Download Air Pollutants

Carbon Monoxide
Lead
Nitrogen Oxides
Ozone
Particulate Matter
Sulfur Dioxide
VOC
• Properties:
colorless,
odorless,
heavier than
air, 0.0036% of
atmosphere
• Effects: binds
tighter to Hb
than O2,
mental
functions and
visual acuity,
even at low
levels
• 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/yea
r
• 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/yea
r
•
• 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 @
higher
temperatures,
power plants,
forest fires,
volcanoes,
bacteria in soil
• Class: Nitrogen
oxides (NOx)
• EPA Standard:
0.053 ppm
• 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 ,
photocopiers,
cars, industry,
gas vapors,
chemical
solvents,
incomplete fuel
combustion
products
• Class:
photochemical
oxidants
•
• 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)
•
• 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
•
• Properties: organic
compounds
(hydrocarbons) that
evaporate easily, usually
aromatic
• Effects: eye and
respiratory irritants;
carcinogenic; liver, CNS,
or kidney damage;
damages plants; lowered
visibility due to brown
haze; global warming
• Sources: vehicles (largest
source), evaporation of
solvents or fossil fuels,
aerosols, paint thinners,
dry cleaning
• Class: HAPs (Hazardous
Air Pollutants)
• Methane
• Benzene
• Chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs), etc.
• Concentrations indoors
up to 1000x outdoors
• 600 million tons of CFCs
•
1. Pollutant
2. Chemical Reaction
3. Carbon Monoxide (CO)
4. 2 C + O2
5. Carbon Dioxide (CO 2)
6. C + O 2 ------ 2 CO 2
7. Nitric Oxide (NO)
8. N2
9. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
10.2NO + O2 ----------- 2NO 2
11.Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
12.S + O2
------2 CO
+ O2 -------- 2NO
---------------- SO2
Air Pollutant
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Source
Fuel combustion from vehicles and engines.
Volcanoes
Category
Primary and Biggest Pollutant EPA CP
Effects
Prevent oxygen from binding to heomoglobin
Anc result In more CH4 and O3
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
SO2 come from fuel combustion (especially
high-sulfur coal); electric utilities and industrial
processes as well as and natural occurances like
volcanoes.
This is formed through chemical reactions, fuel
combustion (e.g., burning coal, wood, diesel),
industrial processes, farming (plowing, field
constructions.
EPA CP (4th biggest)
Aggravates asthma and makes breathing
difficult.It also contributes to particle formation
with associated health effects.
EPA CP
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
Fuel combustion (transportation, electric utilities,
big industrial boilers, vehicles) and wood burning.
EPA CP Primary secondary pollutant (second biggest)
Major greenhouse gase
Short-term exposures can worsen heart or lung
diseases and cause respiratory problems. Longterm exposures can cause heart or lung disease
and sometimes premature deaths.burning), and
unpaved roads or during road
Worsens lung diseases leading to respiratory
symptoms, increased susceptibility to respiratory
infection.
(N2 + O--)IncreaseTemp
Acid precipitation and smog
Lead (Pb)
Smelters (metal refineries) and other metal
industries; combustion of leaded gasoline in piston
engine aircraft; waste incinerators (waste burners),
and battery manufacturing.
EPA CP
Damages the developing nervous system,
resulting in IQ loss and impacts on learning,
memory, and behavior in children.
Cardiovascular and renal effects in adults and
early effects related to anaemia.
Ground-level Ozone (O3)
Released from photocopiers, elect equip.
Secondary pollutant formed by chemical reaction
of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and NOx in
the presence of sunlight.
EPA CP & GHG
Results from sun, heat, NOx- Major component of smog.
CO2 Carbon dioxide
Naturally from respiration & burning fossil fuels
and forest fires, volcanoes
Major component of natural gas, landfills, cows
Major indoor pollutant-paints, solvents, carpets,
electronics
GHG
Low level bad
High level good Decreases lung function and
causes respiratory symptoms, such as coughing
and shortness of breath, and also makes asthma
and other lung diseases get worse.
Headache, drowsiness and fatigue
Particulate Matter (PM)
CH4 Methane
VOC volatile Organic
compounds- includes
hydrocarbonsHg Mercury
CFC chloroflourocarbon
Naturally occurring, burning coal
Refrigerants, propellents,
GHG- Major greenhouse gas
(third biggest)
GHG Montreal Protocol eliminated except for Brazil and
China
Headahed, drousiness, fatique
Possible carcinogen, decrease immune syst, resp
problems
Nerve damage + bioaccumulates
Destroys upperlevel ozone