Atmospheric Issues

Air Pollution Chart

After reviewing Ch. 8 and 9 of your text, complete the following table, then respond to the questions that follow:

Issue Sources Health/Environmental Effects

Carbon dioxide (CO2) Fuel combustion that produce high temperatures such as cars, trucks, tractors, and heavy construction equipment. It is associated with global warming and is poisonous and reduces the bloods ability to transport oxygen.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) Air conditioners and refrigerators, Can cause cancer and its destroying the ozone.

Ground-level ozone (O3) Formed in atmosphere Reduces air visibility and causes health problems, reduces plant vigor, and chronic ozone exposure lowers crop yields. It is associated with global warming.

Sulfuric acid (H2SO4) Photochemical smog Irritate respiratory tract and damage plants.

Note: Some pollutants may not have direct health effects.

Choose one of the following atmospheric issues: air pollution, global warming, ozone depletion, and acid deposition. Then, respond to the following:

• What air pollutants combine and contribute to this issue?

• Briefly describe the health and environmental problems caused by the selected atmospheric issue.

• Provide one key solution to help either reduce the effects or recover from the effects of the selected issue.

The air pollutants that combine and contribute to air pollution are particulate matter (motor vehicles and industries), Sulfur oxides (electric power plants and other industries), Nitrogen oxides (heavy fertilized farmland, motor vehicles, and industries), Carbon monoxide and ozone (formed in the atmosphere). The health and environmental problems caused by air pollution are irritated eyes, inflammation of the respiratory tract, suppressed immune system, increasing susceptibility to infection. Also exposure to air pollution during respiratory illnesses can result in development late in life of chronic respiratory diseases, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. The...