The document defines air pollution as particles or gases found in air that are not part of its normal composition, including natural sources like forest fires and unnatural sources from human activities that burn fossil fuels. It describes the Air Quality Index scale of 0-500 that indicates potential health effects from different pollution levels and advises limiting outdoor activity during unhealthy air. The five major pollutants are outlined as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, and ground-level ozone, along with their sources and health impacts. Smog is defined as a combination of gases, water vapor, and dust formed from vehicle and industrial emissions reacting with sunlight. Suggestions are provided to reduce individual contributions to air pollution.

1. Deidre Jones
6th
grade

3. •Any visible or invisible particle or gas
found in the air that is not part of the
original, normal composition.

4. Natural: forest fires, pollen, dust
storm
Unnatural: man-made; coal, wood and
other fuels used in cars, homes, and
factories for energy

6. AQI: Air Quality Index
•Indicates whether pollutant levels in air may cause
health concerns.
•Ranges from 0 (least concern) to 500 (greatest
concern)

7. Air Quality Air Quality Index Protect Your Health
Good 0-50 No health impacts are expected when
air quality is in this range.
Moderate 51-100 Unusually sensitive people should
consider limiting prolonged outdoor
exertion.
Unhealthy for
Sensitive Groups
101-150 Active children and adults, and people
with respiratory disease, such as
asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor
exertion.
Unhealthy 151-200
Active children and adults, and people
with respiratory disease, such as
asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor
exertion, everyone else, especially
children should limit prolonged outdoor
excertion.
Very Unhealthy (Alert) 201-300 Active children and adults, and people
with respiratory disease, such as
asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor
exertion everyone else, especially
children, should limit outdoor exertion.

9. 5 Major Pollutants:
5 Major Pollutants:
1..) Carbon Monoxide
2.) Sulfur Dioxide
3.) Nitrogen Dioxide
4.) Particulate Matter
5.) Ground Level
Ozone

10. Carbon MonoxideCarbon 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

11. Sulfur DioxideSulfur 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

12. 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 causes
wheezing; increases chance of
respiratory infection

13. 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

14. 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;
reduces lung function by inflaming and
damaging lining of lungs

17. •Combination of gases with water vapor and
dust
•Combination of words smoke and fog
•Forms when heat and sunlight react
gases (photochemical smog)
•Occurs often with heavy traffic, high
temperatures, and calm winds

19. •1st
smog related deaths were in London in
1873; death toll 500 people; can you
imagine how much worse the atmosphere is
now?!
•Limits visibility
•Decreases UV radiation
•Yellow/black color over cities
•Causes respiratory problems and bronchial
related deaths

27. •Ride your bike
•Tell your friends and family about pollution
•Make sure your parents get pollution checks on
their cars
•Ride the school bus

28. •Learn more; stay up to date
•Join a group to stop pollution
•Encourage your parents to carpool to
work
•Switch off lights, fan, heat, etc. when you
leave the room

30. •Insel, Paul M. and Roth, Walton T. Core Concepts in
Health: 9th
edition. McGraw Hill: Boston, 2002.
•http://edugreen.teri.in/explore/air.htm
•http://
www.oneworld.net/penguin/pollution/pollution_home.html
•http://www.rcc.org/oem/aqindex.html
•http://www.tnrcc.state.tx.us/air/monops/lessoms/mathlesson.h
tml