Air Pollution

Lecture # 4
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Contents
Air Pollutants
Primary Air Pollutants Secondary Air Pollutants

Impacts of Air Pollution

Global Warming Ozone Depletion
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Air Pollutants
Primary Air Pollutants - A primary pollutant is one
that is emitted into the atmosphere directly from the source of the pollutant and retains the same chemical form.

Secondary Air Pollutants -

Primary pollutants interact with one another, sunlight, or natural gases to produce new and harmful compounds.

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Primary Air Pollutants

Five major materials released directly into the atmosphere are; Carbon monoxide Sulfur dioxide Nitrogen oxides Particulate matter Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

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Carbon Monoxide
Produced by burning of organic material (coal, gas, wood, trash, etc.) Automobiles biggest source (75.7%) Cigarette smoke another major source Toxic because binds to hemoglobin, reduces oxygen in blood Not a persistent pollutant, combines with oxygen to form CO2 Prolonged exposure can lead to brain damage and even death.
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Nitrogen Oxides
Combustion of fossil fuel (vehicles, power plants, industrial machineries, etc.) Automobile engine main source Acid rain Death may also be resulted from exposure to high NO2 concentration. Initiating photochemical smog formation

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Sulphur Dioxide
Natural (volcanoes, biological decays of organic matters and reduction of sulfate) Combustion of coal and fuel oils Reduction of visibility Deteriorating the building materials and adversely affect the appearance and the life of the building. Reacts in atmosphere to produce acids

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Particulate Matter
Particulates - small pieces of solid materials and liquid droplets Examples: ash from fires, dust storms, vegetation etc Can accumulate in lungs and interfere with the ability of lungs to exchange gases. Some particulates are known carcinogens

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Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Produced primarily by combustion of fossil fuels Present in vapor state at room temperature A major source of man-made VOCs are solvents, especially paints and protective coatings. Eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches, nausea; damage to liver, kidney, and central nervous system Examples: Methane, Chlorofluorocarbons(CFCs), benzene, formaldehyde etc.
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Secondary Air Pollutants

Ozone

Photochemical smog

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Ozone (O3)
Ozone (O3) is a highly reactive gas composed of three oxygen atoms. It is both a natural and a man-made product that occurs in the Earth's upper atmosphere (the stratosphere) and lower atmosphere (the troposphere) resp. Tropospheric ozone what we breathe -- is formed primarily from photochemical reactions between two major classes of air pollutants, volatile organic compounds (VOC) and nitrogen oxides (NOX). Cough, tightness of the chest, a feeling of an inability to breathe (dyspnea), dry throat, headache and nausea.
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Photochemical Smog

Smoke + Fog = Smog This is a Brownish-gray haze

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Photochemical Smog
involves hundreds of different reactions and dozens of chemicals, occurring simultaneously vital ingredient is sunshine final products of smog: Ozone Particulates nitrogen oxides aldehydes unreacted hydrocarbons - Causes reduced visibility, eye irritation and deterioration of materials
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The Impacts of Air Pollution

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GLOBAL WARMING

The Greenhouse Effect

Certain gases in atmosphere trap heat in the troposphere and radiate it in all the directions Major gases H O, CO2, O3, CH4, NO2, and CFCs
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3 4 2

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Carbon Dioxide
Responsible for 50-60% of global warming Main sources Fossil-fuel burning (7075%) Land clearing/burning (2025%) Most CO2 from burning coal and motor vehicle exhaust Remains in atmosphere for 50200 years
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Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Main sources
Leaking air conditioners, refrigerators, evaporation of industrial solvents, etc Take 10-20 years to reach the stratosphere Trap 100-1500 times as much heat per molecule as CO2

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Methane
Accounts for 20% of global warming Stays in troposphere for 915 years Traps about 20 times as much heat at a CO2 molecule

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Nitrous Oxide
Released from burning of biomass and N-rich fuels, breakdown of N-fertilizers in soil, livestock wastes, etc. Lifespan in troposphere about 120 years Traps about 200 times as much heat per molecule as CO2

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Effects of a Warmer World

Warmer global climate

Could lower food production in certain areas Could also reduce water supplies Results in weather extremes Cause threats to human health

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Global Warming and its Effect on Human Health

More heat waves could double or triple heat-related deaths among elderly Increased suffering from respiratory ailments such as asthma. Warmer climates could spread cholera epidemics, and increase chances of food poisoning Higher temperature would cause arise in skin diseases

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Dealing with the Threat of Global Warming

A precautionary strategy should be adopted To stabilize CO2 levels, current emissions would need to be cut by 66-83% Quickest and cheapest way is to use energy in economic way.

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What You Can Do to Reduce the Threat of Global Warming

Plant and care for trees to help reduce CO2 Average tree absorbs enough CO2 to offset amount produced by driving a car 26,000 miles Switch to energy efficient appliances Try to phase out or reduce the use of devices which release greenhouse gases
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OZONE DEPLETION

About the Ozone Layer

Ozone layer is present at about 17-26 kilometers above earths surface. Absorbs 99% of incoming ultraviolet radiation from sun Ozone layer is depleted by

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NO N2O OH Cl Br
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What Causes Ozone Depletion?

All ozone depleting chemicals are known as ODCs. Some of the most damaging ODCs are chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Two of the most widely used CFCs are CFC-11 and CFC12, also known as Freon.

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CFCs
These cheap and versatile chemicals are used in appliances such as refrigerators and aerosols. CFCs release reactive chlorine atoms which speed react with ozone (O3) to produce O2 and O. Each CFC molecule can remain in the atmosphere for up to 100 years and in that time can convert about 100,000 O3 molecules to O2 and O.

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How CFCs deplete the ozone layer?

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Other Ozone Depleting Chemicals

Many other chemical agents can release damaging chlorine and bromine atoms into the atmosphere which lead to the destruction of ozone. Halons and HBFCs (found in fire extinguishers) release persistent bromine compounds into the atmosphere. Other agents such as carbon tetrachloride and methyl bromine (found in cleaning solvents) emit destructive compounds. HCl released into the atmosphere by the Space Shuttle can damage ozone.

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Seriousness of Ozone Depletion

Depleted ozone leads to increase in amount of UV radiation penetration. Effects of increased radiation penetration:
Damage to immune system. Lower yields of crops which will effect nonindustrialized countries and economies around the world. Increase in cases of skin and other types of cancer. Would also lead to increase in cases of cataracts and cases of blindness.
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Seriousness of Ozone Depletion

More Effects:
Damage to tree and other plant species which will affect their ability to consume CO2. Disruption of land and aquatic food webs which will in turn drastically damage populations of species. Humans would have to seriously lower their exposure to the sun

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Protecting the Ozone Layer

Finding substitutes for CFCs: HCFCs hydrochloroflurocarbons contain fewer chlorine atoms that CFCs and are less persistent in the atmosphere. HFCs hydroflurocarbons contain no bromine or chlorine molecules. However, are powerful greenhouse gases. HCs hydrocarbons such as propane, contain no chlorine or bromine and do little to enhance global warming.
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