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Pollution UnitPollution Unit Chapter 18: Air Pollution Chapter 20: Water Pollution Chapter 21: Solid and Hazardous Waste

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Air PollutionAir Pollution Air pollution presence of chemicals in the atmosphere in concentrations high enough to harm organisms, ecosystems or human made materials. Can be natural or human made (urban areas)

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Types of PollutantsTypes of Pollutants Primary pollutants harmful chemicals emitted directly into the air from natural processes and human activities. Secondary pollutants new chemicals formed by the reactions of primary pollutants.

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Fig. 18-4, p. 472

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Types of PollutantsTypes of Pollutants Carbon oxides (CO and CO 2 ) burning fossil fuels and plants. Nitrogen oxides and nitric acid cars and coal burning power plants, fertilizers and animal wastes. Sulfur dioxides and sulfuric acid burning sulfur containing coal, oil refining and smelting of sulfide ores.

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Types of PollutantsTypes of Pollutants Particulates suspended particulate matter (SPM) dust, wildfires, sea salt, coal burning, cars, plowed fields, road construction, unpaved roads, smoke. Ozone O 3 in photochemical smog, causes breathing problems, aggravates lung and heart disease, reduces resistance to colds and pneumonia, irritates eyes, nose and throat, damages plants, tires, fabrics and paints. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) organic cpds that exist as gasses in the atm, mostly hydrocarbons. Sources are plants, wetlands, cows, rice paddies, industrial solvents, dry-cleaning fluids, plastics, gasoline, drugs and synthetic rubber.

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SMOG Industrial smog suspended particles, sulfur dioxide and sulfuric acid from burning coal. Photochemical smog mixture of primary and secondary pollutants formed under the influence of UV radiation from the sun.

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Industrial vs. Photochemical

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Acid DepositionAcid Deposition Rain, fog, snow, cloud vapor and acidic particles with a pH less than 5.6.

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Effects of Acid DepositionEffects of Acid Deposition Human respiratory diseases, damages statues, national monuments, building, metals and car finishes, decreases visibility, leaches toxic chemicals from soils in rocks.

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Indoor Air pollutionIndoor Air pollution Caused by smoke, soot (developing countries) and chemicals used in building materials and products.

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Health Effects of Air PollutionHealth Effects of Air Pollution Breaks down natural defenses causing asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema Worldwide, 3 million people die prematurely each year from the effects of air pollution.

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Dealing with Air PollutionDealing with Air Pollution National Ambient Air Quality Standards EPAs standards on carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxides, SPM, ozone and lead levels. National emission standards for more than 188 hazardous air pollutants. (CHCs, VOCs and toxic chemicals) requires industries to publish Toxic Release Inventories. In the past 30 years air in the U.S. has been getting cleaner, however 1 in 3 people live in an area that is unhealthy to breathe for at least part if the year.

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Clean Air ActsClean Air Acts Air Pollution Control Act of 1955- air pollution is a health threat and local and state governments should do something about it. Clean Air Act of 1963 required EPA to establish and enforce air quality standards Clean Air Act of 1970 - standards for ozone and moving sources Clean Air Act of 1990 - 110 of the most polluting power plants can buy and sell pollution rights.

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Methods for reducing emissions ofSO x, NO x, and SPM

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Methods for reducing emissions from motor vehicles.

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Reducing Indoor Air PollutionReducing Indoor Air Pollution

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Pollution Unit Chapter 20: Water Pollution

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Water PollutionWater Pollution Any chemical, biological, or physical change in water quality that harms living organism or makes water unsuitable for desired uses. Point sources pollutants discharged as specific locations: ditches, drainage pipes, or sewer lines. Nonpoint sources broad and diffuse areas from with pollutants enter air or water.

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Effects of Water PollutantsEffects of Water Pollutants

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Stream PollutionStream Pollution Flowing rivers and streams can clean themselves unless pollution levels are overwhelming. (Cuyahoga and Thames)

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Stream Pollution in Developing Countries Lack of sewage treatment facilities and laws controlling water pollution causing of the worlds 500 rivers to be polluted.

