Air Pollution Air Pollution

Causes, Effects, and SolutionsCauses, Effects, and Solutions

Terms to be familiar with…Terms to be familiar with…

CAA – Clean Air Act CAA – Clean Air Act CO – carbon monoxideCO – carbon monoxide NOx – nitrogen dioxide and nitrogen oxidesNOx – nitrogen dioxide and nitrogen oxides PM – Particulate MatterPM – Particulate Matter SOx – Sulfur dioxide and sulfur oxides SOx – Sulfur dioxide and sulfur oxides VOC’s – Volatile Organic CompoundsVOC’s – Volatile Organic Compounds

Our Atmospheric CompositionOur Atmospheric CompositionComposition of

dry atmosphere, by volume

ppmv: parts per million by volume

Gas Volume

Nitrogen (N2) 78.084% (780,840 ppmv)

Oxygen (O2) 20.946% (209,460 ppmv)

Argon (Ar) 0.9340% (9,340 ppmv)

Carbon dioxide (CO2) 375 ppmv

Neon (Ne) 18.18 ppmv

Helium (He) 5.24 ppmv

Methane (CH4) 1.745 ppmv

Krypton (Kr) 1.14 ppmv

Hydrogen (H2) 0.55 ppmv

Not included in above dry atmosphere:

Water vapor (highly variable) typically 1%

Air PollutionAir PollutionAir Pollution Control Act of 1955 Air Pollution Control Act of 1955

1st federal air pollution law 1st federal air pollution law 1960s - Clean Air Act of 1963 1960s - Clean Air Act of 1963

– (Emissions standards set for stationary (Emissions standards set for stationary sources such as power plants and steel mills) sources such as power plants and steel mills)

1970 – The Clean Air Act (CAA) of 1970 1970 – The Clean Air Act (CAA) of 1970 – EPA was formed to enforce air pollution laws EPA was formed to enforce air pollution laws

(change in national policy from advisor to (change in national policy from advisor to enforcer) – Six major air pollutant types enforcer) – Six major air pollutant types

1990 – The Clean Air Act of 1990 1990 – The Clean Air Act of 1990 – Clean Air Act of 1970 is re-written and new titl

es established

Six Common Air PollutantsSix Common Air Pollutants Particulate MatterParticulate Matter Carbon monoxideCarbon monoxide Nitrogen dioxideNitrogen dioxide Lower Troposphere OZONE producing activitiesLower Troposphere OZONE producing activities Sulfur dioxideSulfur dioxide LeadLead

The EPA asked to Obama Administration to The EPA asked to Obama Administration to consider Carbon dioxide as a new common air consider Carbon dioxide as a new common air pollutant. pollutant.

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency- July 19, 2011Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency- July 19, 2011

Particulate Matter (PM)Particulate Matter (PM) It is known as “Particle Pollution” and can It is known as “Particle Pollution” and can

range in sizes and effects on humansrange in sizes and effects on humans

Particle sizes:Particle sizes: 10 10 uum (diameter) greater health threat m (diameter) greater health threat

than “Course particles” found near than “Course particles” found near roadways and in mining and concrete roadways and in mining and concrete industries. industries.

Carbon monoxide (CO)Carbon monoxide (CO)

CO is a colorless-odorless gas produced by CO is a colorless-odorless gas produced by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels.the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels.

Motor vehicle exhaust contributes to 56% of Motor vehicle exhaust contributes to 56% of the CO produced in the U.S.the CO produced in the U.S.

Over 20% comes from other engines, boats Over 20% comes from other engines, boats and equipment not on-road.and equipment not on-road.

CO PollutionCO Pollution

EPA : 1999 Data

Updated On 11/30/2011, Published on 12/27/2011 Environmental Epidemiology Program, Bureau of Epidemiology, Division of Disease Control and Prevention, Utah Department of Health, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-2104

Nitrogen dioxide (NOx)Nitrogen dioxide (NOx)

Generic term for multiple combinations of Generic term for multiple combinations of nitrogen and oxygen nitrogen and oxygen

Colorless and odorless but sometimes Colorless and odorless but sometimes NONO22 can be seen as a brown-red gas can be seen as a brown-red gas

Sources include motor vehicles, electric Sources include motor vehicles, electric utilities, industry, and commercial and utilities, industry, and commercial and residential fossil fuel usages. residential fossil fuel usages.

NOx is AlarmingNOx is Alarming Contributes to the formation of acid rainContributes to the formation of acid rain

Can contribute to nutrient load that affects Can contribute to nutrient load that affects water qualitywater quality

Contributes to Global Warming (traps long Contributes to Global Warming (traps long wave radiation on Earth) which becomes wave radiation on Earth) which becomes Thermal Radiation. Thermal Radiation.

Los Angeles California: the smog is the brown layer in the picture

Source: http://www.city-data.com/picfilesv/picv8898.php

New York city picture: This 1963 photo shows a massive smog episode in New York City. (Photo: AP/Wide World Photo, EPA Journal Jan/Feb 1990.

