Activity 3.3.1 Air Pollution (Core Activity)
Air Pollution Basics
Sulfur Pollutants: Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) is an incredibly important gaseous air pollutant. It is colorless but not odorless, known to have a pungent smell to it. Sulfure can combine with many other compounds to become oxidized, depending on which compound SO2 combines with the average atmospheric residence time is between 1 to 4 days. Although it may disperse long distances from its point of emission, this kind if dispersal is known as long-range transportation of air pollution. When combined with ammonium nitrate, this is what forms a fine particulate haze you see in larger cities.
Nitrogen Pollutants: Nitric Oxide (NO), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Nitrous Oxide (N2O), and ammonia (NH3) are the more important nitrogen-based gases. Ammonia is a colorless gas and is mostly emitted from wetlands, produced through the decomposition of dead biomass, and stays within the atmosphere for up to seven days.
Nitric Oxide (NO) is colorless and odorless, and nitrogen dioxide has more of a red hue, pungent to the smell, and irritating to the eyes and respiratory system.
NO and NO2 can react together to form NOx. NOx produces about 83-million tonnes per year, mostly from the combustion of fossil fuels. “Most atmospheric NOx gases become oxidized into nitrate, which is an important ion in the acidification of precipitation and ecosystems.” (Freedman, Ch. 16, pg. 374, para. 4)
Nitrogen gases have a lower concentration, rarely high enough to bother humans. But if exposed for long periods of times at intense levels of NOx it can cause impaired pulmonary function in humans.
Hydrocarbon and Volatile Compound Pollutants: Hydrocarbons are a group of chemicals whose molecular structures contain various combinations of hydrogen and carbon atoms. This includes methane (CH4), and larger hydrocarbons with more of a complex structure may occur as vapors, liquids, or solids. With other volatile compounds they may contain oxygen, nitrogen, and other light elements in addition to carbon and hydrogen. Volatile compounds may also include alcohols, aldehydes, and phenols.
Methane in the atmosphere has an average concetration of 1.7 ppm, while other volatile compounds amount to less than 1 ppb.
Organic gases and vapors can be toxic, but the atmospheric concentration is rarely high enough to damage vegetation or animals/humans. Though they can produce toxic ozone when undergoing photochemical reactions. CH4 is also a very important greenhouse gas that has an effect on global warming.
Comparison of Current AQI
Comparison of Current AQI
Time of Day | AQI Current | AQI Forecast | PM2.5 | O3 | |
Winston Salem, NC (highest) | 4:00 PM | 125 | 52 | 52 | 40 |
Seattle, WA (Where I Live) | 1:00 PM | 57 | Good | 57 | 18 |
Los Angeles, CA | 1:00 PM | 51 | 33 | 21 | 36 |
The similarities I found between the AQI’s would be between where I live now, Seattle, WA, and Los Angeles, CA. Considering we are on the same west coast time, and it is currently 1 pm the AQI’s are relatively low and the forecast seems to be good for both areas. The same goes for the Ozone, which are moderately the same. As for the PM2.5 it looks as though it is a bit higher in Seattle compared to L.A.
As for Winston Salem, NC, where it is currently 4:00 pm, they have a high AQI which is unhealthy for sensitive groups. Their O3 is a little over double then Seattle and L.A., but their PM2.5 is lower than Seattle’s.
I would assume because it is 4:00 PM in North Carolina that would factor into higher AQI since that is about the time after-work and after-school traffic begins, where as it is 1:00 on the West Coast, so not many people are out and about unless for a quick lunch break.
Comparison of Current PM2.5 and O3 to EPA Standards
· PM2.5 refers to particulate matter found in our air quality. This can be a mixture of solids and liquids polluting the air. Example: dust, smoke, wildfire smoke, and other harmful pollutants that can be inhaled deep into the lungs and even enter the blood stream.
· O3, which is also known as ozone, is a gas made up of three oxygen atoms. Ozone is naturally found in the Earth’s atmosphere and helps absorb harmful UV rays from the sun. But at ground level, at high concentrations, it can be harmful to human health and the environment. It may cause respiratory issues in humans, especially those with pre-existing conditions such as asthma.
Comparison of Current PM2.5 and O3 to EPA Standards
National Standard | Austin, TX Current measured over 1 hour | Time of Day |
PM2.5 Average measured over 24 hours - 35 μg/m3 | 16.0 µg/m3 | 3:50 pm |
O3 Average measured over 8 hours - 70 ppb (137 µg/m3) | 39 ppb | 3:50 pm |
CITATIONS:
Freedman, B., & Freedman, B. (2001). Environmental science, a Canadian perspective, second edition. Pearson Education Canada.
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2019, June 18).Air quality index basics. Air Now. https://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=aqibasics.aqi
Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Interactive Map of Air Quality. EPA. Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://gispub.epa.gov/airnow/
Announcements. AirNow.gov. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://www.airnow.gov/?city=Seattle&state=WA&country=USA
Announcements. AirNow.gov. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://www.airnow.gov/?city=Los+Angeles&state=CA&country=USA
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Go to TCEQ Web Page. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://www.tceq.texas.gov/cgi-bin/compliance/monops/select_curlev.pl?user_param=88502
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Go to TCEQ Web Page. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://www.tceq.texas.gov/cgi-bin/compliance/monops/select_curlev.pl
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. ArcGIS web application. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://tceq.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=ab6f85198bda483a997a6956a8486539
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