Air Pollution

Air PollutionChapter 19 Section 1What causes air pollution?pollutants - harmful substances that contaminate the environmenthuman activities industry, construction, power generation, transportation, and agriculturenatural events erupting volcanoes that spew out ash and toxic gases, smoke from firesTypes of PollutantsPrimary released directly into the air in a harmful form. Secondary pollutants are released directly, but become harmful only after they interact with other substances in the earths atmosphere: smog, brown haze.

Photochemical smogForms with the help of sunlight when nitrogen compounds and organic compounds reactIf landforms are present, they prevent wind from dispersing pollutants, so fog forms readilyA temperature inversion reduces the amount of air mixing in the atmosphere ad can cause pollutants to accumulate near the surfaceAcid RainPrecipitation with less than 5.6 is called acid rainAcid rain damages surfaces and structures in addition to harming plant and animal lifeWinds carry pollutants and cause the Northeastern US to have more acid precipitationParticulate MatterSuspended solid particles and liquid droplets are called particulate matter1. coarse particles are about 1/7 the diameter of human hair.2. fine particles are about the size of coarse particlesToxic Air PollutantsToxic air pollutants cause cancer or other serious human health problemsThey also damage other organismsChloroflourocarbons CFCsCFCs are compounds that destroy the ozone layer. (used in aerosols, refrigerants, airconditioners)No longer produced, but will take a long time to disappear