Air and Water Pollution - Quiz 3

The Greenhouse Effect

less altitude = higher density of GHG

CO2 has absorption value of 1 (account for majority of GHG; 80%)

• N2O = 100 CO2e (CO2 equivalent; 100x absorption rate)

• CH4 = 25 CO2e

  • sources = cows, anaerobic bacteria (largest), fracking

• F gases = 1k - 10k CO2e (3%)

Kyoto Protocol

first major attempt of regulating GHG → CO2

Paris Accords

• CO2 & GHG

Energy Trends

Natural Gas usage up exponentially

Coal usage down exponentially

Nuclear usage flatlining (consistent/stable)

Renewable sources usage increasing

*global temp trending upwards by enlarge

Air Pollution Around the World

air quality decreasing rapidly in developing countries

• older vehicles, dramatic increases in manufacturing, little to no pollution laws

Air Quality Index (AQI)

based on CAPs

• EPA forced to create “black level” for Beijing

the darker in color on scale, the worse the quality/more dangerous

largely driven by particulates and ozone

Long Distance Transport of Air Pollutants

Global Distillation

• separation of components; use of heat

wind + rotation of earth = bouncing effect

Controlling Air Pollution

smokestacks with electrostatic precipitator

• uses opposite charge to attract pollutant particles

smokestacks with scrubbers

• uses water to separate

• can remove gases, particulates, etc

• primarily used for SOx gases

  • great success story

particulate matter can be controlled by proper excavating techniques

• wet soil

• does not work well in windy conditions

phase I vapor recovery system for VOCs

• vacuum hose

US Environmental Legislation

numerous laws passed since 1970

addressed:

• clean air, water, energy, waste, pesticides, etc

primacy

• lower levels (state) can have stricter laws then regulated above (federal level)

Effects of Environmental Legislation

since 1970

• SOx levels dropped the most due to Cap and Trade

• 6 air pollutants down by 25%

TDEC

Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

Pollution

anthropocentric

• introduced by humans; fossil fuel burning

• natural

  • petroleum, metals

• synthetic

  • (lots of em)

  • PFAS (forever chemicals)

Pesticides v Insecticides

pesticides

• fungicides, herbicides, bactericides

*all insecticides are pesticides, but not all pesticides are insecticides

Ideal Pesticide

kill specifically

not degrade

will degrade

not move

not bioaccumulate

Bioaccumulation, Concentration and Magnification

bioconcentration occurs in aquatics (fish)

bioaccumulation occurs in soil stuff (earthworms)

biomagnification is the combination of bioC and bioA

Historic/General Use

Hydrogen Cyanide

• fruit trees

• mass poisoning was common

1 billion lbs of active ingredient used annually in US

• 6 billion worldwide

*DEET not a pesticide

we use mostly herbicides (70%)

• then insecticides, bactericides, fungicides

Organochlorines (OCs)

mostly carbons/chlorines

• types of hallogens

next gen insecticides (WWII)

used in lower volume

• more toxic to insects, virtually non toxic to mammals)

thought to be biodegradable

stable, lipophilic

high insect toxicity

biomagnify

• BCF = amt in org/amt in media

banned in 1973

Lipo/Hydro Philic

lipophilic

• loves fat; stored there; high Kow

hydrophilic

• loves water; urinated out; low Kow

Long Lasting Effects

foreign; no bodily mechanism to break it down

planar

• indicator of long lasting molecule

• DDT - low mobility to water

  • low vapor pressure

  • low photolytic/microbial degradation

Foreign Indicators

flat

large

lipophilic

high # of halogens

inert

Breakdowns

sunlight = photolysis; to photolyze

biotic degradation

abiotic degradation (oxidation)

*Recalcitrant

• resistance to being broken down

Benefits of Pesticides

• disease control

• fleas, mice, mosquitoes

  • cause 2.7m deaths per year

FIFRA (Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, Rodenticide Act)

1947

• assured pesticide effectiveness

1972

• rewritten to protect health and environment

1996

• amended to protect children

put burden of proof on manufacturers

• gathering data, conducting studies, etc

EPA enforces registration/bans

• label requirements

state/tribe/local gov can regulate with primacy

target guidelines for affected

• 1/1,000,000

Monoculture

bigger issue than pesticides

Chlorpyrifos

EPA scientists tried to ban

• should be banned under FIFRA

head of EPA said no

DDE

primary metabolite of DDT

• alkaline conditions and metabolism

• more persistent

• eggshell thinning

exposure today

• air transport

• food

lasts longer in env

Pesticide Compound Changes

metals → OCs → OPs

Organophosphates (OPs)

next gen (after OCs)

high mammalian toxicity

less persistent

lipophilic (decently)

pentavalent phosphorus atom

Lethal Chemicals/Chemical Warfare

sarin

soman

VX

novichok

Other Insecticides

pyrethrins

• naturally made

• common application in pet use; flea collars

pyrethroids

• man made version of what plants make (pyrethrin)

Neonicotinoids

insecticide based on nicotine

• most used insecticide on planet

really affects bees/pollinators

active against a broad spectrum of insects

less toxic to vertebrates

more toxic to birds

*in our water

Current Status of Neonics

EU extended ban implemented in 2013

EPA concluded 75ish% of all endangered species harmed by this

• includes all 39 amphibian species on ESA

flea collars linked to over 2500 pet deaths

banned in parts of Canada

various ban levels in Maine, NJ, Maryland (primacy)

kWh/MWh

Kilowatt/Megawatt hours

hourly rating/generation of energy

1 MW = 1000 kW

a kWh can power a house for 50 minutes

a MW can power a house for 1.2 months

FERC

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS)

majority of states have mandatory RPS policies

• requires certain amount of energy to be produced from renewable sources

National Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)

federal entity

power to determine what utilities have to plan for

responsible for electrical grid protection and stability

Wind Generation Pros

clean fuel source

renewable source

cost effective

rapid advancement in technology

Wind Generation Cons

wind sites are in remote locations

noise/sight pollution

avian impact

intermittent energy source/limited capacity accreditation

Solar Generation Pros

clean fuel source

renewable source

silent

low maintenance

power remote areas

Solar Generation Cons

expensive

intermittent energy source

materials supplied by other nations

land/space requirements

end of life disposal

Energy Generation Development History

built more coal plants in 80’s than in any other era

thought we’d run out of gas in 70’s; banned being used as fuel source