apes reveiw quiz - frq (units 6 & 7)

In recent years, results from scientific studies have increased public awareness of the possible damage to human health from exposure to indoor air pollution.
a) identify two specific indoor air pollutants and, for each, discuss the following.
i) the type of building most affected by the pollutant
ii) source of the pollutant
iii) the pollutant's effect on human health
iv) the method of prevention or cleanup of the pollutant

i) asbestos - old buildings; formaldehyde - new buildings
ii) asbestos - insulation; formaldehyde - new furniture
iii) asbestos - lung cancer; formaldehyde - nasal or lung cancer
iv) asbestos - removed or appropriate legislative measures; formaldehyde - reduced with improved ventilation

b) According to the Environmental Protection Agency, at least 17% of the four million commercial buildings in the United States can be considered "sick buildings."
i) Explain what is meant by the term "sick building"
ii) Describe the criteria used for determining whether a building is "sick"

i) number of people report health effects related to building and time spent in building
ii) when people report relief of symptoms if they leave the building, the building is determined "sick"

Electric vehicles often have been proposed as an environmentally sound alternative to the gasoline engine for transportation. In response to state initiatives, several car manufacturers now include electric vehicles among their available models. In spite of these state initiatives, the penetration of electric vehicles into the transportation sector of the United States, as well as other countries, remains modest. (A) Identify and describe two environmental benefits to using electric vehicles in place of gasoline- powered engines for transportation.

Two environmental benefits to using electric vehicles include decrease levels of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. A decrease in CO is good because it improves human health by decreasing rates of headaches, drowsiness, and O2 transportation. A decrease in CO2 is good because it is a greenhouse gas; therefore, there is less global warming, decreased greenhouse effect, and decreased acid precipitation.

(B) Estimate the potential reduction in petroleum consumption (in gallons of gasoline per year) that could be achieved in the United States by introducing electric vehicles under the following assumptions:
The mileage rate for the average car is 25 miles per gallon of gasoline. The average car is driven 10,000 miles per year. The United States has 150 million cars. 10 percent of the United States cars could be replaced with electric vehicles.

(150 million cars) × (10,000 miles per year)/25 miles per gallon × 0.1 = 6 billion

(C) Some people have suggested that electric vehicles only shift the emission of air pollutants from dispersed sources to point sources. Explain and defend or refute this statement.

This is true because most electric cars are powered by an electrical generating source identified as using combustion such as fossil fuels and coal.

(D) Propose two potential new United States government policies that would encourage the widespread use of electric vehicles. Explain.

Some incentives and disincentives that would encourage use of electric vehicles include mandated production/sales quotas for electric vehicles, special travel lanes/no tolls/reduced tolls, and increase gas taxes.