Air Pollution Final

CTDMPLUS

Complex terrain dispersion model plus algorithms for unstable situations is a refined point source Gaussian air quality model for use in all stability conditions for complex terrain.

Screening models-RTDM3.2

(Rough Terrain Diffusion Model) is a sequential Gaussian plume model designed to estimate ground-level concentrations in rough (or flat) terrain in the vicinity of one or more co-located point sources.

Screening models-TSCREEN

(Toxics Screening Model) is a Gaussian model that implements the procedures to correctly analyze toxic emissions and their subsequent dispersion from one of many different types of possible releases for superfund sites.

Common means of decay

-Alpha (α) two protons + two neutrons, 4He - Beta (β) electron (negatron) or positron, e- or e+, β or β+, positron is antimatter -- annihilation radiation of two 0.511 MeV gamma rays - Gamma (γ) high energy photon - Electron capture (EC) - X-ray emitted - Spontaneous Fission (SF) - Neutrons (n) - Isomeric Transition (IT)

How many coal fired power plants in the US?

1,522 coal fired generating units with 335,891 MW capacity`

Biomass Burning Devices United States

Cordwood stoves. Cordwood fireplace inserts (stoves). Pellet stoves and inserts. Outdoor hydronic heaters (OWB, pellet, and cordwood). Indoor Wood furnaces, hydronic heaters, and boilers (pellet and cordwood). Fireplaces (minor heating and aesthetics). Masonry heaters (upscale homes). Corn burning stoves and furnaces (Midwest).

Local problems

Direct Impact, human health, and environmental impacts.

Carbon Monoxide

Direct health impact. No secondary standard. Incomplete combustion forms this. Few months lifetime in the atmosphere.

Acid Rain Impacts-Terrestrial

Direct necrotic lesions on plants. Reduce crop yields. Effect chemistry of plant soil medium. Acid clouds in high mountains. Red spruce decline in VT, NC mountains, Norway spruce in Black Forest of Germany.

"Home Heating and Air Pollution"

Discussed the specific air pollution implications of each major fuel type in the US including: Natural gas, propane, electric, fuel oil, wood, coal, and kerosene.

Prevention of significant deterioration (PSD)

EPA compelled by US. Supreme Court to develop regulations to protect air quality in clean areas. Class I-very little deterioration allowed. Class II-moderate deterioration allowed. Class III areas-deterioration up to secondary standard.

65% Sulfuric Acid and 30% Nitric Acid in US

Easter U.S. major region for acid precursors. Sulfur dioxide is more significant in the East. Ohio has the highest SO2 emissions of any state. Nitrogen oxides are more important in the West. Small amounts of sulfurous and nitrous acid are present but are less stable. SMall amounts of HCl and phosphoric acid.

Regional Haze

Eastern and Midwestern US Summer-Slow moving high pressure systems track up the Ohio River Valley, large SO2 sources. Secondary particles warm temp and sunlight. High humidity. Reduced verticle mixing.

Unusual Air Pollution Case Studies

Geothermal power plants, tire-fueled power plants, slag pouring, contaminated fugitive dust.

Developing and Underdeveloped countries

10% of direct energy consumption worldwide is from wood and agricultural residues, 90% of this is household cooking and heating in developing and underdeveloped countries. Estimated 2.8 million deaths per year from poor indoor air quality as result of residential biomass fuel combustion. Over 1/2 the world's population cooks over solid fuel on a daily basis (coal + biomass). 90% of the rural population rely on solid fuel for domestic energy.

Rongelap Atoll

120 km from test. 2 cm of ash fallout. Radiation sickness. Extraordinary rates of thyroid cancer and leukemia deaths. Residents resettled.

Lead

1973 to 1986 phase out of leaded gasoline for motor vehicles. Antiknock/octane booster (tetraethyl lead). Current sources of lead air emissions are ore and metal processong and gasoline for off road uses (aircraft, marine, farm vehicles, race cars). Lead has serious health effects and accumulates in environment.

Charcoal Grills and Smokers

31 million households (28%) with charcoal grill. 6 million households (6%) with charcoal smoker.

Source Test Methods

40 CFR Part 60 Appendix A (NSPS). 40 CFR Part 52 Appendix M (SIP). 40 CFR part 61 Appendix B (NESHHAPS). EPA SW 846. NIOSH. Various state and local methods.

