Clean Air?

ENS102D

February 27, 2006

Do we have an air quality problem?

• 1. Our air is cleaner than it was 10 - 50 years ago.

Do we have an air quality problem?

• 1. Our air is cleaner than it was 10 - 50 years ago.

Do we have an air quality problem?

• 2. We know now that our air is not clean either.

Do we have an air quality problem?

• 2. We know now that our air quality varies daily and seasonally.

Air Pollutants

• Six Criteria Pollutants (1970 Clean Air Act)– Ozone– SO2

– CO– Particulate Matter– NO2

– Pb

Air Pollutants

• Air Toxics – 160+ substances that cause health problems– Regional Haze - visual and aesthetic quality– Acid Rain - monitoring since 1983 in MN

Pollutant Name

Sources1°or 2°

Interactions Reactions

Levels Impacts

Importance

Control

Pollutant Profiles

• Your assignment for today's class– Find as much information about your pollutant and

develop your pollutant profile.– Explain the pollutant information that helps us to

understand the source, the problem, and the solution.– A starter slide is available for download in Blackboard

"in-class" Discussion area. Upload your profile here when done.

Pollutant list

• SO2

• NOx

• Pb• Particulates (PM)• Ozone• VOC• CO• PAN

• SMOG• acid precipitants

– H2SO4

– HNO3

• Industrial Toxics

Your Findings:

Pb - LeadPollutant Name

Sources1°or 2°

Interactions Reactions

Levels Impacts

Importance

Control

•Pb or Lead •An Element which occurs naturally with other elements and must be extracted. Lead can be used as a secondary source when added to other things like gas.

•Lead by it self is very hazardous to eat, and inhale. May cause nerve, brain and blood disorders; dementia, and even schizophrenia. Lead also is harmful for women's reproduction purposes.

•It is bad or harmful in any amount. Old house paint that has lead in it is suggested to be removed but not by sanding because inhaling it would be hazardous.

•Lead has been found in candy and wine as a sweetener.

•Added to gas.

•Pipes in houses.

•Pencils.

•Lead is not distributed to women in work areas because of the effects it might have on them reproductively.

•In ceramic glazes

•Lead acid batteries

•Most western countries have removed lead from every thing it was in, because it is so extremely harmful.

Pollutant NamePollutant Name

Source1°or 2°

Interactions Reactions

Levels Impacts

Importance

Control

•Carbon Monoxide

•1° •When CO enters your bloodstream through your lungs, it cuts off oxygen to your organs and tissue

•30 ppm permissible over 8 hours

•200 ppm is lethal over 2 hours of exposure

•Poisonous because of ability to bind hemoglobin and block oxygen delivery to tissues

•NAAQS standard for how much can be emitted into the atmosphere

•9 ppm/8 hours

Particulates (PM)Pollutant Name

Sources1°or 2°

Interactions Reactions

Levels Impacts

Importance

Control

•Suspended Particulate Matter (Particulates)

•Smoke

•Soot

•Metals

•Dust

•Salts

•Atmospheric reaction of gasses

•Carbon from combustion

•Dirt from wind erosion

•It is a primary pollutant

•Effects respiration

•Potentially carcinogenic

•Impair visibility

•Cut down on carbon monoxide output

•Reduce combustion by using less coal and gas

Nitrogen Oxides - NOxPollutant Name

Sources1°or 2°

Interactions Reactions

Levels Impacts

Importance

Control

•NOx

•Nitrogen Oxides

•1 (primary pollutant)

•It absorbs light

•Nitrogen gas combines with oxygen at high temperatures (gas, oil, coal combustion) to form NOx

•NOx may react with water to produce acids that are components of acid rain.

•NOx can also react with other pollutants to produce photochemical oxidants including PAN.

•NO and NO2 range from .5 to 2 ppm

•Seasonal trends can also occur.

•Responsible for the brownish color of photochemical smog.

•Crucial to the generation of ozone.

•NO is a non-irritating gas, but NO2 is toxic and can cause respiratory problems.

•May cause direct and indirect injury to plants and animals.

•Ozone Transport Rule which sets NOx budgets for Midwestern and Southern states due to coal-fired power plants.

US Emissions of Air PollutantsNOx

Major Pollutants from VehiclesNOx

NOx Sources

• Environmental Science by Richard T. Wright

• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency website

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)

Pollutant Name

Sources1°or 2°

Interactions Reactions

Levels Impacts

Importance

Control

–VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds)

•Cleaning Supplies, Paint, Office Equipment, Wax, Disinfectants , Incomplete combustion of fossil fuels

•Left over Carbon particles; various unburned fragments of fuel molecules remain; these are the VOC emissions

•44.1% Industrial

•41.7% Transportation

•7.2% Mis.

•6.6% Fuel Combustion

•Health Effects such as: Eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches, loss of coordination, nausea; damage to liver, kidney, and central nervous system. Studies have found that levels of several organics average 2 to 5 times higher indoors than outdoors. During and for several hours immediately after certain activities, such as paint stripping, levels may be 1,000 times background outdoor levels.

•Catalytic converter

•Gov’t reg.

•Individual households regulations

Pollutant Name

– VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds)

VOC Sources

• Cleaning Supplies, Paint, Office Equipment, Wax, Disinfectants , Incomplete combustion of fossil fuels

• Household products including: paints, paint strippers, and other solvents; wood preservatives; aerosol sprays; cleansers and disinfectants; moth repellents and air fresheners; stored fuels and automotive products; hobby supplies; dry-cleaned clothing.

VOC Interaction Reactions

• Left over Carbon particles; various unburned fragments of fuel molecules remain; these are the VOC emissions

VOC Levels

• 44.1% Industrial

• 41.7% Transportation

• 7.2% Mis.

