Air pollution Lec 13

1. Air PollutionAir Pollution

2. Atmosphere as a ResourceAtmosphere as a Resource
o AtmosphericAtmospheric
CompositionComposition
• Nitrogen 78.08%Nitrogen 78.08%
• Oxygen 20.95%Oxygen 20.95%
• Argon 0.93%Argon 0.93%
• Carbon dioxide 0.04%Carbon dioxide 0.04%
o Ecosystem servicesEcosystem services
• Blocks UV radiationBlocks UV radiation
• Moderates theModerates the
climateclimate
• Redistributes water inRedistributes water in
the hydrologic cyclethe hydrologic cycle

3. Types and Sources of Air PollutionTypes and Sources of Air Pollution
o Air PollutionAir Pollution
• Chemicals added to the atmosphere by naturalChemicals added to the atmosphere by natural
events or human activities in high enoughevents or human activities in high enough
concentrations to be harmfulconcentrations to be harmful
o Two categoriesTwo categories
• Primary Air PollutantPrimary Air Pollutant
•
Harmful substance that is emitted directly into theHarmful substance that is emitted directly into the
atmosphereatmosphere
• Secondary Air PollutantSecondary Air Pollutant
•
Harmful substance formed in the atmosphere when aHarmful substance formed in the atmosphere when a
primary air pollutant reacts with substancesprimary air pollutant reacts with substances
normally found in the atmosphere or with other airnormally found in the atmosphere or with other air
pollutantspollutants

5. Major Pollutants:
Major Pollutants:
1..) Carbon Monoxide
2.) Sulfur Dioxide
3.) Nitrogen Dioxide
4.) Ground Level
Ozone

6. Carbon MonoxideCarbon Monoxide
•colorless, odorless
•present in car exhaust
•deprives body of O2 causing
headaches, fatigue, and impaired
vision

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

8. Particulate MatterParticulate 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 respiratory
infection

9. Nitrogen DioxideNitrogen Dioxide
•reddish, brown gas
•produced when nitric oxide
combines with oxygen in the
atmosphere
•present in car exhaust and
power plants
•affects lungs and
increases chance of
respiratory infection

10. Ground Level OzoneGround Level Ozone
•at upper level, ozone shields Earth from
sun’s harmful UV rays
•at ground level, ozone is harmful
pollutants
•formed from car, power and chemical
plant exhaust
•irritate respiratory system and asthma;

11. Sources of Outdoor Air PollutionSources of Outdoor Air Pollution
o Two main sourcesTwo main sources
• TransportationTransportation
• IndustryIndustry
o Intentional forestIntentional forest
fires is also highfires is also high

12. Health Effects of Air PollutionHealth Effects of Air Pollution
o Sulfur Dioxide and Particulate materialSulfur Dioxide and Particulate material
• Irritate respiratory tract and impair ability ofIrritate respiratory tract and impair ability of
lungs to exchange gaseslungs to exchange gases
o Nitrogen DioxidesNitrogen Dioxides
• Causes airway restrictionCauses airway restriction
o Carbon monoxideCarbon monoxide
• Binds with iron in blood hemoglobinBinds with iron in blood hemoglobin
• Causes headache, fatigue, drowsiness, deathCauses headache, fatigue, drowsiness, death
o OzoneOzone
• Causes burning eyes, coughing, and chestCauses burning eyes, coughing, and chest
discomfortdiscomfort

13. Ozone Depletion in StratosphereOzone Depletion in Stratosphere
o Ozone Protects earth from UV radiationOzone Protects earth from UV radiation

14. Ozone Depletion in StratosphereOzone Depletion in Stratosphere
o Ozone thinning/holeOzone thinning/hole
• First identified in 1985First identified in 1985
over Antarcticaover Antarctica
o Caused byCaused by
• human-produced brominehuman-produced bromine
and chlorine containingand chlorine containing
chemicalschemicals
• Ex: CFCsEx: CFCs

15. Effects of Ozone DepletionEffects of Ozone Depletion
o Higher levels of UV-Higher levels of UV-
radiation hitting theradiation hitting the
earthearth
• Eye cataractsEye cataracts
• Skin cancer (right)Skin cancer (right)
• Weakened immunityWeakened immunity
o May disruptMay disrupt
ecosystemsecosystems
o May damage cropsMay damage crops
and forestsand forests

17. How Acid Deposition DevelopsHow Acid Deposition Develops

18. Effects of Acid DepositionEffects of Acid Deposition
o Declining AquaticDeclining Aquatic
Animal PopulationsAnimal Populations
o Thin-shelled eggsThin-shelled eggs
prevent birdprevent bird
reproductionreproduction
• Because calcium isBecause calcium is
unavailable in acidic soilunavailable in acidic soil
o Forest declineForest decline
• Ex: Black forest inEx: Black forest in
Germany (50% isGermany (50% is
destroyed)destroyed)