CHAPTER 21: AIR POLLUTION
What does the word “Smog” mean?
Mixture of smoke and fog
What are the two main types of air pollution? Explain each.
1. Stationary sources- those that have a relatively fixed location.
2. Mobile source- move from place to place while emitting pollutants
What are the general effects of air pollution?
Affect human health in several ways: Toxic poisoning, cancer, birth defects etc. Increased susceptibility to viral infections, causing pneumonia and bronchitis. Increased susceptibility to heart disease. Aggravation of chronic diseases, such as asthma and emphysema
What does it mean if pollution has “synergestic” effects?
Do greater damage to the lungs than a combination of the two pollutants would be expected to do based on their separate effects.
Define Primary and Secondary Pollutants:
Primary pollutants:
-Emitted directly into the air
-Carbon monoxide (58%), volatile organic compounds (11%), nitrogen oxides (15%), sulfur oxides (13%), and particulates (3%)
Secondary pollutants:
-Produced through reactions between primary pollutants and normal atmospheric compounds
Where do some of the natural air pollutants come from? Explain.
Natural pollutant exceed anthropogenic pollutants (other than sulfur and nitrogen oxides)
What are the 6 criteria pollutants? LIST
-Sulfur dioxide
-Nitrogen oxides
-Carbon monoxide
-Ozone
-Particulates
-Lead
-Haze From Afar Urban Air Pollution
What causes some variability of air pollution?
Problems vary in different regions of the country and the world
What are the 4 factors (potential) for Urban Air Pollution?
1.Rate of emission of pollutants per unit area
2.Downwind distance that a mass of air moves through an urban area
3.Average speed of the wind
4.Elevation to which potential pollutants can be thoroughly mixed by naturally moving air in the lower atmosphere
What are the future trends for future air pollution?
-The optimistic view
Air quality will continue to improve
We will developed effective ways to reduce pollutants
-The pessimistic view
Population pressures and economics will dictate what happens in many parts of the world
The result will be poorer air quality in many locations
How can we controlling common pollutants?
-Reduce
-Collect
-Capture
-Retain
What is the cost of outdoor air pollution control?
A few hundred dollars per additional ton of particulates removed
What is Ozone?
Triatomic form of oxygen in which three atoms of oxygen are bonded
How does Ozone block UV light?
Absorbs most of the potentially hazardous ultraviolet radiation from the sun
How is Ozone measured?
First measured in 1920s using Dobson ultraviolet spectrometer.
What happens to UVC in the Ozone layer?
UVC strongly absorbed in the stratosphere, and negligible amounts reach the Earth’s surface
What are the effects of UVA? UVB?
UVA can cause some damage to living cells. Depletion of ozone in the stratosphere results in an increase in the UVB that reaches the surface of the Earth
What is sick-building syndrome?
When the cause is not detected.
How can indoor air pollution be controlled?
-Strong financial incentives to provide workers with a clean air environment
-Meet minimum indoor air quality standards
What is the Montreal Protocol?
Outlined a plan for the eventual reduction of global emissions of CFCs to 50% of 1986 emissions
Mixture of smoke and fog
What are the two main types of air pollution? Explain each.
1. Stationary sources- those that have a relatively fixed location.
2. Mobile source- move from place to place while emitting pollutants
What are the general effects of air pollution?
Affect human health in several ways: Toxic poisoning, cancer, birth defects etc. Increased susceptibility to viral infections, causing pneumonia and bronchitis. Increased susceptibility to heart disease. Aggravation of chronic diseases, such as asthma and emphysema
What does it mean if pollution has “synergestic” effects?
Do greater damage to the lungs than a combination of the two pollutants would be expected to do based on their separate effects.
Define Primary and Secondary Pollutants:
Primary pollutants:
-Emitted directly into the air
-Carbon monoxide (58%), volatile organic compounds (11%), nitrogen oxides (15%), sulfur oxides (13%), and particulates (3%)
Secondary pollutants:
-Produced through reactions between primary pollutants and normal atmospheric compounds
Where do some of the natural air pollutants come from? Explain.
Natural pollutant exceed anthropogenic pollutants (other than sulfur and nitrogen oxides)
What are the 6 criteria pollutants? LIST
-Sulfur dioxide
-Nitrogen oxides
-Carbon monoxide
-Ozone
-Particulates
-Lead
-Haze From Afar Urban Air Pollution
What causes some variability of air pollution?
Problems vary in different regions of the country and the world
What are the 4 factors (potential) for Urban Air Pollution?
1.Rate of emission of pollutants per unit area
2.Downwind distance that a mass of air moves through an urban area
3.Average speed of the wind
4.Elevation to which potential pollutants can be thoroughly mixed by naturally moving air in the lower atmosphere
What are the future trends for future air pollution?
-The optimistic view
Air quality will continue to improve
We will developed effective ways to reduce pollutants
-The pessimistic view
Population pressures and economics will dictate what happens in many parts of the world
The result will be poorer air quality in many locations
How can we controlling common pollutants?
-Reduce
-Collect
-Capture
-Retain
What is the cost of outdoor air pollution control?
A few hundred dollars per additional ton of particulates removed
What is Ozone?
Triatomic form of oxygen in which three atoms of oxygen are bonded
How does Ozone block UV light?
Absorbs most of the potentially hazardous ultraviolet radiation from the sun
How is Ozone measured?
First measured in 1920s using Dobson ultraviolet spectrometer.
What happens to UVC in the Ozone layer?
UVC strongly absorbed in the stratosphere, and negligible amounts reach the Earth’s surface
What are the effects of UVA? UVB?
UVA can cause some damage to living cells. Depletion of ozone in the stratosphere results in an increase in the UVB that reaches the surface of the Earth
What is sick-building syndrome?
When the cause is not detected.
How can indoor air pollution be controlled?
-Strong financial incentives to provide workers with a clean air environment
-Meet minimum indoor air quality standards
What is the Montreal Protocol?
Outlined a plan for the eventual reduction of global emissions of CFCs to 50% of 1986 emissions