AIR POLLUTION

Types and Sources of Air Pollution

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Air Pollution

Chemicals added to the atmosphere by natural

events or human activities in high enough
concentrations to be harmful

Two categories

Primary Air Pollutant

Harmful substance that is emitted directly into the

atmosphere

Secondary Air Pollutant

Harmful substance formed in the atmosphere when a

primary air pollutant reacts with substances normally
found in the atmosphere or with other air pollutants

Major Classes of Air Pollutants

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Particulate Material
Nitrogen Oxides
Sulfur Oxides
Carbon Oxides
Hydrocarbons
Ozone

Carbon Monoxide
colorless, odorless
produced when carbon does
not burn in fossil fuels
present in car exhaust
deprives body of O2 causing
headaches, fatigue, and
impaired vision

Sulfur Dioxide
produced when coal and
fuel oil are burned
present in power plant
exhaust
narrows the airway,
causing wheezing and
shortness of breath,
especially in those with
asthma

Nitrogen Dioxide
reddish, brown gas
produced when nitric
oxide combines with
oxygen in the
atmosphere
present in car
exhaust and power
plants
affects lungs and
causes wheezing;

Particulate Matter
particles of different sizes
and structures that are
released into the atmosphere
present in many sources
including fossil fuels, dust,
smoke, fog, etc.
can build up in respiratory
system
aggravates heart and lung
disease; increases risk of

Ground Level Ozone

at upper level, ozone shields
Earth from suns harmful UV rays
at ground level, ozone is harmful
pollutants
formed from car, power and
chemical plant exhaust
irritate respiratory system and
asthma; reduces lung function by
inflaming and damaging lining of
lungs

Urban Air Pollution

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Photochemical Smog (ex: Los Angeles below)

Brownish-orange haze formed by chemical reactions

involving sunlight, nitrogen oxide, and hydrocarbons

Formation of Photochemical Smog

Ozone Depletion in Stratosphere

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Ozone Protects earth from UV radiation

Part of the electromagnetic spectrum with

wavelengths just shorter than visible light

Effects of Ozone Depletion

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Higher levels of UVradiation hitting the

earth

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Eye cataracts
Skin cancer (right)
Weakened immunity

May disrupt
ecosystems
May damage crops
and forests

How Acid Deposition Develops

Acid Deposition and Forest Decline

1.COMBUSTION
different heating devices- health
problems
Oil burning stoves
56%
Solid fuels light cooking
stoves

42.1%

Gas heaters

41.9%

Wood

39.6%

Central heating

26.3%

Solid fuels masonry stoves 36.7%

Electricity masonry stoves 8.7%
Air conditioners

18.4%

Residential heating
electricity

12.2%

*
*

Indoor Air
Pollution

Health Effects of Air Pollution

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Sulfur Dioxide and Particulate material

Nitrogen Dioxides

Causes airway restriction

Carbon monoxide

Irritate respiratory tract and impair ability of

lungs to exchange gases

Binds with iron in blood hemoglobin

Causes headache, fatigue, drowsiness, death

Ozone

Causes burning eyes, coughing, and chest

discomfort

Controlling Air Pollution

in US
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Smokestacks with
electrostatic precipitator
(right)
Without
Electrostatic
precipitator
With Electrostatic
precipitator

Controlling Air Pollution in the US

o

Phase I Vapor Recovery System for

gasoline

The Clean Air Act

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Authorizes EPA to set

limits on amount of
specific air pollutants
permitted
Focuses on 6
pollutants:

lead, particulate
matter, sulfur dioxide,
carbon monoxide,
nitrogen oxides, and
ozone

Act has led to

decreases!

Water Pollution

Water
makes
us
unique
and
gives
life to
Earth.

What is water pollution?

Any chemical, biological,
or physical change in
water quality that has
a harmful effect on
living organisms or
makes water
unsuitable for desired
usage.

What is water pollution?

WHO:
o 3.4 million premature
deaths each year
from waterborne
diseases
o 1.9 million from
diarrhea
o U.S. 1.5 million
illnesses

Infectious Agents: bacteria and viruses

often from animal wastes
Oxygen Demanding Wastes: organic waste
that needs oxygen often from animal
waste, paper mills and food processing.
Inorganic Chemicals: Acids and toxic
chemicals often from runoff, industries
and household cleaners

Organic Chemicals: oil, gasoline, plastics,

detergents often from surface runoff,
industries and cleaners
Plant Nutrients: water soluble nitrates,
ammonia and phosphates often from
sewage, agriculture and urban fertilizers
Sediment: soils and silts from land erosion
can disrupt photosynthesis, destroy
spawning grounds, clog rivers and streams
Heat Pollution and Radioactivity: mostly from
powerplants

How do we measure water quality

Dissolved Oxygen: BOD
Biological Oxygen
Demandthe amount
of oxygen consumed by
aquatic decomposers
Chemical Analysis:
looking for presence
of inorganic or organic
chemicals
Suspended Sediment
water clarity

Major Sources of Water Pollution

Agriculture: by far the
leader
o Sediment, fertilizers,
bacteria from livestock,
food processing, salt
from soil irrigation
Industrial: factories and
powerplants
Mining: surface mining
toxics, acids, sediment

Freshwater Stream Pollution

Flowing streams can recover
from moderate level of
degradable water pollution
if their flows are not
reduced.
o
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Natural biodegradation
process
Does not work if
overloaded or stream
flow reduced
Does not work against non
biodegradable pollutants

Indias Ganges River

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Holy River (1 million take

daily holy dip)
Little sewage treatment
Used for bathing, drinking
etc.
Bodies (cremated or not)
thrown in river
Good news is the Indian
government is beginning to
work on problem

Freshwater Lake Pollution

Makes them more
vulnerable
o Toxins settle
o Kill bottom life
o Atmospheric
deposition
o Food chain disruptions

Eutrophication of Lakes

Pollution of Lakes

Fig. 22-7 p. 499

Groundwater Pollution: Causes

Low flow rates Few bacteria

Low oxygen
Cold
temperatures

Hazardous waste injection well

Coal strip
mine runoff

Pesticides
De-icing
road salt
Pumping
well
Waste lagoon

Gasoline
station
Water pumping
well
Landfill

Accidental
spills

Buried gasoline
and solvent tank
Cesspool
septic tank
Sewer
Leakage from faulty
casing

r
uife
Discharge
q
a
ter
a
w
r
Confined aquifer
es h
uife
r
f
q
a
d
e
r
n
fi
at e
c on
hw
s
n
Groundwater
e
U
fr
d
e
flow
nfin
Co

Fig. 22-9 p. 502

Ocean Pollution
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Large amounts of
untreated raw sewage
(viruses)
Leaking septic tanks
Algae blooms from
nutrients
Airborne toxins
Oil spills

Solutions: Preventing and Reducing

Surface Water Pollution
Nonpoint Sources

Point Sources

Reduce runoff

Clean Water Act

Water Quality Act

Buffer zone vegetation

Reduce soil erosion

Only apply pesticides and fertilizers as neede

Clean Water Act

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Sets standards for key

pollutants
Requires permits for
discharge
Requires sewage
treatment
Require permits for
wetland destruction
Does not deal with
nonpoint sources well
Goal All Waterways
fishable and swimable

Purification of rural drinking

water

There can be simple

ways to purify water:
o
o
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Exposing to heat and

UV rays
Fine cloths to filter
water
Add small amounts of
chlorine

Safe Drinking Water Act

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54 countries have
drinking water laws

SDWA passed 1974

requires EPA to set
drinking water
standards
Maximum Contaminating
Levels (MCLs)