Effects of Air Pollution In the United States about half of the people live in areas where air quality is unhealthy at times. At least 1.3 billion people

Effects of Air Pollution

• In the United States about half of the people live in areas where air quality is unhealthy at times.

• At least 1.3 billion people world wide live in areas that are dangerously polluted.


• Short Term Effects:– Stinging, watery

eyes– Scratchy, sore

throat– Cough– Pneumonia– Headache


• Long Term Effects:– Brain damage– Liver disease– Kidney disease– Lung cancer– Heart disease


• Health effects depend upon on how long you are exposed to the pollutant and how much is in the air.

• Young children and elderly suffer the most effects of pollution.


• Question: Why do you think that young people suffer more from air pollution than others?

Air Pollution Effects Upon Younger People

• The same amount of exposure to pollutants gives younger children bigger doses for their size than adults.

• Their organs, including the brain, still are developing.

• Air pollution can effect the development of organs.


• Question: Why do you think that elderly people suffer more from air pollution than the general population?

Air Pollution Effects Upon the Elderly

• Elderly people are at risk because they have been exposed to pollutants for a long time.


• Smog• Ozone and other

compounds found in smog can cause your eyes to water and sting.


• Smog• Long term effects can

increase your risk for lung infections, reduce your ability to breathe normally and might make asthma worse.


• Carbon Monoxide• CO affects your

bloods ability to carry oxygen.

• High concentrations of CO might affect your vision, your ability to concentrate, your coordination.

• Very high concentrations can cause death.


• Particulates

• Do you ever sneeze when you shake out a rug?

• Why do we sneeze?


• Sneezing forces out the dust from your respiratory system.

• Smaller particles can penetrate deep into your lungs and cause inflammation.


• Particulates• Over time small

particulate matter might damage your lungs permanently, making breathing difficult and forcing your heart to work harder.


• Toxic Pollutants• People exposed to

toxic substances in the air can suffer from nerve damage, respiratory problems, disorders of the reproductive systems, and have an increase in lung cancer.


• Toxic Pollutants

• Exposure to a large amount of toxic air pollution over a short period can be deadly.


• 1984, Bhopal, India pesticide factory

• Accidental release of toxic gas

• Over 4000 dead

• 200,000 permanent injuries


• Increased Ultraviolet Radiation

• Review: Protective ozone layer partially blocks ultraviolet radiation (harmful Sun’s rays).

• Review: Ozone layer is being depleted.

Ultraviolet Radiation

• In humans increased ultraviolet radiation is linked to skin cancer.

• Malignant melanoma causes 79% of all skin cancer deaths.

Effects of Air Pollution on Organisms• Animals also are

exposed to air pollution.

– When they inhale gases and small particles.

– When they ingest pollutants in food and water

– Some animals can ingest pollutants directly through skin.

• Soft bodied animals such as worms, amphibians

Concentrating Pollutants

• Some pollutants stay in animal tissues instead of being excreted from bodies as waste.

• When these animals are eaten by predators the pollutants are passed on.

• This process of increasing pollutant levels through the food chain is called: Biomagnification.

Acid Lakes and Streams

• Review: Lower pH means higher acidity.

• pH of lakes, streams, and rivers can drop when acid rain falls.

• Many organisms require an environment with a narrow range of pH.


• In some lakes and streams in the U.S. acid rain has eliminated certain species.

• Hundreds of lakes in New York state are too acidic for the survival of fish.


• Acid snow melt: If a large amount of acid snow falls in the winter and melts quickly in the spring, a sudden rush of acid flows into lakes and streams.

• Many fish and other organisms can die because of the sudden pH changes.

Acid Rain Effects on Plants

• At higher elevation trees are often surrounded by fog.

• When the fog is acidic, trees suffer injury and are less able to resist pests and disease.

Acid Rain Effect on Plants

Smog Effect upon Organisms

• Smog affects the respiratory system of animals, causing irritation to the lining of the lungs.

• Plants when exposed to smog for a long period of time will have their waxy coating of their leaves break down.– This will increase the effects of water loss

causing greater damage due to pests, diseases, drought and frost.

Ozone Layer Effect Upon Organisms

• As the ozone layer thins, Earth’s organisms are exposed to more ultraviolet radiation.

• Phytoplankton: Small organisms that live in fresh water and the ocean.– Use CO2 in photosynthesis to produce food

and 50% of the world’s oxygen.


• Research shows that ultraviolet radiation can reduce the ability of phytoplankton to make food, decreasing their numbers.

• Phytoplankton are the base of the food chain.


• Question: What two catastrophes could occur if the numbers of phytoplankton should severely decrease?

Air Pollution Damage to Materials and Structures

• A/P also damages many materials.– Acid rain corrodes

metals and deteriorates stone and paint.

• Smoke and soot coat buildings, paintings and sculptures requiring expensive cleaning.

Documents

Effects of Air Pollution In the United States about half of the people live in areas where air quality is unhealthy at times. At least 1.3 billion people