Chapter 12Chapter 12AIRAIR

Mr. ManskopfMr. ManskopfNotes Also At Notes Also At http://www.manskopf.com

Why Care About The Air?

You breathe out of which layer?

Take a deep breath

Chapter 12 Air Big IdeaChapter 12 Air Big Idea

There are a variety of human There are a variety of human activities that impact air quality activities that impact air quality that can affect both the health of that can affect both the health of humans and other organisms. humans and other organisms.

Section 1: What Causes Air Section 1: What Causes Air PollutionPollution

What are the main sources of air What are the main sources of air pollution?pollution?

Describe how smog formsDescribe how smog forms Explain what a temperature inversion Explain what a temperature inversion

is and how it can make are pollution is and how it can make are pollution worse.worse.

TERMS: primary and secondary air TERMS: primary and secondary air pollution, catalytic converter, ZEVs, pollution, catalytic converter, ZEVs, smog, temperature inversionsmog, temperature inversion

What Causes Air Pollution?

Air pollution is harmful substances in the air

To plants, animals and other organisms

Impact ecosystem functions

WHAT SHOULD BE IN THE AIR?

Some Natural Most Human Made

Can you think of other human made AND natural sources of air pollution?

Primary vs. Secondary

Primary pollutant: put directly in the air

(soot from smoke)

Secondary forms when primary pollutant react with other pollutants

(Smog)

Primary vs. Secondary

Primary vs. Secondary

Major Classes of Air Pollution Table 1Carbon Oxides (CO and CO2)Sulfur Oxides (SO2)Nitrogen Oxides (NO and NO2)Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs – CFCs)Suspended Particulate Matter (soot, dust, asbestos, lead etc.)Photochemical Oxidants (ozone O3)Radioactive Substances (Radon)Hazardous Air Pollutants (carcinogens, etc.)

Sources of Air PollutionMain Sources of Air

Pollution Burning fossil fuels

in cars and at power plants (coal, oil and natural gas)

Urban areas vehicles and industry

Mobile vs. Stationary Sources

What can you learn from this graph?

Human Made vs. Natural

History of Air Pollution

Not a new problem Why do you think

world air-quality today is a bigger problem?

History of Air Pollution Not a “new” problem,

but scale has changed during industrial revol.

London “smog” killed 2,000 in 1880, 1,000 in 1911 and between 4,000 and 12,000 in 1952

1948 Donora PA 6,000 sick

1963 NYC 300 killed

Today’s U.S. Air Quality

http://airnow.gov/U.S. Government Web Site With Up To Minute Air Quality

Data From Monitors Across the country

http://www.epa.gov/air/data/geosel.html

U.S. EPA Air Quality Data: Tons of data regarding air quality across the U.S.

http://www.epa.gov/airtrends/EPA report on air trends in U.S.

Smog(Smoky – Fog) Smog Secondary

Pollutant in many urban areas

Forms from chemical reaction

Vehicle exhaust Needs sunlight and

warm temperatures OZONE

SmogVOCs + NOx + heat + Sunlight = Ground Level

Ozone (O3)

Huge Problem in cities like LA…WHY?

Smog Levels Are Influenced By:Local climateTopographyPopulation DensityAmount of industryTransportation

Smog: Why care?Smog Impacts:Breathing ProblemsCoughing, Eye IrritationAggravates asthma, heart problemsSpeeds up aging of lung tissueDamage plantsReduce Visibility

Smog and Temperature Inversion

Normally as you go up in the troposphere what happens to temperature?Temperature

Inversion occurs when a warmer layer forms above a cooler layer

•Traps air near ground

Temperature Inversion

Helena Montana

Clean Air Act U.S. Law Passed

Congress in 1970 and strengthened 1990

Has been huge success

93% lower Pb, 41% CO, 40% VOCs, 34% PM-10, 33% SO2, 15% NOx, 14% O3, PM-2.5 8%

Clean Air Act

Cars today are about 95% cleaner running

Zero-Emission Vehicles (ZEV)

Have no tailpipe emissions

Chevy Volt 2010: will travel 30 miles on a battery before gas engine kicks in

Nissan Leaf travels about 100 miles before needing to be charged again

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f48x9baSuF0

Clean Air Act

Requires industries to clean up smokestack emissions

Requires Scrubbers

Scrubbers

Monitors like these can tell us air quality data in real time

Section 1 Review

What are the main sources of air What are the main sources of air pollution?pollution?

