This document discusses various types of air pollution including smog, acid rain, and indoor air pollution. It notes that air pollution is caused by emissions from vehicles, power plants, and other sources which release gases and particles into the atmosphere. Specific pollutants mentioned are carbon monoxide, dust, and radon. The document also addresses how human activities like burning fossil fuels contribute to increased greenhouse gases and global warming, and discusses the health impacts and proper disposal of hazardous wastes.

1. Air Pollution and
Global Change
Module 13
Pay close attention to each slide.
Click on the speaker on each slide for additional information.

2. What is Air Pollution
 Air is a mixture of many gases including: Nitrogen,
Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, Water Vapor and trace
other gases.
 Any change in the atmosphere that has harmful
effects is called air pollution
 Any substance that causes pollution is called a
pollutant

3. Composition of the Air
From the pie chart you can see
Nitrogen actually makes up the
greatest percentage of gas in the
air…most would think it would
be oxygen because that is what
we breathe.
Image:
http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkas:Air_comp
osition_pie_chart.JPG

4. How does pollution make
it into the Air?
 Solid particles and gases
that are released into
the air are called
emissions
 Main cause of emissions
is by motor vehicles
releasing carbon
monoxide into the air
Image: Epa.gov

5. Smoke + Fog = Smog
 When certain gases in the air react with sunlight it
can create a think brownish haze called
photochemical smog
 When the smog level is high it can settle over a city
creating a dirty haze
 Potential threats to humans are breathing trouble,
throat irritation and burning eyes
 Major sources of smog are the gases emitted by
vehicles

6. Smog continued…
Images of
Beijing, China
on a clear sunny
day and then
covered in Smog
(August 2005
Smog over Los Angeles
Images: http://www.earthlyissues.com

7. Acid Rain
 Acid rain is another type of air pollution
 It is caused by power plants and factories that burn
coal and oil and release chemicals into the air
 These gases react with water vapor in the
atmosphere forming acids which return to Earth’s
surface in the form of precipitation
 Acid rain affects many things in the environment
including: fish, plants, buildings, statues, etc…

8. Acid rain Continued…
Here you can see the effects of acid rain trees and limestone
Images: USGS.gov

9. Not all pollution is outside
 The air inside buildings can be polluted too= indoor air
pollution
 Dust, pet hair, air fresheners, smoke and toxic fumes
from cleaning supplies can all contribute to air pollution
 Carbon Monoxide (CO) is an indoor air pollutant that is
a colorless and odorless gas that forms when wood, coal,
oil or gas is not completely burned
 Radon is another colorless and odorless gas formed
naturally by certain rocks underground that is
radioactive.

10. Common Types of Indoor
Air Pollution
Image:
http://www.epa.gov/eo
gapti1/course422/ap4.ht
ml

11. Human Impact on
Environment
 Humans are the leading factor in creating air
pollution and other hazardous wastes on earth
 Humans contribute to deforestation (cutting down
trees which produce oxygen)
 Humans also effect the natural process on earth
called The Greenhouse effect
 Hazardous waste is any material that can be
harmful to human health or the environment if not
properly disposed of

12. Greenhouse Effect
 Greenhouse gases trap heat in the air which aids in
keep the earth a suitable temperature for us to
survive
 Humans add greenhouse gases to the atmosphere
through everyday activities including driving and
burning fossil fuels
 The more greenhouse gases that are trapped in the
atmosphere the more likely it is for our overall
temperature of earth to increase (global warming)

13. The Greenhouse Effect
 Image: http://www.nps.gov/goga/naturescience/climate-change-causes.htm

14. 5 Categories of Hazardous
Waste
1. Toxic waste= or poisonous wastes are wastes that can
damage health of humans or other organisms
2. Explosive wastes= wastes that react very quickly when
exposed to the air or water or that explode when they
are dropped
3. Flammable wastes= catch fire easily and can begin
burning at fairly low temperatures
4. Corrosive wastes= wastes that dissolve or eat through
many materials
5. Radioactive wastes= contain unstable atoms that give
off radiation that can cause cancer and other diseases

15. Health Effects of
Hazardous Wastes
 Short term exposure to hazardous wastes may cause
irritation to certain body parts or more severe health
problems
 Long term exposure may cause diseases such as
cancer and may damage body organs including: the
brain, liver, kidneys and lungs

16. Getting Rid of
Hazardous Wastes
 Methods of hazardous waste disposal include burial in
landfills, incineration and breakdown by living organisms
 Liquid wastes can be stored in deep rock layers
 Most often Hazardous wastes are disposed in carefully
designed landfills
 These landfills are lined with clay and plastic to keep
chemicals from seeping into the soil and groundwater (which
could cause serious contamination and health problems)
 The best way to manage hazardous waste is to produce less of
them and educate consumers on finding substitutes for
common household chemicals

17. Disposing of Hazardous
Materials Properly
Image: Epa.gov