Transcript air quality rr

Air Pollution (AP)
Lecture Outline
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Definition of AP
Classification of Air Pollutants:
Sources of AP
Major Air Pollutants: Criteria and non-criteria pollutants: Sulfur
and Nitrogen Oxides, Particulate matter etc
Acid Rain: causes and effects
Global Warming : causes and effects
Indoor Air Quality: health effects
Air Pollution Control
Clean Air Act
42 U.S.C. s/s 7401 et seq. (1970)
The Clean Air Act is the comprehensive
Federal law that regulates air emissions from
area, stationary, and mobile sources.
This law authorizes the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (USEPA) to establish
National Ambient Air Quality Standards
(NAAQS) to protect public health and the
environment.
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The goal of the Act was to set and achieve
NAAQS in every state by 1975.
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The setting of maximum pollutant standards
was coupled with directing the states to
develop state implementation plans (SIP's)
applicable to appropriate industrial sources in
the state.
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The Act was amended in 1977 primarily to set
new goals (dates) for achieving attainment of
NAAQS since many areas of the country had
failed to meet the deadlines.
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The 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act
in large part were intended to meet
unaddressed or insufficiently addressed
problems such as acid rain, ground-level
ozone, stratospheric ozone depletion, and air
toxics.
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Sec. 101.
(a) The Congress finds –
(1) that the predominant part of the Nation's
population is located in its rapidly expanding
metropolitan and other urban areas, which
generally cross the boundary lines of local
jurisdictions and often extend into two or
more States;
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(2) that the growth in the amount and complexity of
air pollution brought about by urbanization, industrial
development, and the increasing use of motor
vehicles, has resulted in mounting dangers to the
public health and welfare, including
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injury to agricultural crops and livestock,
damage to and the deterioration of property, and
hazards to air and ground transportation;
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(3) that air pollution prevention (that is, the
reduction or elimination, through any
measures, of the amount of pollutants
produced or created at the source) and air
pollution control at its source is
the primary responsibility of States and
local governments; and
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(4) that Federal financial assistance
and leadership is essential for the
development of cooperative Federal,
State, regional, and local programs to
prevent and control air pollution.
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(b) The purposes of this title are :
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(1) to protect and enhance the quality of the
Nation's air resources so as to promote the public
health and welfare and the productive capacity of its
population;
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(2) to initiate and accelerate a national research and
development program to achieve the prevention and
control of air pollution;
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(3) to provide technical and financial assistance to
State and local governments in connection with the
development and execution of their air pollution
prevention and control programs; and
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(4) to encourage and assist the development and
operation of regional air pollution prevention and
control programs.
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(c) Pollution Prevention.-
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A primary goal of this Act is to encourage or
otherwise promote reasonable Federal, State,
and local governmental actions, consistent
with the provisions of this Act, for pollution
prevention. [42 U.S.C. 7401]
AP: Definition
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Air pollution occurs when the air contains gases,
dust,
fumes or odor in harmful amounts. That is, amounts
which could be harmful to the health or comfort of
humans and animals or which could cause damage
to plants and materials.
Classification of Air Pollutants
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II.
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According to their Origin
Primary Pollutants
The substances that cause air pollution are called pollutants.
Pollutants that are pumped into our atmosphere and directly
pollute the air are called primary pollutants.
Primary pollutant examples include Carbon Monoxide (CO),
from car exhausts and sulfur dioxide(SO2) from the combustion
of coal.
Secondary Air Pollutants
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Further pollution can arise if primary pollutants in the
atmosphere undergo chemical reactions.
The resulting compounds are called secondary
pollutants. Photochemical smog is an example of
this.
Classification(conti.)
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According To their State of matter:
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Particulates,
dusts,
gases,
vapors, mist, fog,
smoke and smog.
Classification(conti.)
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According To their Physiological
Effects:
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Asphyxiants : Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Irritants Ammonia, NH3 , Chlorine
gas(Cl2)
Systemic Poisons Mercury vapor
Sources of AP
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Transportation: primarily automobiles
Electric Power plants which burn coal and
oil
Industry such as steel mills, metal smelters,
petrochemical industry and paper mills.
Space heating and solid waste disposal
Composition of AIR
Nitrogen
 Oxygen
 Carbon Dioxide
 others:argon,helium
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78%
21%
.01%
.09%
Major Air Pollutants
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The most commonly found in the all the states are 6
pollutants which the EPA is required to gather
information about their impact on humans and the
environment. They can cause adverse health effects
and damage to the environment.
They are referred to as : Criteria Pollutants.
These include: Total Suspended Particulates, Sulfur
and Nitrogen Dioxides, Carbon monoxide, Ozone,
and Lead
I. Total Suspended Particulates
Matter (PM)
PM < 10 micrometer
 Form: solid or liquid/ haze and smoke
 Sources: combustion, industrial
processes
 Effects: acts as respiratory irritant,
reduce visibility and corrodes metal.