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Eutrophication Natural nutrient enrichment of a shallow lake, estuary, or slow moving stream from plant nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates from surrounding land Cultural Eutrophication - accelerated input of nitrates and phosphates near agricultural and urban areas. Oligotrophic low in nutrients

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Groundwater PollutionGroundwater Pollution Half of the U.S. population (95% in rural areas) get drinking water from the ground. Fertilizers, pesticides, gasoline, and organic solvents can seep into ground water. Porous rock layers absorb chemicals and make them extremely difficult to remove. Groundwater flows too slowly and does not have enough bacteria or dissolved O2 to cleanse itself.

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Groundwater PollutionGroundwater Pollution Worldwide, groundwater pollution is also a problem. Most countries do not test or track aquifers, so little is known. Arsenic local rocks cancer Nitrates fertilizers cancer Methyl tertiary butyl ether gas additive cancer Pollution prevention is the only way to protect groundwater.

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Protecting Water QualityProtecting Water Quality Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 required EPA to establish maximum contaminant levels fro any pollutants that may have adverse effects to human health. The EPA has a low budget to enforce these standards. Did you know that pipes and faucets with 10% lead can be sold as lead free?

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Protecting Water QualityProtecting Water Quality Clean Water Act of 1972 set standards for allowable levels of key water pollutants and requires polluters to get permits limiting the amount of pollution they discharge into aquatic systems. Discharge trading in the future?

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Ocean PollutionOcean Pollution Coastal areas (wetlands, estuaries, coral reefs and mangrove swamps) are polluted because of large coastal populations and the flow of streams and tributaries.

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Ocean PollutionOcean Pollution Red, brown or green tides harmful algal blooms caused by large amounts of nitrates and phosphates. Oxygen-depleted zones (dead zones) contain a lot of bacteria but few fish or bottom dwelling organisms. Oil is a large polluter of the ocean, and most of it comes from runoff on land. Clean-up methods are not very effective, so prevention is the best step.

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Dealing with Water PollutionDealing with Water Pollution Reduce pollution from non-point sources, especially agriculture. Slow soil erosion, apply fertilizers and pesticides only when needed. New methods of dealing with animal waste are being researched.

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Sewage TreatmentSewage Treatment Septic tank system that treats household sewage and wastewater in rural and suburban areas.

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Wastewater or Sewage Treatment Plants

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Primary sewage treatment screens and tanks that filter larger solids and floating objects and heavier objects. Removes 60% of suspended solids and 30-40% of oxygen demanding organic wastes. Secondary sewage treatment aerobic bacteria remove 90% of dissolved and biodegradable wastes. Tertiary sewage treatment series of specialized chemical and physical processes to remove specific pollutants, such as filters to remove nitrates and phosphates. This is followed by bleaching and disinfection.

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Sewage Treatment AlternativesSewage Treatment Alternatives Composting toilets Wetland based sewage treatment systems

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Preventing Water PollutionPreventing Water Pollution

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Pollution Chapter 21: Solid and Hazardous Waste

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Solid WasteSolid Waste Solid waste - any unwanted or discarded material we produce that is not a liquid or a gas. Industrial solid waste - mines, agriculture and industries Municipal solid waste - (garbage or trash) from homes and workplaces. In developing countries solid waste is buried in landfills or incinerated.

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Hazardous WasteHazardous Waste Hazardous or toxic waste - threatens human health or the environment because it is poisonous, chemically reactive, corrosive or flammable. Industrial solvents, medical waste, batteries, household pesticide products, incinerator ash. Most produced by chemical companies, mining companies and military

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Why Should we produce less?Why Should we produce less? The U.S. produces 1/3 of the worlds solid waste. 90% of the municipal solid waste can be reused or recycled. Instead it is mixed and buried. Some of our waste is dumped in poorer countries where environmental laws are more relaxed.

