1. Air and Air Pollution
G. Tyler Miller’s
Living in the Environment
12th Edition
Chapter 17
Dr. Richard Clements
Chattanooga State Technical Community College
2. Key Concepts
Types and sources of outdoor air pollution
Types, formation, and effects of smog
Sources and effects of acid deposition
Effects of air pollution
Prevention and control of air pollution
3. Outdoor Air Pollution
Primary pollutants Secondary pollutants
Primary Pollutants
Secondary Pollutants
Sources
Natural Stationary
CO CO2
SO2 NO NO2
Most hydrocarbons
Most suspended
particles
SO3
HNO3 H2SO4
H2O2 O3 PANs
Most and saltsNO3
–
Mobile
SO4
2–
Fig. 17.4, p. 422
See Table 17-1 p. 421
See Table 17-2 p. 422
Sources:
Natural
Mobile
Stationary
4. Natural Pollutants
• Dust and other suspended particles from soil
• Sulfur oxides and particulate matter from
volcanoes
• Carbon oxides, nitrogen oxides and particulates
from forest fires
• Hydrocarbons and pollens from plants
• Methane and hydrogen sulfide from decaying
plants
• Salts from the ocean
5. Primary Pollutants
• Produce direct harm to environment and
organisms
– Sulfur Oxides (SOx)
– Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
– Carbon Monoxide (CO)
– Particulates (Rocks)
– Volatile Organic compounds (VOCs)
– Lead
SOx, NOx, VOCs and Rocks,
COoperate to lead to pollution.
10. Secondary Pollutants
• Created by a reaction between one or
more primary pollutants
–Tropospheric Ozone
–Photochemical smog
–Industrial Smog
–Acid precipitation
12. Photochemical Smog
Brown-air smog
Photochemical
reaction
Any reaction activated
by light
Photochemical
oxidants
NO2, O3 and PANs
Solar
radiation
Ultraviolet radiation
NO
Nitric oxide
Photochemical smog
H2O
Water
NO2
Nitrogen
dioxide
Hydrocarbons
O2
Molecular
oxygen
HNO3
Nitric acid
PANs
Peroxyacyl
nitrates
Aldehydes
(e.g., formaldehyde)
O3
Ozone
O
Atomic
oxygen
Fig. 17.5, p. 424
13. Industrial Smog (Gray-Air Smog)
• Created by the burning of coal which creates
– CO2 and CO and particulates
• Coal burning also releases sulfur
– S+O2 SO2 which reacts with oxygen
• SO2 + O2 SO3
– Sulfur trioxide reacts with water
• SO3 + H2O H2SO4
– Sulfuric acid reacts with ammonia particles
creating ammonium sulfate which gives the
smog its gray appearance
14. Factors Influencing formation
of photochemical smog
• Local climate and topography
• Population density
• Amount of industry
• Fuels used in industry, heating and
transportation
• Low air flow
• High temperatures
15. Temperature Inversions
• Subsidence temperature inversion
Warmer air
Inversion layer
Cool layer
MountainMountain
Valley
Decreasing temperature
Increasingaltitude
Fig. 17.9, p. 427
Radiation Temperature Inversion occurs at night when air
At the surface cools faster than air above it. Typically dissipates
in the morning as the sun rises and warms the air.
16. Smog City Simulation
• http://www.smogcity.com/
• Run the simulation
– Change the variables one at a time to see how they
influence the Air Quality Index
– Change two variables at a time to see how they
interact to create smog