APES-Air Pollutants

Carbon monoxide (CO)

Criteria: yes

Primary pollutant

Sources: Incomplete combustion of fuel, combustion of waste

Impact: Out competes O2 for hemoglobin, potentially suffocating

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

Criteria: yes

Primary and secondary pollutant

Sources: transportation (cars, trucks, trains, boats, planes), electrical utilities, and some factories N2 +O2 = NO2

Impact: component of photochemical smog and acid deposition

Lead (Pb)

Criteria: yes

Primary pollutant

Sources: Exhaust fumes from leaded gasoline metal smelting

Impact: A heavy metal that is toxic to nerve cells

Particulate Matter (suspended particle matter/SPM)

Criteria: yes

Primary and secondary Pollutant

Sources: soot and SO2 from coal combustion, dust from human activities, natural dust sources

Impact: inhalation causes respiratory diseases, ranging from asthma to respiratory distress and lung cancer

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)

Criteria: yes

Primary pollutant

Sources: combustion of coal and petroleum

Impact: reacts in atmosphere to form SO3 and H2SO4, components of acid deposition

Tropospheric Ozone (O3) (Ground-level)

Criteria: yes

Secondary pollutant

Sources: reaction of NO from motor vehicles with sunlight, heat and O2

Impact: damage to plants and respiratory system, traps heat, and contributes to thermal inversion

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

Criteria: no

Primary pollutant

Sources: combustion of any organic material. Gasoline, petroleum, coal, natural gas, biomass. Also respiration.

Impact: greenhouse gas, CO2 absorbs thermal radiation and readmits it at lower wave lengths

Mercury (Hg)

Criteria: no

Primary Pollutant

Sources: combustion of coal

Impact: a heavy metal that is toxic to nerve cells. Capable of bioaccumulation and biomagnification

Nitric Oxide (NO)

Criteria: no

Primary pollutant

Sources: transportation (cars, trucks, trains, boats, planes). High heat of engine causes O2 + N2 = NO

Impact: poisonous, reacts with O2 to form NO2, leading to ground-level ozone production

Nitric Acid (HNO3)

Criteria: no

Secondary Pollutant

Sources: transportation, NO2 + H2O = NO + HNO3

Impact: contributes to acid deposition. Harms respiratory system

Peroxacyl nitrates (PANs)

Criteria: no

Secondary pollutant

Sources: transportation. NO2 + hydrocarbons ("HC") = PANs

Impact: a strong respiratory and eye irritant. Potentially mutagenic. Can damage vegetation.

Sulfur trioxide (SO3)

Criteria: no

Secondary pollutant

Sources: combustion of coal and petroleum. Coal has variable quantities of sulfur

Impact: Reacts with water in the atmosphere to form sulfuric acid. Contributes to acid deposition.

Sulfuric acid ( H2SO4)

Criteria: no

Secondary pollutant

Sources: combustion of coal and petroleum. Coal has variable quantities of sulfur

Impact: contributes to acid deposition. Harms respiratory system.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Criteria: no

Primary and secondary pollutant

Sources: Automobile exhaust, solvents, industrial processes, household chemicals.

Impact: contribute to climate change and ground level O3. Some are carcinogenic, some harm respiratory system