OZONEOZONE

It is not usually emitted directly into the air, It is not usually emitted directly into the air, but at ground level is created by a chemical but at ground level is created by a chemical reaction between oxides of nitrogen (reaction between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) ) and volatile organic compounds (and volatile organic compounds (VOCVOC) in ) in the presence of sunlight. the presence of sunlight.

Sunlight and hot weather cause ground-Sunlight and hot weather cause ground-level ozone to form in harmful level ozone to form in harmful concentrations in the air.concentrations in the air.

Good Good

Ozone is “Bad” Here

Ozone Ozone

There are two forms of Ozone. The Ozone that limits UV rays from reaching the Earth is in the Stratosphere (10 – 30 miles above the Earth’s surface. The “Bad” Ozone is in the lower Troposphere.

Sulfur dioxide (SOx)Sulfur dioxide (SOx)

Common in raw materials like coal, ore, and Common in raw materials like coal, ore, and crude oil.crude oil.

Over 65% of SOOver 65% of SO22 released to the air, or released to the air, or more than 13 million tons per year, comes more than 13 million tons per year, comes from electric utilities, especially those that from electric utilities, especially those that burn coal. burn coal. 

SOx emissionSOx emission

Source: http://www.epa.gov/air/urbanair/so2/what1.html

Bryce Canyon, UT

Big Bend, TX

Acadia, ME

LeadLead

These emissions have been phased out These emissions have been phased out in the U.S., but NOT globally.in the U.S., but NOT globally.

The major sources TODAY are The major sources TODAY are smelters, waste incinerators, utilities and smelters, waste incinerators, utilities and lead-acid battery manufacturers. lead-acid battery manufacturers.

Notice the change in lead emission sources since the banning of lead fuel use in the early 1980’s in the U.S.

Source: http://www.epa.gov/air/urbanair/lead/what.html

Lead ConcernsLead Concerns

Affects young children and infants moreAffects young children and infants more

Is still found at high levels in urban and Is still found at high levels in urban and industrial areas industrial areas

Deposits are in soil and water and harms Deposits are in soil and water and harms animals and fish animals and fish

Air Pollution Health ImpactsAir Pollution Health Impacts

Air PollutantAir Pollutant RespiratoryRespiratory OtherOther

Particulate MatterParticulate Matter YesYes LimitedLimited

Carbon monoxideCarbon monoxide YesYes NeurologicNeurologic

Nitrogen oxidesNitrogen oxides YesYes LimitedLimited

OzoneOzone YesYes LimitedLimited

Sulfur oxidesSulfur oxides YesYes LimitedLimited

LeadLead LimitedLimited Organ/NeuroOrgan/Neuro

Normal Lung Aveoli (Left) versus Emphysema (Right)

Solutions to Industrial EmissionsSolutions to Industrial Emissions

Wet ScrubbersWet Scrubbers

Baghouse (Venturi) FiltersBaghouse (Venturi) Filters

Electrostatic PrecipitatorsElectrostatic Precipitators

Cyclone SeparatorsCyclone Separators

Wet ScrubbersWet Scrubbers

The purge stream, which The purge stream, which contains the particulate contains the particulate and sulfur oxides and sulfur oxides removed from the flue removed from the flue gas, may either be gas, may either be treated in the refinery's treated in the refinery's existing wastewater existing wastewater treatment system or may treatment system or may be treated in a dedicated be treated in a dedicated PTU (Purge Treatment PTU (Purge Treatment Unit). Unit).

Cyclone SeparatorsCyclone Separators

Cyclone dust collectors Cyclone dust collectors have been used as a have been used as a pre-filter before a pre-filter before a cartridge or baghouse cartridge or baghouse collector, collector,

Effective for larger, Effective for larger, more abrasive dust more abrasive dust particles that can particles that can easily damage easily damage standard media filters.  standard media filters. 

Baghouse filterBaghouse filter "Baghouse" is an "Baghouse" is an

example of surface example of surface filtration filtration

"Filter" is a membrane "Filter" is a membrane (sheet steel, cloth, wine (sheet steel, cloth, wine mesh, or filter paper) mesh, or filter paper) with holes smaller than with holes smaller than the particles. the particles.

It is usually the cake on It is usually the cake on the filter that stops the filter that stops particles from flowing particles from flowing through through

Electrostatic PrecipitatorsElectrostatic Precipitators Electrostatic precipitators have collection Electrostatic precipitators have collection

efficiency of 99%, but do not work well for flyash efficiency of 99%, but do not work well for flyash with a high electrical resistivity (as commonly with a high electrical resistivity (as commonly results from combustion of low-sulfur coal). Flyash results from combustion of low-sulfur coal). Flyash is a common emission from the burning of fossil is a common emission from the burning of fossil fuelsfuels

Indoor PollutantsIndoor Pollutants

VOC’s (emitted from dishwashers) Solvents (common) from paints, etc

Over-insulated homes can cause pollutants to be held indoors Poorly maintained heating systems

VOCs

What’s up with Carbon dioxide?What’s up with Carbon dioxide?

Is it the cause of Global Warming?Is it the cause of Global Warming?

“ “Global Climate Change”Global Climate Change”

Human-caused carbon dioxide

Ocean pH