APES Unit 7

Air Pollution

Air Pollution

Anything in the atmosphere harmful to humans or the environment.

Primary Pollutants

Substances emitted directly into the atmosphere.

Secondary Pollutants

Formed in the atmosphere by combining with other gases.

Clean Air Act

Legislation regulating air pollutants to protect human health and the environment.

Lead

Heavy metal harmful to human health, previously used in gasoline.

Combustion of Fossil Fuels

Process releasing stored energy and pollutants like CO2.

Particulate Matter

Solid or liquid particles in the air, categorized by size.

Thermal Inversion

Reversal of temperature conditions trapping pollutants in the atmosphere.

Anthropogenic Pollution

Human-made sources of harmful substances in the air.

Indoor Air Pollutants

Contaminants originating from natural and human-made sources indoors.

Reduction of Air Pollutants

Strategies and technologies to decrease harmful emissions.

Flue Gas Treatment

Devices used as the initial step before gases enter a scrubber chamber.

Acid Rain

Rainfall with increased acidity due to sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides emissions.

Acid Deposition

Deposition of acidic substances on Earth's surface from acid rain or dry particles.

Aluminum Toxicity

Toxicity caused by aluminum ions leaching due to acid rain, harmful to plants and aquatic life.

Noise Pollution

Any noise causing stress or health damage, measured in decibels on a logarithmic scale.

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

Hearing damage from prolonged exposure to noise levels above 85 decibels.

US Noise Control Act of 1972

Legislation enabling the EPA to regulate noise emissions and set standards.

Anthropogenic Noise

Human-caused noise leading to stress, affecting reproduction and overall health.

Noise Masking

Phenomenon where noise covers up sounds, impacting predator-prey interactions.

Migration Disruption

Alteration of migration routes due to noise pollution, affecting animals like birds and whales.