Acid Deposition

60-70% of SO2 from electric power plants burning coal and 20% of NOx. Tall stacks (200-400 meters). Long-range transport. NOx emissions continue to increase due to increases in mobile sources, whereas SO2 can be more readily controlled.

What is the composition of air?

78% nitrogen, 20% oxygen, 1% others

Screening Models-VALLEY

=is a steady-state, complex terrain, Gaussian plume dispersion algorithm designed for estimating either 24-hour or annual concentrations resulting from emissions from up to 50 (total) point and area sources

Stratospheric ozone depletion

Ground-level UV-B radiation increase. Increased skin cancer and cataracts. Possible harm phytoplankton and plants.

Radon-222

Half life of 3.8 days. Noble (Inert Gas). Decays with energetic alpha particle. Forms from Radium-226 in soil (half life 1622 years).

Particulate Matter

Health and visibility impacts.

Developed countries-heating and aesthetics

Heating with biomass more prevalent in rural areas. Aesthetics (fireplaces) most common in suburbs. Mostly cordwood, wood pellets, manufactured firelogs, some corn, and charcoal for recreational cooking. Limit developed country discussion to US here.

Mineral products industry

Hot mix asphalt, cement manufacturing, aggregate, vermiculite, and phosphate rock processing.

Key Air Pollution Issues

Human health (chemical, physical, biological, radiation); environmental impacts (animals, vegetation); visibility; acid precipitation; stratospheric ozone depletion; climate change; nuisance dust and odors; damage to structures.

Siting Criteria for Ambient Monitoring PM10 Example

>20 meters from dripline of obstruction. >10 meters from dripline when trees. Distance from sampler to obstacle >2X the height of the obstacle above sampler. Unrestricted airflow 270 degrees around sampler No furnace or incineration flues nearby various requirements for distance from roads varies with traffic and monitoring scale

"Big Coal book review"

A book about the rise of the coal industry. It was divided into three sections. The first section discussed how coal is harvested and transported. The second section discussed how coal is burned and discusses the politics behind the big coal industries. The last section discusses how burning coal directly impacts the environment.

What are the differences between a furnace, hydronic heater, and a boiler?

A furnace heats and moves air. A hydronic heater and a boiler heat and move water. Furnaces, boilers, and hydronic heaters are considered centralizing heating units. Hydronic heaters heat water they do not boil water.

"Lead in the USA"

A history of leaded gas in the US, how the lead industry deceived the public and the effects it had on citizens and the environment. Implemented in 1923 and banned in 1996, an environmental success story in that it was banned from use.

Thermal Inversion

A layer of cold air near the ground that is trapped below a layer of warmer air. The effective volume of air in which pollutants are diluted is reduced. Smog and other pollutants can be trapped near the ground for days by the colder stagnant layer.

Air Quality Definition

A measure of the pollutants in the air; a description of healthiness and safety of the atmosphere.

Carbon dioxide equivalents

A method to normalize and compare the greenhouse impacts of different gases.

CALPUFF

A non-steady-state puff dispersion model that simulated the effects of time and space varying meteorological conditions on pollution transport, transformation, and removal.

CALINE3

A steady state Gaussian dispersion model designed to determined air pollution concentrations at receptor locations downwind of highways.

AERMOD

A steady-state plume model that incorporated air dispersion based on planetary boundary layer turbulence structure and scaling concepts, including treatment of both surface and elevated sources, and both simple and complex terrain. Most common general model.

"Air Quality on the Island of Hawaii"

A summary of the air quality on the Hawaiian Islands, specifically the Island of Hawaii, looking at the causes for good and poor air quality. Look deeply into the Kilauea volcano on Big Island, as well as the health and environmental effects of VOG.

"A Detailed Review of Atmospheric Particles"

A summary of the health effects, chemical makeup, and aerosol dynamics of various sizes of particles. Also talked about some of the specific technicalities like aerodynamic equivalent diameter, Stoke's Law, etc.

Causes of environmental radionuclides from reactors

Accidents-loss of coolant causing overheating, steam release, explosions, ignition of graphite moderator elements (Chernobyl). Spent Nuclear Fuel Disposal and Storage. Not uncontrolled fission.

Regional problems

Acid rain and visibility

Acidic Deposition

Acid rain, acid snow, dry acid deposition, acid fog, acid clouds, acid dew, acid frost, acid precipitation

What qualifies as indoor air?

Air found in residential, commercial, organizations, and the work place.

