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Outdoor Air Pollution

What is Outdoor Air Pollution?

prevention

Cause of air pollution and ozone depletion

There are many causes of air pollution but a few major ones are the burning of fuels, household and farming chemicals, emission from industries and manufacturing plants.

As I previously mentioned ozone depletion is caused by the release of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrofluorocIarbons (HCFCs), and other ozone-depleting substances (ODS). Some commonly used ones are refrigerants, insulating foams, solvents as well as aerosols.

Other chemicals that damage the ozone layer include methyl bromide (used as a pesticide), halons (used in fire extinguishers), and methyl chloroform (used as a solvent in industrial processes for essential applications). As the methyl bromide and halons are broken apart, they release bromine atoms. Scientists say that the bromine atoms 60 times more destructive to ozone molecules than chlorine atoms.

At Home

-Conserve energy - turn off appliances and lights when you leave the room.

-Recycle paper, plastic, glass bottles, cardboard, and aluminum cans.

-Keep wood stoves and fireplaces well maintained.

-Buy green electricity-produced by low-or even zero-pollution facilities.

Connect your outdoor lights to a timer or use solar lighting.

-Wash clothes with warm or cold water instead of hot.

-Lower the thermostat on your water heater to 120F.

-Test your home for radon-a dangerous, radioactive gas that is odorless and tasteless.

-Choose not to smoke in your home, especially if you have children.

Buy Smart

-Buy ENERGY STAR products, including energy efficient lighting and appliances.

-Choose efficient, low-polluting models of vehicles.

-Choose products that have less packaging and are reusable.

-Shop with a canvas bag instead of using paper and plastic bags.

-Buy rechargeable batteries for devices used frequently.

Drive Wise

-Plan your trips. Save gasoline and reduce air pollution.

-Keep tires properly inflated and aligned.

-In the summertime, fill gas tank during cooler evening hours to cut down on evaporation. Avoid spilling gas and don't "top off" the tank. Replace gas tank cap tightly.

-Avoid waiting in long drive-thru lines, for example, at fast-food restaurants or banks. Park your car and go in.

-When possible, use public transportation, walk, or ride a bike.

-Get regular engine tune ups and car maintenance checks (especially for the spark plugs).

-Report smoking vehicles to your local air agency.

-Join a carpool or vanpool to get to work.

Tropospheric Ozone Pollution

Stratospheric Ozone Depletion

Status of the Ozone layer

Treatment

Chemistry

Laws

Health and Environmental Effects

The current status of the ozone layer is looking up. Scientists have said that over the past 10 years the ozone layer has not shrunk anymore. It has been projected that in 2050 the ozone layer will be in much better shape. This is only however if we continue to reduce the use of harmful chemicals etc.

Atomic Energy Act (1954): Was passed because of the government's interest in monitoring the commercial and national defense uses of atomic energy.

-Clean Air Act (1970):

-Clean Water Act (1972):

-Coastal Zone Management Act (1972): Provides a partnership structure allowing states and the federal government to work together for the protection of U.S. coastal zones.

-Superfund Act

-Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (1986): Requires companies to disclose information about toxic chemicals they release into the air and water and dispose of on land.

-Endangered Species Act (1973):

Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (1938):

-Federal Land Policy and Management Act (1976):

-Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (1947):

-Food Quality Protection Act (1996):

-Fisheries Conservation and Management Act (1976):

-Marine Mammal Protection Act (1972):

-National Environmental Policy Act (1970):

-Oil Pollution Act (1990):

Proposition 65 (1986): Is a California law passed by voter initiative. Known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act,

-Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

-Safe Drinking Water Act (1974):

-Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (1977):

-Toxic Substances Control Act (1976):

The proposed treatment of the ozone layer is to simply stop the use of harmful chemicals and other things that cause air pollution. This is clearly much easier said than done but if every person were to decide to turn down there thermostat or drive a more fuel efficient car it would make a huge difference in the ozone. However, there is good news! Since 1996 the amount of ozone depletion has gone down, however the ozone is still at very high risk. People hope that by 2050 the ozone will be in better shape. But if we continue to live the same way we are living and not conscious of our environment who knows what will happen next.

