Homework 2

1. An air quality monitoring station measured one early morning that the volume fractions of NO,
ozone and NO2 were 30, 40, and 170 ppb respectively. What were the corresponding
concentrations in kmol/m3 , in molecules/m3 , and in kg/m3 ? The atmospheric conditions at
the time of the measurement were 980 mbar pressure and 10 ºC temperature.
Ans:
For kmolK,
From Eq. Ci = Xi P/ R0T and using P=0.98x105 Pa, T=283 K, R0=8315 J/kmol/K,
We get that 30x10^-9 x 98x103 / (8315 x 283) = 1.24 x10^-9 kmol/m3.
40x10^-9 x 98x103 / (8315 x 283) = 1.0 x10^-9 kmol/m3
170x10^-9 x 98x103 / (8315 x 283) = 7.0 x10^-9 kmol/m3

To transform the kmol/m3 into molecules/m3, we need to multiply by Avogadro’s number,

To get the concentration in kg/m3, we multiply the molar concentration by the molecular
weight of the species
For NO= 1.24 x10^-9 x (30.00/1000) = 3.74 x 10^-8 kg/m3
For Ozone: 1.66 x 10^-9 x (48/1000) = 7.968 x 10^-8 kg/m3
For NO2: = 7.08 x 10^-9 x (46/1000) = 3.26 x 10^-7 kg/m

2. Estimate the mass of the air in the atmospheric boundary layer, assuming a total height of 3 km
and a linear reduction of temperature with height of 6.5 K/km (the “standard atmosphere”)
from a mean ground-level temperature of 288 K.
Ans: The standard atmosphere gives that T (z) = T (0) -6.5z, where z is measured in km and
T(0)=288K.

The total mass of the air M (z) in the atmosphere up to a height z per unit area is given by
z
dp
M ( z )=∫ ρdz .Writing dT/ dZ = -a and using hydrostatic balance equation =−ρg ,
0
dz
 dp dρ ρRdt RTdρ
p = ρRT , differentiating will give = RT + , =−ρg+ ρRa ,
dz dz dz dz
g
dz
dρ R
=aR− −az , Integrating on both sides will give final eq.
ρ T ( 0)
ρ ( 0 )=0.85 kg/m 3
, , T (0) = 288K ,a=6.5 z=3km ,g=9.8m/s2, R=287J/kgk,
Putting all these values in above eq and we will get the density of air is 0.91kg/m3
Now density can be integrated to give

,
Putting the values in above eq, we will obtain mass per unit area is 3143.7 kg/m2.

3. Assume that the average car emits 0.2 kg CO2 per km driven. The average user drives 10,000 km
per year and there are about 450,000,000 cars in the world today. Estimate the yearly increase
of CO2 in the atmosphere in ppb due to car emissions.
Ans : The total CO2 released per year from all cars is 0.2 x 10,000 x 450,000,000=9x10^11 kg per
year.
From above Example, the total atmospheric mass will be 1.6x10^18/0.3=5.3x10^18 kg. Then the
volume fraction of CO2 will be from Equation: XCO2=YCO2 x (29/44) = (9x10^11/5.3x10^18) x
(29/44), i.e. 112 ppb increase per year.
The measured increase in CO2 concentration in the atmosphere is about 1100 ppb per year
(Jacobson, 1998). This includes power generation, industry and land use. Figures including the
whole of the transport sector (e.g. buses, trucks, trains etc.) and with more exact values for the
average mileage and CO2 emitted per vehicle give that the contribution of transport is about
24% of the CO2 releases, which is estimated to be a total of 6.2x10^12 kg/year.

4. Consider the implications of particulates and gaseous constituents of:

a. wood smoke,

b. cigarette smoke,

c. automobile exhaust,

d. emissions from a coal-fired power plant.

Ans:

a. Wood smoke: Wood smoke contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, several toxic harmful air
pollutants including benzene, formaldehyde, acrolein and other toxic organics, such as dioxins, fine
particulate matter or PM2.5.

b. cigarette smoke : PAHs is benzo(a)pyrene

d. emissions from a coal-fired power plant : nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter (PM),
mercury, and dozens of other substances known to be hazardous to human health

5. Which has the most pollutants of air pollution matter? Which is predominantly gas? Which is most
complicated chemically? Which is likely to be most dangerous?

Ans: Coal Fired power plant has most pollutants of air pollution. Automobile exhaust is predominantly
gas. Cigarette smoke is most complicated chemically. Wood smoke is considered to be most dangerous.

6. Explain the effects of SO2 on human Health?

Ans : Aggravate respiratory illness , Long term exposure may cause increased incident of chronic
conditions such as bronchitis , linked to heart diseases ,suppress immune system, may cause cancer or
other tissue damage.

7. Describe the harmful effects of NO2 on living things and the environment?

Ans: Health effects

Breathing air with a high concentration of NO2 can irritate airways in the human respiratory system.
Such exposures over short periods can aggravate respiratory diseases, particularly
Asthma
Respiratory such as
Coughing,
Wheezing or
Difficulty breathing
Longer exposures to elevated concentrations of NO2 may contribute to the
Development of asthma
Respiratory infections.
People with asthma, as well as children and the elderly are generally at greater risk for  the health effects
of NO2.
NO2 along with other NOx reacts with other chemicals in the air to form both particulate matter and
ozone. Both of these are also harmful when inhaled due to effects on the respiratory system.

Environmental effects :
NO2 and other NOx interact with water, oxygen and other chemicals in the atmosphere to form acid
rain. Acid rain harms sensitive ecosystems such as lakes and forests.
The nitrate particles that result from NOx make the air hazy and difficult to see though. This affects the
many national parks that we visit for the view.
NOx in the atmosphere contributes to nutrient pollution in coastal waters.
Effects on plants:
Nitrogen dioxide causes growth retardation and leaf bleaching in plants.

8. Define Aerosol, dust and smoke?

Ans: Aerosol: “Aerosol” is often used synonymously with PM. An aerosol can be a suspension of solid or
liquid particles in air, and an aerosol includes both the particles and all vapor or gas phase components
of air.
Dust: Dust is made of fine particles of solid matter. On Earth, it generally consists of particles in the
atmosphere that comes from various sources such as soil, dust lifted by wind (an aeolian process),
volcanic eruptions, and pollution.
Smoke: A visible suspension of carbon or other particles in air. Smoke is derived from combustion of
organic product; fire emits large quantities of pollutants in the form of smoke

9. Describe the toxicological effects of CO in blood

Ans: CO gas enters the human body by inhalation and is absorbed directly into the bloodstream; the
total body burden resides in the circulatory system. The human body also produces CO by breakdown of
hemoglobin. Hemoglobin breakdown gives every individual a baseline level of CO in the circulatory
system. As the result of these factors, the body burden can fluctuate over a timescale of hours.
CO interferes with normal Interaction of O2 and CO2 by forming a much more stable complex with
hemoglobin (COHb) .This process reduces the number of hemoglobin molecules available to maintain
the necessary transport of O2 and CO2 .
The baseline level of COHb is _0.5% for most individuals. Upon exposure to elevated levels of
atmospheric CO, the percentage of COHb will increase in a very predictable manner. Analytical
techniques are available to measure COHb from 0.1% to _80% in the bloodstream, providing a very rapid
method for determining the total body burden. If elevated levels of CO are reduced, the percentage of
COHb will decrease over a period of time