APES Air Pollution Quiz

What is air pollution?

Presence of chemicals in the atmosphere that cause harm, and alter the climate. They can be in solid, liquid, or gaseous states.

Natural sources of pollutants

dust, forest fires, geologic processes

Human sources of pollutants

burning of fossil fuels, erosion of land, factory emissions

What are primary pollutants

Emitted directly into the troposphere

What are secondary pollutants

Pollutants formed when in atmosphere by combining with water vapor or atm. gases

Examples of primary pollutants:

pollen, volcanic ash, VOCs, CO, CO₂, SO₂, NO, NO₂, most hydrocarbons, most particulate matter

Examples of secondary pollutants:

SO₃, HNO₃ (nitric acid), H₃SO₄, H₂O₂, O₃ (ozone), PANS, NO₃, SO₄

Major outdoor air pollutants

Carbon oxides, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, suspended particulate matter, photochemical oxidants (ozone), VOCs, hazardous air pollutants

Examples of solid particulate matter

dust, soot, lead, nitrate salts, sulfate salts

Examples of liquid particulate matter

sulfuric acid, PCBs, pesticides, dioxins

Examples of VOCs

gasoline, methane, octane, benzene, formaldehyde, trees, plant oils

Examples of hazardous air pollutants

benzene, formaldehyde, chloroform, lead, radioactives

Health effects of hazardous air pollutants

cause cancer, birth defects, nervous system damage

Who and when were the NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standards)

EPA, in 1970

Six most harmful pollutants by NAAQS

Sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, lead, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide

Trend in levels of lead in gasoline in blood

Downwards

Fossil fuels obtained from which location contain more fossil fuels, and which fossil fuels create significant amounts of sulfur emissions

Marine, coal and crude oil

Which type of combustion creates large amounts of sulfur dioxide

Diesel fuel combustion

When did the EPA start regulating diesel fuel sulfur levels

1993

Portion of acid gas pollution that comes from power plants (in US)

77%

Portion of arsenic pollution that comes from power plants (in US)

62%

Portion of sulfur dioxide pollution that comes from power plants (in US)

60%

Portion of nickel pollution that comes from power plants (in US)

28%

Portion of mercury pollution that comes from power plants (in US)

50%

Portion of NOx pollution that comes from power plants (in US)

13%

Portion of chromium pollution that comes from power plants (in US)

22%

Factors influencing smog formation

local climate, population density, amount of industry, fuels used in the area, urban buildings, hills and mountains, grasshopper effect

What is the grasshopper effect

moves atmospheric distribution of pollutants from tropic/temperate regions to poles

Elements in source fuels

Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Sulfur

Examples of damage to human health done by pollutants

damage to lungs, eyes, nose and throat

Examples of damage to plants done by pollutants

tissue damage during photosynthesis and respiration

Transformations of nitrogen oxides (NOx)

Transform into tropospheric ozone (O3) when interacting with sunlight, transform into nitric acid (HNO3) when interacting with water vapor

Percentage effect of fertilizers on NOx emissions in California

51%

Equation for formation of photochemical smog

NOx + VOC + sunlight→ O3 + PANs

Timing of photochemical smog

Nitrogen oxide produced early in day during morning rush hour

Ozone peaks in afternoon due to peak sun intensity

Location and season affect on ozone

Ozone levels greater in sunny, warm climates

Ozone levels higher in summer

Human effects of photochemical smog

irritation of eyes, nose, throat, worsens heart and lung conditions, causes lung cancer

Plant effects of photochemical smog

enters plants through stomata and burns plant tissue, leading to leaf damage and reduced survival

Ways to reduce nitrogen oxides

catalytic converters - convert NO into O2 and N2

react CO and hydrocarbons to make CO2 and H2O

Emissions testing for vehicles

Ways to reduce VOCs

pump gas at night, be careful to not spill fuel, follow instructions for efficient vapor recovery, tighten gas cap securely

Ways to reduce smog and its effects

improve fuel efficiency, reduce use of internal combustion, and reduce health impacts (minimize outdoor activities in late summer afternoons, wear a mask on high ozone days)

Cause of industrial smog

burning large amounts of coal and heavy oil

Countries in which industrial smog is common

Urban areas in China, India, Ukraine, EE countries

How industrial smog is formed

Sulfur dioxide emissions react with water and form sulfuric acid (acid rain)

Color of industrial smog

grey

Color of photochemical smog

Reddish-brown

PM10 range and consequences

2.5 - 10 microns, upper respiratory concerns

PM2.5 range and consequences

1 - 2.5 microns, lower respiratory concern

PM1 - PM0.1 range and consequences

0.1-1, can enter bloodstream

Natural PM (particulate matter) sources

pollen, spores, bacteria, dust, airborne soil, sea salt

Geological PM

volcanic dust, sulfates

Ecosystem disturbance PM

wildfires

Transportation percentage of outdoor air pollution

57%

Fuel combustion (not from vehicles) percentage of outdoor air pollution

21%

Industrial processes percentage of outdoor air pollution

12%

Misc. percentage of outdoor air pollution

10%

Natural ways that reduce air pollution

Rain and snow, salty ocean spray, winds

Health consequences of outdoor air pollution

irritation of respiratory system, worsening asthma and bronchitis, emphysema, shortened life span

