Criteria Air Pollutants

Criteria Air Pollutants

Willow Holley

Table of Contents

1. Carbon Monoxide
2. Sulfur dioxide
3. Nitrogen Oxides
4. Particulate Matter
5. Tropospheric Ozone
6. Lead

Carbon Monoxide

- A colorless, odorless pollutant
created by incomplete combustion
that mostly comes from engines and
coal burning power plants

- Carbon monoxide causes headaches,
nausea, confusion, and in worse
cases death.

- The best way to treat CO poisoning
is to breathe in pure oxygen. This
increases oxygen levels in the blood
and helps to remove CO from the
blood. People should be aware of the
risks, keeps vents clear and not run
engines in closed areas

Sulfur Dioxide

- A colorless, pungent gas that is produced is burning coal and causes asthma,
acid rain, and corrosion.

- Human sources are coal, oil refining, and smelting. Natural resources are
volcanoes.

- Levels can be decreased by improved efficiency of converting of fuel to
electricity, shift fossil fuel plants to lower sulfur fuels, and ventilating areas
immediately once they have been exposed

Nitrogen Oxides - Nitrogen and oxygen combine at high
temperatures, examples are gasoline
combustion and coal. Light and water become
part of photochemical smog which is highly
reactive.

- It can be found in inorganic fertilizers and
animal waste which can cause eye and nose
irritation, asthma/ bronchitis, and a decrease
in plant growth.

- There are no antidotes for nitrogen oxide
poisoning but there are ways to reduce
emissions such as: using nitrification inhibitors,
less nitrogen fertilizer and prevent
waterlogging.

Particulate Matter

- The sum of all solid and liquid particles
suspended in air many of which are
hazardous.

- Natural forms are dust, fire and ocean
spray. Human forms are coal, vehicles,
construction, and farming.

- It can cause asthma, bronchitis, decrease
light emissions, and visibility

- Ways to reduce the amount produced is
to stop smoking, switch to cleaner burning
appliances, take action to reduce
wildfires, and ventilate.

Tropospheric Ozone

- A secondary pollutant that is produced by
a reaction of sunlight, heat, nitrogen oxide
and VOCs.

- Sources are industrial emissions, electric
utilities, and gasoline vapors.

- They can cause breathing problems and
aggravate lung/ heart diseases, affect
immune systems and are dangerous to
plants.

- This pollutant can be reduced by choosing
a cleaner commute, avoiding just running
your can, refueling your car at night when
its cooler, and combining errands/ trips.

Lead - A heavy metal patriculate caused by
smelting or leaded gas. It does not usually
occur in natural drinking water but can be
if there was use of lead pipes or
contaminated water.

- Human sources are paint, dust, folk
medicines and childrens toys. All sources
can lead to anemia, weakness, and kidney
and brain damage. Sometimes it can even
lead to death.

- You can get rid of lead in your body by
eating foods with high levels of calcium,
iron, and vitamin C