Activity 3.3.1 Air Pollution Core Activity

 Air Pollution Basics

Sulfur Pollutants

Sulfur dioxide or SO2 is one of the most important gaseous air pollutants that is colorless but pungent (Freedman, 2018). Humans are able to detect its bitter taste. Another sulfur gas is hydrogen sulfide or H2S and smells like rotten eggs. They become oxidized to other compounds when they enter the atmosphere and create sulfate. The typical time that sulfur dioxide stays in the atmosphere is four days which makes it more able to spread for long distances (Freedman, 2018). This is called long-range transportation of air pollution or LRTAP. Most atmospheric sulfate occurs in tiny particles. Volcanoes are natural sources of emission for sulfur gases. Haze is also a way of LRTAP. Anthropogenic emissions of sulfur dioxide have increased a lot over time ever since the Industrial Revolution began (Freedman, 2018). The number of emissions are different for every country depending on certain factors and criteria. Most developed countries have started to try to reduce emissions. Humans and most animals are less sensitive to sulfur dioxide than plants are, but even just a small amount of exposure can cause health problems for us (Freedman, 2018). 

Nitrogen Pollutants

The most important gases that contain nitrogen are nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), and ammonia (NH3) (Freedman, 2018). Ammonia is a colorless gas that stays in the atmosphere for 7 days. Nitrous oxide is a gas that is colorless and non-toxic and it is known as "laughing gas" (Freedman, 2018). It stays in the atmosphere for 4 years. Nitric oxide is a gas that is colorless and odorless. It is rare for ammonia, nitric oxide, and nitrogen dioxide to be so high that it damages vegetation and bother humans (Freedman, 2018). Nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide can cause pulmonary problems with intense exposure to humans.

Hydrocarbon and Volatile Organic Compound Pollutants

Hydrocarbons are a diverse group of chemicals whose molecular structures containing various combinations of hydrogen and carbon atoms (Freedman, 2018). The simplest hydrocarbon is a gas called methane. Most methane emissions are natural. Atmospheric hydrocarbons that are not methane are called non-methane hydrocarbons. These mainly occur as gases and vapors that comes from living vegetation and fossil fuels (Freedman, 2018). Anthropogenic sources would be unburned fuel from vehicles and aircrafts, fossil fuel mining and refining, and evaporation of solvents (Freedman, 2018). Organic gases and vapors could be toxic it is rarely high enough to damage vegetation or animals. 

Comparison of Current AQI

AQI stands for Air Quality Index and is a color coded scale from 0 to 500 that shows the air quality of an area.

 

Time of Day

AQI Current

AQI Forecast

PM2.5

O3

Athens, GA (highest)

 12:00 am

151

 Moderate 45 40

San Antonio, TX (Where I Live)

12:00 am

 51

Moderate

 51

21

Los Angeles, CA

11:00 pm

 42 Good 29 42
It seems like the further east you go, the worse the air quality is. Looking at the current AQI, Georgia is the highest, Texas is in the middle, and California is the lowest. The United States overall has pretty good air quality. More developed countries usually have worse air quality, but the U.S. is doing really well at regulating it. Some of the concerns were small particles that could affect lungs. 


Comparison of Current PM2.5 and O3 to EPA Standards

PM2.5 is any tiny particles that flout around in the air that can easily be inhaled. O3 is a gas that is highly reactive that contains both natural and man-made products in the upper atmosphere. These things can cause pulmonary issues and are bad for humans if they are inhaled.

National Standard

San Antonio Current measured over 1 hour

Time of Day

PM2.5

Average measured over 24 hours - 35 μg/m3

14.0 µg/m3

1:00 am

O3

Average measured over 8 hours - 70 ppb (137 µg/m3)

20 ppb

1:00 am




Reference

Freedman, B. (2018). Environmental science: A Canadian perspective. Halifax, Canada: Dalhousie University Libraries.

Links to an external site.

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