7.1: Introduction to Air Pollution Flashcards
Air Pollution Definition
Introducing substances into the atmosphere at quantities that cause harm to plants, animals, or disrupts ecosystems.
The Air Pollution Control Act of 1955
It recognized the problem of air pollution and provided funds for research into the problem in response to the air pollution event of 1948
Clean Air Act of 1963
Reasearched air pollution monitoring and control
Clean Air Act of 1970
The National Environmental Protection Agency and the Clean Air Act of 1970 established the Environmental Protection Agency and allowed them to regulate air pollution and the six criteria pollutants.
What are the six criteria pollutants?
- Ozone
- Carbon Monoxide
- Nitrogen Dioxide
- Sulfur Dioxide
- Particulate Matter
- Lead
Why was carbon dioxide not one of the six criteria pollutants?
It doesn’t directly lower air quality, it isn’t toxic to breathe, not damaging to lungs/eyes, doesn’t lead to smog. However, it is a GHG because it leads to Earth warming which causes environmental and human helath conequences
Primary Pollutants and examples
They are emitted directly from a source like an exhaust pipe, a smokestack. Examples include nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide
Secondary Pollutants and examples
They are formed when pollutants in the atm. react with water, light, oxygen. Examples include ozone, sulfuric acid (H2So4), nitric acid (HNO3)
Formula for sulfur dioxide
SO2
Natural and Anthropogenic sources of SO2, impacts
Natural: Volcanoes, forest fires
Anthropogenic: Combustion of coal, diesel fuels
* Sulfur dioxide can cause respiratory irritation and cardiovascular disease.
* It can react with water vapor in the air to form sulfuric acid rain which harms aquatic life and dissolves nutrients like magnesium and calcium which plants need to be healthy.
Formula for nitrogen oxides
NOx
Natural and Anthropogenic sources of NOx, impacts
Natural: Lightning, Volcanoes, Microbial activity during decomp process
Anthropogenic: Combustion of fossil fuels, motor vehicles
* On its own, NOx are a respiratory irritant.
* It can react with other molecules to form nitric acid which contributes to acid rain and lead to the production of ozone, formation of photochemical smog
Formula for carbon monoxide
CO
Natural and Anthropogenic sources of CO, impacts
Natural: Forest fires, volcanic eruptions
Anthropogenic: Combustion of most matter (diesel fuel in cars, natural gas, charcoal, manure)
* It causes headaches and dizziness, asphyxiates by blocking red blood cells from accessing oxygen
Natural and Anthropogenic sources of Particulate Matter, impacts
Natural: Rock-crushing, volcanoes, dust storms, fires
Anthropogenic: Combustion of fossil fuels and biomass
* PM can block sunlight and thereby photosynthesis which affects food chain from the primary level
* PM2.5 is a greater health concern as its small size means it can lodge more deeply in the respiratory tract
* PM10 is too small to be filtered by the resp tract and is a health concern
