Air Pollution

Why are children more vulnerable to air pollution?

1. Because lungs develop throughout childhood, air pollution restricts lung development. 2. Children have a higher metabolic rate than adults and therefore need more oxygen. To do so, they breathe in more air and thus breathe in more air pollutants. 3. Children who live in high ozone areas are more likely to develop asthma.

What ecosystem services does the atmosphere provide?

1. Blocks UV radiation 2. moderates the climate 3. Redistributes water in the hydrologic cyle

What is particulate matter and what are the two reasons why it is dangerous?

1. Consists of thousands of different solid (dust) and liquid (mists) particles in the atmosphere. 2. Can contain dangerous materials such as heavy metals, asbestos that have toxic or carcinogenic effects. 3. small particles can damage lung tissue and arteries

What are the main effects of acid deposition?

1. Declining aquatic animal populations 2. Studies show that birds living in areas with lots of acid rain were likely to lay fragile, thin egg shells that break or dry out before the chicks hatch. 3. Forest decline: 50% of trees surveyed in southwestern Germany are dead or severely damaged.

Define Acid deposition "acid rain", the average pH of water and the pH of "acid rain".

1. Define: Sulfur dioxide and nitric oxide emissions react with water vapor in the atmosphere to form acids that return to the surface as either dry or wet deposition (rain, snow, condensate). 2. Average pH of water is 5-6 (slightly acidic) 3. Average pH of "acid rain" in the Northeast US is 3-4.

What are nitrogen oxides and what are the problems associated with them?

1. Gases produced by the chemical reaction between nitrogen and oxygen at high temperatures. Problem: leads to creation of greenhouse gases (nitrous oxide or nitric acid). 2. These are produced by combustion

What makes up the majority of urban air pollution? and what are the two types of smog?

1. Main pollutants in urban air pollution are sulfur oxides and particulate matter. 2. "London Smog": the foggy type of smog that forms due to cold weather. 3. Photochemical smog: the type of smog formed in warmer climates like LA which is formed by chemical reactions involving sunlight, nitrogen oxide, and hydrocarbons.

What is the atmosphere predominantly composed of?

78% nitrogen, 20% oxygen, the other 1% argon and CO2

What is ozone? And what are two types of ozone?

A type of oxygen that found naturally in the stratosphere and recently in the troposphere as a result of the buildup of greenhouse gases. Stratospheric ozone: Good ozone--> prevents UV radiation from penetrating Earth's surface. But certain CFCs have been breaking it down in O2. Tropospheric ozone: Secondary air pollutant in the lower atmosphere. A component of photochemical smog. No ozone problem in winter time because it requires the buildup of nitrogen oxide and warm temperatures.

Define air pollution

Chemicals that are added to the atmosphere either through natural events or human activities that are in high enough concentration to be harmful.

What is vapor recovery? What are the 2 phases of this process?

Definition: the removal of unburned gasoline vapors from gasoline containers. Phase 1: involves underground storage tanks at gas stations. One end of the hose of a delivery truck fills the underground tank while the another one returns the vapors in the tank which would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere. Phase 2: Removal of gasoline vapor from gas tanks in cars as the gas is pumped. These vapors are returned to the underground tank for the repeating of phase 1.

What are sulfur oxides and what are the problems associated with them?

Gases produced by the chemical reaction between sulfur and oxygen. Known as primary air pollutant. problem: causes acid precipitation. Also more closely tied to coal, coal fired powerplant

Discuss the case studies of Beijing and Mexico City in relation to urban air pollution

Mexico City: High temperature, lots of mobile sources of pollution (cars), large amounts of nitrogen oxide production into the atmosphere which is then enhanced by its mountainous geography. Beijing: Lot of stationary sources of air pollution (coal combustors) w/o any air pollution control technologies.

What are the sources and effects of indoor air pollution? What are solutions?

1. Most common contaminants are radon, cigarette smoke, CO, NO2, household pesticides, asbestos, etc. 2. Radon: A natural element produced by radioactive decay similar to uranium. Down in the soil. Some places have a lot of radon, and some places don't. If you have little cracks in your foundation, the radon will seep into your basin. Over time, you are increasing your exposure and risk of cancer. 3. Effects: Long term exposure can lead to asthma, as well as increased rates of viruses, bacteria, fungi, dust mites, pollen, which are found in heating, air-conditioning or ventilation ducts. 4. Solution: CO monitors for households, keeping surfaces clean and dry, regularly replacing/cleaning air conditioning filters.

What are the effects of ozone depletion on the Earth's ecosystem and on human health?

1. Ozone depletion leads to higher levels of UV radiation to reach the Earth's surface. 2. Shorter waves have a much more harmful effect than longer UV rays. 3. Effects on the ecosystem: Disrupt ecosystems like the productivity of Antarctic phytoplankton which make up the base of the Antarctic food web. Also can damage crops and forests, leading to forest fires as seen in Southern California. 4. Effects on human health: Chronic exposure to UV radiation leads to skin cancer, and cataracts.