Metallurgical Industry

Aluminum production, iron and steel mills, coke ovens, copper lead nickel and zinc smelting, and secondary metal plants.

Emission inventory

An accounting of the amount of pollutants discharged into the atmosphere. An emission inventory usually contains the total emissions for a specific air pollutant originating from all source categories in a certain geographical area and within a specified time span, usually a specific year.

Natural Gas Distribution System

An estimated 272,000 miles of 20 to 42 inch pipes. There are compressor stations about every 50 miles. There are gathering systems, gate stations, local distribution systems, and service lines to each plant.

Simple Hypothetical CMB Modeling

Assume that there are three sources of particles in an airshed: - Automobile Exhaust (Auto) - Road Dust (Road) - Coal-Fired Power Plant (Coal) Assume the concentration of four elements in ambient samples and in each of the three source samples was measured: - Aluminum (Al) - Iron (Fe) - Sulfur (S) - Lead (Pb) The terms: FAl,Auto, FAl,Road, FAl,Coal, FFe,Auto, FFe,Road, FFe,Coal, FS, Auto, FS,Road, FS,Coal, FPb,Auto, FPb,Road, FPb,Coal, are the fraction of particles that are made up of aluminum in the auto source, in the road source, in the coal source; the fraction of particles that are made up of iron in the auto source, in the road source, etc., etc.

Radioactivity

Atoms that decay in a given time period measured in Curie (Ci) 3.7 x10^10 disintegrations/sec (1 g radium) Becquerel (Bq) 1 disintegration/sec

What are the big three contributors to air pollution?

Biomass, coal, and automobiles

Stratospheric Ozone Depletion

CFCs used in refrigeration, air conditioning, and propellants for aerosol sprays. Halons used as fire extinguishing agents. Long lifetimes in the atmosphere. Cl and Br atoms freed from freons and halons break down the ozone. CFCs replaced by HCFC and HFC.

Radiative Forcing

Carbon dioxide (2.62) > Methane CH4 (0.62) > Nitrous Oxide N2O (0.23)

Aluminum pot lines

Carbon electrodes, cryolite, high power consumption

Criteria Pollutants

Certain pollutants found almost everywhere. Harmful to humans if concentration in ambient air is above certain levels. In the United States, the National Ambient Air Quality Standards sets limits for each pollutant. Based on health and welfare standards. PM, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, ozone, lead

Receptor Modeling

Chemical Mass Balance (CMB) - Most well established receptor model. Uses the chemical composition of ambient and source particles to determine source apportionment. UNMIX - Uses factor analysis of pollutants Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) - Uses factor analysis (co-variability) of pollutants

Ambient measurement

Chemical characterization concentration

Ambient Monitoring and Measurement

Chemical characterization (Quality-source identification, health, and environmental risk assessment). Concentration (Quantity-gases ppmv, ppbv, particles, compliance with standards, health and environmental risk assessment).

Source Monitoring and Measurement

Chemical characterization (quality-health and environmental risk assessment). Emission factors and rates (Quantity). emission factors and rates derived from measurements of concentration, gas flow, temperature, pressure, moisture. Various point, area, and mobile sources-different approaches for source sampling.

Nuclear Reactor Accidents

Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, Three Russian Submarines, Fukushima

Ozone depleting complements

Chlorofluorcarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, bromfluorocarbons, carbon tetrachloride, methyl chloroform, methyl bromide.

Wind Blown Dust

Coarse particles. Arid west. 12 mph.

Man-made sources

Transportation, space heating, misc. domestic activities, prescribed forestry and planned agricultural burning, commercial (gas stations, dry cleaners, auto body shops, restaurants), Military (internal combustion engines, nuclear, ordinances), farming and livestock, sewage treatment, landfill emissions, construction and demolition, adhesives, paints, varnishes, solvents, aerosols, pesticides, herbicides, coatings, household and commercial chemicals, and accidental fires.

Types of radionuclides from reactors

Transuranic actinides (uranium, plutonium, curium)-unreacted fuel, decay products, neutron formed isotopes. Fission Products. Misc. Neutron activated isotopes from coolant and moderator material, misc. decay products from fuel.

Two types of dispersion models

US EPA preferred/recommended models for regulatory use. Screening models to provide estimates of impacts.

Coal

US has 27% of the world's coal reserves. Cost adjusted for inflation less than in 1949. 245 year coal supply. By 2030 projected consumption 1.2 billion tons per year.

