Air & Atmospheric

Pollution
B Kuswandi
Atmospheric Pollution

 Air-pollution essentials
 Major air pollutants and their sources
 Impacts of air pollutants: health and
environment
 Bringing air pollution under control
 Unresolved issues
Incorrect Assumptions about Air Pollutants

 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
Pollutants and Atmospheric Cleansing

 Air pollutants: gases and aerosols in the

atmosphere that have harmful effects
 Level of air pollution determined by:
 The amount of pollutants entering the air
 The amount of space into which the pollutants
dispersed
 Mechanisms that remove pollutants from the
air
The Hydroxyl Radical: Nature’s Cleanser
The Appearance of Smog
Impacts of Smog: Temperature Inversion
Air Pollution Effects

 Adversely affects human health

 Damages crops and forests
 Highly corrosive
Major Air Pollutants and Their Sources

 Suspended  Sulfur oxides

particulate matter  Heavy metals
 Volatile organic  Ozone
compounds  Air toxics
 Carbon monoxide
 Nitrogen oxides
Major Air Pollutant Sources
Major Air Pollutants: Primary (see next slide)

 Primary pollutants derived directly

from burning fuels and wastes
 Particulates
 Hydrocarbons

 Carbon monoxide

 Nitrogen oxides

 Sulfur dioxides
Major Pollutants: Secondary (see next slide)

 Secondary air pollutants derive from

reactions that occur between primary
pollutants and other atmospheric
chemicals
 Ozone
 PANs

 Acids: sulfuric and nitric

Comparison of Growth vs. Emissions
Acid Deposition
pH Scale

pH = measurement of H+ ions in solution

Acid precipitation = pH <5.5

Major Sources of SO2 Emitters
Impacts of Air Pollutants on Human Health

 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
Impacts of Air Pollutants on Human Health

 Chronic example: lead poisoning

 Acute example: death – Bhopal, India
 Carcinogenic example: lung cancer
The Respiratory System
Impacts of Air Pollutants on the Environment

 Plants
 Necrotic: kills plant cells
 Chlorotic: destroys chlorophyll, reducing
photosynthesis
 Increases susceptibility to disease and pests

Ozone most serious pollutant

Ozone Impact on Crop Yields
Impacts of Air Pollutants on the Environment

 Forests
 Leaching of nutrients
 Release of aluminum into solution
 Rapid changes in soil chemistry
 Reduced growth and diebacks of plants and
animals
Impacts of Air Pollutants on the Environment

 Forests
 Increased plant vulnerability to natural
enemies
 Increased soil erosion

 Increased flooding

 Increased sedimentation of waterways

Impacts of Air Pollutants on the Environment

 Materials
 Loss of color
 Oxidation
 Corrosion
 Decreased real estate values
Effects of Acid Deposition

 Alteration of plant and animal reproduction

 Leaching of other toxic elements, e.g.,
aluminum
 Eutrophic to oligotrophic conditions
 Total loss of biota from aquatic
ecosystems
 Alterations of food chains
Trends in Automobile Emissions
Impact of Buffers on Acid Deposition
Bringing Air Pollution under Control

 Clean Air Act identifies most

widespread pollutants: e.g.,
particulates, SO, CO, NO, lead =
criteria pollutants
 National Ambient Air Quality
Standards (NAAQS) set levels that
protect environmental and human
health
Bringing Air Pollution under Control

 NAAQS: also set national ambient air

quality standards
 National Emission Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants set national
emission standards for hazardous air
pollutants
Control Strategies

 Command-and-control: regulate air

pollution so criteria pollutants remain
below primary standard level
 Lack of enforcement and compliance
 37% reduction of air pollutants
 Forced compliance with state implementation
plan (SIP)
Match Control Strategies on Right with Air
Pollutants on Left

 Particulates  Catalytic converter

 VOCs  Reasonably
available control
 Automobile
strategy (RACT)
emissions
 Scrubbers
 Acid rain
 Coal washing
Title IV Clean Air Act 1990

 Reduce SO emissions 50% below 1980 levels

 Improve methods of reducing SO emissions
 Allow emissions allowances and trading
 Emissions purchases
 Reduce NO emissions
Industry’s Response to Title IV

 Fuel switching
 Scrubbers
 Emissions allowance trading
 Using low-sulfur coals
Unresolved Issues

 Costs versus benefits of air pollution

control
 Status of “new source” review and
enforcement
 Improving fuel efficiency – hybrid cars
 Improving mass transit systems
 Reducing commuting distances
End of Slide