the atmosphere and air quality
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The Atmosphere and Air Quality. The Atmosphere and Air Quality. Gaseous Composition of the Atmosphere. The Atmosphere and Air Quality. Types of Urban Air Pollutants Primary Pollutant - a pollutant that directly enters the air as a result of natural events or human activities. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
• Gaseous Composition of the Gaseous Composition of the AtmosphereAtmosphereGas % Volume PPMN2 78.1 780,840O2 21.0 209,460Ar 0.93 9,340
CO2 0.035 350CO 0.00003 0.3Ne 0.0018 18He 0.00052 5.2
CH4 0.00014 1.4N2O 0.00005 0.5O3 0.000007 0.07
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
• Types of Urban Air PollutantsTypes of Urban Air Pollutants– Primary Pollutant - a pollutant Primary Pollutant - a pollutant
that directly enters the air as a that directly enters the air as a result of natural events or human result of natural events or human activitiesactivities
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
• Types of Urban Air PollutantsTypes of Urban Air Pollutants– Secondary Pollutant - a pollutant Secondary Pollutant - a pollutant
that is formed in the air through that is formed in the air through chemical reactions between or chemical reactions between or among primary pollutants or among primary pollutants or between primary pollutants and between primary pollutants and other gases in the atmosphereother gases in the atmosphere
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
• Chemical Classes of Urban Air Chemical Classes of Urban Air PollutantsPollutants– Carbon OxidesCarbon Oxides– Sulfur OxidesSulfur Oxides– Nitrogen OxidesNitrogen Oxides– Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)– Suspended Particulate Matter Suspended Particulate Matter
(SPM)(SPM)
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
• Chemical Classes of Urban Air Chemical Classes of Urban Air PollutantsPollutants– Photochemical OxidantsPhotochemical Oxidants
•OO33 (tropospheric ozone) (tropospheric ozone)•HH22OO22 (hydrogen peroxide) (hydrogen peroxide)•PANs (peroxyacetylnitrates) PANs (peroxyacetylnitrates)
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
• Chemical Classes of Urban Air Chemical Classes of Urban Air PollutantsPollutants– Radioactive SubstancesRadioactive Substances– Toxic MetalsToxic Metals
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
• Regulation of Urban Air Regulation of Urban Air PollutionPollution– Clean Air ActsClean Air Acts
•Passed in 1970, 1977, 1990Passed in 1970, 1977, 1990• Enacted federal air pollution Enacted federal air pollution
regulations that are enforced by regulations that are enforced by each stateeach state
• Established Established National Ambient Air National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)Quality Standards (NAAQS)
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
• Regulation of Urban Air PollutionRegulation of Urban Air Pollution– NAAQSNAAQS
•7 Criteria Pollutants7 Criteria Pollutants– SPMsSPMs– Sulfur OxidesSulfur Oxides– Carbon MonoxideCarbon Monoxide– Nitrogen OxidesNitrogen Oxides– Tropospheric OzoneTropospheric Ozone– VOCsVOCs– LeadLead
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
• Regulation of Urban Aair Regulation of Urban Aair PollutionPollution– NAAQSNAAQS
•Primary NAAQS - standards established Primary NAAQS - standards established to protect human healthto protect human health
•Secondary NAAQS - standards Secondary NAAQS - standards established to protect all organismsestablished to protect all organisms
•Nonattainment Area - any area that Nonattainment Area - any area that does not meet primary or secondary does not meet primary or secondary NAAQS for a criteria pollutant NAAQS for a criteria pollutant
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
National Ambient Air Quality National Ambient Air Quality StandardsStandards
Carbon MonoxideCarbon Monoxide9 ppm over 8-hr period, not to 9 ppm over 8-hr period, not to be exceeded more than once a be exceeded more than once a year; 35-ppm year; 35-ppm for 1-hr periodfor 1-hr period
Ozone Ozone 0.12 ppm for 1-hr period, not to 0.12 ppm for 1-hr period, not to be be exceeded more than once exceeded more than once per yearper year
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
National Ambient Air Quality National Ambient Air Quality StandardsStandards
Sulfur DioxideSulfur Dioxide 0.03 ppm annual 0.03 ppm annual average; 0.14 average; 0.14 ppm for 24-ppm for 24-hr period, not to be hr period, not to be exceeded more than once per exceeded more than once per
yearyear
