Air Pollution - Saraniecki Flashcards
What is the composition of clean, dry air?
Nitrogen 78%
Oxygen 21%
Argon 1%
CO2 0.03%
O3 .000002%
CO .00001%
What is a normal person’s consumption of air, food, water?
Air- 35 lbs aka 3000 gallons
water - 3-5 lbs
food - 1.5 lbs
What is a primary pollutant?
Provide examples
emitted into atmosphere directly from source and retains same chemical form
ex: CO, SO2, NO2, hydrocarbons, total suspended particles
affected by short range micrometeorology
What is a secondary pollutant?
Provide examples
formed by atmospheric reactions of precursor or primary emissions
ex: ground level ozone, acid rain, peroxyacyl nitrates
affected by regional meterology - long range
What is a fugitive pollutant?
particulate, gas, or vapor that enters the outdoor air NOT vented thru a stack
ex: street dust, ag dust, etc
Describe carbon monoxides presence in our air
60% of all CO emissions are from motor vehicle exhausts
in cities, that’s 95%
cold months: auto emissions greater with more frequent nighttime temperature inversions
Describe SOx in our air
65% emitted from electric utilities
also comes from petroleum refineries, cement manufacturing, metal processing, locomotives, large ships
Describe NOx in our air
major ingredient of ozone
NO2 mixed with particulate matter can cause reddish-brown layer over cities
sources: motor vehicles, electric utilities, fuel burners
What is ozone like at ground level?
“bad ozone”
air pollutant harmful to lungs, crops, trees, and other vegetation
main ingredient in smog plus VOCs and NOx and UV
Where is ozone a good component? What does it do?
the stratosphere where it is produced naturally when UV interacts with O2
filters harmful UV-B light from the earth
Destroys the following compounds: CFCs, HCFCs, halons, methyl bromide, carbon tetrachloride, methyl chloroform
How is lead found in our atmosphere?
from piston engine aircraft, metal processing, lead smelters, waste incinerators, utilities, lead acid battery manufacturing
How does particle size affect human health?
10 microns mostly stay in the nose and pharynx
2.5 microns or smaller can potentially pass through the lung into the bloodstream
Describe typical PM10s
What does it cause and who does it affect the most?
2.5-10 micron diameter
can be either primary or secondary pollutant
affects breathing and respiratory systems, damage to lung tissue, cancer, premature death
most susceptible: elderly, children, people with lung problems
Describe PM2.5s
sources?
What does it cause?
natural sources: dust, volcanos, forest fires
anthropogenic sources: burning of fuels in cars and power plants, wind blown dust from construction sites
linked to heart and lung diseases, respiratory issues, bronchitis
How do SO2 and Cl in air affect humans?
affect the upper respiratory tract
How does O3 affect human health?
lower respiratory tract
dissolves in the thin layers of the epithelial lining fluid
cough, shortness of breath
How does PAN affect plants?
Peroxyacyl Nitrates cause loss of chlorophyll in plants, glazing, silvering, or bronzing on the underside of leaves
How does ozone affect plants?
flecks, stipple, bleaching, tip burns on conifers, growth suppression
What is the number one greenhouse gas and where is it prominent?
50-80% carbon monoxide
from fossil fuel burning electrical plants and motor vehicles