CES 210 1st Edition Lecture 13Air Quality and Air Pollution- 1943 “Gas attracts” in L.A.- 1948 Donora, Pennsylvania- 1952 the Killer fog of London- 1963 Killer smog events in New York and LondonPOLLUTION- Any physical, chemical, or biological alteration that adversely affects the health or survival of living organisms, or that alters the environment in undesirable ways- Something can be a harmful pollutant without being toxicTOPICS- Major pollutants in our air and their sources- Criteria pollutants- Hazardous air pollutants- CFC’s and Ozone depletion- Effects of air pollution on human health and the environment- Progress in pollution controlHISTORY OF U.S. AIR QUALITY- 1947 Los Angeles Air Pollution control district created- 1955 congress passes air pollution research act- 1963 clean air act (no teeth)- 1967 California air resources board (ARB)- 1970 U.S. congress passes the clean air act (CAA)-with major amendments in 1977, 1982, 1990GARDEN VARIETY POLLUTANTS- CAA created National Ambient Air Quality StandardsThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.- Criteria Pollutants- Sulfur dioxide (SOx)- Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)- Ozone: (NOx+VOC+H2O) Volatile Organic Compunds (VOC)- Carbon Monoxide (CO)*- Particulates (PM/PM10/PM2.5)- Lead (Pb)*not carbon dioxide (CO2)- These are NOT regulated based on contribution to climate changeSOURCES OF CRITERIA POLLUTANTShttps://uwm.courses.wisconsin.edu/d2l/le/content/446413/viewContent/3614450/ViewSULFUR DIOXODE (SOx)- Some natural sources; volcanic eruptions- Human sources: burning of coal and low-quality diesel fuel- Human contribution ~76 million metric tons per year- A corrosive gas which reacts with water vapor in the air to make sulfuric acid; acid rain- (Contributes to aerosols and may cause global cooling)NITROGEN OXIDES (NOx)- Natural and Agricultural sources: when nitrogen compounds are oxidized by bacteria- Human sources: formed during burning of fossil fuels- Humans >60% of NOx- Reddish brown gas in smog- Formation of nitric acid; acid rain- Building block for Ozone Pollution- (and it is a greenhouse gas)OZONE (O3)- Good Ozone vs Bad Ozone?- Secondary Pollutant forming in the urban atmosphere (not from smoke stack)- Photochemical or Urban smog (oxidants)- Volatile organic compounds (VOC)- NOx+VOC+H20+sunlight- Short-lived, highly reactive with living tissues- (and it is a greenhouse gas)PHOTOCHEMICAL SMOG- Oxides of nitrogen (NOx) form burning fossil fuels- Volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) also called hydrocarbon compounds (HC) from gasoline and many sources- Water vapor (H20) and sunlight especially ultraviolet (UV)- Products; Ozone (03) and other chemical pollutants- Bad Ozone (near-surface) vs. Good Ozone (stratospheric)VOCs (ALSO CALLED VOx OR HC)- Natural sources: plants, especially pine trees- Human sources: solvents, industrial processes, and all petroleum product uses- Some VOC’s are toxic- Not all organic compounds are classified as VOC’s (i.e. methane is not)- (most VOCs and other HCs are greenhouse gasses)CARBONMONOXIDE (CO)- human source: incomplete fuel combustion, primarily cars and trucks in urban environments- colorless, odor less, and toxic in low concentrations- primary indoor air quality problem, especially in the developing world- (and it converts to CO2, a greenhouse gas)PARTICULATE MATTER (PM2.5)- aerosols: dust and soot- very fine (<2.5 micron) may include dust, ash, soot, smoke, microbes- sources: varied- damage to lungs- primary contributor to increase rates of asthma and other respiratory diseasesLEAD (Pb) AND MERCURY (Hg)- both Pb and Hg are toxic metallic elements which bio accumulate and bio magnify in ecosystems- lead a legacy criteria pollutant:leaded gasoline (phased out 1976-1991)- the burning of coal is the primary source for mercury in our environment- a regulation passed under the Bush II administration would regulate mercury as if were a criteria