Air PollutionTSWBAT:Define air pollution.Identify the six pollutants that harm human health and the environment. Identify the risks of indoor and outdoor air pollution.Identify ways to reduce air pollution.

What is air pollution? The contamination of the earth’s

atmosphere by harmful substances

Numerous studies have linked it to a wide variety of health problems, including lung disease, cardiovascular disease, and cancer

Six Pollutants that harm human health and the environment:

1. Ozone – forms at ground level when certain other pollutants react chemically in the presence of sunlight

Ground-level ozone is a major component of smog

2. Particulate matter – small particles found in the air, such as dust, soil, soot, smoke, mold, and droplets of liquid

Six Pollutants that harm human health and the environment:

3. Carbon monoxide – colorless, odorless gas that forms when carbon in fuel is not burned completely

4. Sulfur dioxide – comes chiefly from power plants, especially those that burn coal

Six Pollutants that harm human health and the environment:

5. Nitrogen oxides – highly reactive gases that form when fuel is burned at high temperatures, as in motor vehicles and power plants

6. Lead – metal found naturally in the environment (also in manufactured products)

Air Quality Index (AQI)

An index for reporting daily air quality

Created by the EPA

You can use the AQI to help you avoid unhealthy exposure to air pollution

Temperature Inversion

› Occurs when a layer of warm air forms above a layer of cool air

› Air cannot circulate and pollutants are trapped in cooler layer

› Emphysema is most aggravated by temperature inversion

Climate Change Earth’s average temperature has risen

1.4 degree F over the past century Small changes in the average

temperature of the planet can cause large and potentially dangerous shifts in climate and weather

Greenhouse Effect Trapping of heat by gases in the earth’s

atmosphere The gases allow sunlight to enter our

atmosphere but block heat from escaping

Without the greenhouse effect the planet would be too cold to support life

The main greenhouse gas we produce is carbon dioxide

Greenhouse Effect Human activities have released

large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere

Greenhouse gases come from burning fossil fuels to produce energy

Greenhouse gases act like a blanket around Earth, trapping energy in the atmosphere and causing it to warm

= global warming

What can I do at home to reduce greenhouse gases?

Replace light fixtures or light bulbs in them with ENERGY STAR qualified products (save approx. $70 a year on energy bills)

Look for ENERGY STAR products Heat and cool smartly (change air

filters, use programmable thermostats) Seal and insulate homes Reduce, reuse, recycle

What can I do at home to reduce greenhouse gases?

Use water efficiently (turn off water while brushing teeth, fix leaky faucets)

Be green in your yard Purchase green power Spread the word!

Indoor Air Pollution Research has found that in many

cases, the air inside buildings contains more pollutants than the outdoor air, even in the biggest cities

Common sources of indoor pollution; Household chemicals Cleaning fluids Pesticides Chemicals used in building and

furnishing materials

Sources that cause problems with indoor air quality Carbon monoxide – produced by fuel-burning equipment, such as stoves, furnaces, and fireplaces

Asbestos – mineral fiber that was used in the past as insulation (can lead to lung cancer)

Radon – an odorless, radioactive gas produced during the natural breakdown of the element uranium in soil and rocks (can cause lung cancer)

Fluorocarbons – found in aerosol sprays that cause damage to the ozone layer

Managing Indoor Pollution

Identify sources of pollution Home test kits and detectors can help

you measure levels of radon and carbon monoxide

Increase the ventilation in your home

•http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/3-toxic-things-toss-today Three Toxic Things in your House to Toss TODAY!!•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4canDGVMB7w

Household Toxics

Breathing Earth