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Fun StatsFun Stats 8,000 lbs of waste are produced to make one 1lb of electronics. Enough tires each year to encircle the planet 3 times. Enough diapers each year to reach the moon and back 7 times. Enough carpet each year to cover the state of Delaware. 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour 274 million plastic bags each day Enough office paper each year to build an 11ft high wall from NYC to San Francisco. 486 billion pieces of junk mail each year. 132,000 personal computers and 425,000 cell phones each day. Americans average 4.5 lbs of MSW per person each day (twice that of Japan and Germany)

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Waste ApproachesWaste Approaches Waste Management - attempt to reduce the environmental impact of MSW with out seriously trying to reduce the amount of waste produced. Waste Reduction - less waste and pollution are produced and these wastes are viewed as potential resources that can be recycled, reused or composted.

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Integrated Waste ManagementIntegrated Waste Management A variety of strategies that involve waste reduction AND waste management.

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How can waste be reduced?How can waste be reduced? (1) Redesign manufacturing processes and products to use less material and energy (2) Redesign manufacturing processes to produce less waste and pollution (3) Develop products that are easy to repair, reuse, remanufacture, compost, or recycle (4) Eliminate or reduce unnecessary packaging (5) Use fee-per-bag waste collection systems (6) Establish cradle-to grave responsibility (7) Restructure urban transportation systems

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Could Recycling Help?Could Recycling Help?

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Recycling Primary or closed loop recycling - materials are recycled into new products of the same type. Secondary recycling - materials are converted into different products. (newspapers --> cellulose insulation)

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Recycling Materials-recovery facilities - (MRFs - murfs) separate recycling from mixed waste. Burn the rest to produce electricity. Expensive process and can release A LOT of CO 2. Source Separation - households and businesses separate recyclables before pick- up. Many communities offer free recycling pick-up and charge per bag for the rest of trash.

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Natures RecyclingNatures Recycling Composting - process allows bacteria to recycle yard trimmings, food scraps etc into material that can be added to soil.

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Encouraging RecyclingEncouraging Recycling 1. Include environmental and health costs in prices of the product. 2. Less tax breaks for resource extracting industries and more breaks for recycling industries. 3. Make buying goods made from recycled materials a priority.

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Burning Solid WasteBurning Solid Waste Incinerators reduce waste volume by 90%, produces electricity and air pollution.

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Burying Solid WasteBurying Solid Waste Open dumps - fields or holes where garbage is deposited and sometimes burnt. Sanitary landfills - waste is compacted and covered daily with clay or plastic. The covering reduces leakage, fires, odor and infestation. Problems - all landfills will eventually leak, they produce methane, can be noisy and misused, high land use.

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Burying Solid WasteBurying Solid Waste

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Hazardous WasteHazardous Waste Integrated Management Approach

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Hazardous WasteHazardous Waste Hazardous Waste can be detoxified by: Physical methods - charcoal and resins for filtering. Chemical methods - use chemical reactions to make wastes less harmful. Nanomagnets - remove small toxic particles

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Hazardous WasteHazardous Waste Hazardous Waste can be detoxified by: Biological methods - bioremediation: bacteria and enzymes destroy or convert toxic chemicals. phytoremediation - natural or genetically engineered plants absorb, filter and remove contaminants.

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Phytoremediation

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Hazardous WasteHazardous Waste Plasma arc torch - incinerates and encapsulates toxic materials. Produces H 2 and CO. Deep-well disposal - hazardous waste is pumped into dry porous rock. Surface impoundments - ponds, pits or lagoons of hazardous waste.

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Hazardous WasteHazardous Waste

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Hazardous Waste RegulationHazardous Waste Regulation Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) - 1976 and 1984 - required EPA to set standards and manage several types of hazardous waste (from cradle to grave). Only applies to 5% of all toxic waste.

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Hazardous Waste RegulationHazardous Waste Regulation Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act - CERCLA (1980) Also known as the Superfund program. Identifies sites where hazardous waste has contaminated the environment and clean them up on priority basis. In 2008 there were 1,240 sites on the list but experts say there could be 10,000 and clean-up could cost $1.7 trillion.

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Superfund SitesSuperfund Sites http://www.epa.gov/region5/sites/