apes ch 7 atmospheric pollution

air pollutants released into atmosphere during coal combustion

carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide

air pollutants released into atmosphere during combustion of fossil fuels

nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, particles

formed by nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere

ozone, photochemical smog, acid rain

acid rain

nitrogen oxides (via fossil fuels) to nitric acid in the atmosphere

affected by so2 in atmosphere via fossil fuels (ex. diesel)

air quality

clean air act

regulate lead use (fossil fuels)

major air pollutants (clean air act 1970)

sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon oxides, particulate matter

combustion of fuels (coal and oil), sulfur + o2, volcanoes and forest fires

sulfur dioxide

no = colorless/odorless, no2 = reddish brown, forms with all combustion (mostly fossil fuels), fires + lightning + bacteria in soil,

forms tropospheric ozone and photo smog

nitrogen oxides

colorless/odorless gas formed with incomplete combustion,

common in vehicle exhaust, dangerous indoor pollutant

carbon monoxide

colorless/odorless gas formed with complete combustion (fossil fuels and biomass)

complete combustion

sufficient o2, only co2 and h2o

incomplete combustion

limited oxygen, co and other matter alongside co2 and h2o

particulate matter range

0.1μm to 100 μm

size of particle filtered out of nose

x > 10μm

toxic, can get deep into respiratory tract

pm 2.5

particulate matter scatters light

haze

sunlight + no2 or so2

harmful to tissue

photochemical oxidants

most abundant photochemical in troposphere, causes asthma

ozone

oxidants + particulate matter

smog

smog comprised of oxidants like ozone

photochemical, Los Angeles smog (brown)

smog with mostly so2 and sulfate (burning of coal)

sulfurous, London (gray)

found in rocks/soils

pb

found in coal/oil/combustion

hg

organic compounds that become vapor at common atmospheric temperature, form photochemical oxidants

volatile organic compounds (voc's)

voc examples

gasoline, lighter fluid, oil-based paints

directly out of an emission source (smoke stack, exhaust)

primary pollutants

primary pollutants examples

carbon oxides, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, vocs

primary pollutants that have undergone transformation via sunlight, h2o, or o2

secondary pollutants

secondary pollutant examples

o3, h2so4, hno3

nitrogen oxides + vocs + sunlight

photochemical smog

nitrogen oxide = __________ time of day

early

ozone concentration peak in the _______________ bc of o2 and sunlight

afternoon and summer

thermal inversion

earths surface becomes cooler than higher altitudes (warmer midlayer)

traps pollution close to ground (smog/particles)

thermal inversion

indoor particulate pollutants

asbestos, dust, smoke

natural indoor air pollutants

radon, mold, dust

man-made indoor pollutants

insulation, vocs, lead, formaldehyde, lead

indoor combustion pollutants

carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, smoke

radioactive gas in radon decay in basements

radon 222

allow gasses thru but trap particles

fabric (bag house) filters

charge particles to stick to plates and remove

electrostatic precipitators

water + air to separate and remove particles

scrubbers