A.F.E.W AIR

Air as our most pressing physical need--essential to human life minute-to-minute.

Atmospheric Structure

Air is a gaseous mixture of mostly nitrogen (78 percent) and oxygen (21 percent) along with trace amounts of water vapor, carbon dioxide, argon and other elements.

The key is Oxygen – essential for all animal life. Carbon dioxide used by plants for photosynthesis.

Blanket of air surrounding the earth = atmosphere

Surface of earth protected by ozone layer.

Sources of air pollution

1. natural – forest fires, volcanoes, dust storms, etc

Alaskan Wildfires of 2004: released more carbon monoxide June-August as North America produces in single year

2. anthropogenic

- main source of pollutants is the combustion of fossil fuel

(coal, oil, gas) – Industrial Revolution – releases carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur and nitrogen oxides – all forms of air pollution.

Pollution

Air circulation is responsible for pollution & contaminants existing where they’re not produced

EX: 2011 CA study sought to find source of lead in air

Findings: 1/3 of lead came from Asia (able to “fingerprint” source with new technology)

Global patterns in air and water circulation

Fact: Clean air is harder to maintain globally than clean

water

Due to wide-ranging sources of emissions & their circulatory spread, nations (esp. neighbors) are finding it advantageous

to have multilateral environmental agreements

Society - There is not just an economic, but a geographic divide b/twn rich & poor World-wide, the poor live in areas w/ a higher concentration of air pollution -Zug Island, Detroit; Southern L.A = high asthma rates & lower $$ Economy Affects everyone rich & poor Ex: Asthma: missed workdays = 15 million for $3 billion loss missed school days = 14 million Economic consequences of air pollution are known as externalities (a cost or benefit not reflected in the market price of a good or service). Since polluters aren’t—normally—financially responsible, costs are passed on to those impacted

Air and Sustainability S.E.E

Economy (con’t)

Air pollution & farming: in 2003 b/c of sulfur dioxide emissions, Chinese farmers lost $4.7 billion in reduce crop growth

Environment

World-wide pollution has produced a wide-range of effects Dead leaves, stunted plant & animal development, reduced

resistance to insects, gradual build up in soil & waterways

Acidification – acid rain. Lowers pH – prevents new growth and interrupts reproductive cycles: impacts human health

Mexico City Beijing

Early cave dwellers: blackened lungs; volcanoes

Ancient Air pollution: Roman buildings became darker from the smoke: Roman Senate law “Aerem corrumpere non licet” (“Polluting air is not allowed”)

Middle Ages: Burning of coal in London was so bad, King Edward I wanted to ban the use of coal in 1306 – (didn’t last—obviously)

Industrial Revolution – widespread burning of coal in England.

The history of air pollution: it’s been here forever

October 1948, Donora Pennsylvania: emissions from a zinc-reduction plant, steel mill, and a stagnant weather system created a fog killing 20 people

Led to: 1955 Air Pollution Control Act, then to 1970 Clean Air Act

Dec. 1952, London: fog and emissions led to 4,000 deaths immediately, another 12,000 in a few months

Led to: 1956 British Clean Air Act

Today’s air pollution is more intensified: more than just a mix of common black soot of centuries past.

The history of air pollution: it’s been here forever

Turn to a partner.

Your two-minute discussion task:

“#1: When you consider air pollution, what bothers you the most? #2: What type of air pollution do you think kills the most people yearly? (fyi: often statistics like this are phrased in terms of “premature deaths”)

Considering Air Pollution

Indoor Air pollution

Many consider indoor air pollution worse for human health than outdoor pollution!

2.4 billion people daily cook by indoor fires

carbon dioxide; carbon monoxide = cancer, pneumonia, bronchitis

Harmful Household gases (energy efficient homes are well-sealed) = radon, carbon monoxide, VOC’s (volatile organic compounds such as aerosols, rug glues, synthetic flooring all emit harmful gases

and remember Americans spend ____% of time indoors

90%!!!!!!

WHO (World Health Organization) estimates that 5-6 million people die every year from air pollution.

There is a proven link with pollution and human health

Chinese villagers near factories had 7 X the safe level of lead in systems (factory made lead-acid batteries)

Damages lungs, brain, kidneys, nerves, stomach, physical/mental development

Dioxins – may be formed as unwanted by-products of industrial processes – bleach paper

Almost all air-born toxins make their way into the environment – water table – and therefore into food sources.

Outdoor Pollution

Ground level Ozone – sunlight reacts with pollutants- may be dangerous when inhaled – also contributes to smog

Atmospheric Ozone Depletion – CFCs – created holes in ozone layer. 1987 Montreal Protocol (196 countries have now signed on) agreed to reduce ozone depleting gases.

By middle of this century, the ozone holes should close

Acid Rain – gases dissolve in water – return to earth as acid rain – damage plants, buildings and water

Outdoor Pollution (con’t)

Government Regulations

Ex. Cars = CAFÉ (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) (1975 ) set a minimum fuel efficiency

problems w/ implementation, but a start towards a goal

Power Plants– take two forms:

Gov’t direct intervention or Cap and Trade

U.S. Clean Air Act 1990 cap emissions of sulfur dioxide

Reducing Pollution at the Source

Power Plants– take two forms:

Direct Gov’t Intervention or Cap and Trade

“The cap on greenhouse gas emissions is a limit backed by science. Companies pay penalties if they exceed the cap, which gets stricter over time (the limit declines over time also)”

“The trade part is a market for companies to buy and sell allowances that permit them to emit only a certain amount. Trading gives companies a strong incentive to save money by cutting emissions” (Env. Defense Fund)

Ex: U.S. Clean Air Act 1990 cap emissions of sulfur dioxide

Dir. Gov. Int: Most come from EPA (est. 1970) like Clean Air Act and can be regulated at federal or state level. Oftentimes state laws can be more strict than federal laws.

Reducing Pollution at the Source

Manufacturing Standards

- response to changing markets and consumer demands

Ex: develop paints that emit less pollution

Lead paint: https://youtu.be/SFizKdMDtEw

Auto gasoline: https://youtu.be/YmJLPuNFjmA

Reducing Pollution at the Source

Nepal: https://vimeo.com/alancesarano/smokelessstoves

Project STOKE: https://youtu.be/WU9hFRFKvmg

Solar cookers: https://youtu.be/IqGA31J-LRQ

Cheap:

https://youtu.be/wbYIULZSbrY

https://youtu.be/Uqmgu2L7kek

Reducing Pollution at the Source