Health Effects include:

http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/images1/022_p1c.gif

Environmental Effects include: acid rain, eutrophication, haze, effects on wildlife, ozone depletion, crop and forest damage, global climate change.

Treaties

bibliography

>http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/ozone-depletion-overview/

>http://www.ucar.edu/learn/1_7_1.htm

>http://eschooltoday.com/pollution/air-pollution/causes-of-air-pollution.html

>http://www.epa.gov/ozone/science/q_a.html

>http://www.epa.gov/air/caa/peg/reduce.html

>http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/3_90_022.html

>http://www.nrdc.org/reference/laws.asp

>http://humantouchofchemistry.com/understanding-ozone-depletion.htm

>http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/research/themes/o3/

Tropospheric ozone is formed by the interaction of sunlight, more specifically ultraviolet light, with hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides. Hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides as many people know are emitted by automobiles, gasoline vapors, fossil fuel power plants, refineries, and certain other industries.

Negative effects:

While stratospheric ozone shields us from ultraviolet rays, the troposphere does not protect us from anything and is very different. The reactive molecule damages forests and crops; destroys nylon, rubber, and other materials. It also injures or destroys living tissue. This is a particular issue and particular threat to people who exercise outdoors or who already have respiratory problems such as asthma.

"Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulates, biological materials, or other harmful materials into the Earth's atmosphere."

The chemicals, particles, and materials can possibly cause disease, death to humans, and damage to other living organisms. It can also affect food crops, as well as the natural or build of the environment.

Air pollution can occur anywhere. It occurs when the environment is contaminated by any chemical, physical or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere. Some examples of air pollution are stoves in the home, motor vehicles, industrial facilities and forest fires.

The pollutants of major public health concern include particulate matter, carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. Both ambient (outdoor) and household (indoor) air pollution cause respiratory and other diseases, which can be fatal.

The release of pollution containing the chemicals chlorine and bromine Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), chemicals are found mainly in spray aerosols, such as hairspray. These spray aerosols are heavily used by industrialized nations for much of the past 50 years and are the primary culprits in ozone layer breakdown. When CFCs reach the upper atmosphere, they are exposed to ultraviolet rays, which in turn causes them to break down into substances that include chlorine. The chlorine reacts with the oxygen atoms in the ozone and then tears apart the ozone molecule.

One atom of chlorine can destroy more than a hundred thousand ozone molecules, according to the the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

About 90 percent of CFCs currently in the atmosphere were emitted by industrialized countries in the Northern Hemisphere, including the United States and Europe. These countries banned CFCs by 1996, and fortunately the amount of chlorine in the atmosphere is falling. But scientists estimate it will take another 50 years or so for chlorine levels to return to their natural levels. And it has been found that it takes CFCs around 2-5 years to reach the stratosphere because they are heavier than air.

The ozone layer is a belt of naturally occurring ozone gas that sits 9.3 to 18.6 miles above Earth and serves as a shield from the ultraviolet radiation.

Today, there is widespread concern that the ozone layer is deteriorating due to the release of pollution containing the chemicals chlorine and bromine. The deterioration allows large amounts of ultraviolet B rays to reach Earth, which can cause skin cancer and cataracts in humans and harm animals as well. Many people refer to this as the hole in the ozone.

In some areas the amount of UVS hitting the earth is different. For example, the Antarctic has been heavily impacted and scientists have said the depletion has been up to 65%. In the spring and summer, the sun shines for longer periods of the day thus causing the chlorine to reacts with ultraviolet rays, destroying ozone on a massive scale and as I said before up to 65%.

INTERNATIONAL TREATIES

-Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty: A proposed treaty to prohibit all testing of nuclear weapons in all environments: underground, underwater, in the atmosphere and in space.

-The Kyoto Protocol: An international agreement setting binding limits on emissions of greenhouse gases from industrialized countries.

-Montreal Protocol: International agreement signed by more than 150 countries to limit the production of substances harmful to the stratospheric ozone layer, such as CFCs.

-Non-Proliferation Treaty:

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: An international agreement for dealing with climate change, adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (the "Earth Summit") in Rio in 1992. AKA Climate Change Convention; Climate Treaty. (See also Kyoto Protocol.)

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