Atmospheric Pollution
Acid Rain, Particulates, Smog,
Ozone, Greenhouse Gasses and Climate Change
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Sox
Nox
VOCs
PM
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Percent Component (%)
Source of Primary Pollutants
Secondary Pollutants
•  Grey Air Smog = Industrial Smog
Derived from the burning of coal,
dominated by Sox…cloud condensation
nucleii and coal dust, PAHs etc..
•  Brown Air Smog = Photochemical smog
•  Ozone, NO2, PAN
Where s this
?
London 1952
Who is this squibb?
What city is this?
Santa Monica
LA
Photochemistry of Smog
Free oxygen + O2 => O3
PAN (peroxy-acyl-nitrate) an irritant in smog
Acid Rain
Downwind of Coal Burning, Transportation and Power Plants
Rainfall pH…(little p, big H)
About 2/3 of acid is from sulfate
The effect on forests…
Western slopes of Eastern mountains at high elevations
Damage to foliage and damage to soils
The Adirondack High Peaks Region
The problems in Particulate Matter air pollution: PAHs, Mercury, Bacteria, sulfates
These are some of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
What is the source of Mercury Deposition?
Model Hg Dep
Hg biogeochemical cycling
Indoor Air Pollution
Sick Building Syndrome
The increase in trailer homes has led to more indoor air health effects
This is a plastic lined box
Do we want to live in cities?
•  More and more people live in cities
•  It s good for the environment: less sprawl
•  It s not so healthy for people
Urban Living
Pros
•  Jobs available
•  Less habitat is
damaged by sprawl
•  Energy use more
efficient (less/capita)
Cons
•  For the inhabitants,
high exposure to smog
•  Sanitation issues
become acute
•  Disease transmission
•  Food water must be
supplied