Air Pollutants

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Source: Incomplete combustion of waste, vehicle exhaust, boilers, furnaces, water heaters, wood stoves, fireplaces, and gas stoves

Sinks: Upward migration into the upper layers of the atmosphere, uptake by soils

Impact: Out competes O2 for hemoglobin, Low concentration fatigue, headaches, dizziness, confusion, nausea, death

Env. Effect: Contributes to ground level ozone, smog

Mitigation: Maintaining and adjusting combustion equipment, gas appliances, furnaces, flues, and chimneys

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

Source: Combustion of any organic material. Gasoline, petroleum, coal, natural gas, biomass, aerobic respiration

Sinks: Photosynthetic organisms, Acid deposition (H2CO3) acidification of oceans

Impact: A greenhouse gas, absorbs thermal radiation and re-emits it at lower wavelengths

Env. Effect: Absorption of heat in the troposphere/increasing global temp. water/atmosphere acidification and ecological impacts

Mitigation: Using fuel sources that have low or no emissions, fertilizing ocean with iron

Tropospheric Ozone (O3)

Source: Tropospheric reaction of NOx, VOCs with O2 that requires sun and heat.

Sinks: Urban Photochemical Smog

Impact: Lung damage, breathing problems, reduced resistance to colds and infections, chest pain, coughing, eye irritation, asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, pneumonia

Env. Effect: SMOG, decreased crop yields, damage to plants, traps heat, contributes to thermal inversions

Mitigation: Mass transit, reduction of traffic congestion, drive less/walk more

Nitrogen Oxides(NOx)

Source: Combustion (gasoline, natural gas, coal, oil) Vehicles are a major source. Power plants and factories burning fossil fuels

Sinks: Acid deposition onto land/water, key reactant in creating photochemical smog

Impact: Respiratory illnesses, lung disease, component of photochemical smog and acid deposition

Env. Effect: Forms photochemical smog, acid precipitation. Damages plants, trees, aquatic life, and buildings.

Mitigation: Cap and trade allowances (ERCs), reduce combustion temperatures

Sulfur Oxides (SOx)

Source: Combustion of coal or petroleum high in sulfur.

Sinks: Cloud condensation/acid deposition (H2SO4); form particulate matter (PM)

Impact: Respiratory illnesses (bronchitis, emphysema, asthma)

Env. Effect: Reacts in atmosphere to form SO3 and H2SO4 (acid rain)

Mitigation: Cap & trade allowances (ERC’s); scrubbers

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Source: Evaporation of fuel, uncombusted exhaust, paints, carpets, furniture, insulation etc.

Sinks:Photolysis (UV), forms photo chemical smog

Impact: eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches, loss of coordination, nausea, damage to kidney, liver & central nervous system

Env. Effect: contributes to ground level ozone & smog, climate change

Mitigation: Reduce combustion of fossil fuels (hybrids, public transport. Reduce use of paint thinners & aerosols

Peroxacyl Nitrates (PANs)

Source: Transportation (created from ethanol in fuels); more stable than ozone & capable of long range transport

Sinks: Strong respiratory and Eye irritant. Potentially mutagenic. Can damage vegetation.

Particulate Matter (PM/SPM)

Source: Construction sites, unpaved roads, fields smoke stakes, fires. Fireworks, power plants, industries, automobiles, volcanoes

Sinks: Gravitational settling to land or water

Impact: damaged lungs/ respiratory diseases (asthma to COPD to Cancer), eye irritation, early death

Env. Effect: Decreased visibility, produces haze, dust on leaves damage crops (no photosynthesis), discolor/dirty buildings & other surfaces

Mitigation: Stricter emissions standards (pollution abatement), use of electrostatic precipitators

Radon (Rn)

Source: Forms naturally in soils containing uranium (byproduct of U decay)

Sinks: Decays to P0-218 then eventually to lead

Impact: Carcinogenic, can cause cancer

Env. Effect: N/A

Mitigation: Monitor/test basements

Asbestos

Source: Disturbed insulation due to renovation or damage

Sinks: Deposition

Impact: Lung cancer / Mesothelioma

Env. Effect: N/A

Mitigation: Use insulation that does not contain/don’t disturb materials that have asbestos in them

CFC’s

Source: Refrigerants, solvents, accelerants in aerosol cans, foam blowing

agents, pesticides, halons (group 17 chemicals)

Sinks: Photolysis with intense UV radiation (stratosphere)

releasing chlorine or bromine which depletes ozone.

Impact: Increased skin cancer rates; eye cataracts, weakened immunity.

Env. Effect: tratospheric ozone depletion allowing more UV-A & B to get to

Earth’s surface; decline in #’s (arctic krill) effecting food webs,

decreased crop yields

Mitigation: Decrease use, Montreal Protocol

Lead (Pb)

Source: Exhaust fumes from gasoline, metal smelting, paint, power

plants burning fossil fuels SINK: Deposition into soil and water; contaminates soil & crops

Sinks: Deposition into soil and water, contaminates soil and crops

Impact: Neurological effects in children, high blood pressure and heart disease in adults, kidney damage, cancer

Env. Effect: Decreased growth/reproductive rates in plants & animals,

Neurological effects in vertebrates.

Mitigation: Banning gasoline with this in it

Mercury (Hg)

Source: Coal burning power plans

Sinks: Condensation, precipitation, deposition

Impact: Damages the nervous system and the brain “mad hatters” toxic to nerve cells

Env. Effect: Capable of bioaccumulation and biomagnification

Mitigation: Cap and Trade (ERCs)

Sulfuric Acid

Nitric Acid

Carbonic Acid

Photochemical Smog