Air Pollution Flashcards

Flashcards based on lecture notes about air pollution, covering topics such as ozone depletion, acid rain, smog, and control measures.

What is the range of UV radiation that the ozone layer helps to filter?

240-315 nm

What compound is heavily linked to Ozone Layer Destruction and Depletion?

CFC

What is the difference between primary and secondary air pollutants?

Primary air pollutants enter the atmosphere directly, whereas secondary pollutants form from other substances released into the atmosphere.

What is the main source of Sulfur Oxides (SOX)?

Coal-burning power plants (88%)

What process leads to the production of SOX?

Burning of fossil fuels that contain sulfur

What are the fates of Sulfur Oxides in the atmosphere?

Acidifies precipitation and becomes an air pollutant

What are the effects of SO2 at low concentrations?

Eye and lung irritation

What are the effects of SO2 at high concentrations?

Can be deadly

What is a key characteristic about plants and SO2?

Plants are very sensitive to SO2

What are the sources of Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)?

Gases produced by chemical interactions between atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen, and automobiles

What is the anthropogenic source of Nitrogen Oxides?

High temperature combustion (auto engines)

What is a consequence of NOx?

Can acidify precipitation

What is formed when NO2 + H2O?

HNO3 (Nitric Acid)

What is the overall process of Acid Deposition?

Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide emissions react with water vapor in the atmosphere and form acids that return to the surface as either dry or wet deposition

What is the role of tall stacks in power plants regarding to acid rain?

Tall stacks send emissions high in the air, causing problems far from the source

What is the product from a NO2 + HC reaction?

Peroxyacyl nitrates (PAN)

What is the product from a NO2 + O2 + Sunlight reaction?

NO + O3 (ozone)

What is the definition of photochemical smog?

Brownish-orange haze formed by chemical reactions involving sunlight, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons

What are the two main sources of outdoor air pollution?

Transportation and Industry

What is Los Angeles's primary source of SMOG?

Trucks, buses, and passenger vehicles (53%)

What occurs in the smog chemistry reaction N2 + O2 + engine temp.?

2NO (nitric oxide)

What occurs in the smog chemistry reaction 2NO + O2 (air temp.)?

2NO2 (nitrogen dioxide)

What occurs in the smog chemistry reaction NO2 + sunlight?

NO (nitric oxide) + O•

What occurs in the smog chemistry reaction O• + O2 (oxygen)?

O3 (ozone)

When is ozone at its peak?

Ozone accumulates in the afternoon when the sunlight is strongest.

What kind of gas is Tropospheric Ozone?

Man-made pollutant in the lower atmosphere and a component of photochemical smog

What kind of gas is Stratospheric Ozone?

Essential component that screens out UV radiation in the upper atmosphere

What are the health effects of ozone?

Aggravated asthma and possibly new cases of asthma, reduced lung capacity, increased susceptibility to respiratory illnesses, increased respiratory and cardiovascular hospitalizations

What are the two Carbon Oxides?

Carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2)

What is the relationship between CO and greenhouse gases?

CO is an indirect greenhouse gas

What is the relationship between CO2 and greenhouse gases?

CO2 is a greenhouse gas

What results in the formation of Carbon Monoxide (CO)?

Incomplete combustion such as poor air supply or low burning temperature

How does Carbon Monoxide affect humans?

It causes headaches and dizziness at low concentrations and is deadly in high concentrations because it reduces oxygen transport in the blood

What is Carbon Monoxide (CO)'s reaction when attached to hemoglobin?

CO binds irreversibly to hemoglobin; O2 then unable to bind to hemoglobin.

What emits a majority of the Carbon Monoxide (CO)?

It is mainly emitted by transportation (78%) and forest fires.

What are hydrocarbons also called?

VOCs (volatile organic compounds)

What is the definition of thermal inversion?

A thermal inversion occurs when cold air near the ground is overlain by warmer air.

What is a list of some Air Toxicants?

Lead, formaldehyde, radon and other radioactive elements, hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, arsenic, asbestos, and synthetic organic chemicals

Since 1977, what percentage has the lead concentration dropped?

Since 1977 the lead concentration has dropped more than 97% due to the elimination of leaded gasoline.

Which air pollutant is associated with slow development and permanent reduction in mental ability for young children?

Lead

What two cities suffer greatly from air pollution?

Beijing and Mexico City

How much greater can pollutants within an indoor setting be than outdoors?

Pollutants can be 5–100x greater than outdoors

Name some pollutants found in indoor settings.

Radon, cigarette smoke, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde pesticides, lead, cleaning solvents, ozone, and asbestos

What do smokestacks use to control pollution?

Electrostatic precipitator

What do smokestacks with scrubbers use to control pollution?

Activated carbon

What is the best solution is for controlling vehicle emissions?

The two-stage catalytic converter

What is fuel oxygenation?

Fuel oxygenation refers to blending gasoline with ethanol or methanol.

What does fuel oxygenation reduce?

CO levels by encouraging complete oxidation to CO2 and reduces VOC emissions

How many times more pollutants do cars before 1980 emit than newer cars?

Cars built before 1980 emit over 100 times the pollutants of new cars.

What is used to reduce CO levels by encouraging complete oxidation to CO2?

Fuel oxygenation