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