APES U7 Air Pollution Knowt

primary air pollutants

Pollutants that are released directly into the atmosphere from sources like vehicles and industries.

secondary air pollutants

Pollutants that are formed when primary pollutants react in the atmosphere through chemical processes.

six criteria air pollutants according to the Clean Air Act

SO2, NOx, O3, PM, CO, and Pb.

photochemical smog

A type of air pollution formed when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds react in sunlight.

impacts of photochemical smog on the environment

Reduces sunlight, limits photosynthesis, and can cause respiratory issues.

thermal inversion

A meteorological phenomenon where a layer of warm air traps pollutants close to the ground.

coal combustion impact air quality

It releases CO2, SO2, toxic metals, and particulate matter into the atmosphere.

effects of nitrogen oxides (NOx) on air quality

They lead to the formation of ozone and contribute to photochemical smog.

urban heat island effect

Urban areas are warmer than rural areas due to human activities and materials that absorb heat.

PM10 and PM2.5

PM10 refers to particles less than 10 micrometers; PM2.5 refers to particles less than 2.5 micrometers.

natural sources of CO2 in the atmosphere

Respiration, decomposition, and volcanic eruptions contribute to natural CO2 levels.

increase in temperature effect on ozone formation

Higher temperatures speed up the reactions that produce ozone from pollutants.

relationship between PM levels and construction activities

Construction can increase particulate matter emissions in nearby areas.

EPA role in air pollution

The EPA enforces regulations related to air quality standards under the Clean Air Act.

How plants contribute to natural air pollutants

Plants emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can lead to smog formation.

Why ozone is a secondary pollutant

It forms in the atmosphere from chemical reactions involving primary pollutants like NOx and VOCs.

significance of lead in air pollutants

A neurotoxicant that can harm the nervous system and was reduced from gasoline.

thermal inversion affect respiratory health

It can exacerbate conditions like asthma and COPD as pollutants are trapped near the surface.

effects of sulfur dioxide (SO2) on health

SO2 can cause respiratory problems and is associated with acid rain formation.

type of air quality issue that can arise from biomass combustion

Combustion of biomass can release CO2, CO, and particulate matter into the atmosphere.

What do biomass fuels release?

CO,PM, NOx, VOCs (+deforestation)

How are biomass fuels combusted?

They are often combusted indoors with poor ventilation, leading to high concentrations

How many people cook with subsistence fuels and how many deaths does that result in annually?

3 billion people globally which results in 3.5-4.3 million deaths annually

What type of fuels do developed nations use?

commercial fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) supplied by utilities

Where are commercial fuels typically burned?

In closed and well ventilated furnaces, stoves, etc

Where do major indoor air pollutants come from in developed nations?

Chemicals in products, adhesives in furniture, cleaning supplies, insulation, and lead paint

Common indoor air pollutants

PM & Asbestos

Examples of indoor PM

smoke (from biomass combustion), dust, and asbestos

Asbestos

A long, silicate particle previously used in insulation (since been linked to lung cancer & asbestosis)

When is asbestos dangerous?

when insulation is disturbed and the particles enter air & resp. tract

How should asbestos be dealt with?

It should be removed by trained professionals with proper respiratory equipment, ventilation in the area and it should ben covered with plastic afterwards to separate it from the rest of the building

What is produced from incomplete combustion of any fuel?

CO

Why are not all fuels combusted indoors?

Due to low O2 or temp

CO

an asphyxiant- causes suffocation due to its binding to hemoglobin in blood, displacing O2,

Why is CO dangerous?

lethal to humans in high concentrations, especially with poor ventilation (odorless and colorless - hard to detect)

Where does CO come from in developed nations?

it is released into home by malfunctioning natural gas furnace ventilation and can be detected by carbon monoxide detectors (similar to smoke detectors)

Where does CO comes from in developing nations?

its emitted from indoor biomass combustion for heating/cooking

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

chemicals used in variety of home products that easily vaporize, enter air, and irritate eyes, lungs, bronchioles

Examples of VOCs

Adhesives/sealants (formaldehyde in it), cleaners, plastics and fabrics

Radon gas

Radioactive gas released by decay of uranium naturally found in rocks underground (granite especially)

How does radon gas enter homes?

Through cracks in the foundation & then disperses up from basement/foundation thru home + can seep into groundwater sources -> enter body from drinking water

What is the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer after smoking?

radon gas causes it

How can radon gas be prevented?

EPA rec testing home with airborne Radon monitor or seal cracks in foundation to prevent it from entering (if its detected there will be increased ventilation)

EPA

Environmental protection agency

Dust & Mold

Natural indoor air pollutants that can worsen asthma, bronchitis, COPD, emphysema

How does dust develop in homes?

it settles in homes naturally, distributed when stuff moves, and enters air then resp. tract

How does mold develop in homes?

