Chapter 21 Air Pollution What does it mean that the atmosphere is a sink?
? -> Waste disposal What does the word Smog mean? -> Fog or haze combined with smoke and other atmospheric pollutants. What are the two main types of air pollution? Explain each. -> Stationary sources those that have a relatively fixed location. -> Mobile source Move from place to place while emitting pollutants What are the general effects of air pollution? -> Affects many aspects of our environment (visual qualities, vegetation, animals, soil, water quality, natural and artificial structures and human health). -> Significant factor in human death rate for many large cities (Athens, Greece number of deaths higher in bad air quality days; Hungary 1 in 17 deaths contributed to air pollution; US 300,000 deaths/year, health cost $50 billion; China large cities have major air pollution issues, health cost $50 - $100 billion). -> Affect human health in several ways (toxic poisoning, cancer, birth defects, eye irritation, and irritation of respiratory system; increased susceptibility to viral infections, causing pneumonia and bronchitis; increased susceptibility to heart disease; aggravation of chronic diseases, such as asthma and emphysema). What does it mean if pollution has synergestic effects? -> Do greater damage to the lungs than a combination of the two pollutants would be expected to do base on their separate effects. Where do some of the natural air pollutants come from? Explain. -> Release of sulfur dioxide from volcanic eruptions. Release of hydrogen sulfide. Release of ozone in the lower atmosphere as a result of unstable meteorological conditions. Emission of particles from wildfires and windstorms. Natural hydrocarbon seeps. What are the 6 criteria pollutants? LIST -> Sulfur Dioxide Nitrogen Oxides
Carbon Monoxide Ozone (Photochemical) Particulate Matter (PM) Lead What causes some variability of air pollution? -> Problems of air pollution vary by regions of the country and world and seasonally. What are the future trends for future air pollution? -> The optimistic view Air quality will continue to improve, we will developed effective ways to reduce pollutants. -> The pessimistic view population pressures and economics will dictate what happens in many parts of the world, the result will be proorer air quality in many locations. -> US LA is a good area to look at for strategies for pollution abatement. -> Air quality plan involving the entire urban region includes the following features: strategies to discourage automobile use and reduce the number of cars; stricter emission controls for automobiles. -> Developing countries Dont have the financial base necessary to fight air pollution. How can we controlling common pollutants? -> Reduce, Collect, Capture, Retain. -> Particulates emitted from fugitive, point or area stationary sources are much easier to control. -> Automobiles -> Sulfur dioxide Can be reduced through abatement measures performed before, during, or after combustion. Air Quality Index (AQI) -> Used to describe air pollution on a given day, AQI 100= UNHEALTHY, AQI>200 ALERT, AQI>300 HAZARDOUS, AQI>400 EMERGENCY What is the cost of outdoor air pollution control?
-> Fossil fuel burning pollution control : a few hundred dollars per additional ton of particulates removed. -> Aluminum plant may be several thousand per ton What is Ozone? -> O3, triatomic form of oxygen in which three oxygen atoms are bonded How does Ozone block UV light? -> The Ozone absorbs the hazardous ultraviolet radiation from the sun How is Ozone measured? -> Dobson ultraviolet spectrometer: Dobson unit (DU) 1 DU = 1 ppb O3 What happens to UVC in the Ozone layer? -> UVC is strongly absorbed in the stratosphere and negligible amounts reach the Earth's surface What are the effects of UVA? UVB? -> UVA-Damage living cells UVB- Depletion of ozone results in an increase of UVB reaching surface of the Earth Ozone and CFCs -> Hypothesis that ozone in the stratosphere is being depleted by CFCs. The Antarctic Ozone Hole -> Since 1958 ozone depletion has been observed in the Antarctic every October. -> Thickness decreasing and geographic area increasing. What are the environmental effects of the Ozone hole? /UV Exposure? -> Damage to food chain, damage to human health (skin cancer, cataracts) What is the Montreal Protocol? -> Outlined a plan for eventual reduction of global emissions of CFCs to 50% of 1986 emissions. What is the future for Ozone Depletion? -> Substitutes for CFCs What happens on windward/leeward sides of buildings?
-> Wind- Areas of high pressure may develop -> Lee- pressure is lower and protected. What is the chimney effect? -> Occurs when there is a temperature differential between the indoor and outdoor environments ETS (Environmental Tobacco Smoke) -> Secondhand smoke -> Comes from 2 sources: Smoke exhaled by smokers and smoke emitted from burning tobacco in cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. -> People who are exposed to ETS are referred to as passive smokers. What is sick-building syndrome? ->There are two types of sick buildings: Buildings with identifiable problems: Occurrences of toxic molds or bacteria known to cause disease, disease are known as building related illnesses (BRI). -> Buildings with sick building syndrome (SBS) Symptoms people report cannot be traced to any one known cause. How can indoor air pollution be controlled? -> Strong financial incentives to provide workers with a clean air environment -> Meet minimum indoor air quality standards. -> One of the principal means for controlling quality is by dilution -> Various types of air-cleaning systems reduce potential pollutants. -> Education