Air pollution

Air pollution is a combination of particles in the

air; they contain harmful amounts of solid and
gas particles. This occurs when the air contains
harmful amount of gases, dust, fumes and
odors.
Everyone on earth knows that air pollution is
hazardous to health. The effects of air pollution
can have devastating effects on your health
and the environment.

Introduction
1- http://eschooltoday.com/pollution/air-pollution/air-pollution-facts.html
2- http://ccair.org/facts-about-air-pollution/10-air-pollution-facts

Coal.
Natural gases.
Petroleum.
Green house gases (Carbon/Methane/Sulfur).

Key reasons
1- http://eschooltoday.com/pollution/air-pollution/air-pollution-facts.html
2- http://ccair.org/facts-about-air-pollution/10-air-pollution-facts

Air Pollution

Fact 1: Inhaling Air pollution takes away at least 1-2

years of a typical human life.
Fact 2: Air pollution is not a recent occurrence. In 1952,
the Great smog of London killed 8000 people.
Fact 3: 70% of the air pollution caused in Chinese cities
is due to tailpipes.
Fact 4: 5,000 premature deaths in Southern California
are caused due to pollution from diesel trucks.
Fact 5: Air pollution in California kills 25,000 people
per year and costs $200 million worth of medical
expenses.

Key facts

1- Air Pollution Facts. (n.d.). Retrieved December 1, 2014, from

http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/various-air-pollution-facts.php

Factors causing
air pollution

1. The first factor is the

use of coal as energy.
2. The second factor is
the use of natural gas
as energy
3. The third factor is the
use of petroleum as
energy.
All three contribute to
air pollution in our
world today

3 Factors that cause air pollution

Coal is made of hydrocarbons. These

hydrocarbons are aromatic
hydrocarbons Since coal has more
carbon in relationship to hydrogen
when used as energy it lets off a lot
of soot. This soot gets in the
atmosphere and contributes to air
pollution.

Key point 1
1- (Wysession, Frank, Yancopoulos, 2004, p. 267).

Natural gas is made up of methane.

It also contain other gases like:
"ethane, propane and isomers of
butane" When used as energy these
gases are let in the atmosphere
which contribute to air pollution.

Key point 2
1- (Wysession, Frank, Yancopoulos, 2004, p. 267).

Petroleum, like coal is made up of

hydrocarbons, but it is very complex.
In order for petroleum to be used it
must be separated. When used as
energy petroleum lets off residue
that contributes to air pollution.

Key point 3
1- (Wysession, Frank, Yancopoulos, 2004, p. 267).

1. The first "greenhouse gas" is Carbon

dioxide.
2. The second "greenhouse gas is
methane.
3. The third factor "greenhouse gas is
sulfur dioxide.
All three contribute to air pollution in
our world today.

Green House Gases

1- (http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/globalwarming/pollution-overview/)

Carbon dioxide is "the main

pollutant that is warming the
Earth. This pollutant is put in air
not only from living things, but
mostly from machines that burn
fossil fuels. Man by using these
machines has put more carbon
dioxide in the air and raised "its
levels higher than they have been
for hundreds of thousands of
years."

Key point 1
1- "(http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/globalwarming/pollution-overview/)

Methane is a gas that comes

primarily from animals like cows
and sheep. It also come from
natural environmental sources like
swamps that let off this gas.

Key point 2
1- "(http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/globalwarming/pollution-overview/)

Sulfur dioxide is another gas that

contributes to air pollution. This
gas is found in smog, and smog is
the outcome of burning fossil fuel
in machines. As a gas that causes
air pollution sulfur dioxide reflects "
light when released in the
atmosphere, which keeps sunlight
out and causes Earth to cool." It
also causes acid rain.

Key point 3
1- ."(http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/globalwarming/pollution-overview/)

Pollutant

Health effects

Nitrogen
Dioxide

These gases irritate the airways of the lungs, increasing the symptoms of those
suffering from lung diseases

Particles

Fine particles can be carried deep into the lungs where they can cause inflammation
and a worsening of heart and lung diseases | | effects on breathing and respiratory
systems, damage to lung tissue, cancer, and premature death. The elderly, children,
and people with chronic lung disease, influenza, or asthma, tend to be especially
sensitive to the effects of particulate matter.

