Sulfur and nitrogen dioxides

The IR spectroscopic data on the chemical composition changes in bioindicator plants may be informative for the estimation of hydrosphere pollution in industrial regions. The exact identification of the types of compounds formed in the plant as a result of accumulation of various pollutants enables the use of FTIR for biomonitoring of acid pollutions (sulfur and nitrogen dioxides) and petrolemn products and also organic compoimds [5-7]. 

Simatonyte A. Vendoviene J. Impact of sulfur and nitrogen dioxide concentration on radical increment dynamics of Scots pine (Pinus Silvestris L.) growing in cities. Environ. Res. Eng. Manage. 2009, 48,25-34. 

Utility systems as sources of waste. The principal sources of utility waste are associated with hot utilities (including cogeneration systems) and cold utilities. Furnaces, steam boilers, gas turbines, and diesel engines all produce waste from products of combustion. The principal problem here is the emission of carbon dioxide, oxides of sulfur and nitrogen, and particulates (metal oxides, unbumt... 

Reference methods for criteria (19) and hazardous (20) poUutants estabHshed by the US EPA include sulfur dioxide [7446-09-5] by the West-Gaeke method carbon monoxide [630-08-0] by nondispersive infrared analysis ozone [10028-15-6] and nitrogen dioxide [10102-44-0] by chemiluminescence (qv) and hydrocarbons by gas chromatography coupled with flame-ionization detection. Gas chromatography coupled with a suitable detector can also be used to measure ambient concentrations of vinyl chloride monomer [75-01-4], halogenated hydrocarbons and aromatics, and polyacrylonitrile [25014-41-9] (21-22) (see Chromatography Trace and residue analysis). 

Pollutants. The problems posed by ak pollutants are very serious. Within a museum, measures can be taken to remove harmful substances as efficiently as possible by means of the installation of appropriate filter systems in the ventilation equipment. Proposed specification values for museum climate-control systems requke filtering systems having an efficiency for particulate removal in the dioctyl phthalate test of 60—80%. Systems must be able to limit both sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide concentrations <10 /ig/m, and ozone to <2 /ig/m. ... 

Products of Combustion Heat, hght, smoke, and asphyxiating and toxic gases are produced by fire. In a hot, well-ventilated fire, combustion is usually nearly complete. Nearly all the carbon is converted to carbon dioxide, all the hydrogen to steam, and oxides of various other elements such as sulfur and nitrogen are produced. 

Compounds that induce bronchoconstriction include tobacco smoke, formaldehyde, and diethyl ether. Several other compounds, such as acidic fumes (e.g., sulfuric acid) and gases, such as ozone and nitrogen dioxide, as well as isocyanates, can cause bronchoconstriction. Also, cellular damage in the airways induces bronchoconstriction because of the release of vasoactive compounds. Frequently, different mechanisms work at the same time, provoking bronchoconstriction and increased secretion of mucus, both of which interfere with respiration. 

Directs national efforts to meet air quality goals, particularly for smog, air toxics, carbon monoxide, lead, particulate matter (soot and dust), sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. The office is responsible for more than half of the guidance documents, regulations, and regulatory activities required by the Clean Air Act Amendments of1990. 

Burning fossil fuels can release air pollutants such as carbon dioxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, ozone, and particulate matter. Sulfur and nitrogen oxides contribute to acid rain ozone is a component of urban smog, and particulate matter affects respiratory health. In fact, several studies have documented a disturbing correlation between suspended particulate levels and human mortality. It is estimated that air pollution may help cause 500,000 premature deaths and millions of new respiratory illnesses each year. 

Natural gas will continue to be substituted for oil and coal as primary energy source in order to reduce emissions of noxious combustion products particulates (soot), unburned hydrocarbons, dioxins, sulfur and nitrogen oxides (sources of acid rain and snow), and toxic carbon monoxide, as well as carbon dioxide, which is believed to be the chief greenhouse gas responsible for global warming. Policy implemented to curtail carbon emissions based on the perceived threat could dramatically accelerate the switch to natural gas. 

Rainwater is naturally slightly acidic due to the dissolved carbon dioxide. Acid rain results when acidic sulfur and nitrogen oxides produced during the combustion of coal and oil react with rainwater (see Box 10.1). 

Land/atmospheric interfacial processes which impact climate and biological activity on earth are illustrated in Figure 3. Emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen dioxide, and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) have been linked to the transmission of solar radiation to the surface of the earth as well as to the transmission of terrestrial radiation to space. Should solar radiation be an internal process or an external driver of the hydrologic cycle, weather, and air surface temperatures Compounds of sulfur and nitrogen are associated with acidic precipitation and damage to vegetation, aquatic life, and physical structures. 

Acid rain is actually a catchall phrase for any kind of acidic precipitation, including snow, sleet, mist, and fog. Acid rain begins when water comes into contact with sulfur and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere. These oxides can come from natural sources such as volcanic emissions or decaying plants. But there are man-made sources as well, such as power plant and automobile emissions. In the United States, two-thirds of all the sulfur dioxide and one-fourth of the nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere are produced by coal-burning power plants. 

Sulfur Dioxide. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which are produced in modern society when coal, gas, and oil are burned in cars, power plants, and factories, react with water vapor in the air to form acids that negatively affect organic materials and even metals and stone when dissolved in airborne rainwater, the oxides of sulfur and nitrogen are the main cause of the formation of acid rain (see below). 

In addition, excessive use of fuels with a high sulfur and nitrogen content causes sulfuric and nitric acids in the atmosphere from sulfur dioxide and nitrogen... 

Sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon dioxide are commonly produced during refining operations or during use of the refined products. For example, the most common toxic gases present in diesel exhaust include carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitric oxide, and nitrogen dioxide. 

O O At a certain temperature, Kc for the following reaction between sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide is 4.8. 

The Clean Air Act recognizes a number of so-called primary air pollutants, and the EPA has established standards for these substances. Ozone, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide are among these (the others are carbon monoxide and lead, discussed below, and total suspended particulates ). The EPA s standard for ozone is 0.08 parts of the gas per million parts of air (0.08 ppm), averaged over eight hours. Standards also exist for the oxides of sulfur and nitrogen. These are designed to prevent chronic respiratory toxicity of any kind. 

Descriptions of field studies of power-plant stack plumes were given by Davis et al. The ozone concentration appears to be lower in regions of high sulfur dioxide content. At 32 km downwind from the stacks, it was claimed that the ozone concentration in the plume (now 11 km wide) is higher than the ambient concentration ( 0.08 ppm) by approximately 0.02 ppm. Simultaneous measurements of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide were integrated across the plume. Values of the ratio of nitric... 

The sulfate and nitrate content of atmospheric particles comes primarily from the conversion of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. Photochemi-cally initiated atmospheric reactions and transient free radicals are... 

Com. M., N. Kotsko, and D. Stanton. Mass transfer coefficient for sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide removal in cat upper respiratory tract. In W. H. Walton. Ed. Inhaled Particles IV. Proceedings of the Fourth International Symposium on Inhaled Particles and Vapors, British Occupational Hygiene Society, Edinburgh, September, 1975. London Pergamon Press. Ltd. (in press)... 

Fairchild, E. J., S. D. Murphy, and H. E. Stokinger. Protection by sulfur com pounds against the air pollutants ozone and nitrogen dioxide. Science 130 861-862 1959. 

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