What percentage of total carbon dioxide emissions from the consumption of energy is the US responsible for? China? Russia?

US is responsible for 17%. China 27%. Russia 5%.

REM

Unit of radiation dosage (such as from X rays) applied to humans. Derived from the phrase Roentgen equivalent man, the rem is now defined as the dosage in rads that will cause the same amount of biological injury as one rad of X rays or gamma rays.

Landfill emission

VOCs, Air toxics, methane

Acidity of Precipitation

Water condensate from distillation isolated from atmosphere pH=7. Precipitation in equilibrium with unpolluted atmosphere pH=5.7.

Reactors grouped by moderator

Water, heavy water, graphit, beryllium, organic compounds.. Fuel and moderator can be homogeneously mixed or arranged in a heterogeneous manner.

Pristine Air

Western national parks, monuments, and wilderness areas. Plume blight, photochemical conversion of SO2.

"An Air That Kills: How the Asbestos Poisoning of Libby, Montana Uncovered a National Scandal"

about how in the 20s-90s, miners working in a mine in Libby were being poisoned by asbestos and the companies and government knew there was asbestos, and it was harming workers, but they covered it up, and then it spread to their families and eventually whole town because it was being used in everything. Attic insulation was sold all over the US and globe with asbestos in it that killed people, and they still didn't disclose.

Bag

absorption by gas, NO2 is the only common pollutant gas that absorbs light significantly, absorbs in the blue region, gives red-brown-yellow color.

Reactors grouped by coolant

air water liquid metal

"Discuss the difference in air pollution problems from developing nations and developed nations"

I looked at six different countries (3 developed and 3 less developed). I looked at the Air Quality Index in these countries. The less developed countries have more air pollution problems because there are fewer restrictions and regulations on their pollutants.

"Effects of Climate Change on Human Endeavors"

I looked at the effects that climate change will have on wine production, winter sports, coastal real estate, agriculture, tourism, and disease and pest control. These human endeavors will be dramatically altered unless we come up with solutions to mitigate climate change soon.

"History of Air Pollution in Los Angeles"

I looked into the main causes of air pollution in LA which were mainly temperature inversions, topography, population, traffic, and industry. Historically, LA's air pollution has been terrible but is continuously improving to acceptable levels due to a lot of regulations and air quality bureau.

Acid Rain Impacts-Aquatic

In Adirondacks over 200 lakes are fishless. Spring runoff-sudden shift in pH. Eggs, larvae, small fish (large body and gill surface area to body weight). Aluminum mobilization. Heavy metal release. Decrease decomposition by benthic organisms-organic mat.

Aerosols

Indirect and direct radiative effects. Their contribution to radiative effects difficult to quantify, short lifetimes, spatial and temporarily variable. Direct effects-scattering and absorbing radiation. Indirect effects-precipitation and cloud properties. Most aerosol have a negative radiative forcing (net cooling effect). Black carbon (soot/elemental carbon) has a positive radiative forcing effect plus over snow and ice more significant. Sources include diesel exhaust and open biomass burning.

Personal monitoring and measurement

Industrial hygiene (workers exposure, OSHA). Residential (risk and exposure assessment, low-cost for consumer use and special studies.

Evaporative Loss Sources

Industrial surface coating (paper, metal, appliance, and furniture), tank and drum cleaning, solvent degreasing, asphalt paving, waste water collection, treatment, and storage.

Class I areas

International parks national wilderness areas > 5000 acres National monuments > 5000 acres National parks > 6000 acres 155 areas in 36 states and one international park

VOC from vegetation

Isoprene and monoterpenes. Ozone and PM2.5 precursors. Visibility.

What is the Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI)

It evaluates the sensitivity of populations, the physical exposure of countries, and governmental capacity to adapt to climate change over the next 30 years.

What trend is the Keeling CO2 curve taking?

It is increasing

Brg

Light scattering by gas, Rayleigh scattering, blue sky, pollution free sky, 320 km visual range, pollutants don't contribute significantly to gas scattering, the blue depicted by the background of this slide.

Acid-Sensitive Ecosystems

Little or no calcium or magnesium carbonates. Limestone.

Wood products

Lumber, papermaking, plywood and reconstituted wood products, charcoal, and wood preserving.

The three attributes of a measurement number

Magnitude (ceiling 10.0 feet high) Uncertainty (10.0 ± 0.1 feet high) Validity (measured the ceiling in this room or another room?)

