Air Pollution IAir Pollution I

Potential Test QuestionsPotential Test Questions:

1.1. List six of the major classes of air pollutants and List six of the major classes of air pollutants and describe their sources and effects.describe their sources and effects.

2.2. Relate the adverse health effects of four specific air Relate the adverse health effects of four specific air pollutants and explain why children are particularly pollutants and explain why children are particularly susceptible to air pollution.susceptible to air pollution.

3.3. Explain the differences between primary and secondary Explain the differences between primary and secondary air pollutants.air pollutants.

Potential Test QuestionsPotential Test Questions:

4.4. Discuss the problem of the global distillation of Discuss the problem of the global distillation of pollutants.pollutants.

5.5. Summarize the influential changes that have occurred in Summarize the influential changes that have occurred in air quality due to the Clean Air Act.air quality due to the Clean Air Act.

6.6. Discuss the differences between industrial and Discuss the differences between industrial and photochemical smog.photochemical smog.

Examples of Catastrophic Air PollutionExamples of Catastrophic Air Pollution

19111911 in London - 1150 died from the effects of coal smoke. in London - 1150 died from the effects of coal smoke. Author of the report coined the word Author of the report coined the word smogsmog for the mix of for the mix of smoke and fog that hung over London.smoke and fog that hung over London.

19521952 in London - 4000 died from smog. in London - 4000 died from smog.

1948 1948 in Donora, Penn. Town of in Donora, Penn. Town of 14,000 people - 20 died and 6000 14,000 people - 20 died and 6000 were ill from smog from the were ill from smog from the community's steel mill, zinc smelter,community's steel mill, zinc smelter,and sulfuric acid plant.and sulfuric acid plant.

19631963 in New York City - 300 people died from air pollution. in New York City - 300 people died from air pollution.

London London Smog 1952Smog 1952

London Smog 1952London Smog 1952

In 13th century London - laws In 13th century London - laws against burning outside against burning outside because London was already because London was already heavily polluted since the heavily polluted since the middle agesmiddle ages

London London Smog 1952Smog 1952

London London Smog 1952Smog 1952

Piccadilly – Noon 1955Piccadilly – Noon 1955

Sources of Air PollutionSources of Air Pollution

In terms of volume and variety of contaminants emitted, In terms of volume and variety of contaminants emitted, no other single pollution source comes close. Nationally, no other single pollution source comes close. Nationally, annual power plant emissions are responsible for 36% of annual power plant emissions are responsible for 36% of carbon dioxide pollution, 64% of sulfur dioxide carbon dioxide pollution, 64% of sulfur dioxide pollution, 26% of nitrogen oxide pollution, and 34% of pollution, 26% of nitrogen oxide pollution, and 34% of mercury pollution in the USA. mercury pollution in the USA.

According to the 1997 EPA According to the 1997 EPA report on air quality: report on air quality: Coal-Burning Power Plants Coal-Burning Power Plants are the Single Largest are the Single Largest Source of Air Pollution!Source of Air Pollution!

March 23, March 23, 20032003

Earth Earth Smog Smog

May 7, May 7, 20022002

Los Los AngelesAngeles

HoustonHouston

An active adult inhales 10,000 to 20,000 liters of air An active adult inhales 10,000 to 20,000 liters of air each day, or 7 to 14 liters every minute. each day, or 7 to 14 liters every minute.

Contrary to popular belief, death as a result of a smog Contrary to popular belief, death as a result of a smog siege is often not a result of air pollutant poisoning, but siege is often not a result of air pollutant poisoning, but rather, a result of increasing susceptibility to diseases. rather, a result of increasing susceptibility to diseases.

By and large, children, asthmatics, people with chronic By and large, children, asthmatics, people with chronic respiratory or pulmonary and heart disease, and the respiratory or pulmonary and heart disease, and the elderly are the most susceptible to air pollutants. elderly are the most susceptible to air pollutants.

Effects of Air Pollution on Human HealthEffects of Air Pollution on Human Health

Effects of Air Pollution on Human HealthEffects of Air Pollution on Human Health

Because the lungs of children are not yet fully Because the lungs of children are not yet fully developed and because children inhale more air per developed and because children inhale more air per unit of body weight than adults, they are prone to unit of body weight than adults, they are prone to greater health effects as well as long-term damage to greater health effects as well as long-term damage to the lungs. the lungs.

