Enduring Understanding Students understand that Primary air
pollutants are those put directly into the air by human activity
Secondary air pollutants are those formed by the interaction of
primary pollutants or with naturally occurring substances Pollution
can be trapped near the surface of the Earth by a temperature
inversion Air pollution can have both short and long term effects
on human health Noise is a pollutant that affects human health and
the quality of life Inefficient lighting wastes energy Acid
precipitation is any form of precipitation with a high
concentration of acid.
Slide 3
Essential Questions How do primary and secondary pollutants
pose a threat to the environment? What are the long term effects of
acid precipitation to all organisms on Earth? What effects do noise
and light pollution have on our lives? What solution can we offer
to energy waste caused by light pollution?
Slide 4
Key Concepts Describe both the short and long term effects of
air pollution on human health Describe what causes indoor air
pollution and how it can be prevented Describe three human health
problems caused by noise pollution Describe solutions to energy
waste caused by light pollution
Slide 5
Learning Activities Debate Worksheets Lab- performing a
chemical reaction that produces sulfur dioxide, and its impact on
plant growth Cooperative group project Diagram all sources of
pollution that comes from your home. Discuss methods for preventing
or reducing the effects of such pollution and present it in the
form of poster. Case Study The Health Effects of Ground-Level
Ozone
Slide 6
CASE STUDY The Health Effects of Ground Level Ozone
http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/pae/environmentalscien
ce/casestudies/case18.mhtml
http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/pae/environmentalscien
ce/casestudies/case18.mhtml Case Study on Ground Level Ozone After
reading case study in your text book and also in the above link
Answer the following 1. write a brief paragraph explaining whether
or not lung function tests should be mandatory for children who
live in urban areas where high concentrations of ozone are
frequent. What are the health effects of Ground Level Ozone and how
can we overcome/control the same?
Slide 7
General video on air pollution and its effect on human health)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsVa4Bw A4Pg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsVa4Bw A4Pg
Slide 8
SHORT TERM EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION ON HEALTH nausea irritation
to the eyes, nose, and throat; tightness in the chest coughing; and
upper respiratory infections, such as bronchitis and pneumonia.
Pollution can also make the conditions of individuals who suffer
from asthma and emphysema worse.
Slide 9
Eye, Nose and Throat Irritation Smog, particulate matter,
ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide can all contribute to
ear, nose and/or throat irritation. Smog is a combination of smoke
and fog. Smoke contains particulate matter which can severely
irritate the eyes, nose and throat. Even short term exposure to
significant particulate matter can cause intense coughing spells,
sneezing, eye watering and burning. Similarly ozone can cause
coughing, wheezing and a dry throat. Nitrogen dioxide irritates the
lungs and throat while sulfur dioxide narrows the airways, causing
wheezing, shortness of breath and tightening in the chest. High
concentrations of sulfur dioxide in air pollution can cause burning
in the nose.
Slide 10
Bronchitis and Pneumonia Children are especially affected by
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, which can cause acute
bronchitis. Indoor air pollution from cooking fuels is detrimental
women and children across the world. It doubles the risk of
pneumonia.
Slide 11
Asthma and Emphysema People with chronic conditions like asthma
and emphysema are especially vulnerable to short term exposure to
air pollution. Nitrogen dioxide affects asthmatic people more
intensely than others. Sulfur dioxide affects people with chronic
conditions as well. Since it tightens the airways it can cause
people with asthma or emphysema to have stronger symptoms than
normal and an increased lack of breath. Air pollution from
industrial plants, factories and automobiles all contribute
significantly to an increase in asthma attacks
Slide 12
Allergic Reaction Pollution acts as a trigger to inflame
already existing allergic reactions. Ozone is one of the main
culprits. People who have strong allergies may want to stay clear
of high traffic areas like freeways and highways; ozone is
particularly acute in these areas.