Describe how smog formsDescribe how smog forms Explain what a temperature inversion Explain what a temperature inversion

is and how it can make are pollution is and how it can make are pollution worse.worse.

TERMS: primary and secondary air TERMS: primary and secondary air pollution, catalytic converter, ZEVs, pollution, catalytic converter, ZEVs, smog, temperature inversionsmog, temperature inversion

Dehli’s Daunting Air Problem

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/business/2010/08/24/qmb.future.cities.delhi.air.cnn.html

Section 2 Air, Noise and Light Pollution

GOALS: Describe human health impacts of air

pollution. What is indoor air pollution? Why is noise pollution and light pollution

a problem? TERMS: sick-building syndrome, asbestos,

decibel.

How do we breathe?

CNN Human Health and Air

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/16/urban.toxic.air/index.html?eref=rss_latest&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_latest+%28RSS%3A+Most+Recent%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

Short-term health impacts

Short term exposure to air pollution include:

Headache, nausea, eye and throat irritation, coughing

Asthma attacks

Short-term Impacts

Long-term impacts

Long term exposure to air pollution can lead to

Lung cancer other lung diseases, heart disease, emphysema, premature death

Elderly and children most at risk

Normal looking lung

Lung term smoker exposed to air pollution

Indoor Air Pollution

Air quality is sometimes worse inside our homes and buildings

People spend 70-98% of time indoors

Sick Building Syndrome

Buildings with poor air quality and poor ventilation

Headache Fatigue Runny nose Fixed with improved

ventilation, cleaning air ducts, opening windows

Sources of indoor air pollutionPlastics, carpets, cleaning fluids, radon

Indoor Air Pollution: Radon

Radon: colorless, odorless gas

Naturally occurring in certain rocks

Seeps into homes through cracks

Carcinogen (Causes Cancer)

NJ, of the annual 4,700 lung cancer deaths, as many as 140-250 may be associated with radon exposure.

Indoor Air Pollution: Asbestos

Naturally occurring Long thin fibers Used for many

years for insulation and fire retardant

When inhaled can cause cancer and other lung problems

Scars the lungs when inhaled

Asbestos in El Dorado, CA

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=692139n

Noise Pollution

Common in most urban areas

Can lead to stress, high blood pressure and hearing loss

12% of teens have permanent hearing loss

WHY DO YOU THINK?

Light Pollution

Common in urban areas

Has a negative impact on our environment

Energy wasted Solutions?

Review Section 2

Describe human health impacts of air pollution.

What is indoor air pollution? Why is noise pollution and light

pollution a problem? TERMS: sick-building syndrome,

asbestos, decibel.

Section 3 Acid Precipitation

GOALS: Explain how acid precipitation is caused Describe the impacts of acid

precipitation Identify ways that the acid precipitation

problems can be solved TERMS: acid precipitation, pH and acid

shock

pH

Is a number scale used to measure how acidic or basic a substance is.

0 to 14

Acid Precipitation

Rain, snow, sleet, freezing rain or hail with high concentration of acids

Tap Water pH = 7 “Normal” rain pH =

5-6 Acid rain pH below 5

Acid Rain

Secondary Pollutant

Sulfur and Nitrogen oxides

Main source of Sulfur Dioxide in U.S. is coal burning at power plants

Impacts of Acid Precipitation Damages soil and

aquatic ecosystems

Damages statues and buildings

Destroys forests

Acid Precipitation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP-sU8i2edo

Good news : Clean Air Act in U.S. has led to much lower SO2 and NOx pollution

Section 3 Review

Explain how acid precipitation is caused

Describe the impacts of acid precipitation

Identify ways that the acid precipitation problems can be solved

TERMS: acid precipitation, pH and acid shock

What will be the future?