SMOG

And its Environmental Effects

History of Smog
Name comes from a mix of Smoke
and Fog
First observed in London during the
industrial revolution
There are 2 types of smog: Industrial
Smog and Photochemical Smog

Industrial Smog (Reducing)

Source: Pollution from the burning of coal and oil that
contains sulfur
Consists mainly of: Sulfur Dioxide, Sulfur Trioxide, soot
and ash (particulate matter) and sulfuric acid
It can cause breathing difficulties in humans, plus acid
rain damage to plants, aquatic systems, and metal or
stone objects
London and Chicago have problems with industrial smog.
Methods of reducing this smog: Alkaline Scrubbers
reduce SO2 and SO3 levels; electrostatic precipitators
reduce particulates.

Photochemical Smog (Oxidizing)

Source: Mainly automobile pollution
Contains: Nitrogen Oxides, Ozone, Alkanals,
Peroxyacyl Nitrates (PANs), plus hundreds of other
substances
Effects: PANs cause eyes to water and can damage
plants, O3 irritates eyes and deteriorates rubber and
plants, NOx causes acid rain.

Thermal Inversions
Abnormal arrangement of air masses
A warmer layer of air is trapped between two layers of colder
air
This causes pollutants to be trapped near the earths surface

Can form when hills or mountains stop horizontal

winds, causing pollutants to collect over a city.
Warm air collects over the polluted air, acting as a lid
to stop the pollutants from being dispersed.
Thermal inversions worsen any type of smog