Moisture and Bscat

Many ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate particles are smaller than the size producing the maximum Bscat, they are also hygroscopic and grow in size under higher RH.

Acid Rain Impacts-Structures

Marble-metamorphosed limestone. Metals like Bronze.

Biological air pollutants

Mold and mildew (toxic, allergens), Pollen and spores (asthma, hay fever), Viruses and bacteria (legionnaires' disease, influenza)

Water vapor

Most abundant and dominant GHG. Neither long-lived nor well mixed. Varies spatially from 0-2%. Human activities do not directly effect concentration. Radiative forcing from other GHG may affect hydrological cycle.

Gray Area Sources

Multiple line sources (road dust) is an area source. Multiple small point sources is an area source. A large industrial complex can be considered a large point source, an area source, or multiple point and area sources depending on the scale of impact modelling.

Military

National security and personnel safety paramount-less environmental controls.

3 Primary Sources of Airborne Radiation

Natural Sources Reactors and their wastes Atmospheric Detonation of Weapons

Reactor types by fuel

Natural Uranium, uranium enriched in 235U, 239Pu, 233U.

Gross Domestic Product per capita in US dollars from Greatest to Least

Norway>Italy>US>Australia>Japan>Mexico>Bulgaria>Liberia>Nepal>Congo

OCD

Offshore and coastal dispersion model is a straight line Gaussian model developed to determine the impact of offshore emissions from point, area, or line sources on the air quality of coastal regions. OCD incorporates overwater plume transport and dispersion as well as changes that occur as the plume crosses the shoreline.

Area sources

Often intermittent as compared to an industrial stationary source. Area sources are often seasonal

Future of ozone

On the order of several decades or more for ozone to recover. Adherence of global parties to the 1987 Montreal Protocol halting production of CFC.

Deciview (dv)

One dv change is about a 10% change in the extinction coefficient. Like the decibel scale for sound, equal change in deciviews are equally perceptible.

Cookstoves

Open fire (<10% efficient), Metal stove (10-20 efficient), Kenya Ceramic Jiko (25-40% efficient).

What are the effects of indoor air pollution?

Outdoor air and air that re-enters the home is impacted. 4.3 million people die prematurely from illness attributable to the household air pollution from cooking with solid fuels. More than 50% of these premature deaths are among children under 5 and are due to pneumonia caused by inhaled PM. 3.8 million deaths annually from noncommunicable diseases including stroke, ischaemic heart diseas, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer are attributed to household air pollution.

Who is mostly effected by indoor air pollution?

Over 3 billion people use solid fuels for cooking and heating. Most of these people are from Asia (2,674,000) and Sub-Saharan Africa (590,000).

Global problems

Ozone depletion and climate change.

Stratosphere

Ozone depletion, volcanic debris, nuclear weapons, meteorite impacts. From the tropopause to 51 km. Temperature increases with height due to increased absorption of ultraviolet radiation by the ozone layer, restricted turbulence and mixing. Horizontal mixing proceeds much more rapidly than vertical mixing, long residence time for pollutants.

Nitrogen Dioxide

Ozone formation. NO2 direct health impact. Reaction with organic compounds to form toxic and carcinogenic nitrogen containing compounds. Acid precipitation. Visibility by direct light absorption (brown color in urban haze). Secondary particle formation.

Example sampling systems by type

PM10 ambient sampler EPA reference NO2 electronic monitor Summa EPA TO-15 canisters

Farming and livestock

PM10, ammonia, N2O from fertilizers, and methane from livestock and manure.

Chemical Industry

Pain and varnish, plastics, liquid storage tanks, fertilizers, chlor alkali

Sea salt aerosola

Particles and chemicals (Na, Cl, Mg, K, Ca, SO4)

Volcanoes

Particles and gases. Water vapor, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and minor and trace gases.

Pollen, spores, and vegetative fragments

Particles and organic carbon

Petroleum Industry

Petroleum refining, transportation and marketing of petroleum liquids, natural gas processing.

Types of visibility impairment

Plume blight or elevated layered haze caused by nearby sources. Ground-based layered haze caused by local sources that may be trapped in valleys. Uniform (regional) haze resulting form regional emissions transported over tens or hundreds of kilometers.

Major organic compounds making up particles and VOC

Polycyclic organic matter, benzene, phenol, catechol, cresols, acetaldehyde, methanol,propionaldehyde, formaldehyde.