Air quality index levels

good 0-50, moderate 51-100, unhealthy for some 101-150, unhealthy 151-200, very unhealthy 201-300, hazardous 301+

Normal temperature gradient in troposphere

Temperature decreases with height

Temperature inversion description

warmer layer on top of cooler surface air

Consequence of thermal inversion

Traps cooler denser air, prevents air rising and pollutants from dispersing (photochemical smog and PM)

Ways that geography affects thermal inversion

valleys, mountain ranges, coastal or prevailing winds

Where temperature inversion occurs

large cities, high industrialization, lots of vehicles

At what level can human hearing be damaged

85 dB

Transportation sources of noise pollution

car horns, revving engines

Construction sources of noise pollution

jackhammers, demolition

Domestic activity sources of noise pollution

loud music

Industrial activity sources of noise pollution

SONAR for oil exploration, mining activities

Health consequences of noise pollution

stress, depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, heart disease

Environmental impacts of noise pollution

Hinders ability to find mates and avoid predation, impaired echolocation hunting, physiological changes (increased heart rate in caterpillars), animals change migration routes to avoid noise

Human ear damage due to noise pollution

causes stereocilia (hair in inner ear)to break off

damage to bones in middle ear and eardrum

Tinnitus

ringing in ears/head, can be temporary and permanent

Personal ways to reduce hearing loss

wearing earplugs

being aware of loud noises

protecting children’s ears

tell others about noise hazards

test for hearing loss

Government intervention to reduce hearing loss

US Noise Control Act 1972 - EPA regulation on noise emission from transportation, machinery, and construction

OSHA - limits on noise in workplace

Quiet Communities Act - funds communities to help reduce noise from airports and highways

Acid rain pH

4.3

Clean rain pH

5.6

Sulfur acid rain origin and reaction

Comes from coal burning power plants

2SO₂ + O₂+ 2H₂O 🡪 2H₂SO₄

Nitrogen acid rain origin and reaction

comes from vehicle fossil fuel emissions

3NO₂ + H₂O  🡪  2HNO₃  + NO

Natural sources of acid rain

Volcanoes, geysers, hot springs

Effects of long distance travel of SOx and NOx

When released high into the atmosphere, there is more time to react with water, increasing chance of acid rain formation

Impacts communities downwind of plants

pollutants high in atm. get carried hundreds of miles away, damaging areas far from source

Most acid rain region in US

Northeast US

Consequences of acid rain on plants

Causes aluminum ions to leach from soils

Roots unable to take up calcium when aluminum present

Damaged needles and leaves, nutrient deficiency, less efficient photosynthesis

Which materials make soils less vulnerable to acid rain

magnesium, calcium, carbonate, limestone buffers/neutralizes acid

Which materials make soils more vulnerable to acid rain

thin, nutrient poor

Effect of acid on materials

metal and stone eroded by acid rain

statues made of marble, that contains calcite, dissolved by acid

Human impact of acid rain

Contributes to diseases like bronchitis and asthma

Leaches toxic metals from water pipes into drinking water

acid rain prevention

reduce energy use and coal burning

switch to cleaner burning fuel source (like ng)

burn low sulfur coal

remove sulfur dioxide, particulates, and NOx from smokestacks

Rideshare to reduce NOx emissions

Regulation to reduce automobile emissions

eliminate lead in gasoline

encouraging clean transportation technology

regulation to reduce acid rain

Determining allowable pollution levels

Promoting technologies to reduce sulfur dioxide and NOx

Ozone regulation

Regulations on tropospheric ground level ozone

Alternative fuels

natural gas, propane, ethanol, electricity, biofuels

Conservation acts to reduce emissions

Energy efficient appliances and buildings

Water based paints and cleaners (instead of solvent based)

Improved transportation planning

Higher fuel standards (mpg)

composting, recycling, carpooling

What are vapor recovery nozzles

vapors from car fueling and send them to storage tank

When did the EPA require the auto industry to have onboard vapor systems

2006

When did the EPA stop requiring gas pump nozzle systems

2013

Catalyst reduction reaction for NO pollution

2NO₂ → N₂ + 2O₂

Catalyst oxidation reaction for carbon monoxide

CO + O → CO₂

Catalyst oxidation reaction for hydrocarbons

 C_xH_x → CO₂  + H₂O

Where pollutants are released when coal is burned

flue or smokestacks