APES Unit 7 - Atmospheric Pollution

list air pollutants from coal combustion

sulfur dioxide, toxic metals, NOx, particulates

NOx

primary/secondary pollutant

reactive, foul smelling, reddish brown gas

SOx

primary

colorless gas

CO

primary

colorless, odorless gas —> incomplete combustion of fuel

hydrocarbons

primary/secondary

formed from incomplete combustion of gas

particulate matter

primary/secondary

very small particles

coarse 10

fine 2.5

ultrafine 0.1

impact of burning fossil fuels on air quality

releases SO2, NOx, particulates, CO, VOCs—>smog, acid rain, respiratory issues

clean air act

who does the regulating?

establishes national standards for allowable concentration of six air pollutants (Pb, NOx, SOx, O3, PM, CO) to protect human health

Environmental Protection Agency

primary vs secondary pollutants

primary are directly released into atmosphere

secondary chemically form in the atmosphere from other molecules

photochemical smog

formed from sunlight and pollutants such as NOx and VOCs—> create ground level ozone from fuel emissionse

effects of photochemical smog

cause respiratory problems and exacerbate asthma

environmental factors affecting photochemical smog

sunlight—> UV radiation drives chemical reactions that create smog

temperature—> higher temperatures increase reaction rate

topography—>valleys/basins trap air

wind—>stagnant air creates higher concentrations

daily smog concentration

highest in morning and evening due to rush hour

ozone levels in afternoon due to more sunlight

seasonal smog concentration

more common in summer due to more sunlight

volatile organic compounds

created from manufacturing of paint

emitted from vehicles

methods to reduce photochemical smog

reduce vehicle emissions

decrease vocs

health impacts of photochemical smog

respiratory issues

irritation

thermal inversion

created when warm air traps cool air close to the ground

thermal inversion relation to pollution

traps pollutants like emissions closer to the ground

natural source of CO2

respiration, forest fires, decomposition

natural source of particulates

wildfires

indoor air pollutatants

CO- natural gas appliances (ovens)

Particulates-asbestos, dust, cigarette smoke

Combustion-burning cigarettes, ovens, stoves

Natural Sources-radon

VOCs-furniture, formaldehyde

radon

naturally occurring radioactive gas from decay of uranium

created from rocks/soil and decaying uranium

regulatory practices to reduce air pollutants

emission standards, permits/inspections

conservatory practices to reduce air pollutants

energy efficiency, sustainable transportation

alternative fuels

biofuels, electric

vapor recovery nozzle

used at fuel pump to reduce amount of gasoline vapors released

catalytic converter

device in exhaust of vehicles that converts harmful stuff into less harmful stuff

wet/dry scrubbers

devices in industrial process to remove pollutants from exhaust gases

wet scrubbers—>liquid to capture pollutants

dry scrubbers—>dry sorbent material

electrostatic precipitators

use electric charge to remove particulate matter

acid deposition (acid rain)

SO2 and NOx undergo chemical reactions with water vapor to produce sulfuric acid and nitric acid

areas affected by acid deposition

industrial areas due to high levels of pollutionE

effects of acid rain on environment

acidification of lakes

leaches nutrients from soil

corrodes infrastructure

buffering relationship with acid rain

high buffer capacity neutralizes acid (limestone)

low buffer capacity is more vulnerable (granite)

noise pollution

presence of harmful sounds in environment

sources of noise pollution

transportation, industrial activities

effect of noise pollution on ecosystem

causes hearing loss and sleep disturbance

disrupts mating calls