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II. Sulfur Oxides
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Form : gases
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Sources: 73% from coal and oil burning
industry (power plants, smelters, boilers )
Effects: irritants, corrodes metals and stones,
damage textiles, toxic to plants and a major
source of ACID RAIN
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III. Nitrogen Oxides
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Form: gases
Sources; motor vehicles and power plants
Effects: Cause ACID RAIN, irritant, reduce
visibility, toxic to plants
IV- Carbon Monoxide
Sources: incomplete combustion: motor
vehicles
 Form : gas
 Effects: fatal at high concentrations, can
be converted to carbon dioxide which
causes Acid Rain
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V- Ozone
Form: gas
 Sources: motor vehicles (indirectly)
 Effects: irritant, toxic to plants , corrodes
rubber and paint.
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VI- Lead
Form: metal and aerosol
 Sources: leaded gasoline , vehicles and
industry.
 Effects: damage to the central nervous
system, and can damage kidneys.
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Acid Rain
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SO3 + H2O = H2 SO4
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NO2 + H2O
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CO2
= HNO3
+ H2O = H2CO3
Acid Rain
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In forests: interferes with the degradation of
organic material such as dead plants by
bacteria on the forest floor.
In lakes : metals will be released back into the
aquatic environment, possibility of entering
the food chain. Acidic waters of pH < 4.00
could result in 85% mortality of aquatic
organisms(fish, frogs).Fish eggs will not hatch
in waters with pH below 6.00
The Politics of Acid Rain
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Marble and Bronze statues are corroding,
forests and lakes are dying, salmon can no
longer reproduce.
To install scrubbers is expensive (100 million
per plant)
To switch to low sulfur coal could cost many
coal mining jobs(100 Thousands) and as
many as 300,000 in other related industries.
Hazardous Air Pollutants
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These are less common than the Criteria
Pollutants but some are more toxic. The
sources are from industry and
manufacturing processes.
These Include: Asbestos, Mercury,
benzene, Arsenic, vinyl Chloride,
Beryllium and Radio-nuclides.
Indoor Air Quality
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Microorganisms : Legionellosis
Radon: decays from Uranium
Passive cigarette smoking
Combustion products: Nitrogen, Sulfur and
carbon compounds
Volatile Organic Compounds: building and
furnishing materials
Legionnaires’ Disease
causative agent
Legionella pneumophilia
 First identified 1n 1977 by CDC
 Outbreak of pneumonia, caused 34 deaths
1n 1976, American Legion Convention in
Philadelphia
 Gram-negative rods
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Legionnaires’ Disease
Sources of Infection
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Heating-ventilating-air-condition system
(HVAC)
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Cooling water, evaporative condensers
Domestic hot-water system(<60 C)
Humidifiers and decorative fountains
Spas and whirlpools
Dental water line(37 C)
Stagnant water: fire sprinkler system
Water for eye wash
Safety showers
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Legionnaires’ Disease
mode of transmission
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I-
Aerosol inhalation
• Aerosol generating systems
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II- water micro-aspiration
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Water distribution systems
Water cooling towers
Whirlpool bath
Respiratory therapy equipment
Supermarket vegetable sprinkling/irrigation systems
Legionella pneumonia
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Hotel, cruise ships, office , (buildingrelated illness)
Indoor Air Quality
(Case Study)
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Chemical Compounds : Example :Formaldehyde:
Formaldehyde can cause upper respiratory tract at
very low concentrations (0.030 mg/m3 (cubic
meter of air).
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in sensitive individuals
– An indoor air quality survey was conducted by
Tulane in Southern Louisiana to determine the
levels of airborne Formaldehyde.
Indoor Air Quality
Case Study
– About 500 samples were collected from 53
homes and analyzed . Range was 0.0376.60 mg/m3 .
– 60% of the houses exceeded the National
Standards of 0.123mg/ m3 ( EPA and
ASHRAE: American Society of Heating and
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
Engineers).
Air Flow in the Respiratory Tract
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Human at rest :
About 8 breaths (tidal Volume) per minute
About 500 ml per breath
4 liters per minute
OR
240 liters per hour
OR
1920 liters , about 2000 liters/ 8 hours
Asbestos
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It is naturally occurring hydrated mineral
silicate. It has a crystalline structure and it is
incombustible in air and can be separated
into fibers.
It includes : amosite, chrysotile and
actinolite.
It has two forms: Friable and non-friable
Asbestos Containing Products:
Friable: Insulating products used
around pipes , water heaters and
boilers.
 Non-friable: floor and roof tiles, rigid
plastics, break shoes, roofing asphalt,
gaskets, PVC products, Portland
cement
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Health Effects of Asbestos and
Methods of Disposal
Asbestosis
 Lung cancer
 Mesothelioma (cancer of the lining of
the pleura)
 Disposal: removal, bagging and
transportation to a landfill must be done
by a licensed contractor.
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Is Climate Change Happening
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Despite a scientific consensus on the subject,
some people don't think global warming is
happening at all. There are several reasons for
this:
They don't think the data show a measurable
upward trend in global temperatures, either
because we don't have enough long-term
historical climate data or because the data we
do have isn't clear enough.
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Climate Change
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A few scientists think that data is being
interpreted incorrectly by people who are
already worried about climate change.
