EESA10 Lecture 2

Monday, May 13, 2013 12:04 PM

Cue Column:

Note-Taking Area: Airborne Hazards & Human Health London smog Still has huge impact Industrial revolution, coal Sulfur ==> sulfur dioxide Really cold, therefore had to heat house, used coal Air stagnant (no air circulation) Pollutants released was staying there ==> so thick smog, almost like fog Research done shows Sulfur dioxide & smoke responsible for deaths Resolved by itself, nothing was done, esp in short time UK switched from coal to gas London now very clean b/c of actions/change by them Indonesian Fires Tropical area, slash and burn} slash burn forests to make soil fertile Wet and dry seasons Monsoon helps to extinguish fires }naturally controlled '97 monsoon came late, fire continued damaging, growing areas Smog and air pollutants released to atmosphere Sometimes out of human control Outdoor air pollution Types Human Mobile, vehicles, traffic Stationary (factories) Primary air pollutants 2ndary air pollutants Primary reacts with air Natural Effects depend on concentration/dose Response to pollutants Becomes more severe Particulate matter Particles suspended in air 2 groups PM10 Particles < 10 microbes PM 2.5 < 2.5 microbes Small particles can cause more harm Travels further in system CO We are exposed to little amounts Ex. Running car in garage (closed) Hemoglobin has high affinity for CO than O2 Prevention is best cure Detectors NOx Any type of combustion Nitric less soluble in water than sulfuric Nitric acids mostly produced in vehicles ==> nitric acid product of traffic External burning (outside, ex. Garbage burning) Internal (in cars/traffic) SOx Burning of coal, oil Dissolves in water vapour ==> acids
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 Internal (in cars/traffic)

SOx
Burning of coal, oil Dissolves in water vapour ==> acids Country biggest user of coal: China VOC (volatile organic compounds) Volatile @ room temp. OCs used as solvents Pb Not much big problem now in air Comes from leaded gasoline ==> increased octane Deposits on soil ==> danger to children O3 VOC + NOx + Heat + sunlight = O3 Ground level ozone is what we're referring to ==> bad ozone Photochem reaction} b/c of heat and sunlight Hot summer months Climate influences ozone levels (winter vs. summer) } more in summer O3 lower in morning and increases in day b/c: Sunlight increases More traffic ==> nitrate increases Smog Smoke + fog = smog 2 types Photochem smog = LA smog, brown smog Sulfurous smog How photochemical smog forms (diagram)

Indoor air pollution We're spending more time indoors Most vulnerable population are children and elderly, sick people } more prone Conserving energy, no proper ventilation Sources of pollutants: anything outside plus {check slide} Cooking: burning ingredients Non-stick pan (Teflon coated so it doesn't stick) when exposed to heat exposes so many gases Bathing: droplets become air ==> (water has some chlorine) Look at slide picture for summary Sick buildings syndrome Prof's STC example If more ppl get same/similar symptoms } sick building Impacts Difficult to know Symptoms very mild/similar/common with others Asbestos Construction material Not used anymore; present in older buildings Heat resistant Carcinogen Very stable; doesn't change in enviro; not soluble in water Become smaller and smaller and carried by air/water Health impacts Asbestosis: not common for general public but very serious Plaque in plural membranes: not common for general public Risk of lung cancer after asbestos (while person smoking @ same time) is high Formaldehyde "new smell" of object Problems not really symptomatic; could be something else, need to check Mold & moisture
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 Mold & moisture Need moisture and high air humidity Especially dangerous for children Regulate moisture to prevent Ventilation of area Secondhand smoke 3rd hand smoke: even after ventilating, still remains on fabrics, hair, clothes Radon gas How it comes: Enters basements and can buildup Can also reach water supply Evaporates very quickly Building material Soil used for material (containing radon) Air dust

Summary Area:

Summaries:

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