Reactor types by purpose

Power generation, research, breeder reactors, produce other nuclides, propulsion (ships).

Potassium Iodide

Protects against nuclear radiation that could harm the thyroid.

Absorbed Dose

Radiation Absorbed Dose (Rad) Gray (Gy) 1 rad = 0.01 Gy = 0.01 J/kg = 100 ergs/gram

Exposure

Radioactivity through air measured in Roentgen (R) 1 unit positive charge/cm3 air Colomb/Kilogram (C/Kg) (electric charge per kg air)

Types of air pollution modeling

Receptor modeling and dispersion modeling.

Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, Title IV set goals

Reduce annual SO2 emissions by 10 million tons below 1980 levels. Reduce NOx emissions by 2 million tons by the year 2000

Troposphere

Region of most air pollution issues. 9 km at the poles and 17 km at the equator with some variation due to weather. Heated by transfer of energy from the surface, the lowest part of the troposphere is warmest and temperature decreases with altitude. Vertical mixing. Contains roughly 80% of the mass of the atmosphere.

US EPA Preferred/recommended dispersion models

Required by EPA to be used for state implementation plan revisions for existing sources, for new source review, and prevention of significant deterioration programs. Many alternative models often for special situations. AERMOD CALPUFF CALINE3 CTDMPLUS OCD

Sulfur Dioxide

SO2 from the oxidation of sulfur in fuels and volcanoes. Direct health impacts, acid precipitation, fine secondary particles (health and visibility).

Antarctic Ozone Hole

Seasonally, ozone falls below 70% of normal hole.

Developing and underdeveloped countries-cooking, secondarily heating

Serious indoor air problem. Ambient air problem more serious in urban areas. Wood, dung, agricultural residues, charcoal.

Secondary standards

Set limits to protect public welfare, including protection against decreased visibility, damage to animals, crops, vegetation, and buildings.

Historical perspective of developed countries

Since 1873 at least 40 episodes of sudden buildups of air pollution have caused widespread causalities in the industrialized world like the 1952 smog event called the London Fog.

What are the sources of indoor air pollution?

Solid fuels (wood, animal dung, crop waste, and coal) used for cooking and heating.

Definition of Industrial

Sometimes includes utilities, agricultural industry, forest industry, transportation of raw materials and goods, commercial sector, and fugitive dusts and vapors.

Chemical Mass Balance (CMB)Requirements

Source Sampling - Chemical Composition of Particles from all Possible Sources of Particles in the Airshed Ambient Sampling - Chemical Composition of Particles from Ambient Monitors Modeling - Best statistical solution of a set of over-determined equations (more equations than unknowns)

Area Sources

Sources of air pollution that air distributed over an area like multiple fires used for heating in a city in Alaska.

Point Sources

Sources of air pollution that does not move like a smoke stack.

Mobile sources

Sources that move like cars.

Arctic Haze

Springtime haze over western Artic Ocean from Europe (sulfate 10-20 times, measurable vanadium).

Stationary Internal Combustion Sources

Stationary gas turbines and stationary diesel engines

Fossil Reactor

Subterranean ancient nuclear reaction. Gabon, Central Africa. 2 billion years ago and ran for hundred of thousands of years. Fission product isotopic nuclear signature. Uranium-rich mineral deposit saturated with groundwater acting as neutron moderator allowing for a nuclear chain reaction. Spawned science fiction.

Populations Exposed to Pollution in Relation to the US

The US population is only 4.3% of the world populations. Only 1 out of 23 people live in the US. A US-centric view of air pollution does not provide a good look into air pollution world wide.

How is air pollution typically provincial and egocentric?

The course and textbook mainly focuses on the US. It focuses on US regulations, experience, and perception. The EPA.

Aerodynamic Diameter

The diameter of a sphere with unit density that has aerodynamic behavior identical to that of the particle in question. An expression of aerodynamic behavior of an irregularly shaped particle in terms of the diameter of an idealized particle. Particles having the same aerodynamic diameter may have different dimensions and shapes. momentum = mass x velocity density = mass/volume

Standard Visual Range (SVR)

The greatest distance at which an observer can just see a black object viewed against the horizon sky expressed in kilometers.

