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21 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Incorrect Assumptions about Air PollutantsThere are threshold levels of tolerable air pollutants
Dilution is the solution to air pollution Air pollutants can be assimilated by nature Air pollutants do not travel Air pollution accidents will not happen |
-There are threshold levels of tolerable air pollutants
-Dilution is the solution to air pollution -Air pollutants can be assimilated by nature -Air pollutants do not travel -Air pollution accidents will not happen |
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Major components of atmosphere
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N2 = 78.08%; O2 = 20.95%; Ar = 0.93%; CO2 = 0.03%; water vapor = 1-4%
Smaller amounts of “trace gases” – O3, He, H, NO2, SO2, and Ne. Aerosols – dust, carbon particles, pollen, sea salts and microorganisms |
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Air pollutants
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gases and aerosols in the atmosphere that have harmful effects
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Level of air pollution determined by
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-The amount of pollutants entering the air
-The amount of space into which the pollutants dispersed -Mechanisms that remove pollutants from the air |
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Mechanisms of Atmospheric Cleansing
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Sea salts
Microorganisms Hydroxyl radical |
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-Industrial smog
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began in 1800s w/Industrial Rev.
Combination of smoke & fog Continues to be found wherever industries are concentrated and where coal is the 1° energy source -Found today in cities in China, Korea, and a number of Eastern European countries |
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Photochemical smog
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When several pollutants from auto exhaust acted on by sunlight
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PRIMARY POLLUTANTS
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- direct products of combustion/evaporation
- Suspended particulate matter - Volatile organic compounds - Carbon monoxide [CO] - Nitrogen oxides [NOx - Sulfur oxides [SOx] - Heavy metals [Pb - Air toxics - Radon [Rn] |
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SECONDARY POLLUTANTS
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from additional rxns of primary pollutants
Ozone [O3 Peroxyacetyl nitrates |
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5 Primary pollutants
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Particulates
Hydrocarbons Carbon monoxide Nitrogen oxides Sulfur dioxides |
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Acid precipitation
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pH <5.5
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Major Sources of SO2 & NOx Emitters
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Natural Sources:
Sulfur dioxide: volcanoes, sea spray, microbial processes Nitrogen oxides: lightning, burning of biomass, microbial processes Anthropogenic Sources: Burning fuels like coal (sulfur dioxide) Transportation emissions & fuel combustion (nitrogen oxide) |
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Impacts of Air Pollutants on Human Health
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-Chronic: gradual deterioration of a variety of physiological functions over a period of years
-Acute: life-threatening reactions within a period of hours or days -Carcinogenic: cancer-causing |
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Clean Air Act of 1970
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Identifies most widespread pollutants
Sets up ambient standards |
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National Ambient Air Quality Standards
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set levels that protect environmental and human health
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National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)
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set national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants
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NESHAPs have been issued for 8 toxic substances
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arsenic, asbestos, benzene, beryllium,
coke-oven emissions, mercury, radionuclides, and vinyl chloride |
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Basic strategy of CAA (1970)
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was to regulate emissions by industry of air pollutants so that the ambient criteria pollutants would remain below primary standard levels
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command-and-control
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regulate air pollution so criteria pollutants remain below primary standard level.
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state implementation plan (SIP)
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designed to reduce emissions of every NAAQS pollutant whose control standard has not been attained and involves the sale of pollution permits to industry to generate revenue
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Title IV Clean Air Act Amendment of 1990
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-By 2010, reduce SO2 emissions 50% below current levels
-Improve methods of reducing SO2 emissions. -Allow emissions allowances and trading of them for new utilities -Reduce NOx emissions via continued monitoring and regulation |
