Air Pollution

Key Concepts
 Structure and composition of the atmosphere

 Types and origins of major outdoor air pollutants

 Two types of smog

 Acid deposition and how it can be reduced

 Harmful effects of air pollutants

 Preventing and controlling air pollution

 Earth’s Atmosphere
 Troposphere

 78% N2, 21% O2

 Stratosphere

 Ozone layer

Fig. 15-2, p. 347

 120
Atmospheric pressure (millibars)
0 200 400 600 800 1,000 Earth’s
75
110
Temperature
Pressure
65
Atmosphere
100 Thermosphere

90 Mesopause 55
Heating via
80
Altitude (kilometers)

ozone

Altitude (miles)
Mesosphere 45
70

60 Stratopause
35
50
Stratosphere
40 25
30 Tropopause

20 Ozone “layer” 15
Heating from the
10 earth
5
Troposphere
0
–80 –40 0 40 80 120 Pressure = 1,000
(Sea Level) millibars at
Temperature (˚C) ground level
Fig. 15-2, p. 347
 Outdoor Air Pollution
 What is air pollution?

 Stationary and mobile sources

 Primary pollutants

 Secondary pollutants

 How air pollutants migrate

 Health threats

 Major air pollutants

 Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

 Carbon dioxide: a pollutant?

Sources and Types of Air Pollutants
Primary Pollutants

CO CO2
Secondary Pollutants
SO2 NO NO2
SO3
Most hydrocarbons
HNO3 H2SO4
Most suspended
particles H2O2 O3 PANs
Most NO–3 and SO42 – salts

Sources Natural
Stationary

Mobile

Fig. 15-3, p. 348

Table 15-1, p. 349
 Photochemical Smog

 Photochemical reactions

 Photochemical smog

 Natural and human origins

 Brown-air smog

 Temperature effects

 Urban areas
 Animation

Formation of photochemical smog

Photochemical Smog in Mexico City

Fig. 15-4, p. 351

 Industrial Smog

 Composition of industrial smog (sulfur dioxide and sulfuric acid)

 Gray-air smog

 Situation better in developed countries

 Serious problem in industrializing countries, such as China

 “Black Triangle” of eastern Europe

 Asian brown cloud

Industrial Smog in India

Fig. 15-5, p. 351

 How Nature Eliminates Smog

 Rain and snow

 Salty sea spray

 Winds
 Factors Influencing the
Formation of Smog
 Urban buildings

 Topography

 High temperatures

 “Grasshopper Effect”

 Temperature inversions
Animation

Thermal inversion animation.

 Acid Deposition
 Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides

 Wet and dry acid deposition

 Acid rain

 Regional air pollution

 Buffers

 Wind transportation
 Acid Deposition
Wind

Transformation to
sulfuric acid (H2SO4)
and nitric acid (HNO3) Windborne ammonia gas
and particles of cultivated soil
partially neutralize acids and Wet acid deposition
form dry sulfate and nitrate salts (droplets of H2SO4 and
HNO3 dissolved in rain
Nitric oxide (NO) Dry acid and snow)
Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
deposition
and NO
(sulfur dioxide
gas and particles
Acid fog of sulfate and
nitrate salts)

Farm
Ocean Lakes in shallow
Lakes in soil low in
deep soil limestone
high in limestone become
are buffered acidic

Fig. 15-6, p. 353

Animation

Acid deposition animation.

 Current and Potential Problems
with Acid Deposition

Potential problem Potential problem areas Current problem areas

areas because of because of air pollution: (including lakes and rivers)
sensitive soils emissions leading to acid
deposition Fig. 15-8, p. 355
 Harmful Effects of Acid Deposition

 Respiratory diseases in humans (bronchitis and asthma)

 Leaches metals from water pipes

 Damages statues and other property

 Decreases atmospheric visibility (Grand Canyon)

 Kills fish and other aquatic organisms

 Leaches plant nutrients from soils

 Weakens trees (mountaintop forests)

 Emission
Impacts of Air Pollution
Acid SO2 NOX on Trees and Water
deposition H2O2 O3
PANs Others
Increased
Susceptibility
Reduced to drought,
Direct damage
photosynthesis extreme cold,
to leaves and bark
and growth insects, mosses,
and disease
organisms

Soil acidification Tree death

Leaching Release Root Reduced nutrient

of soil Acid of toxic damage and water uptake
nutrients metal
icons

Groundwater
Fig. 15-9, p. 356
 Animation

Effect of air pollution in forests animation.

Tree Damage from Acid Deposition

Fig. 15-10, p. 356

 Reducing Acid Deposition
Solutions
Acid Deposition

Prevention Cleanup

Reduce air pollution by Add lime to neutralize

improving energy efficiency acidified lakes

Reduce coal use Add phosphate

fertilizer to neutralize
acidified lakes
Increase natural gas use

Increase use of
renewable resources

Burn low-sulfur coal

Remove SO2 particulates,

and Nox from smokestack gases

Remove Nox from motor

vehicular exhaust

Tax emissions of SO2

© 2006 Brooks/Cole - Thomson Fig. 15-11, p. 357
 Indoor Air Pollution

 Pollutants often at higher concentrations indoors

 Pollution inside cars

 Most people spent most of their time indoors

 Cancer risks

 Sick-building syndrome

 Mold and allergies

 Serious problem in developing countries

 Major Indoor Air Pollutants

 Tobacco smoke

 Formaldehyde

 Radon

 Very fine particles

 Major Indoor Air Pollutants
Para-dichlorobenzene
Chloroform
Tetrachloro-ethylene Formaldehyde

