THIS GENERATION HAS ALTERED THE COMPOSITION OF THE ATMOSPHERE ON A GLOBAL SCALE

THIS GENERATION HAS ALTERED THE COMPOSITION OF THE ATMOSPHERE ON A GLOBAL SCALE WITH A STEADY INCREASE IN CARBON DIOXIDE

Good morning Monday,

Dan and I have mixed emotions this Monday, for yesterday we were baffled for our on line bank transactions showed that we used my debit card in three different states in a period of two days. Well, another challenge for us to resolve.

Its funny, because when we moved back to the states and got a new address; I was furnished with a new debit card. I have not used it since I received it. All our transactions were on Dan’s card. It’s a mystery since we have been hunkering down for over 80 days and I thought everyone should be!!! Who is moving around the country during these times? This is just another obstacle upon moving back to the USA.

The mystery of life isn't a problem to solve, But a reality to experience. Ritu Ghatourey

In staying with the subject of air pollution I will be blogging on the next substances; sulfur oxides. The pollution in the air is a complex mixture of chemical substances of varying toxicity of which the sulfur oxides are a principal component.

About 99% of the sulfur dioxide in air comes from human sources. The main source of sulfur dioxide in the air is industrial activity that processes materials that contain sulfur, the generation of electricity from coal, oil or gas that contains sulfur. Some mineral ores also contain sulfur, and sulfur dioxide is released when they are processed. In addition, industrial activities that burn fossil fuels containing sulfur can be important sources of sulfur dioxide.

Sulfur dioxide is also present in motor vehicle emissions, as the result of fuel combustion. In the past, motor vehicle exhaust was an important, but not the main, source of sulfur dioxide in air. However, this is no longer the case.

Sulfur dioxide affects human health when it is breathed in. It irritates the nose, throat, and airways to cause coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, or a tight feeling around the chest. The effects of sulfur dioxide are felt very quickly and most people would feel the worst symptoms in 10 or 15 minutes after breathing it in.

Those most at risk of developing problems if they are exposed to sulfur dioxide are people with asthma or similar conditions.

Ingestion (swallowing)- eating food preserved with sulfur dioxide

Inhalation- inhalation (breathing), breathing sulfur dioxide polluted air; emissions from volcanoes

Touching- skin contact; touching liquid sulfur dioxide

There was almost a universal acceptance of unhealthy conditions. Sulfur dioxide in smokestack emissions were the price, or smell, of prosperity, —Denis Hayes

What happens when I am exposed to Sulfur Dioxide?

Short-term health effects:

Breathing in sulfur dioxide can cause:

Burning of the nose, throat, and lungs

Difficulty breathing

Harm to the respiratory system

Exposure to very high levels of sulfur dioxide can be toxic and life-threatening.

Touching liquid sulfur dioxide can cause:

Frostbite

Irritation of the eyes

Long-term health effects:

Long-term exposure to sulfur dioxide can cause:

Changes in lung function

A SMILE IS A CURVE 😁

Good morning Monday 🌞 A smile is a curve that set's everything straight 😁 go outside today with a smile

Decreased fertility in women and men

Loss of smell

Headache and dizziness

Nausea and vomiting

Bronchitis and shortness of breath

Who is at risk for exposure to Sulfur Dioxide?

Children and the elderly

These populations are particularly sensitive to exposure to sulfur dioxide.

People with asthma, heart, or lung disease

These populations are particularly sensitive to exposure to sulfur dioxide, especially if they are outdoors.

Sulfur dioxide is used in many industries. It’s used to manufacture sulfuric acid, paper, and food preservatives. Some examples of workers at risk of being exposed to sulfur dioxide include the following: Air – sulfur dioxide is a common air pollutant found in most of the country, especially in summer smog. Food – some fruits and vegetables are treated with sulfur dioxide.

Factory workers in industries where it occurs as a by-product, such as copper

smelting or power plants

Industry workers that manufacture sulfuric acid

Workers in plants that produce paper

Food processing to preserve foods, such as dry fruits

Workers who manufacture fertilizers

Sulfur, when burning, absorbs oxygen gas; the resulting acid is considerably heavier than the sulfur burned; its weight is equal to the sum of weights of the sulfur burned and the oxygen absorbed. -Antoine Lavoisier

Until Tuesday, life is a mystery that unfolds its story to each of us in a different way at the right time.

Tomorrow I will be blogging on the next and last substances of air pollution; nitrogen oxides. Oxides of nitrogen are a mixture of gases that are composed of nitrogen and oxygen. Two of the most toxicologically significant compounds are nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide. Other gases belonging to this group are nitrogen monoxide (or nitrous oxide), and nitrogen pentoxide.

Nitrogen dioxide is produced for the manufacture of nitric acid. Most nitric acid is used in the manufacture of fertilizers, while some is used in the production of explosives for both military and mining uses.