The Atmosphere and Environment #2

The Atmosphere and Environment #2

1. Pollutants

   • Air pollutants
     • Carbon monoxide
       • Source
         • Mainly caused by incomplete combustion of petrol in car engines
       • Effects
         • Reacts/combines readily with haemoglobin in blood to form carboxyhaemoglobin, which reduces the ability of haemoglobin to transport oxygen to the rest of the body
         • Causes headaches, fatigue, breathing difficulties & even death
     • Sulfur dioxide
       • Source
         • Produced when fossil fuels such as coal, crude oil and natural gas are burnt in motor vehicles, power stations and factories OR in large quantities during volcanic eruptions
       • Effects
     • Oxides of nitrogen
       • Effects
         • React with water in the atmosphere to form acid rain, which corrodes buildings and harms aquatic life and plants
         • High levels lead to inflammation of the lungs (bronchitis)
         • Irritate the eyes and lungs and cause breathing difficulties
       • Source
         • Nitrogen combines with oxygen in the air to form nitrogen monoxide or nitric oxide in a car engine or chemical factory, where temperatures are very high OR when heat energy is released during thunderstorms. Nitrogen monoxide reacts with oxygen to form a brown gas, nitrogen dioxide.
     • Unburnt hydrocarbons
       • Source
         • Unburnt hydrocarbons are released in car exhaust fumes and chemical plants
       • Effects
         • React with nitrogen oxides to form ozone
         • Cause cancer (carcinogenic)
     • Methane
       • Source
         • Methane is produced when plant and animal matter decay OR from the decay of rubbish in landfills OR Sheep and cows give off methane due to digestion of food
       • Effects
         • Is a greenhouse gas, which causes global warming
     • Ozone
       • Effects
         • Forms photochemical smog, which irritates the eyes and lungs and causes breathing difficulties
         • Damages crops
       • Source
         • Ozone is formed when nitrogen dioxide in the air reacts with unburnt hydrocarbons in the presence of sunlight