Transcript Chapter 23
Bellwork 3/10 * Week 10 Please turn your lab notebooks into TBG 1. What are the two general major categories/sources of air pollution? 2. Please include examples in your answers. Hint: Read page 526 Air Pollution Outdoor Air Pollution Stationary and Mobile Sources of Air Pollution • Two Sources of Air Pollution 1. Stationary Sources: have a relatively fixed location • Point Sources: • Fugitive Sources: • Area Sources: 2. Mobile Sources: move from place to place while emitting pollutants • Ex) Airplanes General Effects of Air Pollution • • • • • Visual quality of the environment Vegetation, Animals, Soil Water Quality Natural and Artificial Structures Human Heath Human Health & Air Pollution Primary and Secondary Pollutants, Natural and Human • Primary Pollutants – Those emitted directly into the air – Hydrocarbons, particulates, etc. • Secondary Pollutants – Produced through reactions between primary pollutants and normal atmospheric compounds – Ozone Major Air Pollutants 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Sulfur Dioxide (acid rain) Nitrogen Dioxide / Nitrogen Oxide Carbon Monoxide Ozone and Other Photochemical Oxidants Volatile Organic Compounds Particulate Matter Hydrogen Sulfide Hydrogen Fluoride Hazardous Gases Lead Outdoor Air Pollutants – Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) • Properties: colorless gas with irritating odor • Effects: produces acid rain (H2SO4), breathing difficulties, eutrophication due to sulfate formation, lichen and moss are indicators • Sources: burning high sulfur coal or oil, smelting or metals, paper manufacture • Class: sulfur oxides • EPA Standard: 0.3 ppm (annual mean) • Combines with water and NH4 to increase soil fertility Outdoor Air Pollutants – Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) • Properties: reddish brown gas, formed as fuel burnt in car, strong oxidizing agent, forms Nitric acid in air • Effects: acid rain, lung and heart problems, decreased visibility (yellow haze), suppresses plant growth • Sources: fossil fuels combustion, power plants, forest fires, volcanoes, bacteria in soil • Class: Nitrogen oxides (NOx) • EPA Standard: 0.053 ppm Outdoor Air Pollutants – Carbon Monoxide (CO) • Properties: colorless, odorless, heavier than air, 0.0036% of atmosphere • Effects: binds tighter to Hb than O2 • Sources: incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. 60 - 95% from auto exhaust • Class: carbon oxides (CO2, CO) • EPA Standard: 9 ppm • 5.5 billion tons enter atmosphere/year Outdoor Air Pollutants – Ozone (O3) • Properties: colorless, unpleasant odor, major part of photochemical smog • Effects: lung irritant, damages plants, rubber, fabric, eyes, 0.1 ppm can lower PSN by 50% • Sources: Created by sunlight acting on NOx and VOC , cars, industry, gas vapors, chemical solvents, fuel combustion products • Class: photochemical oxidants Outdoor Air Pollutants – Suspended Particulate Matter (PM10) • Properties: particles suspended in air (<10 um) • Effects: lung damage, mutagenic, carcinogenic, teratogenic • Sources: burning coal or diesel, volcanoes, factories, unpaved roads, plowing, lint, pollen, spores, burning fields • Class: SPM: dust, soot, asbestos, lead, PCBs, dioxins, pesticides • EPA Standard: 50 ug/m3 (annual mean) Size of Selected Particulates Total Suspended Particulates (TSP) for several large countries Outdoor Air Pollutants – VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) • Properties: organic compounds that evaporate easily, usually aromatic • Effects: eye and respiratory irritants; carcinogenic; decreased visibility due to brown haze; liver, CNS, or kidney damage; damages plants • Sources: evaporation of solvents or fuels, fossil fuels, plants (largest source), aerosols, paint thinners, dry cleaning • Class: HAPs (Hazardous Air Pollutants) • Concentrations indoors up to 1000x outdoors • 600 million tons of CFCs Outdoor Air Pollutants – Lead (Pb) • Properties: grayish metal • Effects: accumulates in tissue; affects kidneys, liver and nervous system (children most susceptible); mental retardation; possible carcinogen; 20% of inner city kids have [high] • Sources: particulates, smelters, batteries • Class: toxic or heavy metals • EPA Standard: 1.5 ug/m3 • 2 million tons enter atmosphere/year US Emissions of Six Major Air Pollutants Note that there have been significant reductions. Urban Air Pollution • Potential for Air Pollution Determined by: – – – – Rate of emission Downwind distance Average wind speed Elevation • Atmospheric Inversion: – Occurs when warmer air is found above cooler air and it poses a particular problem when there is a stagnant air mass Factors that influence Air Pollution formation and intensity • Local climate (inversions, air pressure, temperature, humidity) • Topography (hills and mountains) • Population density • Amount of industry • Fuels used by population and industry for heating, manufacturing, transportation, power • Weather: rain, snow,wind • Buildings (slow wind speed) • Mass transit used • Economics Questions 1. How would you define smog? 2. What are the two types of smog and how do they form? Hint: Read pages 540-541 Smog • Smog – A mixture between smoke and fog that produces unhealthy