Activity 3.3.1 Air Pollution Core

  

Air pollution basics

•Sulfur pollutants: colorless gases that humans can detect in very small amounts. SO2 can be detected at only 0.3-1 and hydrogen sulphide at lower than 1 ppb. These gases are transformed into Sulfate that impairs vision and damages plants.


•Nitrogen pollutants: toxic and pungent gases detrimental to the environment. Ex, laughing gas.


•Hydrocarbon and volatile organic compound pollutants: toxic gases that come from living things and contain hydrogen and carbon.



Comparison of current AQI

According to the Freedman chapter 16 reading , AQI is the report of how clean or polluted the air in a certain location is over a period of time. The higher the number, the more contaminated the air, Depending on the AQI, some very polluted places can cause health issues for humans and other beings. There are 5 major pollutants measured: ground level, particle matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide.

                            Time of day        AQI current           AQI forecast            PM2.5           O3

Lahore, Pakistan

(Highest)                  5pm                     273                        278                        223.1           15

Mt Kisco NY.   

(Where I live)           6PM                    17                            16                         4.1             19

Los Angeles, CA      3pm                     10                          18                          2.5

Upon searching on the airnow.gov site, I see that the current AQI in Lahore, Punjab shows as very unhealthy quality with the main cause being PM2.5 pollutants. The website explains this is so unhealthy that it is recommended to avoid outdoor exercise and to close windows. 

Like in Lahore, the main pollutant of Mount Kisco air is PM2.5 which is caused primarily by the burning of gasoline. However, the air in this area is at a level of only 17 even at peak traffic hours. I was surprised to learn that the AQI in Los Angeles was only 10. 

Airnow.gov home of the US quality index 

Comparison f current PM2.5 and O3 to EPA Standards

National standard                    San Antonio current                 time of day

                                              measured over 1 hour

PM 2.5                

Average measured                         23.4 ug/m3                            2:30 pm

over 24hours 35

ug/m3

O3

Average measured                            31 ppb                                 2:30 pm

over 8 hours 70 ppb

(137 ug/m3)

Pm2.5 pollution consists of microscopic particles in the air that can be natural, such as salt or pollen. But it is mostly made up of man made materials like the burning of fossil fuels (gas, oil, factories). According to Freedman, these particles are so small they stay in the air longer and are harmful to humans and other beings who inhale them while breathing and can lead to serious respiratory problems.

A secondary class of pollutants includes O3 or ozone pollutant, which results from photochemical reactions primarily during rush hour. These pollutants photodecompose later on and produce poisonous colorless ozone.

Tceq.Texas.gov latest hour pm 2.5 levels

US Environmental protection Agency Airnow.gov

Freedman, B (2018) Environmental Science, a Canadian perspective