Ramifications of Charlotte Regional Growth and Weekday Activities on Primary and Secondary Emissions

Ozone precursors

Nitrogen Oxides

•Dry Air is 78% Nitrogen (N2), 21% Oxygen (O2)

•Heating air to high temperatures forms NO• (motor vehicles, fossil-fuel power plants, lightning)

• NO• is an ozone precursor and also reacts directly with ozone to destroy it

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s)

•VOC’s continuously emitted by fuel spills, motor vehicles, trees, air fresheners, paints, and countless other sources

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•OH• hydroxyl radical is the atmosphere’s “natural detergent” that cleans VOC’s from the air by initiating the process that converts them into carbon dioxide and water