Chapter 21: Atmospheric Pollution

Air Pollution Essentials

Pollutants and Atmospheric Cleansing
I. The major components of the atmosphere are N2 (78.08%); O2 (20.95%); Ar
(.93%); CO2 (.04%), and water vapor. Aerosols are also present in the
atmosphere—microscopic liquid and solid particles such as dust, carbon
particles, pollen, sea salts, and microorganisms.
II. Air pollutants are substances in the atmosphere that have harmful effects.
Three factors determine the level of air pollution: the amount of pollutants
entering the air, the amount of space into which the pollutants are
dispersed, and the mechanisms that remove pollutants from the air.
III. Environmental scientists distinguish between natural and anthropogenic air
pollutants.
A. A naturally occurring cleanser, hydroxyl radical, oxidizes many
gaseous pollutants to products that are harmless or that can be
brought down to the ground by precipitation. Sea salts picked up from
sea spray as air masses move over the oceans are a second cleansing
agent. These salts act as excellent nuclei for the formation of
raindrops. The rain then brings down many particulate pollutants from
the atmosphere. Sunlight also breaks organic molecules apart. These
three processes hold natural pollutants below toxic levels.
B. Many of the pollutants oxidized by the hydroxyl radical are of concern
because human activities have raised their concentrations far above
normal levels. It appears that the atmospheric levels of hydroxyl are
determined by the levels of anthropogenic pollutant gases; thus,
hydroxyl’s cleansing power is “used up” when high concentrations of
pollutants are oxidized, and the pollutants are thus allowed to build up
to damaging levels.
The Appearance of Smog