Light Extinction Coefficient (Bext)

The loss of image-forming light per unit distance due to scattering and absorption by particles and gasses Bext=Brg + Bag + Bscat + Bap

"Landfill Emissions: Municipal and Hazardous Waste Landfill Emissions"

The main idea is that the two largest pollutants are methane and carbon dioxide which are major greenhouse gases, however, the health issues come from the trace toxic volatile compounds emitted.

What is ambient air?

The portion of the atmosphere to which the general public has access.

Air Pollution Definition

The presence in outdoor or indoor atmosphere of one or more contaminants such as dust, fumes, gas, mist, odor, smoke, or vapor in quantities and of characteristics and duration such as to be injurious to human, plant, or animal life or to property, or to interfere unreasonable with the comfortable enjoyment of life and property.

EPA Regional Haze Rule

The rule required the states, in coordination with the EPA, the National Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, the US forest service, and other interested parties, to develop and implement air quality protection plans to reduce the pollution that causes visibility impairment.

"Indoor Air Pollution and Building Air Exchange Rates"

The sources and factors contributing to indoor air pollution in various settings, in addition to the health effects of said pollutants, followed by an on campus example of how much air is exchanged between indoor and outdoor air in Franz Hall.

Hypothetical Example of CMB Equations (cont.)

The terms DAl, DFe, DS,DPb are the fraction of aluminum, iron, sulfur and lead measured in the ambient samples. The terms SAuto, SRoad, and SCoal are the fraction (relative contribution) that the auto, road, and coal sources make to ambient air particles - This is what the modeling is trying to determine.

What is important about air pollution and population?

There are 224 urban areas with a population over 2 million. The urban population in 2014 accounted for 54% of the total global population and this number is growing. Approximately 90% of city dwellers live in cities in which air quality does not meet World Health Organization standards.

Natural Sources

Three natural decay chains (Uranium, actinium, thorium) Cosmic Rays near top of atmosphere Other very long-lived radionuclides

Hazardous air pollutants

Toxic pollutants known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health effects. More localized. Highest levels close to the source. Includes asbestos, vinyl chloride, benzene, arsenic. Standards now set based on availability of control technology. There are 187 HAPs. No ambient standards. Emissions are reduced by using state-of-the-art industrial control equipment.

Categories of air pollution monitoring and measurements

ambient source personal

Relative Humidity

amount of water vapor/max amount of water vapor that can be in the air at a given temp and pressure

"Fire and Ice: Soot, Solidarity, and Survival on the Roof of the World"

book is about how black carbon, mostly due to inefficient fires, is a huge contributor to climate change, accelerating the melting of Himalayan glaciers and threatening the lives of a remote Indian village.

"Caesar's Last Breath"

brief history of all things "air", included anecdotal stories about anesthesia and dynamite.

What gas is responsible for 60% of climate change?

carbon dioxide

Combustion products

carbon dioxide, water, products of incomplete combustion (PIC) like VOCs, carbon monoxide, fine particles, and some NOx.

Source measurement

chemical characterization emission factors/rates

External combustion sources

coal, fuel oil, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, wood residue in boilers, and bagasse in sugar mills.

Steel mills

coke ovens, electric arc furnace, blast furnace, basic oxygen furnace

Transportation (mobile) sources

direct exhaust, tire wear, brake wear, re-suspended road dust, contaminated dust in urban and industrial areas. VOC, fine particles, NOx and CO from internal combustion engines, lead, and coarse particles.

impact modeling

dispersion modeling receptor modeling

"Temperature Inversions"

focused on the formation of temperature inversions and factors such as topography, time of day, urbanization impacting temperature inversions. Temperature inversions are essentially when temperature increases with altitude, this can trap pollutants in lower atmosphere causing increased concentrations of pollutants. Areas where temperatures occur more are valley regions such as Colorado or Utah. Winter months are when temperature inversions occur more.

"Sources of Methane Emissions"

goes over both anthropogenic sources (Fossil fuels, Coal Mines, landfills, rice fields, biofuels, biomass burning) and natural emissions (wetlands, oceans, termites). Fossil fuel production, distribution and use being the biggest contributor of methane emissions.

Geothermal sources and petroleum seeps

hydrogen sulfide, odor of rotten eggs

Screening Models-AERSCREEN

is a screening model based on AERMOD. The model will produce estimates of "worst-case" 1-hour concentrations for a single source, without the need for hourly meteorological data, and also includes conversion factors to estimate "worst-case" 3-hour, 8-hour, 24-hour, and annual concentrations. AERSCREEN is intended to produce concentration estimates that are equal to or greater than the estimates produced by AERMOD with a fully developed set of meteorological and terrain data, but the degree of conservatism will vary depending on the application

Screening models-SCREEN3

is a single source Gaussian plume model which provides maximum ground-level concentrations for point, area, flare, and volume sources, as well as concentrations in the cavity zone, and concentrations due to inversion break-up and shoreline fumigation.