• 6.6% Fuel Combustion

VOC Impacts Importance

• Health Effects such as: Eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches, loss of coordination, nausea; damage to liver, kidney, and central nervous system. Studies have found that levels of several organics average 2 to 5 times higher indoors than outdoors. During and for several hours immediately after certain activities, such as paint stripping, levels may be 1,000 times background outdoor levels.

VOC Control

• Innovations in transportation to increase complete combustion of fossil fuels (catalytic converter)

• Clean Air Act of 1970, 1990 (amendment)- Gov’t regulations• Use household products according to manufacturer's directions. • Make sure you provide plenty of fresh air when using these products. • Throw away unused or little-used containers safely; buy in quantities that you

will use soon. • Keep out of reach of children and pets. • Never mix household care products unless directed on the label.

• Health Effects such as: Eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches, loss of coordination, nausea; damage to liver, kidney, and central nervous system.

• Studies have found that levels of several organics average 2 to 5 times higher indoors than outdoors. During and for several hours immediately after certain activities, such as paint stripping, levels may be 1,000 times background outdoor levels.

VOC

VOC

OzonePollutant Name

Sources1°or 2°

Interactions Reactions

Levels Impacts

Importance

Control

•Ozone •From industrial processes, transportation, fuel combustion comes volatile organic compounds (VOC) and nitrogen oxide

•VOC and nitrogen oxide accumulate under still, sunny conditions

•Map on slide three

•Higher in areas with a higher population and in more industrial areas

•Harms plants, trees, and crops

•Deteriorates products made of rubber and certain fabrics

•Contributes to many health effects (eye irritation, lung problems, reduce immune system, etc.)

•Because vehicles contribute to both VOC and nitrogen emission the reduction in vehicle use is important

•Control amounts of transportation use (carpool, bicycle/walk, public transportation)

•Switch to a less polluting vehicle

Pollutant Name

Sources1°or 2°

Interactions Reactions

Levels Impacts

Importance

Control

•Sulfur Dioxide

•SO2

•Coal burning plants

•Burning petroleum

•Naturally, such as volcanoes

•SO2 rises in the atmosphere and combines with water and atmospheric oxygen to form Sulfuric Acid, or H2SO4 (Acid rain)

•18,867,000 short tons of sulfur in 1999

•Down from 31,161,000 short tons in 1970

•Decrease of 33%

•Sulfur dioxide can affect breathing, cause respiratory illness, and aggravate existing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases

•Levels released into the atmosphere should be regulated by the government and kept under control

HNO3: Nitric Acid

What is Acid Rain and What Causes It?

Nitric AcidPollutant Name

Sources1°or 2°

Interactions Reactions

Levels Impacts

Importance

Control

•Nitric Acid (HNO3)

•Burning fossil fuels

•Tailpipe emissions

•Coal power plants

•Manufacture of explosives

•Fertilizers

•Metallurgy

•HNO3 oxidized by hydroxyl radicals which dissolve readily in water for absorb to particles and are brought down to earth in acid deposition

•Toxid acid which can cause severe burns

•Found primarily in the western U.S. and western Canada

•Changes the ph level of lakes and soil (affects agriculture and fish)

•Reduces how far and how clearly we can see through the air (visibility reduction)

•Install filters in coal power plants

•Improve emissions from automobiles

•Utilize more alternative energy (wind, solar, hydro, etc.)

Sulfuric acid: H2SO4

Pollutant Name

Sources1°or 2°

Interactions Reactions

Levels Impacts

Importance

Control

•Sulfuric Acid

(H2SO4)

•Secondary pollutant

•Products of Sulfur Dioxide and Nitrogen Oxides

•Hydration Reaction•If water is added to concentrated sulfuric acid, it can boil and spit dangerously.

•5.6 on ph scale

•Lund Disease

•Plant growth stimulated

•Causes bronchitis and asthma

•Used for fertilizer manufacturing, ore processing, chemical synthesis, wastewater processing, and oil refining.

•The Department of Transportation forbids spent sulfuric acid to be transported on passenger-carrying aircraft or railcars. Sulfuric acid is a hazardous substance under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.

•Clean Air Act was to regulate emissions.

SmogPollutant Name

Sources1°or 2°

Interactions Reactions

Levels Impacts

Importance

Control

•Smog •Secondary •Result from sunlight driven chemical reactions among nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons (cars, gasoline, etc.)•Brownish haze•Grayish haze comes from moisture, soot, and sulfurous compounds that occurs in places with coal as a primary energy source

•Smog levels have been dropping in the last two years or so•In 2004 the smog levels were the lowest they’ve ever been•Levels can reach lethal levels under severe temperature inversions•Rainfall reduces smog

•Can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation•Coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath•Aggravates asthma and emphysema and other respiratory conditions•Impacts trees and other vegetation around the city•Farmers suffer damages•Outdoor activities should be done with caution

•Walk, cycle, car-pool, or take public transportation

•Turn off your car

•Turn off the lights

•Avoid aerosol sprays, oil-based paints, or other chemicals

•Limit trips in the car

PANPollutant Name

Sources1°or 2°

Interactions Reactions

Levels Impacts

Importance

Control

• PAN (Peroxyacetyl nitrates)

• secondary pollutant

• VOC, NOx

• From VOCs reacting with Nitric oxides instead of ozone

• formed from other pollutants in chemical reactions in the atmosphere

• In 2000, 533 thousands of tons which can react to make PAN

•eye irritant,

•said to be mutagenic, can be a cancer causing agent

• higher concentrations damage vegetation

• NOx will increase in next decade

• interest in monitoring Nitrogen