Air pollution

• acid precipitation


  precipitation, such as rain, sleet, or snow, that contains a high concentration of acids
• Acid shock


  sudden influx of acidic water that causes a rapid change in the water's pH
• Acidification


  Increase in the concentration of acid in soil and water (slower)
• Air pollution


  when harmful substances build up in the air to unhealthy levels
• Asbestos


  several minerals that form in long, thin fibers and that are valued for their strength and resistance to heat, used in installation, causes cuts and scars in lungs and asbestosis where people die of heart failure
• Decibel


  a unit that measures the intensity of sound (dB)
• Recommended Decibels in 8 hours

  80 decibels
• Threshold of Pain


  120 dB
• electrostatic precipitator


  machines used in cement factories and coal-burning power plants to remove dust particles from smoke stacks
• Mobile Source


  Source of air pollution that moves, like cars, trucks, and contruction equipment
• pH


  a measure of how acidic or basic a substance is
• Primary Pollutant


  A pollutant that is put directly into the atmosphere by human or natural activity
• Scrubber


  a machine that moves gases through a spray of water that dissolves many pollutants
• secondary pollutants


  pollutants that react with other primary pollutants or natural substances
• sick building syndrome


  buildings that have very poor air quality caused from hot, tightly sealed buildings
• Smog


  Results from chemical reactions that involve sunlight, air, automobile exhuast, amd ozone
• Stationary Source


  A source of pollution that stays in place like powerplants, glass manufacturing plants, and othee facilities
• temperature inversion


  occurs when the air above is warmer than the air below, trapping pollutants in the cooler layer below... worse in valleys
• Carbon Monoxide


  Odorless, colorless, poisonous gas created from the incomplete burning of fossil fuels, and slows down reflexes and causes drowsiness
• Sulfur Dioxide


  Produced by chemical interactions between sulfur and oxygen from burning fuels in power plants or refineries, irritates respiratory system
• Nitrogen Oxides


  When combustion temp goes over 538°C, nitrogen and oxygen combine from vehicles, power plants, and industrial boilers, causes respiratory infections, lung diseases and cancer
• VOCs


  Organic chemicals that vaporize readily and form toxic fumes, from vehicles and gas station spillages, causes serious health problems like cancers
• Particulate Matter


  Tiny particles of liquid or solid matter, from construction, agriculture, forestry, fires, and vehicles, causes respiratory problems and cancer
• Natural sources of air pollution

  Volcanoes, dust, pollen, spores
• Most air pollution comes from...

  Motor vehicles and industry
• 1/3 of our air pollution comes from

  Gasonline burned by vehicles
• Clean Air Act


  Passed in 1970 and strengthened in 1990 and regulated air emissions and protect public health and welfare
• EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)


  created in 1970 to oversee environmental monitoring and cleanup programs, regulates vehicle emission in U.S.
• Regulations from EPA


  Required elimination of lead in gasoline and required catalytic converters
• California ZEV Program


  Program established in 1990 to encourage the development of less polluting Vehicles
• ZEVs


  Have no tailpipe emissions, no emissions from gasoline, and no emission control systems (battery powered electric vehicles)
• Short Term Health Effects

  Headaches, nausea, irritation to eyes, nose ans throat, coughing, tightness of chest, but reversible
• Long Term Health Effects

  Emphysema, lung cancer, and heart disease, most permanent and damaging
• Radon


  A colorless, odorless, radioactive gas produced by the decay of uranium in Earth's crust, seeps through cracks in foundations or concrete
• Noise Pollution


  Unwanted and damaging sound, measured in decibels, causes irritation and damages hearing
• Light Pollution


  Unwanted light, causes headaches, fatigue, and stress in humans
• Effects of Light Pollution in Nature

  baby turtles end up going to wrong light, not to ocean, also distracts migrating birds
• Solutions to light pollution

  Point lights downward, time controls on lights, and using low pressure sodium sources which is the most efficient
• pure water pH


  7.0
• Rain water pH


  5.6