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Lecture/Outline

Issues

Blackboard - Discussion Pages

Charles E. Ophardt, Professor of Chemistry, Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, IL 60126, charleso@elmhurst.edu, Copyright 2004

1. Types and sources of air pollutants (text chap 11)

General Reference and Definitions

General Definitions

A. Outdoor Air Pollution Sources - Photochemical Smog Text p. 327-336	Photochemical Smog and Ground-Level Ozone - A brief Review Air Quality Index - Extensive listing including health effect of each of the air pollutants Photochemical Smog - brief with simple graphic
Carbon Monoxide - CO, Incomplete combustion reactions, cigarette smoking, natural processes from methane.	Carbon Monoxide ProfO Notes: Octane combustion graphic
Nitrogen Oxides - NO, NO2, (N2O) - from synthesis of nylon and natural denitrification rxs.)	Nitrogen oxides
Volatile Organics (VOCs)- gasoline vapors, unburned hydrocarbons, industrial processes	VOC or unburned hydrocarbons
Ozone - O3 Text p. 337-339	Ozone: good up vs. bad nearby - Briefly explains the difference between ozone in the troposphere vs. the stratosphere. Smog - How does it hurt? - Health Effects of ozone Destructive ozone What is smog - ground level ozone Automobiles and Ozone - pdf file Animated Ozone Maps - Current daily maps for regions of the country (May - September) Archive Maps for whole U.S. may select regions or cities Try this one for June 23, 2005 - Midwest
Suspended Particles Text p. 335-337	FAQs on particulates Smog Pictures from China Air Pollution in China
Calculate your Pollution output	Emissions Calculator - Gives a total for all pollutants - most of which is carbon dioxide.

QUES. 1: For each the following air pollutants: Carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, VOCs, Ozone, and suspended particles, describe each of the following: source or how made, health effect, how controlled. (3-4 students may each work on one of the five above.

Text p. 327-339 and internet links above.

C. Indoor Air Pollution - radon (text p. 332), smoking, cooking and heating (text p. 343-44) Indoor Air Quality - general reference - EPA Indoor Air Quality guide - EPA

A Citizen's Guide to Radon in Homes U.S. Radon Potential Map See mid page for this clickable line -An Adobe Acrobat pdf version of the map is available (suitable for printing): color - zonemapcolor.pdf (327KB file) Also can do state maps. Health Effects of Radon Report Indoor Air Pollution Introduction - Indoor Air Pollution Second hand smoke

QUES. 2: List and describe some specific indoor air pollutants. Give some sources, health effects, and control measures. (3-4 students)

(text p. 43-44) Indoor Air Pollution Targeting Indoor Air Pollution Second hand smoke

QUES. 3: Summarize why radon may be a potential problem in homes. Where does it come from? What are the health effects? Should any one worry about this and get their home tested immediately? (3-4 students)

Text p. 122, 129, 131, 344 A Citizen's Guide to Radon in Homes U.S. Radon Potential Map Health Effects of Radon Report

2. Ozone layer depletion - (text p. 340-343)

A. Caused by synthesis and use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) General set of ozone links from EPA	Ozone Layer Ozone Depletion - Specific brief Questions and Answers on ozone depletion only. - good graphics Ozone's Problem -with Polar Stratospheric Clouds General information on ozone science - a general review Ozone Hole Tour - Cambridge University, UK Simple graphic of Ozone depletion Calculated picture of Ozone concentration - shows an actual hole Ozone Hole Watch - NASA Ozone Hole - animation of the ozone hole in 2000. Go to bottom of page for links of animated or coomposite images. Animated Graph of Ozone concentrations over Antarctica for a complete year- 2005 - keep watching into September/October. Graph of ozone vs. altitude - pick a date in late September or early October. Some myths about ozone over North America - see mid page for comoparision -1979 and 1994. Ozone maps - South Pole 1979-1997 Ozone maps - North Pole 1979-1998 Archive of ozone hole maps - Select dates EPA Home Page on Ozone - contains many links to other pages. Look here if interested in more information. Controversy surrounding ozone depletion - This is a brief review of two opposing papers on several questions concerning ozone depletion. Common Myths about the nonexistence of the ozone problem - a series of links.
B. Effects	UV Index Information Links UV Exposure Maps UV Index - Series of links relating to health issues and the UV Index. Includes a link to a National map of the daily UV Index.
C. Possible control measures - Montreal Protocol- link is for a brief backgrounder which summerizes a lot of the info - 11 page pdf file	Montreal Protocol - Ozone Depletion: 1987 - Backgrounder

QUES 4. A series of questions relating to Satellite Images of the Ozone Hole. Click on site to the right for the actual questions.

Satellite Images of the Ozone Hole

QUES. 5: Is ozone depletion of proven significance enough to warrant government regulation of CFC's? Give some specific chemicals (names or formulas and/or reactions) Summarize the YES and NO positions to this question. Each student pick either YES or NO.	Controversy surrounding ozone depletion - This is a brief review of two opposing papers on several questions concerning ozone depletion. You may also use any Internet sites in Sections A-C above.
QUES. 6: Will the the additional amount of UV exposure be significant to humans? Summarize the YES and NO positions to this question. Each student pick either YES or NO.	Go about half way down to find this question. Controversy surrounding ozone depletion - This is a brief review of two opposing papers on several questions concerning ozone depletion. UV Exposure Effects -

QUES. 7: In the Oct. 19, 1997 issue of the Chicago Tribune the following editorial appeared: "The Tribune reports (page 4, Oct. 11) that the ozone "hole" in the atmosphere is the same size as it has been for several years despite costly environmental regulations prohibiting the use of chlorofluorocarbons that destroy ozone. These CFCs had been used in refrigeration. The article goes on to report that a reduction of ozone can lead to skin cancer and cataracts. On page 6 is a story about new costly environmental standards to reduce ozone pollution from Midwest coal burning power plants. While power plants to not emit ozone, they do emit nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons that can form ozone - which is claimed to be "debilitating to the young, elderly, and anybody with respiratory problems." The new regulations will dramatically increase the electric power costs. So, environmentalists have caused a significant increase in refrigeration costs to prevent the destruction of ozone, and now they want to further increase the cost of electric power to prevent the formation of ozone. Is it no wonder that they are completely losing public confidence?"

Write a reply in the form of an editorial that could be understood by the general public that would clarify several points about ozone in this editorial. There are at least two misunderstandings that could be corrected in your reply. Give some specific chemicals (names or formulas and/or reactions)

Reference if you missed it earlier: Ozone: good up vs. bad nearby - Briefly explains the difference between ozone in the troposphere vs. the stratosphere. Smog - How does it hurt? - Health Effects of ozone

3. Greenhouse effect

A. Definition of greenhouse analogy B. Caused by the increase of carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels and other gases C. Possible global climate changes D. Possible control measures

Text p. 344-49 ProfONotes: Global Warming

QUES. 8: "Air pollution (smog) is causing the ozone hole and increasing global warming". Many people will say this statement is true, but from what you have learned in this chapter, describe why this statement is completely false. Briefly summarize the molecules that are the causes of all three problems and briefly explain the definitions of each problem.

Text Chap. 11