What are the 7 main air pollutants?

1. Particulate matter: dust, lead, sulfuric acid 2. Nitrogen oxide: nitrogen dioxide 3. Sulfur oxide: Sulfur dioxide 4. Carbon oxides: carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide 5. Hydrocarbons: Methane and Benzene 6. ozone 7. air toxins: chlorine

What are the two types of air pollution and define each type

1. Primary air pollutant: a harmful substance that is directly emitted into the atmosphere 2. Secondary air pollutant: When a primary air pollutant chemically reacts with substances normally in the atmosphere (ex. ozone) or interacts with other air pollutants.

What are 3 less conventional ways to improving air quality?

1. Reduce sulfur content levels in gasoline from the current average of 330ppm to 30ppm. 2. Require federal emission standards for all passenger vehicles (SUVs, trucks, minivans) 3. Require emissions testing for all motor vehicles.

Define the Clean Air Act of 1955, then discuss it's primary focus, then discuss its effects.

1. Set the standard for modern air quality regulation in the U.S. The law authorizes the EPA to set limits on the amount of specific air pollutants permitted across the country. Each state is responsible for meeting deadlines for air pollution standards. States are permitted to pass stronger pollution controls than the EPA but must not mandate weaker limits than those stipulated in the Clean Air Act. 2. Focuses on reducing 6 pollutants: lead, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and ozone. 3. emissions for the six air pollutants has dropped by 25%. Since 1990 wet sulfate levels have decreased by 33%, and as of 2008, 92% of the US had healthy drinking water.

What are some methods to controlling air pollution?

1. Smokestacks fitted with electrostatic precipitators, fabric filters, scrubbers or other technologies can remove particulate matter. 2. Gasoline emissions can be reduced through vapor recovery.

Describe the formation of photochemical smog see p. 378

1. Source of Pollutants: Begins with the emission of nitric oxide (NO) Carbon dioxide (CO2) or Hydrocarbons (HC) into the atmosphere. 2. Reactions in atmosphere: These primary pollutants then chemically react with oxygen to form either Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), more nitric oxide or more hydrocarbons. 3. These secondary pollutants then begin to react with water and oxygen molecules higher up in the atmosphere in the troposphere to form Nitric Acid (HNO3) also known as acid rain, Ozone (O3), or Poeroxyacyl nitrates

What are the causes of ozone depletion?

1. Stratospheric ozone thinning is human induced. It is the result of the buildup of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). These are human-produced organic compounds of carbon, chlorine, bromine, and fluorine.

What are the two types of Carbon oxides and what are their harmful effects?

1. The two gases Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Carbon dioxide (CO2). 2. CO is poisonous and affects the blood's ability to transport oxygen. Product of incomplete/low temperature combustion 3. CO2 is a greenhouse gas that builds up in the atmosphere and is associated with global climate change.

What are hydrocarbons and their harmful effects?

1. They are a diverse group of organic compounds that contain only hydrogen and carbon (Methane CH4). Problems: Because they are diverse, some have ill effects on human health and others do not. Methane contributes to global climate change since it's a greenhouse gas. 2. Tend to come from things like car exhaust, when in the atmosphere can play a role in forming other pollutants

What are the 2 main sources of outdoor air pollution?

1. Transportation (57%)--> mobile sources--> cars, trucks which generate nitrogen oxides, carbon oxides 2. Industry (43%)--> stationary sources--> electric power plants, metal and paper industries

What are the effects of air pollution in developing countries?

1. air quality is deteriorating--> In parts of China residents only see sunlight a few weeks total each year. 2. Increasing number of cars, especially those that are really old in developing countries. 3. Countries use leaded gasoline, oil refineries don't have the technology to refine the oil (Mexico, China).

What are some of the health effects associated with air pollution?

1. low levels of exposure can lead to irritation of the eyes, inflammation of the respiratory tract and even suppression of the immune system and increased susceptibility to infection. 2. Some common illnesses associated with air pollution are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Emphysema a disease in which the air sacs in the lungs become irreversibly swollen, thus decreasing the efficiency of respiration. Chronic bronchitis being a disease in which the air passages of the lungs become permanently inflamed, causing chronic coughing and breathlessness.

What are the methods of ozone recovery?

1. the Montreal Protocol (1987): stipulated that there be a 50% reduction of CFC production by 1998. Industrial response was to substitute CFCs production for hydrofluorcarbons (HFCs) and hydrochlorflurocarbons (HCFCs). 2. HFCs and HCFCs don't break down the ozone but they are greenhouse gases. 3. satellite footage from the year 2000 shows ozone recovery, but no full recovery until 2050.