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Based on the data provided in the graph, identify the national park that had the greatest loss of visibility as of 2015 when compared with the historical natural visibility. (1 point)
Sequoia National Park.
Visibility in national parks can be affected by many different air pollutants.
i. Identify a primary air pollutant. (1 point)
sulfur dioxide
Describe how a primary air pollutant becomes part of the atmosphere. (1 point)
Primary air pollutants are directly emitted into the atmosphere from sources like burning fossil fuels, industrial processes, and volcanic eruptions. For example, when fossil fuels like coal or oil are burned, sulfur dioxide is released into the atmosphere.
iii. Identify a secondary air pollutant. (1 point)
sulfuric acid
Describe how a secondary air pollutant is formed within the atmosphere. (1 point)
Secondary air pollutants form when primary pollutants react with other atmospheric components. For example, sulfuric acid forms when sulfur dioxide reacts with oxygen and water vapor in the atmosphere, leading to acid rain.
v. Describe the environmental impact of the secondary pollutant you identified in
iii. point)
Sulfuric acid is a component that leads to acid rain, which harms aquatic ecosystems by lowering pH levels in lakes and rivers, and damages plant life.
In 1990 Great Smoky Mountains National Park had a visibility of 25 miles. Visibility data for 2015 can be determined from the graph above.
i. Calculate the percentage increase in visibility from 1990 to 2015. (2 points)
(50-25)/25 x 100 = 50% increase
Discuss TWO specific actions that the state or federal government could take to further improve the visibility in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. (2 points)
One action could be to implement stronger emission regulations and air quality standards for industries and power plants, which would limit emissions of pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
Another action would be to encourage clean energy by increasing investment in renewable energy sources to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Identify two specific indoor air pollutants (2 points).
Radon and carbon monoxide
The type of building most affected by the carbon monoxide (1 point)
Buildings with poor ventilation and fuel-burning appliances, such as homes with gas stoves, fireplaces, or attached garages, are most affected.
Source(s) of the carbon monoxide (1 point)
Carbon monoxide is produced by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, also gas stoves, furnaces, fireplaces, and generators used indoors.
iii. carbon monoxide’s effects on human health (1 point)
Carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin in the blood, reducing oxygen delivery to the body. Symptoms of CO poisoning include headaches, dizziness, nausea, and high exposure can lead to unconsciousness and death.
The method(s) of prevention of cleanup of carbon monoxide (1 point)
Prevention: Install carbon monoxide detectors, ensure proper ventilation, and maintain heating systems and gas appliances.
Cleanup: If CO is detected, ventilate the area immediately and turn off fuel-burning appliances. Seek fresh air and medical help if symptoms occur.
Explain what is meant by the term “sick building.” (1 point)
A sick building refers to the buildup of toxic pollutants in spaces such as newer buildings in the developed world. This sick building syndrome is caused by inadequate ventilation, chemical contamination from indoor sources and outdoor sources, and biological contamination from inside or outside, such as molds and pollen.
Describe the criteria used for determining whether a building is “sick.” (1 point)
To determine whether a building is sick, multiple occupants will report symptoms like headaches, nausea, dizziness, and eye or throat irritation. Symptoms will also improve after leaving the building, and the building has poor ventilation, mold growth, or chemical contaminants like VOCs.
Calculate the percent change in the average annual PM2.5 concentration in the air from 1990 to 2016. Show your work. (2 points)
(188-85)/85 x 100 = 121.18%
Support Councilwoman Smith’s statement that nitrogen-based fertilizers cause other
environmental problems by describing one such problem. (1 point)
Councilwoman Smith’s statement is correct because nitrogen-based fertilizers could leach from groundwater or runoff into nearby bodies of water, resulting in an algal bloom in lakes or ponds, which could decrease the amount of dissolved oxygen in the body of water.
Identify a nitrogen-containing primary pollutant that contributes to the formation of
photochemical smog and describe how that primary pollutant is formed. (2 points)
NOx contributes to the formation of photochemical smog. Nitrogen reacts with oxygen during the burning of fossil fuels as well as fuels in power plants to form NOx.
Identify one secondary pollutant that is a component of photochemical smog (1 point) and
Ozone (O₃).
How the ozone forms. (1 point)
Ozone is formed when nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react in the presence of sunlight. This photochemical reaction creates tropospheric ozone, a key component of smog.
ONE human health effect of ozone. (1 point)
Exposure to ozone can cause respiratory issues such as shortness of breath, throat irritation, and worsening of asthma or other lung conditions.
ONE environmental effect of ozone. (1 point)
It can scatter sunlight and decrease plant productivity by decreasing photosynthesis.It interferes with photosynthesis and weakens plant health.
