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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
