what causes air pollution 12-1 3/08. air 78% nitrogen 20 % oxygen carbon dioxide, argon and water...
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What Causes Air Pollution 12-1
3/08
Air
• 78% Nitrogen• 20 % Oxygen• Carbon
Dioxide, Argon and water vapor
Primary Pollutant
• Put directly into the air by human activity
• Example: Particulates from smoke
Secondary Pollutants
• Form when primary pollutants react with naturally occurring substances such as water vapor
• Example: Ground level ozone forms when Ultraviolet light causes emissions from cars to react with Oxygen from the atmosphere
Primary Pollutants
• Carbon Monoxide
• Incomplete burning of fossil fuels
• Lowers blood oxygen levels
Video
Nitrogen Oxides
• Combustion temperatures above 538 C.
• From fuels in autos and power plants
• Causes Lung disease and cancer
Sulfur Dioxide
• Comes from burning fossil fuels and Volcanoes
• Forms sulfuric acid and acid precipitation
• Harmful to plant and animal life
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
• Vaporize readily
• Vehicles a major source
• Smog formation, cancer, harmful to plants
Particulate Matter (PM)
• Many sources – in valley agriculture and autos
• Respiratory problems, cancer. Corrosion of metal and cement.
Motor Vehicle Emissions
• Almost one third of our air pollution comes from vehicle emissions
• Clean Air Act 1970 and 1990 gives Us ability to regulate
• Lead in gasoline gone
California
• Wants standards stricter than US but can not
• ZEV – Zero Emission Vehicle program
• Electric cars and fuel cell cars
Industrial Air Pollution
• Burning of Fossil fuels in many industries
• Also, some give off VOC’s
• Locally PM are monitored at farms and gravel mines
Air scrubber for VOC
Smog
• From chemical reactions that involve sunlight, air, auto exhaust and ozone
Temperature Inversion
• High Pressure can trap air under it forming an inversion
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