2. First 3 murderers!
When people think about air pollution, they usually think about smog, acid rain, CFC's, and other forms of outdoor air pollution. However, what are the few "murderers" working behind the scenes of these Earth illnesses?
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1. Sulfur Dioxide
- Sulfur is released when large amounts of coal, petroleum are burnt in power stations & industries to generate electricity and provide energy.
- Diesel fuel in vehicles contains sulfur as well.
When these fuels are burnt, the sulfur is oxidised to sulfur dioxide.
S (in fuels) + O2 (in atmosphere) -> SO2 (harmful)
It usually irritates the eyes and causes breathing problems.
It enters leaves and affects the growth of plants as well.
Acid rain is caused by them.
Task 4: Case study 1: Eastern Canada
Read the following situation reported by the Canadian Times in year 3421:
"New figures report that near fourteen thousand lakes are now so acidic that plants, animals, fish and birds are all dying. 84% of agricultural land in eastern Canada is polluted by acid rain. Buildings are being affected, especially those made of marble, granite and limestone. Experts suggest that buildings in Canada are losing 4% of their weight every year. Experts also mention, all these are most probably caused by the USA."
2 days after the report by the Canadian Times, the government of USA came forward to reply Canada, reported from the American Times, three days after:
"Canada has to see the increasing trend of urbanisation on our land of America. People are getting more wealthy, buying more cars. People are setting up factories, burning fuels for electricity to be supplied to the Americans. We understand Canada's plight, but we cannot do anything."
You, as a environmentalist from USA, have to write a report to the Canadian government to account for the acid rain which they say it's USA fault. You are done the following research:
"The prevailing north easterly winds blow the acid rain away from the industrial areas of the north east USA to eastern Canada."
Consider these points:
1. Introduction of acid rain
2. How is acid rain normally formed?
3. What are some of the effects?
4. Your country's plight
5. Possible Soultions (This will be covered in Chapter 4.)
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2. Nitrogen Oxides
- Usually formed during lightning and forest fires
- Produced inside vehicle engines, burners in power stations
- At high temperatures, nitrogen and oxygen in the air forms nitrogen monoxide.
N2 + O2 -> 2NO
- Nitrogen monoxide molecules bind with more oxygen to form nitrogen dioxide.
2NO + O2 -> 2NO2
Task 5: Inference skill
Malansia, the top country which its air contains the highest amount of nitrogen oxides, submitted its People's Overall Health Account Report (POHAR) to the World Health Organisation (WHO). This is an abstract of the report:
"In year 2089, on average, 98% of our people have had at least one lung-related diseases/illnesses and out of them, 34% are/were diagnosed with lung cancer. This is suspected to be caused by the acid rain which had been falling consistently from April to October. Half of the patients are affected by the gas ozone."
Q: Infer the effects of nitrogen dioxides on both the people and the environment.
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3. Carbon Monoxide
- Result of forest fires
- Comes from incomplete combustion of fuel in motor engines
Especially dangerous as it is colourless and odourless and hard to be warned of its presence.
It will cause severe breathing problems and reduces ability of blood to carry oxygen, even death.
Task 6: Photochemical Smog
Read the following article from Wikipedia:
"This forms when sunlight hits various pollutants in the air and forms a mix of inimical chemicals that can be very dangerous. A photochemical smog is the chemical reaction of sunlight, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the atmosphere, which leaves airborne particles (called particulate matter) and ground-level ozone. Photochemical smog is therefore considered to be a problem of modern industrialization. It is present in all modern cities, but it is more common in cities with sunny, warm, dry climates and a large number of motor vehicles.[1] Because it travels with the wind, it can affect sparsely populated areas as well."
Photochemical Smog burns the eyes and is dangerous to people with breathing or heart problems. It is poisonous to plants, and damages materials such as paint and rubber.
Research on some case studies where photochemical smog occurs and compare the degree of consequences of photochemical smog.
