Chapter 20: Air Pollution
1. How is the use of pioneer species such as lichens used to
detect air pollution damage? Give at least two specific
examples.
They absorb (through stoma during gas exchange)
air pollutants and incorporated them into their tissues, so accumulate
them-allowing for direct observation of pollutants and they are also
sensitive to pollutants so in highly polluted areas, some lichens will be
absent; thus allowing indirect inferential conclusions to be drawn
2. Identify the layers of the atmosphere by height (meters); see layers of
atmosphere activity draw a circle graph showing the chemicals by percentages
that make up the atmosphere. Describe how pressure and temperature vary as you
ascend upward through the atmosphere. Explain the importance of the troposphere
and stratosphere to life on earth.
3. Explain the difference between “good” and “bad” ozone, in which layer of the
atmosphere each is found, and the effect on living organisms.
Good ozone: in stratosphere: absorbs and reflects UV radiation:
mandatory for life
Bad ozone: in tropospheric air we breathe
Primary pollutants: substances emitted directly into the atmosphere
Secondary pollutants: substances that exist as a result of PPs reacting with
other PPs or other substances in the air/water/earth
4. What is Photochemical smog? Brown Air Smog?
Photochemical smog is mix of air pollutants formed by the reaction of NOx
and VOC’s under influence of sunlight. These chemicals + sunlight result
in 100+ chemicals including ozone, aldehydes and other pollutants
Brown air smog is haze created by NO2 in atmosphere. Its brown and
hazy.
A. Write out the chemical reactions showing how nitrogen and oxygen gases react
at high temperature in car engines to form nitrogen dioxide.
B. Explain how ozone forms. Show the chemical reactions. O2 + UV>> O3
C. What are photochemical oxidants and why are they unhealthy? Photochem.
Oxidants (NO2, O3, and PAN’s) react with and oxidize substances in air
and affect respiratory systems and plant growth
D. How does temperature affect photochemical smog? Increases reaction rates.
trees contribute by emitting VOC’s into atmosphere
5. What is Industrial Smog? Gray Air Smog? Draw the chemical reactions
showing how sulfuric acid is formed.
Industrial Smog (AKA Gray air smog) results from sulfur dioxide and
sulfuric acid emitted by burning coal and oil: SO2+O2>SO3+H2O>H2SO4. In
the U.S., not as common any more becaousecoal and oil burned on
industrial scale have pollution control and tall smokestacks that move
pollutants to rural areas where it dissipates and doesn’t form smog
6. What factors influence the formation of photochemical and industrial smog? List
and explain how each makes a difference.
Decreased by precipitation, sea spray, winds: precip cleanses air, winds
dissipate it
Increased by urban buildings which generate more, and slow winds
down; hills and mtns reduce winds as well; high temps increase
reaction rates
Grasshopper effect transports pollutants aloft and poleward
7. Draw a picture of a thermal inversion and a normal pattern. Show how the air
currents in each pattern affect smog levels during the day.
See text diagram page 443. Problematic Temp inversions occur when
dense cold air full of pollutants is trapped by a warmer layer above it
afftected by topography
8. What is acid deposition? How is it produced? What are the harmful effects to lakes
and plants? Explain why it is called a “regional” effect.
SO2 and NOx and particulates can react in atmosphere to create acidic
compounds which can travel FAR. Tall smokestacks reduce local pollution but
increase regional pollution: can travel 600+ miles. Wet deposition
(precipitation) and Dry deposition (acidic particulates). Both are acid rain.
DOWNWIND OF COAL BURNING FACILITIES AND BIG URBAN
ENVIRONMENTS. Precip in eastern U.S. is 10x more acidic than natural.
Contributes to respiratory diseases and can leach toxic chemicals into
drinking water. IT CAN KILL FISH! AFFECTS SPECIES (THINK: RANGE OF
TOLERANCES). Plants: can affect ability to absorb through roots: acid rain
leaches nutrients from soil
9. How can we reduce the amount of acid rain? Explain how acid deposition can be
cleaned up or remediated.
Reduce pollution/increase energy efficiency. Reduce coal use/Increase
pollution tax on vehicle emissions.
Clean up: add lime to lakes (neutralizer)
10. What is sick building syndrome? What are the major indoor pollutants and their
effects on human health?
Sick building syndrome is the name given to a slew of symptoms
associated with prolonged exposure to contaminated indoor air. New
buildings are more often guilty. Why?
Major indoor pollutants: cig smoke, formaldehyde radon and
fine/ultrafine particles
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION FOR THE POOR IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM
11. According to the EPA, why is indoor air pollution at the top of the list for 18 sources
of cancer?
Indoor air is often more polluted than outdoor air.
Pollution levels inside are many times higher than outdoors and most of
us spend more than 80% of our time indoors increasing levels of exposure
12. What devices does your respiratory system have to protect the system from particles
entering the alveoli? Cilia, hair, mucous, How does prolonged exposure damage
the respiratory system? breaks down natural defenses causing chronic
diseases: bronchitis, emphysema, other resp diseases. Smoking-related
diseases are CAUSED BY SEVERE AIR POLLUTION.
13. What did the clean Air Act provide? What are the two standards? What are HAP’s
and why are they important?
1st 1963, 2nd 1970, 3rd 1990 established NAAQS national ambient air quality standards
for 6 pollutants. Also emission standards for almost 200 other chemicals (HAP’s
hazardous air pollutants)
Also visit http://www.epa.gov/ebtpages/air.html
14. What six improvements would the author of the book like to see changed to make
the Clean Air Act strengthened?
1. Rely on prevention instead of cleanup
2. Increased fuel standards for cars
3. Regulate emissions from 2-cycle gas engines (many boat motors,
snowmobiles eg.
4. Regulate oceanic ships
5. Regulate greenhouse gases?
6. Better enforcement
15. Explain how emissions trading works to reduce the amount of air pollution from coal
burning facilities.
16. Draw and explain the four methods for removing particulate matter from coal
burning sources.
17.
List the ways that we can reduce indoor and outdoor air pollution by both
prevention and remediation.