It develops in areas that are dark, damp, and not well ventilated (under sicks/showers, behind panels in walls and ceiling)

Black mold

a class of mold that releases spores into air, esp harmful to resp system

How can mold be cleaned?

physically cleaning it or fixing the water leak/ ventilated issue that led to its formation

Lead

Found in paint in old homes (EPA banned [blank] paint in 78’)

How do people consume lead?

paint chips off walls/windows and is eaten by small children (due to curiosity & sweet taste) or inhaled as dust

How does lead enter drinking water?

lead water pipes release it (spec Flint) but it is happens less than lead paint

Effects of lead

damaged central nervous system of children due to smaller size and still developing brain

How do you deal with lead (like get rid of it)?

remove lead paint and replace with non-lead based paint, or replace lead water pipes in cities for copper pipes

If emissions are reduced then?

air pollutants are also reduced

How to reduce emissions

drive less, walk/bike/bus more, conserve elect, eat more plants (aka less meat), use renewable & non-pollution energy

Laws/regulations regarding air pollutants

Clean Air Act, CAFE Vehicle Standards, and Pollution Credits

Clean Air Act

allows EPA to set acceptable levels for criteria air pollutants by monitoring emission levels from power plants and other facilities or by taxing/suing/fining corporations that release emissions above levels

Pollution Credits

similar to individual fishing quota for fish. It is when companies reduce emission well bell EPA- set levels and earn pollution credis. They can be sold to these companies that release more than acceptable levels

CAFE Vehicle Standards

(Corporate Average Fuel Economy) require the US “fleet” of vehicles to meet certain average fuel. Requires vehicle manufacturers to work to make more efficient vehicles, and more efficient vehicles to burn less gasoline and release less NOx, PM, CO, and CO2

Vapor Recovery Nozzle

Captures VOCs released from gasoline fumes during refueling (where-car)

Catalytic Convertor (CC)

required on all cars after 1975, contains metals that bind NOx and CO- converts NOx,CO, and other hydrocarbons into CO2, N2, O2, and H2O (where-car)

Crushed Limestone

(SO2) used to reduced SO2 in coal power plants, add before coal is burned, forms calcium sulfate (bc calcium carbonate/limestone combine with SO2) and reduce SO2 emitted (where

Fluidized Bed Combustion

(NOx) fluidizing jets of air bring most O2, into combustion reaction making it more efficient and brings less SO2 into contact with limestone -> combust at lower temp -> emit less NOx (where- powerplant)

Dry Scrubbers

(NOx, SOx, VOCs) Large column/tube/pipe filled with chemicals that absorb or neutralize oxides (NOx, SOx, VOCs) from exhaust streams (emissions), common ex (where-powerplant)

Wet Scrubbers

(NOx, SOx, VOCs +PM) May involve chemical agents that absorb or neutralize NOx, SOx, VOCs, but also include mist nozzles that trap PM in water droplets as well, aka get trapped by mist water thingie, sludge collection system traps polluted water for disposal (where-powerplant)

Electrostatic Precipitator

(PM) Give PM particles neg or pos charge and make them stick to pos and neg boards trapping them, discharge occasionally going into collection hoppers for disposal in landfills (where-powerplants)

Baghouse Filter

(PM) Large fabric bag filters that trap PM as air from combustion/industrial process passes through (where-powerplant)

Major Sources of Acid Rain

SO2 from coal-fired power plants, metal factories, vehicles that burn diesel fuel & NO2 from vehicle emissions, diesel generators coal power plants

How do you limit Acid Rain?

Reduce NOx & SOx emissions to reduce acid deposition like with higher CAFE standards, more public transit, renewable energy sources, and more efficient energy sources

Since what Act has acid deposition decrease significantly?

Clean Air Act

How does Acid Rain form?

NO2 & SO2 react with O2 and H2O in the atm forming nitric and sulfuric acid, sulfuric acid and nitric acid dissociate in the presence of water into sulfate and nitrate ions, and hydrogen (H+)

Env Effects of Acid Rain

Soil/Water acidificatiion (H+ ions displace/leech other pos nutrients from soil and make more toxic metals soluble)

Indicator Species

Species that can be surveyed and used to determine conditions of an ecosystem (soil, water, etc.)

How to reduce effects of acid rain

Add limstone like limestone bedrock to be a natural buffer or add crushed limestone to soil/water to neutralize

Noise Pollution

Any noise (usually by humans) at great enough volume to cause physiological stress (difficulty communicating, headaches, confusion) or hearing loss

Sources of noise pollution

construction (jack hammers, trucks, concrete pouring), Transportation (cars, busses, trains), industrial activity (manufacturing plants), and domestic activity (neighbor’s music, lawn mowing, home projects)

Wildlife land effects of noise pollution

it can disrupt animal communication, migration, and damage hearing

Wildlife aquatic effects of noise pollution

comes from the noise of ship engines, military sonar, and seismic air blasts from oil & gas surveying ships

Seismic surveying

effect of aquatic noise pollution where ships send huge air blasts down into the water, searching for oil by recording how the echo is returned from ocean floor