Air Pollution

Air Pollution

By: Rebekah Elmuza

Air Pollution

• The introduction of toxic chemicals into the atmosphere.– Damages natural environment.– Causes health problems in living things. – Classified as primary, secondary, and

particulate pollutants.

Primary Pollution• The emission of substances

directly into the environment.– Volcanic-release ash.– Motor vehicles-carbon

monoxide.– Factories-sulfur dioxide.

Secondary Pollution

• Not emitted directly to the air, water, or soil.– Formed when primary pollutants react in the

atmosphere.

• They are synthesized in the environment by:– chemical reactions such as nitrogen dioxide.– emitted chemicals such as ozone (gas &

strong oxidant).

Particulate Pollution

• Complex mixture of small particles and liquid droplets. – Causes health problems

• Two categories of particle pollution:– Inhalable coarse particles – Fine particles

Ozone Depletion

• The ozone is a gas that helps protect Earth from UV-Radiation.

• Harmful substances involve:– Coolants– Foaming agents– Fire extinguishers– Solvents– Pesticides – Aerosol Propellants

Acid Rain

•Any form of precipitation with high levels of nitric and sulfuric acid.•Also occurs in the form of snow and fog.

•Most causes are from the burning of fossil fuels, rotting vegetation, and erupting volcanoes.

Acid Rain effects: •Water acidity•Sinks into the soil•Damages forests

http://www.canadiangeographic.com/atlas/themes.aspx?id=SHIELD&sub=SHIELD_FEATURES_DELUGE&lang=En

Diagram

The Clean Air Act

• Federal law designed to protect, improve, and regulate the nation’s air quality.– First created in 1970. – Helps stratospheric

ozone layer.– Protects public well-

being.

World Pollution• In general, these are the most polluted

places in the world since they are industrialized and have a careless attitude towards the environment.

• Some of the most polluted places in the world include:

• Dzerzinsk, Russia • Kabwe, Zambia • Haina, Dominican Republic

• Rudnaya Pristan and Dalnegorsk, Russia

• Mailuu-Suu, Kyrgystan

Norilsk, RussiaRanipet, India

La Orova, Peru

Examples

• In 1986 Chernobyl Ukraine had a nuclear disaster which left the area uninhabitable.

• In Linfen China, air quality is poor due to the burning of coal.

United States Pollution

• Top most polluted cities include:– Los Angeles, CA.– Bakersfield, CA.– Pittsburgh, PA.– Fresno, CA.– Birmingham, AL.– Detroit, MI.

Los Angeles, CA Pittsburg, PA

Acid Rain in the U.S.• This is a big concern in the eastern half of the U.S.– Occurs in

industrialized and urbanized areas.

– Most effected areas include:

• New York• Pennsylvania• Maryland• Virginia

Acid Rain Globally• Other areas

affected:– Southeastern

section of Canada (Toronto-Hamilton area)

– Central Europe– Scandanavia

(Sweden, Norway, Finland)

– Asia (India and China)

Europe

Health Problems of Air Pollution• Short-term effects

include:– Irritation in eyes, nose,

and throat– Headaches– Nausea– Allergic reactions

• Long-Term effects include:– Chronic respiratory

disease– Lung cancer– Heart disease– Damage to brain,

nerves, liver or kidneys

References• "Acid Rain." National Geographic. N.p., 2010. Web. 18

Feb. 2010.      <http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/      acid-rain-overview/>.

• The Acid Rain Report. angelfire.com, n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2010.      <http://www.angelfire.com/ks3/acidrainreport/acid.html>.

• "Air Polution." Wikipedia. N.p., 18 Feb. 2010. Web. 18 Feb. 2010.      <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_pollution#Pollutants>.

• Web link"Clean Air Act." US Eviromental Protection Agency. N.p., 18 Feb. 2010. Web. 18      Feb. 2010. <http://www.epa.gov/air/caa/>.

• "Good Up High." US Enviromental Protection Agency. N.p., 3 Sept. 2009. Web. 18      Feb. 2010. <http://www.epa.gov/oar/oaqps/gooduphigh/good.html#1>.

• "How can air pollution hurt my health?" Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's      ELSI Project. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, n.d. Web. 18 Feb.      2010. <http://www.lbl.gov/Education/ELSI/Frames/      pollution-health-effects-f.html>.

• "Indoor and Outdoor Air Pollution." Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's ELSI      Project. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2010.      <http://www.lbl.gov/Education/ELSI/pollution-main.html>.

• "Particulate Matter." US Enviromental Protection Agency. N.p., 15 Jan. 2009.      Web. 18 Feb. 2010. <http://www.epa.gov/oar/particlepollution/>.

• "Pittsburgh and Los Angeles the Most Polluted US Cities." City Mayors. N.p., 17      May 2009. Web. 18 Feb. 2010. <http://www.citymayors.com/environment/      polluted_uscities.html>.

• "Secondary Pollutants." JRank. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2010.      <http://science.jrank.org/pages/6028/Secondary-Pollutants.html>.

• Wolfe, Elizabeth. "The 10 Most Polluted Cities in the World."      sayiamgreen.com. N.p., 2009. Web. 18 Feb. 2010.      <http://sayiamgreen.com/blog/2009/09/      the-10-most-polluted-cities-in-the-world/>.

• Woods, Sable. "What Region of the United States Is Most Affected by Acid Rain?"      ehow.com. N.p., 2010. Web. 18 Feb. 2010. <http://www.ehow.com/      facts_4965252_united-states-affected-acid-rain.html>.