Similarly, because asthmatics and those suffering Similarly, because asthmatics and those suffering from chronic diseases are already in a weakened state, from chronic diseases are already in a weakened state, smog adds stress to their bodies. For the elderly, smog adds stress to their bodies. For the elderly, smog increases their susceptibility to viral and smog increases their susceptibility to viral and bacterial attacks, as both lung and immune system bacterial attacks, as both lung and immune system functions decrease with age.functions decrease with age.

Effects of Air Pollution on PlantsEffects of Air Pollution on Plants

Air pollution commonly leads to oxidation damage of Air pollution commonly leads to oxidation damage of both crop plants and wild species.both crop plants and wild species.

Effects of Air Pollution on PlantsEffects of Air Pollution on Plants

Air pollution weakens plants by damaging their Air pollution weakens plants by damaging their leaves, limiting the nutrients available to them, or leaves, limiting the nutrients available to them, or exposing them to toxic substances slowly released exposing them to toxic substances slowly released from the soil. Quite often, injury or death of plants is from the soil. Quite often, injury or death of plants is a result of these a result of these effects of acid rain effects of acid rain in combination with in combination with one or more one or more additional threats.additional threats.

Effects of Pollution on BuildingsEffects of Pollution on BuildingsFor limestone, the acidic water reacts with the calcium to For limestone, the acidic water reacts with the calcium to form calcium sulfate:form calcium sulfate:

CaCOCaCO33 + H + H

22SOSO44 CaSO CaSO

44 + 2H + 2H++ + CO + CO33

2-2-

The calcium sulfate is soluble so it is easily washed away The calcium sulfate is soluble so it is easily washed away during the next rain storm.during the next rain storm.

Statue carved in 1702 Statue carved in 1702 photographed in 1908 photographed in 1908 (left) and 1969 (right).(left) and 1969 (right).

Costs of PollutionCosts of Pollution

HealthHealth:: $36 billion in sickness annually - health care and $36 billion in sickness annually - health care and lost work.lost work.

AgricultureAgriculture:: up to 10% of nation's crops lost to all forms up to 10% of nation's crops lost to all forms of pollution.of pollution.

MaterialsMaterials:: corrosion - $5.5 billion annually. corrosion - $5.5 billion annually.

Contribution of Climate - Inversion Contribution of Climate - Inversion LayersLayers

Contribution of Climate - Inversion Contribution of Climate - Inversion LayersLayers

Types of SmogTypes of Smog

Industrial smogIndustrial smog = the gray air in industrial cities in = the gray air in industrial cities in cold winter areas, caused from burning fossil fuel. cold winter areas, caused from burning fossil fuel.

Industrial smog is in the forms of dust, smoke, soot, Industrial smog is in the forms of dust, smoke, soot, ashes, asbestos, oil, lead, heavy metals, and sulfur ashes, asbestos, oil, lead, heavy metals, and sulfur oxides. oxides.

In 1952, industrial smog held in place by a thermal In 1952, industrial smog held in place by a thermal inversion caused the 4,000 deaths in London. inversion caused the 4,000 deaths in London.

Types of SmogTypes of Smog

Photochemical smogPhotochemical smog = brown and smelly, found in = brown and smelly, found in large cities in warm climates. large cities in warm climates.

Most are the result of gases from auto exhaust. Most are the result of gases from auto exhaust.

This is the type of smog that hangs over Los This is the type of smog that hangs over Los Angeles or Houston and causes air quality warnings Angeles or Houston and causes air quality warnings many days each year.many days each year.

Photochemical SmogPhotochemical Smog

Industrial SmogIndustrial Smog

Mexico City SmogMexico City Smog

Types of Air PollutionTypes of Air Pollution

Primary air pollutantsPrimary air pollutants:: harmful chemicals that enter directly harmful chemicals that enter directly into the atmosphere.into the atmosphere.

Secondary air pollutantsSecondary air pollutants:: harmful chemicals that form from harmful chemicals that form from other substances in the atmosphereother substances in the atmosphere.

Indiana Compared to the NationIndiana Compared to the Nation:

Top 10% for SOTop 10% for SOXX

Top 20% for NOTop 20% for NOXX

Top 30% for CO and for VOCs (volatile organic Top 30% for CO and for VOCs (volatile organic compounds)compounds)

Vandenberg county is 7th in the state of Indiana for Vandenberg county is 7th in the state of Indiana for VOCsVOCs

http://lungaction.org/reports/SOTA03_stateozone.html?geo_area_id=18

http://lungaction.org/reports/SOTA03_staterisk.html?geo_area_id=18