Carbon
Monoxide

This gas prevents the uptake of oxygen by the blood. This can lead to a significant
reduction in the supply of oxygen to the heart, particularly in people suffering from
heart disease

Ozone

Ozone triggers asthma attacks and makes existing asthma worse. It may also lead to
the development of asthma in children. Significantly reduces lung function and
induces respiratory inflammation.

Sulfur
Dioxide

Breathing, respiratory illness, alterations in pulmonary defenses, and aggravation of

existing cardiovascular disease.

Effects of air pollution

Reference: http://www.epa.gov/region07/air/quality/health.htm
http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/air-pollution/effects

Pollutant

Effects on environment

Nitrogen
Dioxide

Nitrogen oxides in the air are a potentially significant contributor to a number

of environmental effects such as acid rain and eutrophication in coastal waters
like the Chesapeake Bay. Eutrophication occurs when a body of water suffers
an increase in nutrients that reduce the amount of oxygen in the water,
producing an environment that is destructive to fish and other animal life.

Particles

Particles can be carried over long distances by wind and then settle on ground
or water. The effects of this settling include: making lakes and streams acidic;
changing the nutrient balance in coastal waters and large river basins;
depleting the nutrients in soil; damaging sensitive forests and farm crops; and
affecting the diversity of ecosystems.

Carbon
Monoxide

This gas prevents the uptake of oxygen by the blood. This can lead to a
significant reduction in the supply of oxygen to the heart, particularly in people
suffering from heart disease

Ozone

Ozone is also responsible for several billion dollars of agricultural crop yield loss
in the U.S. each year. Ozone also damages forest ecosystems in California and
the eastern U.S.

Sulfur Dioxide

Together, SO2 and NOX are the major precursors to acid rain, which is
associated with the acidification of lakes and streams, accelerated corrosion of
buildings and monuments, and reduced visibility.

Effects of air pollution

Reference: http://www.epa.gov/region07/air/quality/health.htm
http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/air-pollution/effects

 Why Air pollution is a Global issue?

Analysis

http://epi.yale.edu/pollution-map/

Analysis

Conserve Energy.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Use energy efficient devices .
Improve manufacturing processes
Restriction on maximum environmental release based on
relative toxicity

Solutions

 Saving energy means decreasing the amount of energy

used while achieving a similar outcome of end use.
Using less energy has lots of benefits you can save
money and help the environment. Therefore, using
less energy helps us to preserve these resources and
make them last longer in the future.

Solution #1

 Reduce means using fewer resources in the first place.

Reduce the amount of waste you produce by buying
minimally packaged goods.
Reuse Before you recycle or dispose of anything,
consider whether it has life left in it.
Recycle keeps resources from being used for a while
longer, and from entering the waste stream.
For every pound of waste you eliminate or recycle, you
save energy and reduce emissions of CO2 by at least 1
pound.

Solution #2

 Efficient appliances don't just save you money; they're

good for the environment. The less energy we all use, the
lower our demand on power plants, which means less
pollution.

Solution #3

 Toxic air pollutants, or air toxics, are known to cause or

are suspected of causing cancer, birth defects,
reproduction problems, and other serious illnesses.
In many countries, factories are obligated to abide by
certain environmental laws; others must implement their
own self-imposed methods to stop pollution.

Solution #4

Simple ways to prevent pollution

 Air Pollution Comes From Many Sources. In National Geographic.

Retrieved December 8, 2014, from
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/globalwarming/pollution-overv iew/.
Reema - http://www.npi.gov.au/reducing-pollution
http://www.canadianliving.com/life/green_living/top_10_ways_to_re
duce_air_pollution_2.php
http://web.mit.edu/12.000/www/m2015/2015/solutions_for_industria
l_pollution.html
Simple Day to Day Solutions http://zerowaste.uoregon.edu/Pollution_Prevention.htm
Basel- Hsu, A., & Zomer, A. (2014, June 11). An Interactive AirPollution Map. Retrieved from
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/06/the-air-webreathe/372411/

References