AIR and

Air Pollution

Atmosphere is made up of:

•1. Nitrogen - 78%

•2. Oxygen – 21%

•3. Argon(.9%), carbon dioxide(.03%) and water vapor(.07%)

Layers of the AtmosphereThe 4 Layers of the Atmosphere 1. The troposphere is the layer of the atmosphere that touches Earth’s surface. 2. The stratosphere extends from the troposphere to about 50 km in height. At the upper end of the stratosphere, there is a layer called the ozone. The ozone protects us from UV light.3. The mesosphere is the third layer of atmosphere from Earth’s surface. This is the coldest layer of all atmospheres.4. the thermosphere is the hottest in temperature due to the constant bombardment of sun rays from the sun.

Air pollution•1. human activities

•2. natural sources

•a. Volcanoes

•b. Dust

•c. Pollen

•d. spores

Primary pollutantsHuman activities•1. household products

•2. power plants

•3. motor vehicles

•4. soot from smoke

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)•1. carbon monoxide

•a. Exhaust from vehicles

•2. nitrogen oxide

•a. Vehicles

•b. Coal-burning plants

•3. sulfur dioxide

•a. Coal and oil are burned

•b. Power plants, refineries, and metal smelters

•4. vehicles and gas station spillage

•5. household products

Particulate matter•1. fine particulates

•a. Fuel burned by vehicles

•b. Coal-burning power plants

•2. coarse particulates

•a. Cement plants

•b. Mining operations

•c. Incinerators

•d. Wood-burning fireplaces

•e. Fields

•f. Roads

•Impacts:

- Lung irritation

- Visibility

• Sources: Depends on particle size

Impacts: Visibility at Shenandoah Nat’l Park

Primary Air Pollutants

Carbon Monoxide•Impacts: Lowers blood oxygen levels

• Headaches, reduces alertness, death

• Sources: Vehicles (plus others)

Nitrogen Oxides• NOx = NO + NO2

• Impacts: Respiratory irritant

-Leads to ozone formation

-Leads to acidic deposition of HNO3

-Sources: High-temperature combustion

Ozone•Impacts:

- Respiratory irritant

- Plant damage (forest, crops)

• Sources:

-Produced in the atmosphere

•A major urban and regional pollution problem

Sulfur Dioxide•Impacts:

- Eye and lung irritation

- Acidic deposition of sulfuric acid.

- Damage to limestone and concrete.

• Sources: S in fuel is emitted as SO2

Impacts: Acidic deposition

Secondary pollutants•A. Ground level ozone

• UV rays of the sun & mix with the O2 in the atmosphere

•Industrial societies burn a lot of fossil fuels

Clean Air Act•Passed in 1970

•1. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

•The Clean Air Act is the federal law designed to make sure that all Americans have air that is safe to breathe.

•Public health protection is the primary goal, though the law also seeks to protect our environment from damage caused by air pollution.

Smog•Over urban areas & reduces visibility

•a. Sunlight, air, automobile exhaust, and ozone

•b. vehicles & industries

•c. Los Angeles, Denver, & Phoenix

Health Effects•A. Short-term effects

reversible

•1. headache

•2. nausea

•3. irritation to eyes, nose, & throat

•4. tightness in chest

•5. coughing

•6. upper respiratory infections

•7. asthma & emphysema

Long-term effects

•1. Emphysema

•2. Lung cancer

•3. Heart disease

•4. Worsen conditions suffered by elderly

•5. Damage the lungs of children