APES Unit 1 Flashcards (Pollutants)

Most abundant fossil fuel

Coal

Process for breaking down coal

peat → lignite → bituminous → anthracite

Air pollution prevention for coal burning

scrubbers and electrostatic precipitators

Scrubbers

air pollution control devices that remove acidic gases and/or particulates from industrial exhaust streams and coal smokestacks

Wet - uses a “scrubbing liquid” to trap pollutants

Dry - uses dry reagents or electrical charge

Coal Extraction Methods

Strip mining, subsurface mining, and mountaintop removal

Coal

A fossil fuel that is formed from organic matter overtime with pressure and heat. They are broken down without oxygen (anaerobically)

Strip Mining

The extraction of lignite coal that is highly regulated through acts such as the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1977 and General Mining Act of 1872. Very common in Texas mines.

Subsurface Mining

A method of coal extraction that involves underground caves (like Minecraft.) Very unsafe and there’s very few left in the US (mostly found in underdeveloped countries)

Mountaintop Removal

Dynamite used to remove mountaintop and get to coal. It is very destructive: runoff causes pollution to waterways and environments are destroyed. Happens at the Appalachian Mountains a lot (know where that is on a map)

Acid Mine Drainage

When sulfide minerals in newly exposed rock react with oxygen and rainwater to create sulfuric acid. Can lead to acid seeps and contaminated groundwater/drinking water

Ash Tailings

A waste mixture left behind after burning coal consisting of coal ash and other small debris.

Country with the highest fossil fuel usage

USA

Oil/Petrolium

A fossil fuel that becomes buried under sediment and is transformed by head and pressure into oil, becoming trapped in rock layers.

Crude Oil

The type of oil that is extracted directly on the ground and has not been refined yet.

Oil and Tar Sands

Sand or clay that is saturated with bitumen (heavy crude oil.) Hot water and chemicals are used to extract the oil, and tailings are stored in man-made lakes.

Country with the largest oil and tar sands reserves

Canada

Keystone XL Pipeline

A proposed 1200-mile project designed to transport crude oil from the sands of Alberta, Canada, to refineries in Steele, Nebraska. It was never built due to nationwide protests surrounding environmental concerns.

Oil Refining

The process by which crude oil is refined for different purposes. It is very expensive.

Distillation

The process by which oil is separated during refining.

Exxon Valdez 1989

A disastrous oil spill involving an oil supertanker striking Bligh Reef in Alaska. The oil stretched across 1300 miles of coastline, harming the marine ecosystems.

Deepwater Horizon BP Oil Spill 2010

An offshore drilling platform that exploded and sank, creating the largest oil spill in history. An estimated 3-4 million barrels were deposited into the Gulf of Mexico.

Methane

The most common form of natural gas (CH4)

Natural Gas

A gaseous fossil fuel that is found above oil deposits and is often extracted at the same time.

Fracking

Also known as hydraulic fracturing, this is the process by which chemically treated water is pumped under high pressure to create cracks and fissures in rock.It is used most commonly in shale rock formations, and while it has created many jobs, it is also responsible for many polluted waterways.

Health issues associated with coal mining

Black lung, respiratory complications, and physical injuries.

Harms of Oil and Natural Gas

Destruction of habitats, water contamination, disruption of soil, air pollution, and toxic chemicals from fracking.

Most abundant gas in clean air (78%)

Nitrogen

Second most abundant gas in clean air (20%)

Oxygen

Troposphere

Provides us with the air we breathe, extending 11 km (7 miles) high. Responsible for weather and temperature decreases at higher altitudes.

Stratosphere

11-50 km (7-31 miles) high. Pollutants last a long time at this level due to low amounts of vertical gas mixing. Contains the ozone layer, which shields the Earth from too much UV radiation.

Ozone Layer

A layer in the stratosphere made up of ozone (O3.) This layer protects the Earth from extreme exposure to UV rays.

