Common Ambient Air Pollutants - SINKS

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Upward migration in the upper layers of the atmosphere, uptake by soils

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

photosynthetic organisms, acid deposition, acidification of oceans

Tropospheric Ozone (O3)

urban photochemical smog

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)

acid deposition onto land/water, key reactant in creating photochemical smog

Sulfur Oxides (SOx)

cloud condensation/acid deposition (H2SO4); form particulate matter (PM)

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

photolysis (UV), forms photo chemical smog

Particulate Matter

gravitational settling to land or water

Radon

Rn-222 decays to P0-218 then eventually to lead

Asbestos

deposition

CFC’s

photolysis with intense UV radiation (stratosphere) releasing chlorine or bromine which depletes ozone

Lead (Pb)

deposition into soil and water, contaminates soil and crops

Mercury (Hg)

condensation, precipitation, deposition