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Air Quality

Air Quality. a brief introduction. Definition of Air Quality. Attributes of the atmosphere that make it able to sustain life. What is the atmosphere?. The gaseous envelope surrounding Earth 78% nitrogen (N 2 ) 21% oxygen (O 2 ) Air is the mixture of gases in the atmosphere

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Air Quality

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  1. Air Quality a brief introduction

  2. Definition of Air Quality Attributes of the atmosphere that make it able to sustain life

  3. What is the atmosphere? • The gaseous envelope surrounding Earth • 78% nitrogen (N2) • 21% oxygen (O2) • Air is the mixture of gases in the atmosphere • Adding gases changes the composition of the atmosphere

  4. Goals of Air Quality Research • Understand • Control • Manage

  5. Poor Air Quality Problems • Urban Smog • poor visibility, human health problems and death • Acid Rain • forest and crop depletion, deterioration of buildings, destruction of lakes and rivers • Stratospheric Ozone Depletion • increased exposure to UV rays • Global Climate Change • changes in weather patterns

  6. Correlated Health Effects • Respiratory disease • Asthma • Pulmonary emphysema • Chronic bronchitis • Lung cancer • Infections • Eye irritation • Indirect cardiovascular disease

  7. Regulation of Air Quality • Clean Air Act (CAA) and Amendments were created to reduce smog and atmospheric pollution • Uniform National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for 6 criteria pollutants • Hazardous air pollutant (HAP) regulations based on control technologies • Standards for the control of motor vehicle emissions

  8. Criteria Pollutants • Ozone (O3) • Carbon monoxide (CO) • Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) • Sulfur dioxide (SO2) • Particulate matter (PM-10 and PM-2.5) • Lead (Pb)

  9. Air Monitoring Networks • Which air monitors are placed where • Provide a general overview of regional air quality • Air Quality Index (AQI) • www.airnow.gov • Data from monitors is how the research is done

  10. Hillsborough County’s Air Monitoring Network • Run by the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County (EPC) • In 2004, 52 monitors in 23 locations • Monitored the criteria pollutants as well as wind and some hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) • Carbonyls • Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) • Metals • Nitrate, sulfate, and ammonium

  11. Air Monitor Locations and Sources

  12. Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) • Formed from reactions within the air at the high temperatures and pressures of engines • nitrogen and oxygen • Causes health problems • Once in atmosphere, forms ozone and smog

  13. Ozone (O3) • Formed in the atmosphere by NOx and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of sunlight • NOx and VOCs from vehicles • Major component of smog • Causes health problems and destruction of materials

  14. Air Quality Resources

  15. Web Sites • EPC of Hillsborough County • www.epchc.org • Florida Air Quality • www.dep.state.fl.us/Air/airquality.htm • EPA’s Ambient Monitoring Technology Information Center (AMTIC) • www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/ • Current Air Quality Index (AQI) • airnow.gov

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