NRE3115-SP25-Lecture-5

Page 1: Introduction to Air Quality

• Criteria Pollutants: Governing National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQs).

• Hazardous (Toxic) Air Pollutants: Differentiation from criteria pollutants.

• Sources and Sinks of Criteria Pollutants: Focus on gas-phase pollutants.

• Discussion: NRE3115 (Lecture 5) topics.

Page 2: Atmospheric Overview

• Chemical Composition: Details on gases present in the atmosphere.

• Temperature & Structure: Layering of the atmosphere (troposphere, stratosphere, etc.).

• Circulation & Stability: Atmospheric circulation patterns and stability.

• Precipitation & Boundary Layer: Effects of turbulence on pollution dispersion and transport.

• Pollutants: Distinction between natural and anthropogenic pollutants, primary vs. secondary pollutants.

Page 3: Summary on Atmosphere & Pollution

• Aircraft Emissions: Overview of NO, black carbon, sulfate contributions.

• Tropospheric Dynamics: Long-range transport of aerosols and gases.

• Sources of Pollution: Fossil fuel burning, agriculture, and urban areas.

• Chemical Transformations: Interactions between pollutants (natural and anthropogenic).

Page 4: Knowledge Assessment

• Fugitive Pollutants: Definition and common occurrences.

Page 5: Types of Air Pollutants Based on Origin

• Primary Pollutants: Direct emissions (e.g., CO, NOx, SOx, VOCs, PM).

• Secondary Pollutants: Formed by reactions among primary pollutants (e.g., ground-level ozone).

• Fugitive Pollutants: Emissions from non-point sources, characterized by leaks and unexpected releases.

Page 6: Regulatory and Toxicity-Based Pollutants

• Common (Criteria) Pollutants: Set by NAAQS; include CO, SOx, NOx, particulate matter, ozone, and lead.

• Toxic Pollutants: Known carcinogens or harmful to human health, with 188 recognized by EPA.

Page 7: Reviewing NAAQS for Criteria Pollutants

• Review Process: Steps including planning, assessment, and regulatory decision-making.

  • Integrated Science Assessment (ISA): Comprehensive review of relevant science.

  • Risk/Exposure Assessment (REA): Quantitative pollution impact analysis.

  • Policy Assessment (PA): Evaluates alternative policy options before implementation.

Page 8: Toxic Pollutants Overview

• Characteristics: Pollutants associated with serious health effects.

• Examples: Benzene, methylene chloride, asbestos, mercury, and lead compounds.

Page 9: List of Hazardous Air Pollutants

• Hazardous Pollutants: Examples of compounds damaging to health and environment (e.g., acetaldehyde, benzene).

Page 10: Sources and Sinks of Criteria Pollutants

• Sources: Includes point, non-point, and fugitive emissions.

• Sinks: Processes leading to the reduction of atmospheric pollutants.

• Balance of Sources/Sinks: Determines atmospheric concentrations and air quality concerns.

Page 11: Origins of Air Pollution

• Natural Sources: Lightning, volcanoes, wildfires, forests.

• Anthropogenic Sources: Fertilizer, agriculture, transportation, and industry.

Page 12: Emission Sources Classification

• Point & Non-Point Sources: Criteria for categorizing emissions.

• Mobile & Stationary Emissions: Distinctions in how pollutants are emitted based on source type.

Page 13: Carbon Monoxide (CO) Overview

• Properties: Colorless, odorless gas from incomplete combustion.

• Primary Sources: Automobile emissions.

• Health Risks: Particularly hazardous in enclosed spaces.

Page 14: Regional CO Emissions

• Data Overview: Emission statistics from various Connecticut cities.

• Source Sector Analysis: Breakdown of emissions by type and location.

Page 15: Sink Processes of CO

• Transformation: Chemical conversion of CO to CO2.

• Reactivity: Involvement of hydroxyl radicals in atmospheric reactions.

Page 16: Gas-Phase Pollutants

• Sources of COx: Biological processes and combustion-related activities.

• Trends: Historical and recent atmospheric concentrations of CO2.

Page 17: Class Discussion Topics

• Natural & Anthropogenic Sinks: Explore processes in Connecticut that mitigate CO pollution.

• Comparison of Counties: Analysis of urban vs. rural impacts on air quality.