APES U7

Clean Air Act

Passed in 1970.

Particulates

Pollutants from combustion, dust, construction, and wildfires.

NOx

Pollutants from cars and power plants.

SOx

Pollutants from burning coal and oil.

CO2

Pollutants from fossil fuels, especially in cars.

Ozone

Pollutants formed from NOx and VOCs in sunlight.

Lead

Previously from leaded gasoline, now from smelting and old paints.

Acid Rain Pollutants

NOx and SOx.

Photochemical Smog Pollutants

NOx and VOCs.

Lead Removal

Removed by phasing out leaded gasoline.

Primary Pollutant

Emitted directly (e.g., CO, SO₂).

Secondary Pollutant

Formed in the atmosphere via reactions (e.g., O₃, acid rain).

VOC

Stands for Volatile Organic Compounds; volatile means to smell bad.

Serious Secondary Air Pollution

Photochemical smog, particularly ground-level ozone.

Photochemical Smog Reactants

NOx and VOCs. Source is Sunlight

VOCs Combination

Combine with NOx and O2.

Hazardous Component of Smog

Ozone.

Color of Photochemical Smog

Brown.

Air Temperature in Thermal Inversion

Cold air is held near the earth.

Danger of Thermal Inversions

They trap pollutants near the surface, increasing respiratory problems and smog concentration.

Added Pollutants to Clean Air Act

Ozone and particulates.

Carbon Dioxide as Greenhouse Gas

Most abundant human-emitted gas that traps heat, leading to global warming.

Damage from Small Particulates

Cause respiratory and cardiovascular issues by penetrating deep into lungs and bloodstream.

Serious Indoor Air Pollutants

Radon (natural radioactive gas) and asbestos (from rocks and soil).

Sick Building Syndrome Causes

Poor ventilation, often in new buildings.

Cure for Sick Building Syndrome

Fixing ventilation in a building and removing the source of SBS.

SOx Removal from Emissions

Through scrubbers (wet or dry scrubbers using lime or limestone).

Particulates Removal from Emissions

Using electrostatic precipitators or fabric filters (baghouse filters).

Major Acids in Acid Rain

Sulfuric and Nitric acid.

Acid Rain Damage

Affects aquatic invertebrates and fish eggs, causing low pH issues.