ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION

AND CLIMATE CHANGE

REPORTERS: LAARNI K. ORTIZ

MARIA MARS RODRIGUEZ
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
Atmospheric Pollution
Atmospheric Pollution or Air Pollution occurs in many
forms but can generally be thought of as gaseous and
particulate contaminants that are present in the earth’s
atmosphere. Chemicals discharged into the air that have a
direct impact on the environment are called primary
pollutants. These primary pollutants sometimes react with
other chemicals in the air to produce secondary
pollutants.
PRIMARY AIR POLLUTANTS
 materials that when released pose health risks in their
unmodified forms or those emitted directly from identifiable
sources.
SECONDARY AIR POLLUTANTS
a primary pollutants that interacts with one another, or natural
gases to produce new harmful compounds
 Air pollution  is typically separated into two categories: outdoor
air pollution and indoor air pollution. 

OUTDOOR AIR
POLLUTION
involves exposures that take place outside of the built environment

INDOOR AIR POLLUTION

involves exposures to particulates, carbon oxides, and other
pollutants carried by indoor air or dust
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
(Major concerns in developed countries)

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SICK BUILDING
SYNDROME
a term used to describe situations in which building
occupants have health symptoms that are associated only
with spending time in that building

SECONDHAND SMOKE
(Environmental Tobacco Smoke)
 the combination of smoke that comes from a cigarette and smoke
breathed out by a smoker. When a non-smoker is around someone
smoking, they breathe in secondhand smoke
Sources of Air Pollution
 stationary source
 mobile source 
 agricultural sources
 natural sources  
STATIONARY SOURCE
 refers to an emission source that does not
move, also known as a point source
MOBILE
 refers to a source that is capable of
SOURCE
moving under its own power
AGRICULTURAL SOURCES
 arise from operations that raise animals and grow
crops, which can generate emissions of gases and
particulate matter
NATURAL SOURCES
 not caused by people or their
activities
Six Common Air Pollutants
particulate matter
ground-level ozone
carbon monoxide
sulfur dioxides
nitrogen dioxides
lead
 
PARTICULATE
MATTER
 also known as particle pollution, is a complex
extremely small particles and liquid droplets
mixture of
GROUND-LEVEL OZONE
is not emitted directly into the air, but is created by
chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx)
and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the presence
of sunlight
CARBON MONOXIDE
 is a colorless, odorless gas emitted from combustion
processes
SULFUR
DIOXIDES
 is one of a group of highly reactive gasses
known as “oxides of sulfur”
NITROGEN
DIOXIDES
 is one of a group of highly reactive gasses known as
“oxides of nitrogen,” or nitrogen oxides (NOx)
LEAD
is a metal found naturally in the
environment as well as in manufactured
products
EFFECTS ON
HUMAN
People experience a wide range of health effects from
being exposed to air pollution. Effects can be broken down
into short-term effects and long-term effects.
SHORT TERM
EFFECTS
 which are temporary, include illnesses such
as pneumonia or bronchitis. They also include discomfort
such as irritation to the nose, throat, eyes, or skin

LONG TERM EFFECTS

can last for years or for an entire lifetime
 can even lead to a person's death
EFFECTS ON THE
INVIRONMENT
Like people, animals, and plants, entire ecosystems can suffer
effects from air pollution. Haze, like smog, is a visible type of air
pollution that obscures shapes and colors. Hazy air pollution can
even muffle sounds.
GLOBAL WARMING
Global warming is an environmental phenomenon caused
by natural and anthropogenic air pollution. It refers to rising
air and ocean temperatures around the world. This
temperature rise is at least partially caused by an increase in
the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Greenhouse gases trap heat energy in the Earths atmosphere.
STEPS TO REDUCE OR LIMIT GREENHAUSE GAS
IMISSIONS TO COMBAT GLOBAL WARMING:

Regulation
Reduction