Acid Gases

and

VOCs(Volatile Organic Compounds)

de Jesus, Marchey Ann B. Marasigan, Eunice A.

ACID GASES

What is an ACID GAS?

 Acid gas is natural gas or any other gas mixture which contains significant amounts of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbon dioxide (CO2), or similar contaminants.  The term acid gas covers any type of gas or gaseous mixture which forms an acidic compound when mixed with water.

Sources of ACID GASES

 Acid gases are produced when fossil fuels like coal and oil are burned in power stations, factories and in our own homes. Most of these acid gases are blown into the sky, and when they mix with the clouds it can cause rain - or snow, sleet, fog, mist or hail - to become more acidic.  Nature can also produce acid gases, such as volcanoes. When they erupt, the smoke that comes out of the crater is also full of acid gases.

ACID GASES
 Sulfur Dioxide  Nitrogen Oxides  Hydrocarbons  Carbon monoxide  Particulates

Sulfur dioxide
Sulfur dioxide has no color. Most of it is released by power stations. It causes acid rain when mixing with water in the air.

Nitrogen Oxides
Nitrogen oxides are emitted from vehicles, like cars and trucks. During rush hour periods, a lot more is released in the air. Nitrogen oxides are also emitted from power stations. These gases also make acid rain. NOx cannot only make rain more acidic. High concentrations of NOx and VOCs in the atmosphere can also react with the sun s rays to form ozone smog, which can be dangerous to our health. Ozone is a reactive gas that, in high concentrations, can cause respiratory problems.

Hydrocarbons
Hydrocarbons are produced when petrol is not fully burnt. They are one of the causes of modern-day smog.

Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide is a gas that pollutes the air, and is mainly released by cars and other vehicles. It has no color or smell.

Particulates
Particulates are very small particles, like soot, dust and fumes that are released in the air. They are caused by vehicles, factories and smoke from homes burning coal for heating.

Effects of ACID GASES

 Buildings are naturally eroded by rain, wind, frost and the sun, but when acidic gases are present, it speeds up the erosion.  Rain is naturally acidic, but acid gases make it even more acidic

VOCs Volatile Organic Compounds

What is VOCs

exposed to VOC

How do VOC cause smog?

How does smog affect us

Reduce VOC emissions

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Organic compounds are chemicals that contain carbon and are found in all living things. Volatile organic compounds, sometimes referred to as VOCs, are organic compounds that easily become vapors or gases. Along with carbon, they contain elements such as hydrogen, oxygen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, sulfur or nitrogen .Off 188 air toxic listed in the Clean Air Act, about two thirds are volatile organic compound and most of the rest are organic compound The definitions of VOCs used for control of precursors of photochemical smog used by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or sometimes USEPA) . It is formerly defined as Reactive Organic Gases (ROG) but changed the terminology to VOC for simplicity's sake.

Sources of VOCs
      Plants Bogs Termites Isoprenes Terpenes Methane
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How do VOC cause smog?

 VOCs play significant role in the formation of ozone and fine particulates in the atmosphere. The accumulation of ozone and particulates results in smog that reduces visibility. SMOG is particularly severe under stagnant weather conditions with typhoon approaching or with prevailing northerly winds that are common in autumn back

How does smog affect us

Short-Term (Acute) to high levels of VOCs  Eye, nose and throat irritation  Headaches  Nausea / Vomiting  Dizziness  Worsening of asthma symptoms Long-Term (Chronic) to high levels of VOCs  Increased risk of:  Cancer  Liver damage  Kidney damage  Central Nervous System damage

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How might I be exposed to volatile organic compounds?

Volatile organic compounds are common air pollutants found in most of the air in the United States. You can be exposed to volatile organic compounds outdoors by breathing polluted air that contains them. You are most likely to be exposed to volatile organic compounds outdoors in the summer, when the sun and hot temperatures react with pollution to form smog, causing government officials to issue air quality alerts. Indoors, products that contain volatile organic compounds release emissions when you use them, and to a smaller degree, when they are stored. You can be exposed to volatile organic compounds at home if you use cleaning, painting, or hobby supplies that contain them. You can also be exposed if you dry-clean your clothes with home dry-cleaning products; if you dry-clean your clothes at a professional dry-cleaners; or if you use graphics and crafts materials such as glues, permanent markers, and photographic solutions. At work, you can be exposed to volatile organic compounds if you work at a dry-cleaner, a photography studio, or an office that uses copiers, printers, or correction fluids. You can also be exposed if you work in chemical manufacturing or with petroleum-based products.
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Steps to Reduce Exposure

Follow label instructions carefully. Throw away partially full containers of old or unneeded chemicals safely. Buy limited quantities. Keep exposure to emissions from products containing methylene chloride to a minimum. Keep exposure to benzene to a minimum. Keep exposure to perchloroethylene emissions from newly dry-cleaned materials to a minimum.
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THE END ^^