released in one area fall as acid precipitation in another areaacid precipitation in another area
International agreements are needed International agreements are needed to control the problemto control the problem