Nitrogen OxidesNitrogen Oxides 0.05 ppm annual average0.05 ppm annual average
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
• Regulation of Urban Air PollutionRegulation of Urban Air Pollution– Criteria PollutantsCriteria Pollutants
•Tropospheric OzoneTropospheric Ozone– Source:Source: Chemical reactions between VOCs, Chemical reactions between VOCs,
nitrogen oxides, and sunlightnitrogen oxides, and sunlight– Health EffectsHealth Effects: Reduced lung function; asthma; : Reduced lung function; asthma;
congestioncongestion– Environmental ImpactsEnvironmental Impacts: Reduced visibility; : Reduced visibility;
plant damage, reduced photosynthesis and plant damage, reduced photosynthesis and nutrient uptake, crop destruction; forest nutrient uptake, crop destruction; forest diebacksdiebacks
– Property DamageProperty Damage: Rubber; plastics: Rubber; plastics
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
• Regulation of Urban Air PollutionRegulation of Urban Air Pollution– Criteria PollutantsCriteria Pollutants
•Carbon MonoxideCarbon Monoxide– Source:Source: Incomplete combustion of fossil fuels Incomplete combustion of fossil fuels– Health EffectsHealth Effects: Reduced oxygen levels; : Reduced oxygen levels;
impaired visual perception; reduced lung impaired visual perception; reduced lung function; asthma; congestionfunction; asthma; congestion
– Environmental ImpactsEnvironmental Impacts: Reduced visibility; : Reduced visibility; plant damageplant damage
– Property DamageProperty Damage: Rubber; plastics: Rubber; plastics
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
• Regulation of Urban Air PollutionRegulation of Urban Air Pollution– Criteria PollutantsCriteria Pollutants
•Nitrogen and Sulfur OxidesNitrogen and Sulfur Oxides– Source:Source: Incomplete combustion of fossil fuels Incomplete combustion of fossil fuels– Health EffectsHealth Effects: Lung damage; respiratory : Lung damage; respiratory
illnessesillnesses– Environmental ImpactsEnvironmental Impacts: Acid deposition; : Acid deposition;
plant damage; photochemical smog; crop plant damage; photochemical smog; crop destructiondestruction
– Property DamageProperty Damage: Enhanced chemical : Enhanced chemical weatheringweathering
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
• Regulation of Urban Air PollutionRegulation of Urban Air Pollution– Criteria PollutantsCriteria Pollutants
•SPMsSPMs– Source:Source: Incomplete combustion of fossil Incomplete combustion of fossil
fuels; agriculture; unpaved roadsfuels; agriculture; unpaved roads– Health EffectsHealth Effects: Lung damage; respiratory : Lung damage; respiratory
illnessesillnesses– Environmental ImpactsEnvironmental Impacts: Reduced visibility : Reduced visibility
(haze(haze– Property DamageProperty Damage: Discoloration of clothing : Discoloration of clothing
and structuresand structures
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
• Regulation of Urban Air Regulation of Urban Air PollutionPollution– Criteria PollutantsCriteria Pollutants
• LeadLead– Source:Source: Leaded gasoline; lead paint; Leaded gasoline; lead paint;
smelters; lead-acid batteriessmelters; lead-acid batteries– Health EffectsHealth Effects: Damage to nervous system; : Damage to nervous system;
cancer; mental retardation; digestive cancer; mental retardation; digestive disordersdisorders
– Environmental ImpactsEnvironmental Impacts: Harmful to wildlife: Harmful to wildlife
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
• Photochemical (Brown-Air) Photochemical (Brown-Air) Smog Smog – A mixture of primary and A mixture of primary and
secondary pollutants (mostly secondary pollutants (mostly tropospheric ozone) formed tropospheric ozone) formed under the influence of sunlightunder the influence of sunlight
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
• Photochemical (Brown Air) Photochemical (Brown Air) SmogSmog– Factors of FormationFactors of Formation
• Topography Topography • Local climateLocal climate•Population densityPopulation density•Amount of industryAmount of industry• Industrial fuel types Industrial fuel types
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
• Industrial (Gray-Air) SmogIndustrial (Gray-Air) Smog– Mixture of sulfur dioxide, suspended Mixture of sulfur dioxide, suspended
droplets of sulfuric acid, and SPMsdroplets of sulfuric acid, and SPMs
– Found mostly in LDCs where coal Found mostly in LDCs where coal and heavy oils are burnedand heavy oils are burned•ChinaChina•UkraineUkraine• Eastern EuropeEastern Europe
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
• Acid DepositionAcid Deposition– The falling of acids and acid-The falling of acids and acid-