That is, these people are looking for evidence
of global warming in the statistics, instead of
looking at the evidence objectively and trying
to figure out what it means
Climate Change
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 Some argue any increase/decrease in
global temperatures we are seeing
could be a natural climate shift, or it
could be due to other factors than
greenhouse gases
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Climate Change
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Most scientists recognize that global warming
does seem to be happening, but a few don't
believe that it is anything to be worried
about.
These scientists say that the Earth is more
resistant to climate changes on this scale
than we think. Plants and animals will adapt
to subtle shifts in weather patterns, and it is
unlikely anything catastrophic will happen as
a result of global warming.
Climate Change
Some policymakers in the United States are
reluctant to propose and enact changes
because they feel the costs may outweigh any
risks climate change poses. Some common
concerns, claims and complaints include:
A change in the United States' policies in
emissions and carbon production could
result in a loss of jobs ?????
Climate Change
•India
and China, both of which continue
to rely heavily on coal for their main
source of energy, will continue to cause
environmental problems even if the
United States changes its energy policies.
Climate Change
•Since
scientific evidence is about
probabilities rather than certainties, we
can't be certain that human behavior is
contributing to climate change, that our
contribution is significant, or that we can
do anything to fix it.
Climate Change
•Technology
will find a way to get us out
of the climate change mess, so any
change in our policies will ultimately be
unnecessary and cause more harm than
good.
Climate Change
What's the correct answer? It can be hard to
figure out. Most scientists will tell you that
climate change is real and that it is likely
to do some kind of harm, but the extent
of the problem and the danger posed by
its effects are wide open for debate.
In the next section, we'll see if there's
anything we can do to help prevent Climate
Change
Climate Change
Temperatures of the oceans are increasing, 1.4-5.8 C in the 21st century
Droughts and floods are increasing
Less crop yields
Desertification is progressing
Health issues/diseases will be more common.
Heat >more ice melting:>Oceans will rise > more surface
area > more evaporation >more rain> more crop yields > world
wide food production.
Coastal areas might be flooded but this is already happening : Hurricanes
People will be temporary displaced .
It is true that some areas will receive less rain But others will receive plenty of rain
Climate Change
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It refers to a slight increase in global
temperature.
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It has been documented that
temperature has increased about
0.5 C0 during the past century.
Changing Climate**
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Global mean surface temperatures have
increased 0.5-1.0°F since the late 19th century.
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The 20th century's 10 warmest years
all occurred in the last 15 years of the century.
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Of these, 1998 was the warmest year on record.
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**EPA 2011
Climate Change
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The snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere
and floating ice in the Arctic Ocean have decreased.
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Globally, sea level has risen 4-8 inches over the
past century.
Worldwide precipitation over land
has increased by about one percent..
Climate Change
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Increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases are
likely to accelerate the rate of climate change.
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Scientists expect that the average global surface
temperature could rise 1-4.5°F (0.6-2.5°C) in the next
fifty years, and 2.2-10°F (1.4-5.8°C) in the next
century, with significant regional variation.
Climate Change
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Evaporation will increase as the climate warms,
which will increase average global precipitation.
Soil moisture is likely to decline in many regions, and
intense rainstorms are likely to become more
frequent. Sea level is likely to rise two feet along
most of the U.S. coast.
Calculations of climate change for specific areas are
much less reliable than global ones, and it is unclear
whether regional climate will become more variable.
Climate Change
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A Build up of CO2 around the earth will act as an
envelope which retains irradiated heat from the earth
after sunset.
The earth temperature will rise because there is no
dissipation of the irradiated heat into the upper layers
of the atmosphere.
Global Warming/Green House Gases
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Green House Effect:
Flood OR Freeze
Gases:
1- CO2 Contributes
2- CFC’s : Chloro- Fluoro –Carbons
Refrigerants 9 Freon 12, 134a
3- CH4 Methane
4- N2O
55%
24%
15%
06%
Effects of Climate Change
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Flood OR Freeze
I - Flooding:
– An increase in industry will increase CO2 concentrations
around the earth, more heat is retained .
– An increase in temperature of the ocean waters and Ice
Caps will follow.
– This will increase rain fall and ice melting which will
raise the water level in Oceans several feet and
– Flooding will follow.
Climate Change
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B) Decrease in crop due to high temperatures
or flooding, will cause famine
C) Increase Human Illnesses due to heat
and/Tropical Diseases especially those
transmitted by mosquitoes: malaria, Dengue,
Yellow Fever etc.
II- Freezing
Freeze to death:
 More industry
 More Particulates emitted into the
atmosphere
 More sunlight be reflected back to the
sun
 Earth will FREEZE
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AP Control
Site selection
 process modification
 Enclosing operations
 Good housekeeping
 Weather Conditions Alert
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Alternate Production Processes
Hydroelectricity
 Nuclear
 Solar
 Wind, Tidal, Biomass,
 Geothermal
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Control of Air Pollution
Changing from high sulfur to low sulfur
 Blending higher with lower sulfurs
 Desulfurization, Hydrogenation
 Mixing limestone with coal then burn
 Removal of sulfur from emissions by an
alkaline such as lime.
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