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Quality
Smog, PM, Acid Deposition
Air Quality Problems
Question
What are the air quality problems caused by pollution?
Degradation ForMajor
each Chemical
problem,Pollutants
state the pollutant
Major being
Sourceemitted and
Activities
the activity that results in the emission.
acid rain SO2, NOx (ie, NO+NO2) burning fossil fuels (esp coal-burning power plants)
photochemical reactive VOCs, NOx (produces O3, transportation in motorized vehicles
smog PAN, organic PM, nitrate PM)
particulate matter SO2, NOx, soot, PAHs, fly ash, combustion (fossil fuels, biofuel, waste incineration, etc)
production of smog, others
air toxics CO, Pb, Hg, PAHs, many others many sources
Air Quality Problems
Fuel Combustion
65000 Industrial
25000
Transportation
Emission Rate, x 10 ton/yr
20000
3
10000
5000
0
CO Pb NOx VOCs SO2
U.S. Air Pollutant Trends
(The Good News)
GDP
VMT
Energy
Consumption
US
Population
Aggregate
Emissions
Source: EPA, Latest Findings on National Air Quality, “2001 Status and Trends” summary report.
Air Quality Problems (The
Bad News)
• Estimated 50,000 people in the US
per year
die from air pollution.
Lecture Question
• These are mostly the susceptible
portion oftheWhat two the
population: criteria pollutants are currently
elderly, children, and those
considered the biggest health risks in the US?
suffering from pre-existing
respiratory or CV problems.
• The number of annual deaths is
roughly comparable to those who
die in car accidents.
2001 US population: 285 Million;
• Globally about 3 million people die 46.7% live in counties exposed
each year due to air pollution to levels above NAAQS
• 5% of all annual global deaths.
• Range of estimates: 1.6 – 6
million people.
• Source: WHO
• Air pollution also associated with
increased risk of developing asthma,
COPD disease, decreased lung
capacity, etc.
Three
Major
Photochemical
Problems
smog (`ground-level
Primary pollutants: VOCs, NO
ozone’)
x
Secondary pollutants: O3, PAN, organic aerosol, nitrate aerosol, etc
Primary pollutants are what are discharged directly into the air
Secondary pollutants are formed from primary pollutants, and are generally the ones that
impact human and ecosystem health and welfare.
Particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5)
Primary pollutants
Direct emissions of PM (crustal material, soot)
SO2; NOx; VOCs
Secondary pollutants
nitrate, sulfate, and organic component of aerosol
Acid deposition
Primary pollutants
SO2; NOx
Secondary pollutants
H2SO4(aq), HNO3(aq)
Problems are all related
For example, production of smog also produces PM and acid deposition
A common factor: photochemical oxidation in the atmosphere
But
First…Carbon
Seasonal Trend Monoxide
Highest in winter months due to greater vehicular emissions and more
frequent local inversions
Home heating also contributes in winter
Killer Smog Episodes