ONE solution the government of Fremont could introduce to reduce the amount of
photochemical smog produced. (1 point)
They could implement stricter vehicle emissions standards, requiring the use of catalytic converters and promoting the adoption of electric or low-emission vehicles to reduce NOx emissions.
The average vehicle releases 1.39 grams of NOx per mile driven. If a vehicle is driven 22,000
miles per year for 15 years, how much NOx does that vehicle release? (2 points)
22000 * 1.39=30580 NOx per year
30580 * 15=458700 grams of NOx
Identify TWO air pollutants released during the burning of biomass indoors for cooking and heating. (2 points)
Carbon monoxide and particulate matter
Identify a specific human respiratory illness that one of the pollutants you identified may cause. (1 point)
Particulate matter can cause or enhance asthma
b. Identify one realistic approach, other than banning the practice of burning biomass indoors, that could be used to reduce the impact of biomass combustion indoors on human respiratory health.
Describe how this approach could reduce the incidence of respiratory illness. (2 points)
Increased ventilation could filter the air inside to reduce respiratory illnesses. By removing harmful particulates, carbon monoxide, and other pollutants from indoor living areas, these ventilation systems reduce direct inhalation of toxic fumes. This decrease in pollutant concentration lowers the likelihood of developing respiratory illnesses, such as bronchitis and pneumonia. Consequently, families experience better overall respiratory health and fewer pollution-related complications.
Discuss one reason children under the age of five are at a greater risk than adults for illnesses linked to household air pollutants. (1 point)
Younger children are at a higher risk of illnesses linked to household air pollutants because they have smaller lungs than adults and, therefore, take more breaths in a given amount of time, which causes them to inhale more pollutants than an adult would.
Identify a source for each indoor air pollutant that you chose.
Radon is produced from the natural radioactive decay of uranium, which is found in all rocks and soils, and a source for mold would be poorly vented and moist environments
Describe a method for reducing exposure to each of the two pollutants you chose. (2 points - 1 for each)
To reduce exposure to radon, a subfloor depressurizing system could be installed to pull out air from beneath a structure to lower the pressure to stop radon from entering living areas. To reduce exposure to mold, cleaning or sanitizing areas often could help.
Identify one constant in this experiment. (1 point)
the piece of fabric used to measure the amount of particulate matter collected. Exposure time of five minutes for all fabric samples.
Describe a possible control group for this investigation. (1 point)
A possible control group could be a piece of fabric placed in clean air, away from any vehicle tailpipes, to show the baseline amount of particulate matter in the environment.
Identify the hypothesis of the investigation. (1 point)
Diesel-powered buses will release more particulate matter compared to natural gas-powered buses and idled cars.
Identify the dependent variable in the investigation. (1 point)
the quantity of particulate matter released from diesel-powered buses, natural gas-powered buses, and the large/small cars idled.
d. Describe one ecological impact of tropospheric ozone on vegetation. (1 point) e. Using the data provided in the table above, calculate the percentage of days in the 2018 calendar year that the city of Phoenix experienced hazardous levels of tropospheric ozone. (1 point)
Tropospheric ozone damages plant leaves, reducing their ability to photosynthesize and grow properly.
48/365 x 100 = 13.151% of days the city of phoenix experienced hazardous levels of tropospheric ozone.
Explain why Phoenix has more days with hazardous levels of tropospheric ozone than Philadelphia despite having similar population sizes. (1 point)
Phoenix has more days with hazardous levels of tropospheric ozone than Philadelphia because they receive more sunlight and less rain. Sunlight helps form ozone and without rain to clear pollution from the air, there is more hazardous ozone accumulated.
. Describe one way that residents in Los Angeles could reduce the number of days per year that hazardous levels of tropospheric ozone are present. (1 point)
Residents can reduce the number of days per year by driving less and using public transportation, biking, or walking instead to reduce emissions from cars.
Identify one atmospheric pollutant that would likely be present at higher concentrations in areas such as Phoenix or Los Angeles and explain why the concentrations would be higher in those cities. (2 points)
Nitrogen Oxide because Philadelphia and Los Angeles have a high population density number, meaning the use of automobiles would be high resulting in nitrogen monoxide being released due to fossil fuel combustion.
One way that acid deposition can be reduced is by using scrubbers at coal-fired power plants to remove the pollutants that lead to its formation. Identify an atmospheric pollutant that can be removed by scrubbers and describe how a scrubber removes the pollutants that lead to the formation of acid deposition at coal-fired power plants. points)
It is Particulate matter (PM). Scrubbers can also remove particulate matter (PM) from coal-fired power plant emissions. Electrostatic precipitators, a type of scrubber, use electrically charged plates to attract and capture fine particles from flue gas before they are released into the atmosphere. By removing these particles, scrubbers help reduce the transport of acidic compounds that contribute to acid deposition.