Slide 13
Air Pollution and Mortality Air pollution can lead to death in
many cases. The World Health Organization estimates that indoor air
pollution from solid fuel leads to approximately 1.6 million deaths
per year. During London's "Smog Disaster" in 1952 about four
thousand people died in just a few days because of a high
concentration of air pollution. Carbon monoxide is also a quick and
silent killer. It bonds to the blood's hemoglobin, slowly
suffocating people as they breath. Carbon monoxide is especially
dangerous indoors during the winter because it originates from
unburnt fuel and settles close to the ground in cold seasons.
http://www.ehow.com/about_5325756_short-term-
effects-air-pollution.html
http://www.ehow.com/about_5325756_short-term-
effects-air-pollution.html Source and link for Short Term Effects
of Air Pollution
Slide 14
Health Effects of Air Pollution Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
Disease
Slide 15
LONG-TERM HEALTH EFFCTS OF AIR POLLUTION Long-term effects on
health that have been linked to air pollution include emphysema,
lung cancer, and heart disease. Long term exposure to air pollution
may worsen medical conditions suffered by older people and may
damage the lungs of children.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aus9V_UNb iI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aus9V_UNb iI Emphysema video
Slide 16
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION The quality of air inside a home or a
building is sometimes worse than the quality of the air outside.
Plastic and other industrial chemicals are major sources of
pollution. These compounds can be found in carpets, building
materials, paints and furniture, particularly when these items are
new.
Slide 17
Sick-Building Syndrome Buildings that have very poor air
quality have a condition called sick-building syndrome.
Sick-building syndrome is more common in hot places where buildings
are tightly sealed to keep out the heat. In Florida, for example, a
new, tightly sealed country courthouse had to be abandoned. Half of
the people who worked there developed allergic reactions to fungi
that were growing in the air-conditioning ducts, ceiling tiles,
carpets, and furniture. Identifying and removing the sources of
indoor air pollution is the most effective way to maintain good
indoor air quality. Ventilation, or mixing outdoor air with indoor
air, is also necessary for good air quality. When activities such
as renovation and painting, which cause indoor air pollution, are
undertaken, ventilation should be increased.
Slide 18
Sick-Building Syndrome
Slide 19
Radon Gas Radon gas is colorless, tasteless, and odorless. It
is also radioactive. Radon is one of the elements produced by the
decay of uranium, a radioactive element that occurs naturally in
the Earths crust. Radon can seep through cracks and holes in
foundations into homes, offices, and schools, where it adheres to
dust particles. When people inhale the dust, radon enters their
lungs. In the lungs, radon can destroy the genetic material in
cells that line air passages. Such damage can lead to cancer,
especially among people who smoke. Radon is the second- leading
cause of lung cancer in the United States.
Slide 20
Asbestos Asbestos is primarily used as an insulator and as a
fire retardant, and it was extensively used in building materials.
The U.S. government banned the use of most asbestos products in the
early 1970s. exposure to asbestos in air is dangerous. Asbestos
fibres that are inhaled can cut and scar the lungs, which cause the
disease asbestosis. Victims of the disease have more and more
difficulty breathing and may eventually die of heart failure.
Billions of dollars have been spent to remove asbestos from school
buildings.
Slide 21
Asbestos in Buildings
Slide 22
Effects of Asbestos Asbestos Fibre
Slide 23
Noise Pollution A sound of any kind is called a noise. However,
some noises are unnecessary and can cause noise pollution. Noise is
a pollutant that affects human health and quality of human life.
Airplanes, construction equipment, city traffic, factories, home
appliances, and lawnmowers are some of the examples of things that
make unnecessary sounds that commonly travel through the air.
Health problems that can be caused by noise pollution include loss
of hearing, high blood pressure, and stress. Noise can also cause
loss of sleep, which may lead to decreased productivity at work and
in the classroom. The intensity of sound in measured in units
called decibels (dB). The quietest sound that a human ear can hear
is represented by 0 dB. For each increase in decibel intensity, the
decibel level is 10 times higher than the previous level. A sound
of 120 dB is at the threshold of pain. Permanent deafness may come
as a result of continuous exposure to sounds over 120 dB.
Slide 24
Noise Pollution http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfPTrv3BdT0
Bursting of Crackers Video
Slide 25
List Possible Sources of Noise Pollution in your Community
Slide 26
Noise Pollution
Slide 27
Light Pollution Light pollution does not present a direct
hazard to human health. However, light pollution negatively affect
our environment. The use of inefficient lighting in urban areas is
diminishing our view of the night sky. In urban areas, the sky is
often much brighter than the natural sky. A more important
environmental concern of inefficient lighting is energy waste. For
example, energy is wasted when light is directed upward into the
night sky and lost into space. Examples of inefficient lighting are
billboards and other signs that are lit from below, the lighting of
building exteriors, and poor- quality street lights. One solution
to energy waste includes shielding light so it is directed
downward. Using time controls so that light is used only when
needed and using low pressure sodium sources-the most
energy-efficient source of light- wherever possible are two other
solutions.