Air Pollution Concepts

Question 1

What elements are in the air?

Answer 1

Nitrogen (N2)= 78.08%; Oxygen (O2) = 20.94%; Argon (Ar) = 0.93%; Carbon dioxide (CO2) = 0.03%; and Ozone (O3) =Less than 0.00005%

Question 2

What are some morbidity and mortality cases that happened with Air Pollution?

Answer 2

Smog in Donora, PA in October, 1948 – a temperature inversion causing 20 deaths and 5,900 illnesses; (2)Smog in London during 1952 - 4000 people killed in 4 days;(3) Smog in London during 1962 - 700 people killed; (4) Smog in New York City in 1953, 1963, and 1966 - Caused 700 excess deaths

Question 3

What is the anatomy of Airways?

Answer 3

Mouth/Nose Nasal/Oral Passages Pharynx Larynx Trachea Bronchus Bronchi Bronchioles Alveoli.

Question 4

What are the body’s defense system against air pollution?

Answer 4

(1) Nasal Hairs;(2) Mucous Secretions/Cilia; (3) Macrophages;(4) Decreasing Diameter of the Airways

Question 5

What are some contributions to COPD?

Answer 5

(1) Smoking -90% and is Entirely Preventable; (2) Chronic Respiratory Infections - 5% and is Mostly Preventable; (3) Occupational/Env. - 4% and is Mostly Preventable; (4) Asthma/Congenital Heart and Lung Disease - 1% and is Not Preventable.

Question 6

What are irritants?

Answer 6

compounds which cause irritation and may include Ozone (O3); Sulfur Oxides (SOx); and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx).

Question 7

What was noticed during rush hour traffic as it relates to ozone?

Answer 7

Increased rate of bronchitis infections in runners that exercised in rush hour traffic versus non rush hour traffic.

Question 8

What happened at the LA Olympics as it relates to ozone and PAN?

Answer 8

frequency and severity of asthma attacks were correlated with the vigor required for athletic events (e.g. sustained duration, highly vigorous activities such as basketball and long-distance running).

Question 9

What happened at the Beijing olympics?

Answer 9

China shuts down industrial production during the Olympics to reduce air pollution to prevent health effects from air borne irritants such as ozone and NOx

Question 10

What are some effects of occupational exposure to air pollution?

Answer 10

1) Coughing; (2) Shortness of breath; (3) Pneumonia; (4) Chronic Bronchitis; (5) Emphysema; and (6) Lung Cancer; May cause diseases such as (1)Silicosis – caused by chronic inhalation of silicon fibers from quartz dusts from mining; (2) Asbestosis – caused by chronic inhalation of asbestos fibers from construction activities (shipyards - Mesotheliomas); (3) Byssinosis – (Brown Lung Disease) caused by chronic inhalation of cotton fibers.

Question 11

What air pollution law is for the general environment?

Answer 11

Clean Air Act

Question 12

What air pollution law is for the occupational environment?

Answer 12

Threshold Limit Values

Question 13

What are the criteria air pollutants?

Answer 13

Particulate Matter (PM); Carbon Monoxide (CO); Sulfur Dioxides (SOx); Nitrogen Oxides (NOx); Ozone (O3); Lead (Pb); and Hydrocarbons.

Question 14

Standards for each pollutant, designed to address a number of pollution emission scenarios that may occur; is the definition for

Answer 14

State Implementation Plans

Question 15

a method for normalizing each air quality standard from numerical standards to a percentage-based standard with 100% representing the average acute air quality standard is called what?

Answer 15

Pollution Standards Index

Question 16

What are some factors affecting air quality standards (6)

Answer 16

(1) Precipitation – cleanses the air; (2) Humidity – dissolves many air pollutants; (3) Sunshine – initiates photochemical smog formation but may degrade some air pollutants; (4) Wind – disperses and dilutes air pollution near a pollution source but may disperse the pollutant to a much larger area; (5) Mountains and Hills – hinders wind dispersion of air pollution; Valleys and Basins – traps air pollution preventing dispersions and dilution.

Question 17

What is the temperature in urban to rural?

Answer 17

0.5-1.0 C

Question 18

What is the visibility in urban to rural?

Answer 18

5 to 30% less

Question 19

What is the solar radiation in urban to rural?

Answer 19

15-20 % less

Question 20

What are the pollutants in urban to rural?

Answer 20

5-25 times more

Question 21

What is the wind speed in urban to rural?

Answer 21

20-30% less

Question 22

What is the humidity in urban to rural?

Answer 22

2% less in the winter 8% less in the summer

Question 23

What is the pH of normal rain?

Answer 23

5.6

Question 24

What is the pH of acid rain?

Answer 24

<5.6

Question 25

What are some effects of acid rain?

Answer 25

Aquatic, forestry and crops

Question 26

What chemical was released in Bhopal India?

Answer 26

methyl isocynanate

Question 27

Wht is indoor air pollution a greater risk than outdoor air pollution?

Answer 27

The lack of ventilation and most people spend more time inside than outside.

Question 28

What are the two types of kerosene heaters?

Answer 28

Radiant and convective

Question 29

What are the primary air pollutants of convective and radiant kerosene heaters?

Answer 29

CO, SO2 and NO2

Question 30

What is an effect of cigarettes, second hand and third hand smoke ( air pollution)?

Answer 30

Increased lung cancer and cardiovascular disease at levels > 0.5-1 cigarettes/day (daily equivalent risk for Particulate Matter 2.5 microns (PM2.5)

Question 31

What was the havard 6 study on the elevation of particulate matter associated with mortality.

Answer 31

– a10 µg/m3 elevation in fine particulate matter associated with an 8 – 18% increase in mortality risk and the importance of acute exposure events and mortalities.

Question 32

What can third hand smoke cause? ( Urban Air Pollution)

Answer 32

Urban air pollution is equivalent to 0.5 -1.0 cigarette/day can cause an increase in the relative risk ratios for lung cancer (e.g. 1.25) and cardiovascular disease (> 1.25)

Question 33

How many people die a year from air pollution based on the NAS 2023 Study?

Answer 33

360,000 people

Question 34

How much did the EPA estimate in 2012

Answer 34

20,000

Question 35

What is NAAQS?

Answer 35

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for criteria air pollutants;

Question 36

What are primary standards?

Answer 36

Primary Standards - pre-existing illness, margin of safety, cost & feasibility of technology not considered;

Question 37

What are secondary standards?

Answer 37

2o Standard - more stringent, long range goals, cost & feasibility of technology are considered; Auto emission standards

Question 38

Wha are cafe standards?

Answer 38

Performance standards for new or modified sources (smokestack – bubble approaches).