Identify a pollutant that is released from the combustion of coal and describe how a pollutant that is released from the combustion of coal contributes to the formation of acid deposition. (2 points)
It is sulfur dioxide. When coal is burned, sulfur dioxide is released into the atmosphere. This SO₂ reacts with oxygen and water vapor in the air to form sulfuric acid through a series of chemical reactions. The sulfuric acid then dissolves in rainwater, lowering its pH and resulting in acid deposition, which negatively impacts soil, water bodies, and vegetation.
Calculate the percent change in the rainwater pH from 2001 to 2016. (2 points)
5.2 - 4.6
------------- * 100 ~ 13%
4.6
Explain how the results of the experiment would change if the soil sample used contained higher concentrations of limestone.
If the soil contained higher concentrations of limestone, the results of the experiment would likely show lower levels of toxic aluminum. Limestone is a natural buffer that neutralizes acidic rainwater, preventing a significant drop in soil pH. This buffering effect reduces the leaching of aluminum from soil minerals, thereby decreasing the concentration of toxic aluminum in the soil.
Identify a dependent variable for the experiment. (1 point)
The concentration of toxic forms of aluminum in the soil samples.
Identify the likely scientific question being investigated in the experiment.
How does the acidity (pH) of rainwater affect the concentration of toxic aluminum in red spruce forest soil?
Describe one effect that acid deposition has on trees in a forest ecosystem.
Acid deposition depletes essential nutrients, like calcium and magnesium, from the soil, weakening tree roots and reducing their ability to uptake water and nutrients. This leads to stunted growth, leaf damage, and increased susceptibility to disease and harsh weather conditions
Describe one specific source, other than the local chemical plants, for the toxic pollutant you chose. (1 point)
One specific source of mercury is coal-fired power plants. Mercury is released into the atmosphere when coal containing trace amounts of mercury is burned for energy production.
Describe how the pollutant you chose enters the human body and identify one specific effect it can have on human health. (2 points)
Mercury enters the human body primarily through the consumption of contaminated fish and seafood, as mercury bioaccumulates in aquatic food chains. Once ingested, mercury can cause neurological damage, especially in developing fetuses and young children, leading to cognitive impairments, memory loss, and motor skill deficiencies.
Describe TWO specific steps, other than an outright ban, that a city or nation can take to reduce the threat posed by this pollutant. (2 points)
Implementing stricter emissions controls – Cities or nations can require coal-burning power plants to use activated carbon injection systems, which capture mercury before it is released into the atmosphere.
Public health monitoring and advisories – Governments can establish monitoring programs for mercury levels in water bodies and issue fish consumption advisories to reduce human exposure.
Discuss one reason why Dr. Egguen is correct in asserting that children are particularly susceptible to toxic pollutants. (1 point)
Children are particularly vulnerable to toxic pollutants because their bodies are still developing, making them more sensitive to toxic exposures. They have higher metabolic rates, which means they absorb pollutants at a faster rate than adults. Additionally, children’s behaviors, such as playing on the ground and frequent hand-to-mouth contact, increase their risk of ingesting contaminated soil and dust.
An important contributor to global climate change is the release of CO2 from the rapidly increasing number of coal-burning power plants. Assume that the coal burned at these plants to provide the power to manufacture a single MP3 player releases 40 kg of CO2 and that it costs $0.75 to capture 1 kg of CO2 and keep it from entering the atmosphere. Calculate the cost, in dollars, to capture the total amount of CO2 released from manufacturing one MP3 player. (1 point)
40 kg×0.75 dollars/kg=30 dollars
Thus, the cost to capture the total amount of CO₂ released from manufacturing one MP3 player is $30.
Coal-burning power plants also release other pollutants, including nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), and particulates. Select one of these pollutants and identify one technology that can be used to remove it from the waste stream of coal-burning power plants. (1 point)
One technology that can be used to remove sulfur oxides (SOx) from coal-burning power plants is flue gas desulfurization (FGD), also known as scrubbers. These systems use a mixture of limestone and water to react with sulfur dioxide in the flue gas, forming calcium sulfate, which can be removed as a solid byproduct.
Identify TWO reasons why a multinational company would choose to build a manufacturing facility in India and/or China rather than in the United States or Europe. (2 points)
Lower labor costs and Less strict environmental regulations.