1, 1, 1-
Trichloroethane

Styrene
Nitrogen
Oxides

Benzo-a-pyrene

Particulates

Tobacco Radon-222
Asbestos Smoke

Carbon Monoxide Methylene Chloride

Fig. 15-12, p. 358
 Radon

 Radioactive Rn-222

 Lung cancer threat

 With uranium in rocks

and soils

 Testing homes

 Remedies

Fig. 15-13, p. 359

 Outlet vents for furnaces and dryers

Open window
Radon
Openings Cracks in wall
around
pipes
Slab joints

Wood stove

Cracks in floor
Clothes Sump
Furnace dryer pump

Slab
Radon-222 gas
Uranium-238

Soil

Fig. 15-13, p. 359

 Harmful Effects of Air Pollution
 Human respiratory system

 Asthma

 Lung cancer

 Chronic bronchitis

 Emphysema

 Health effects of major air pollutants

 Premature deaths

 Serious threat of indoor air pollution

 Impact of coal-fired power plants

 Cancer from diesel exhausts

Human Respiratory System

Fig. 15-14a, p. 360

 Human Respiratory System
Nasal cavity

Oral cavity

Pharynx (throat)

Trachea (windpipe)

Bronchus

Right lung

Bronchioles

Fig. 15-14a, p. 360

Human Respiratory System
Epithelial
cell

Cilia

Goblet cell
(secreting
mucus)

Mucus

Fig. 15-14b, p. 360

Human Respiratory System
Bronchiole

Alveolar
duct

Alveolar sac
(sectioned)

Alveoli

Fig. 15-14c, p. 360

Healthy and Diseased Human Lungs

Fig. 15-15, p. 360

Premature US Deaths from Air Pollution

Fig. 15-16, p. 361

Solutions: Stationary Source Air
Pollution
Solutions
Stationery Source Air Pollution
Prevention Dispersion or
Cleanup

Burn low-sulfur Disperse

coal emissions above
thermal inversion
Remove sulfur layer with tall
from coal smokestacks

Convert coal Remove

to a liquid or pollutants after
gaseous fuel combustion

Tax each unit

Shift to less of pollution
polluting fuels produced

© 2006 Brooks/Cole - Thomson Fig. 15-17, p. 363

Solutions: Motor Vehicles
Solutions
Motor Vehicle Pollutions

Prevention Cleanup
Mass transit Emission control
devices
Bicycles and walking

Less polluting engines

Less polluting fuels

Car exhaust
Improve fuel efficiency
Inspections
twice a year
Get older, polluting
cars off the road

Give buyers tax write-

offs for buying low-
polluting, energy-
efficient vehicles
Stricter emission
Restrict driving in polluted areas standards

© 2006 Brooks/Cole - Thomson Fig. 15-18, p. 364

Solutions: Indoor Air Pollution
Solutions
Indoor Air Pollution
Prevention Cleanup

Cover ceiling tiles and lining Use adjustable fresh air vents
of AC ducts to prevent release for work spaces
of mineral fibers

Ban smoking or limit it to Increase intake of outside air

well-ventilated areas

Set stricter formaldehyde Change air more frequently

emissions standards for
carpet, furniture, and Circulate building’s air through
building materials
rooftop greenhouses
Prevent radon infiltration
Use exhaust hoods for stoves
Use office machines in and appliances burning
well-ventilated areas natural gas
Use less polluting
substitutes for harmful Install efficient chimneys
cleaning agents, paints, for wood-burning stoves
and other products
© 2006 Brooks/Cole - Thomson Fig. 15-19, p. 364
 Solutions: Air Pollution
Solutions
Air Pollution
Prevention Cleanup

Improve energy efficiency Reduce poverty

to reduce fossil fuel use

Rely more on lower- Distribute cheap and efficient

polluting natural gas cookstoves to poor families in
developing countries

Rely more on renewable

energy (especially solar
cells, wind, and solar- Reduce or ban indoor smoking
produced hydrogen)

Transfer technologies for Develop simple and cheap

latest energy efficiency, test for indoor pollutants
renewable energy, and such as particulates, radon,
pollution prevention to
developing countries. and formaldehyde

Fig. 15-20, p. 365

 What Can You Do?
What Can You Do?
Indoor Air Pollution

• Test for radon and formaldehyde inside your home and take corrective measures
as needed.
• Do not buy furniture and other products containing formaldehyde.
• Remove your shoes before entering your house to reduce inputs of dust, lead,
and pesticides.
• Test your house or workplace for asbestos fiber levels and for any crumbling
asbestos materials if it was built before 1980.
• Don't live in a pre-1980 house without having its indoor air tested for asbestos
and lead.
• Do not store gasoline, solvents, or other volatile hazardous chemicals inside a
home or attached garage.
• If you smoke, do it outside or in a closed room vented to the outside.
• Make sure that wood-burning stoves, fireplaces, and kerosene- and gas-burning
heaters are properly installed, vented, and maintained.
• Install carbon monoxide detectors in all sleeping areas.
© 2006 Brooks/Cole - Thomson Fig. 15-21, p. 365