Air and Air Pollution

G. Tyler Miller’sLiving in the Environment

13th Edition

Chapter 17

Dr. Richard ClementsChattanooga State Technical Community College

Key Concepts

Structure and composition of the atmosphere

Types and sources of outdoor air pollution

Types, formation, and effects of smog

Sources and effects of acid deposition

Effects of air pollution

Prevention and control of air pollution

The Atmosphere

Troposphere

Stratosphere

78% N, 21% O

Ozone layer

Greenhouse effect

Fig. 17-2 p. 419

Outdoor Air Pollution Primary pollutants Secondary pollutants-

Often more dangerous than primary

See Table 17-1 p. 420 See Table 17-2 p. 422

Fig. 17-4 p. 421

Photochemical Smog

Brown-air smog- from the combustion of fossil fuels and industry, Health: 65K-200K deaths From outdoor pollutants/year

Photochemicalreaction

Photochemicaloxidants

Damage crops, trees, Respiratory tract

Fig. 17-6 p. 424

Industrial Smog

Gray-air smog-Carbon and sulfur from combusted coal inAir react with oxygen, gray from sootIndustrial smog-Problem in developing countries w/ limitedControls and high coal use.

Sulfuric acid -

Sulfur dioxide-Colorless, suffocating gas, also from smeltingMetal ores

ParticulatesFig. 17-8 p. 426

Temperature Inversions

Subsidence inversion-mass of warm air into high altitude Floats over colder air on ground. Keeps air over ground stagnant-no mixing, doesn’t last long

Radiation inversion-occurs at night as ground air cools faster, Air mixes around lunchtime when air warms Fig. 17-9 p. 427

Regional Outdoor Air Pollution from Acid DepositionAcid depositionWet deposition Dry deposition

Fig. 17-10 p. 428

Acid Deposition in the US

Fig. 17-11 p. 429

Acid Deposition and Humans

Respiratory diseases Toxic metal leaching Decreased visibility Damage to structures, especially

containing limestone Decreased productivity and

profitability of fisheries, forests, and farms

Acid Deposition and Aquatic Systems

Fish declines

Undesirable species

Aluminum toxicity

Acid shock Indian Ocean

Fig. 17-14 p. 431

Acid Deposition, Plants, and Soil

Nutrient leaching

Heavy metal release

Weakens trees

Fig. 17-15 p. 432

Indoor Air Pollution/Sick Building Syndrome

Fig. 17-17p. 434

Radon Radon-222 Decays into

radioactive particles

Occurs in certain areas based on geology

Associated with uranium and organic material in rock

Fig. 17-18p. 436

Effects of Air Pollution on Living Organisms and Materials

Damage to mucous membranes

Respiratory diseases (see Fig. 17-19 p. 438)

Damage to plant leaves and roots

Reduction in primary productivity

Deterioration of materials (See Table 17-3 p. 440)

Solutions: Preventing and Reducing Air Pollution

Clean Air ActMontreal Protocol-substances that deplete ozone 1987

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)-6 principle pollutants- CO, Pb, NO2, PM, O3, SO2

Primary and secondary standards Primary –human health, secondary –environmental health and damage

Output control vs. input control

Emission Reduction

Fig. 17-22 p. 441

Fig. 17-23a p. 442

Reducing IndoorAir Pollution

Fig. 17-25 p. 443

Prevention Cleanup

Reduce air pollutionby improving energyefficiency

Reduce coal use

Increase natural gasuse

Increase use of renewable resources

Burn low-sulfur coal

Remove SO2 particulates, and NOx

from smokestack gases

Remove Nox frommotor vehicular exhaust

Tax emissions of SO2

Add lime to neutralizeacidified lakes

Add phosphatefertilizer to neutralizeacidified lakes

Figure 17-16Page 433

Prevention Cleanup

Reduce air pollutionby improving energyefficiency

Reduce coal use

Increase natural gasuse

Increase use of renewable resources

Burn low-sulfur coal

Remove SO2 particulates, and NOx

from smokestack gases

Remove Nox frommotor vehicular exhaust

Tax emissions of SO2

Add lime to neutralizeacidified lakes

Add phosphatefertilizer to neutralizeacidified lakes