forming compounds from the forming compounds from the atmosphere to the Earth’s atmosphere to the Earth’s surfacesurface
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
• Acid DepositionAcid Deposition– ComponentsComponents
•Primary PollutantsPrimary Pollutants– Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)– Sulfur Oxides (SOx)Sulfur Oxides (SOx)
Secondary PollutantsSecondary Pollutants– Nitric Acid (HNONitric Acid (HNO33))– Sulfuric Acid (HSulfuric Acid (H22SOSO44))
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
• Acid DepositionAcid Deposition– Acid SourcesAcid Sources
•Coal-burning power plantsCoal-burning power plants•SmeltersSmelters• FactorsFactors•Urban areasUrban areas
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
• Acid DepositionAcid Deposition– Environmental Impacts of Acid Environmental Impacts of Acid
DepositionDeposition•A A regional regional environmental problemenvironmental problem•Depends on Depends on buffering capacitybuffering capacity of of
soilssoils
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
• Acid DepositionAcid Deposition– Environmental Impacts of Acid Environmental Impacts of Acid
DepositionDeposition•Damage to materials Damage to materials •Human healthHuman health•Aquatic EcosystemsAquatic Ecosystems
– Acid shockAcid shock– Aluminum toxicityAluminum toxicity– Formation of methlymercuryFormation of methlymercury
The atmosphere and The atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
• Acid DepositionAcid Deposition– Environmental Impacts of Acid Environmental Impacts of Acid
DepositionDeposition•Aquatic EcosystemsAquatic Ecosystems
– Fun FactsFun Facts» 16,000 lakes in Norway and Sweden 16,000 lakes in Norway and Sweden
contain no fishcontain no fish» 9,000 lakes in U.S. are threatened 9,000 lakes in U.S. are threatened
with excess acidity (most in the Great with excess acidity (most in the Great Lakes!)Lakes!)
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
• Acid DepositionAcid Deposition– Environmental Impacts of Acid Environmental Impacts of Acid
DepositionDeposition• Terrestrial EcosystemsTerrestrial Ecosystems
– Most damage when pH < 5.1Most damage when pH < 5.1– Damage to tree foliage bathed in acidic Damage to tree foliage bathed in acidic
fogfog
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
• Acid DepositionAcid Deposition– Environmental Impacts of Acid Environmental Impacts of Acid
DepositionDeposition•Terrestrial EcosystemsTerrestrial Ecosystems
– Increased susceptibility to various stressorsIncreased susceptibility to various stressors» Cold temperaturesCold temperatures» DiseasesDiseases» InsectsInsects» DroughtDrought» Depletion of plant nutrientsDepletion of plant nutrients
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
• Urban ClimateUrban Climate– Cities are generally warmer, Cities are generally warmer,
rainier, foggier, and cloudier than rainier, foggier, and cloudier than suburbs or rural areassuburbs or rural areas
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
• Urban ClimateUrban Climate– Cities generate enormous Cities generate enormous
amounts of heatamounts of heat•AutomobilesAutomobiles• FactoriesFactories• FurnacesFurnaces• Lights Lights •Air conditionersAir conditioners•PeoplePeople
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
• Urban ClimateUrban Climate– Urban Heat Island - the buildup of Urban Heat Island - the buildup of
heat in the atmosphere above an heat in the atmosphere above an urban areaurban area
Urban Heat Island Dust DomeUrban Heat Island Dust Dome
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
• Indoor Air PollutionIndoor Air Pollution– SourcesSources
•CombustionCombustion•Building materials and furnishingsBuilding materials and furnishings•Household cleaning productsHousehold cleaning products•Personal care productsPersonal care products•Central heating/cooling systemsCentral heating/cooling systems•Outside sources - radon gas and Outside sources - radon gas and
pesticidespesticides•Poor ventilationPoor ventilation
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
• Indoor Air PollutionIndoor Air Pollution– Most Dangerous Indoor Air Most Dangerous Indoor Air
PollutantsPollutants• FormaldehydeFormaldehyde•AsbestosAsbestos•Cigarette smokeCigarette smoke•Radon-222Radon-222• FiberglassFiberglass
The Atmosphere and The Atmosphere and Air QualityAir Quality
• Indoor Air PollutionIndoor Air Pollution– Leading cause of cancerLeading cause of cancer– High-risk health problem for High-risk health problem for
humanshumans– ““Sick Building Syndrome”Sick Building Syndrome”