Greenhouse Gas

Greenhouse Gas and Air Quality Emissions

Emissions are gases and particles released into the air as byproducts of a natural or man-made process. One of these processes is the burning of fuels to create electricity and other forms of energy. The emissions from burning fossil fuels contribute significantly to global warming and poor air quality. A small set of emissions are responsible for the majority of human impacts on climate change and health. These gases and particulates come from a variety of sources and can be categorized as greenhouse gas emissions and air quality emissions that affect climate change.

Worldwide emission levels from human activity have increased significantly over the past 200 years as industrial activity, electricity infrastructure, and transportation have developed. As broader understanding of the impacts of these emissions has increased, regulation and new development practices have been implemented to reduce the rate of emissions in many countries. However, high levels of these emissions are still being produced each year. Greenhouse gas emissions come from four main sources: the burning of fossil fuels to make electricity; industrial, commercial and residential burning of fossil fuels for heat and the use of other emission-producing processes; the burning of fossil fuels to power transportation; and the emissions produced through agriculture and other activities.

There are different types of emissions that contribute to poor air quality and climate change. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is the most common. Methane is another naturally occurring gas. Human activities that produce methane include fossil fuel production, decay in landfills, and the digestive processes of farm animals such as cattle. Halocarbons are entirely man-made chemicals. Their most common use is in refrigeration and air conditioning technologies but they are also used heavily in the electric system infrastructure. When released into the atmosphere as gases, they can significantly impact global climate patterns. Other gases like carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides impact climate change indirectly and have more direct effects on health when they are released into the lower atmosphere. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas. Unvented kerosene and gas space heaters, leaking chimneys and furnaces, wood and gas stoves, and fireplaces,gas stoves,generators and other gasoline powered devices, automobile exhaust from attached garages; and tobacco smoke are sources of carbon dioxide. It is particulary dangerous when released in closed places like garages and kills close to 500 people each year in the US. Nitrogen oxides, or NOx, is the generic term for a group of highly reactive gases. The primary manmade sources of NOx are motor vehicles, electric utilities, and other industrial, commercial, and residential sources that burn fuels. NOx can also be formed naturally. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a gas that is prevalent in crude oil, coal, and ore that contains common metals like aluminum, copper, zinc, lead and iron. The majority of SO2 released into the atmosphere comes from coal burning power plants. Other sources of this pollutant are petroleum refineries, cement manufacturing, and metal processing facilities.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term negative health effects. Many Volatile Organic Compounds are human-made chemicals that are used and produced in the manufacture of paints, pharmaceuticals, cleaning fluids and refrigerants. VOCs have been found to be a major contributing factor to ozone, a common air pollutant which is a public health hazard. VOCs can be present in wells and public drinking water. They can enter ground water from a variety of sources. Benzene, for example, may enter ground water from gasoline or oil spills on the ground surface or from leaking underground fuel tanks. Other examples of commonly detected VOCs are methylene chloride, (an industrial solvent), tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), used in the dry-cleaning industry and trichloroethylene, used in septic system cleaners.

Particulates may be the air pollutant that most commonly affects human health. Particulates, commonly referred to as particulate matter or fine particles, are tiny particles of solid or liquid suspended in a gas. There are both natural and human sources of atmospheric particulates. The main natural sources are forest fires, dust, and volcanoes. The biggest human sources of particles are mainly from the use of automobiles and power plants.

Ozone is a gas that occurs both in the Earth's upper atmosphere and at ground level. The stratosphere, or "good" ozone layer extends upward from about 6 to 30 miles and protects life on Earth from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. This natural shield has been gradually depleted by man-made chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). A depleted ozone shield allows more UV radiation to reach the ground, leading to more cases of skin cancer, and other health and environmental problems. Ground-level or "bad" ozone is a pollutant that is a significant health risk, especially for children with asthma. It also damages crops, trees and other vegetation. It is a main ingredient of urban smog. High concentrations of ozone, created by high concentrations of pollution and daylight UV rays at the earth's surface, can harm the human respiratory system.

As you can see we are putting a toxic mess into our atmosphere, soil and water systems. This accounts for many health issues and premature deaths in society. Our planet can no longer support the rate that humans place emissions into our atmosphere. We need to find solutions to this issue. One solution is clean energy. Clean energy typically produces no emissions, which is one of its most significant benefits. We need to make urgent choices to help save the planet for future generations.

Clean energy typically produces no emissions, which is one of its most significant benefits