APES air pollutants

covered/not covered = clean air act

Carbon monoxide

CO

covered

primary

Sources: Incomplete combustion of fuel, combustion of waste.

Impact: Out competes O2 for hemoglobin, potentially suffocating.

Lead

Pb

Covered

Primary

Sources: Exhaust fumes from leaded gasoline, metal smelting.

Impact: A heavy metal that is toxic to nerve cells.

Nitrogen Dioxide

NO2

covered

primary + secondary

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

Impact: A component of photochemical smog and acid deposition.

suspended particle matter (SPM)

covered

primary + secondary

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

Covered

Primary

Sources: Combustion of coal and petroleum.

Impact: Reacts in atmosphere to form SO3 and H2SO4, components of acid deposition. (see reactions sheet)

Tropospheric ozone

O3

Covered

secondary

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

not covered

primary

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

Impact: A greenhouse gas, CO2 absorbs thermal radiation and re-emits it at lower wavelengths.

Mercury

Hg

Not covered

primary

Sources: Combustion of coal.

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

Nitric Oxide

NO

not covered

primary

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

not covered

secondary

Source: Transportation (cars, trucks, trains, boats and planes). NO2 + H20 = NO + HNO3

Impact: Contributes to acid deposition. Harms respiratory system.

Peroxacyl nitrates

PANs

not covered

secondary

Source: Transportation (cars, trucks, trains, boats and planes). NO2 + hydrocarbons (“HC”) = PANs

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

Sulfur trioxide

SO3

not covered

secondary

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

Impact: Reacts with water in the atmosphere to form sulfuric acid (H2SO4). Contributes to acid deposition.

Sulfuric acid

H2SO4

not covered

secondary

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

Impact Contributes to acid deposition. Harms respiratory system.

4. Volatile Organic Compounds

VOCs

not covered

primary + secondary

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

Impact: Contribute to climate change & ground level O3. Some are carcinogenic; some harm respiratory system

noise pollution

sources: urban transportation, construction, domestic and industrial activity

effects: stress, disruption hunting and communication, damaged hearing, changes in migratory routes

radon-22

source: radioactive rock and soil surrounding building foundation and water supply

effect: lung cancer

tobacco smoke

sources: plastics and nylons

effects: lung irritation and cancer

formaldehyde

sources: building materials, smoking, household products, glues and adhesives

causes: lung cancer

photochemical smog

sources: combustion of fossil fuels

causes: lung cancer