Mesosphere

50-80 km (31-56 miles) high layer of the atmosphere.

Thermosphere

Highest layer of the atmosphere, extends up to 500 km (300 miles)

What is this region?

Appalachian Mountains

What coal extraction method is common in this region?

Mountaintop Removal

Thermal Inversion

In the troposphere, warm air rises and mixes with cooler air, allowing pollution to dissipate. This occurs commonly in mountain valleys, as the slopes prevent the morning sun from warming air closer to the ground.

Natural Air Pollution

Volcanic ash, dust, pollen, and spores

Primary Pollutant

A type of pollutant that is put directly into the air by human activity (ex: CO2)

Secondary Pollutant

Forms when two primary pollutants interact, or when one combines with a naturally occurring substance (ex: ground level ozone and sulfuric acid)

Carbon Dioxide

A chemical produced in the complete combustion of fossil fuels which is the leading greenhouse gas responsible for global climate change.

Carbon Monoxide

A colorless, odorless gas that is created in the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. This gas is extremely toxic to humans, interfering with the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen often resulting in death.

Mercury

A toxic chemical that occurs naturally and is released in the burning of coal. When airborne, it can fall to the ground as rain. Microorganisms convert it into methyl mercury, a powerful neurotoxin.

Particulate Matter (PM)

Solid or liquid particles small enough to be suspended in the air and is mostly naturally occurring wind blown dust. When inhaled, it can lead to respiratory problems.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Released by car exhaust and naturally released by trees. These compounds can combine to form the secondary pollutant, tropospheric ozone (evil ozone.) Health affects include headaches and eye/nose/throat irritation.

Acid Rain

A secondary pollutant created involving reactions with water and either sulfur or nitrogen. Mostly caused by the burning of fossil fuels and can lead to water contamination, harm to marine life, and erosion.

Sulfuric Dioxide Acid Rain

Coal and diesel fuel contain impurities such as sulfur, which can react with oxygen to form sulfur dioxide. This sulfur dioxide then reacts with water to form sulfuric acid, which falls back down to Earth as a secondary pollutant.

Nitrogen Oxides Acid Rain

(NOx) released in tailpipe emissions and from coal burning, reacts with water to form Nitric acid, which then falls back to Earth as a secondary pollutant.

Impacts of acid rain

Can leach minerals from soils, erodes stone buildings, and damage fish gills/affect their salt balance.

Industrial Smog (gray-air smog)

Forms when coal or oil is burned, releasing a think, dark cloud of smoke into the air. Mix of soot, CO, CO2, and SO2. Less common in industrialized countries due to emission regulations, but a major issue in rapidly industrializing nations.

Photochemical Smog (brown-air smog)

Formed through light driven chemical reactions between nitrogen oxides and VOCs to produce a variety of pollutants. Can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat.

Under what conditions would photochemical Smog emissions be highest?

Hot, sunny, and dry

Health Effects of Ground Level Ozone

Coughing, painful breathing, wheezing/breathing difficulty, aggravation of asthma, and permanent lung damage.

Clean Air Act 1970

Gave the federal government authority to clean up air pollution. EPA set limits on pollutants that can be in the air, emissions from industry, vehicle emissions. Also gradually removed lead from gasoline.

Criteria Air Pollutants

Six common air pollutants required to be addressed by the Clean Air Act:

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂)

Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂)

Particulate Matter (PM)

Tropospheric (ground level) ozone (O₃)

Lead (Pb)

Catalytic Converters

A device that has been required on vehicles since 1981 that convert CO, NOx, and hydrocarbons into less harmful CO2, N2, O2, and H2O.

Vapor Recovery Nozzles

An addition to gas pumps that prevent gasoline vapors from escaping into the atmosphere.

Cogeneration

The use of a single fuel source to generate heat and electricity, decreasing pollution as fuels are used more efficiently.

Unit for measuring electrical power

wattage

Freshwater Systems

Surface water and groundwater