Bap

light absorption by particles, Bap of elemental carbon (soot) > than Bap for other types of particles, "black" as a consequence.

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

linked with acute respiratory infections (ARI's), chronic obstructive lung disease, cancer, tuberculosis (TB), cataracts, asthma, low birth rate and prenatal mortality, and heart disease.

"Industrial Hygiene"

main goal is to ensure that workers are safe and healthy in the workplace from environmental factors, etc. Keep employees protected! Mining, construction, and agricultural industries are especially crucial job types to take occupational hygiene seriously. Protective masks and regulators often help the most with reducing exposure to harmful particulates.

What is one DALY?

one lost year of healthy life

Forms of air pollution

particles, gases, and vapors.

Bscat

scattering of light by particles, most important contributor to visibility degradation, scattering is size dependent, produces most scattering.

Primary standards

set limits to protect public health, including the health of "sensitive" populations such as asthmatics, children, and the elderly.

Greenhouse gases

water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, bromofluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, non-methane volatile organic compounds, aersols.

"Methods for Industrial Smokestack Control"

which was about the different kinds of filters that are placed in smokestack to rid or neutralized harmful pollutants from hitting the ambient air. I also discussed the specific pollutants that are harmful when released from smokestacks and the compounds that are made when filtration occurs.

Natural sources

wildfires, volcanoes, geothermal sources, petroleum seeps, sea salt aerosols, wind blown dust, VOC from vegetation, pollen, spores, and vegetative fragments.

Dose Equivalent

β and γ = absorbed dose α and n greater Roentgen equivalent man (Rem also millirem) Sievert (Sv)

Commercial

Gas stations, dry cleaners, auto-body shops, restaurants

Residential Biomass Combustion

Emissions in residential living areas and neighborhoods. Emissions near ground level. The young, old, and infirm are exposed. Mostly unsophisticated devices with high emissions. Biomass combustion produces toxic and carcinogenic organic compounds. Air exchange between indoors and outdoors.

Tools to control air pollution

Engineering equipment (emission control devices); institution controls (limit hours of operation, time of operation, fuel types, road watering); regulatory controls (emission limits, vehicle inspection programs, restriction of residential burning of solid fuels, encouragement of public transportation).

How is the national economy related to pollution characteristics?

Financial resources are needed for pollution control by both private and public sectors. Different life styles with different national economies. Different industries with different national economies and natural resources.

Space Heating

Fine particles from external combustion, VOC, air toxics, carbon monoxide. Wood stoves and fireplaces, oil furnaces, natural gas furnaces, coal stoves and furnaces, kerosene heaters, propane furnaces, electric heaters.

EPA's Acid Rain Program

For SO2 "cap and trade" cap on number of allowances. Allowances may be bought, sold, or banked. NOx goal achieved by requiring coal-fired utility boilers to install low NOx technology and meet new emission standards. Has also reduced regional haze as secondary sulfates and nitrates are major contributors to regional haze.

Non-industrial air pollutant sources can be more significant than industrial

For specific pollutants, short-term, seasonally, locally, regionally

Prescribed or planned burning

Forestry, agriculture, land management, pest and disease control, removal of crop residue and forest litter. PM2.5, VOC, CO, NOx

Wildfires

Forests, grasslands, wetlands. Fine particles, VOCs, CO, NOx

Ozone

Formed in the atmosphere. Health and vegetative effects. Colorless part of smog. Lasts 22 days in the troposphere. Both tropospheric and stratospheric ozone affect radiative forcing. Stratospheric levels will return to normal within a few decades.

Airborne exposure from atmospheric detonation of nuclear weapons

Fusion devices (fission device needed to detonate), fission devices, fission products, activated materials (soil, water, air, etc.).

Global Warming Potential (GWP)

GWP for a given gas is dependent on its infrared radiation absorption at "window" wavelengths and its atmospheric lifetime. GWP us a quantified measure of globally averaged relative radiative forcing potential of a given gas. Radiative Forcing = imbalance between incoming solar radiation and outgoing infrared radiation.