urban air • Two Types – Sulfurous Smog / Industrial Smog / Fossil Fuels – Photochemical Smog / Sunlight & Pollutants Formation of Industrial Smog Formation of Industrial Smog Procedure 1. Carbon in coal or oil burned 2. Unburned carbon -> soot 3. Sulfur in oil and coal reacts with O2 Chemical Reaction C + O2 -> CO2 2C + O2 -> CO C S + O2 -> SO2 Formation of Industrial Smog Procedure 4. Sulfur dioxide reacts with O2 to form sulfur trioxide 5. Sulfur trioxide reacts with H2O 6. Sulfuric acid reacts with atmospheric ammonia to form brown, solid ammonium sulfate Chemical Reaction 2SO2 + O2 -> 2SO3 SO3 + H2O -> H2SO4 H2SO4 + 2NH3 -> (NH4)2SO4 Formation of Photochemical Smog Formation of Photochemical Smog Time Description 6 - 9 A.M. Morning commute increases NOx and VOCs N2 + O2 -> 2 NO NO + VOC -> NO2 NO2 -UV-> NO + O 9 - 11 A.M As traffic decreases NOx and VOCs react 2NO + O2 -> 2NO2 Time Description 11 A.M. As sunlight becomes intense, NO2 breaks down – 4 P.M. and Ozone increases NO2 -UV-> NO + O O2 + O -> O3 Nitrogen dioxide also forms nitric acid 3NO2 + H2O -> 2 H2NO3 + NO 11 A.M. Nitrogen dioxide also reacts with VOCs released – 4 P.M. by autos, industry, etc. NO2 + VOCs -> 2 PANs Peroyacyl nitrates (toxic) 4 P.M. - As sun goes down the production of ozone halts sunset Net Result: NO + VOC + O2 + UV -> O3 + PAN Pollution Control • Particulates • Automobiles • Sulfur Dioxide – Coal Gasification: converts coal to gas to remove sulfur – Scrubbing: gas desulfurization Air Pollution: Legislation and Standards • Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 – Comprehensive regulations enacted by U.S congress that address acid rain, toxic emissions, ozone depletion and automobile exhaust • Air Quality Standards – Attempt to control air pollution • Tougher Standards for PM 2.5 and Ozone • Air Quality Index Specific Air Pollution Treatment Technology • Traditional – Move factory to remote location – Build taller smokestack so wind blows pollution elsewhere • New – Biofiltration : vapors pumped through soil where microbes degrade – High-energy destruction: high-voltage electricity – Membrane separation: diffusion of organic vapors through membrane – Oxidation: High temperature combustor Specific Air Pollution Treatment Technology Continued… • New continued… – Vapor phase carbon absorption: gases pumped through series of carbon filled canisters which absorb contaminants – Electrostatic precipitators: Electrostatically charged surfaces attracts particles – Sulfur removal: mix crushed limestone with fuel – Nitrogen oxide control: staged burners or catalytic converters – Hydrocarbon control: closed system to prevent release before treatment with afterburners – Hybrid, electric and hydrogen powered vehicles Air Pollution Indoor Air Pollution Pathways, Processes and Driving Forces • Chimney Effect (Stack Effect) – Process whereby warmer air rises in buildings to upper levels and is replaced in the lower portion of the building by outdoor air drawn through a variety of openings, such as windows doors or cracks in the foundation or walls Sick Building Syndrome • A condition associated with an indoor environment that appears to be unhealthy • The symptoms people report cannot be traced to any one particular cause Environmental Tobacco Smoke • Secondhand smoke • 2 sources – Smoke exhaled by smokers – Smoke emitted from burning tobacco • The most hazardous indoor pollutant Questions Read a closer look 25.1 (p 562-3) 1. Please explain why radon is a problem? 2. Is radon a large hazard? If so why? If not, why? Hint: Read pages 540-541 Radon Gas • Radon – Naturally occurring radioactive gas – Colorless, odorless, tasteless – Only identified through proper testing • Health hazard when leaked into homes • Exposure is associated with lung cancer How Radon Enters Houses Please read page 574 and explain how radon enters houses. Major Indoor Pollutants 1, 1, 1Aerosol sprays Trichloroethane Dizziness, breathing irregularities Asbestos Pipe insulation, ceilings, floor tiles, oven mitts Lung Cancer and asbestosis Benzo-apyrene Tobacco smoke, woodstoves Lung Cancer Carbon Monoxide Faulty furnaces, cigarette smoke Headache, heartbeat irregularities, death, CO has 250x affinity for Hb than O2 Major Indoor Pollutants Continued… Chloroform Pulp and paper mills, water and wastewater plants Cancer Formaldehyde Paneling, particle board, furniture, carpeting, adhesives Nausea, dizziness, irritation of throat, eyes, and lungs Methylene chloride Paint strippers and thinner – persistent Nerve disorders, diabetes Nitrogen oxides Furnaces, stoves, fireplaces and vents Headaches, irritated lungs Paradichlorobenzene Air fresheners, mothballs Cancer Major Indoor Pollutants Continued… Radon – 22 Soil and rock near house foundation, concrete Carpets, plastics, Lung cancer Tetrachlorethylene Dry-cleaning fluid Nerve disorders, damage to liver and kidneys, cancer Tobacco Smoke Cigarettes and other smoking sources Lung cancer and heart disease Organic Material Dust mites, fungal and algal spores, dust (human skin), animal dander, hair, carpet fibers, fur Allergies, coughs, sneezing, eye irritation, sore throats, difficulty breathing Styrene http://www.metricmind.com/ac_honda/main.htm Kidney and liver damage