APES Unit 7 Vocab

combustion

exothermic chemical process where fuel reacts with an oxidant (usually oxygen) producing heat and often light (usually fire)

industrial smog

formed by the emission of pollutants from industrial processes and the burning of fossil fuels

photochemical smog

smog caused by chemical reactions between sunlight, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds

results in air containing high levels of ozone near ground level.

decibel

unit used to measure the intensity or loudness of a sound

logarithmic scale

acid rain

rainfall that has become acidic due to atmospheric pollution containing sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx)

ground level ozone

secondary pollutant formed by the reaction of sunlight with NOx and VOCs in the presence of heat

air quality

condition of the air in terms of its level of pollution

noise pollution

excessive/disturbing noise that can have negative effects on human health and the environment

clean air act

passed in 1972 & 1963

set standards for allowable levels of pollutants and require industries to use pollution control technologies

environmental protection agency (EPA)

federal agency established in 1970 that is responsible for protecting human health and the environment

lead

heavy metal that is toxic when ingested or inhaled

primary pollutant

directly emitted into the environment from human activities or natural source

secondary pollutant

harmful substances that form in the atmosphere through chemical reactions involving primary pollutants (like NOx)

volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

organic compounds that easily evaporate at room temperature and can be found in various household products (e.g. paints, cleaning agents, and solvents)

peroxyacetyl nitrates (PANs)

secondary pollutants formed by chemical reactions between volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx)

thermal inversion

weather phenomenon where a layer of warm air traps cold air and pollutants near the Earth's surface

sick building syndrome

condition where occupants experience acute health effects or discomfort while spending time in a particular building

particulate matter (PMs)

tiny solid or liquid particles suspended in the air, such as dust, soot, and smoke

harmful when inhaled

carbon monoxide

gas that forms when carbon-based fuels such as gasoline, oil, coal, or wood do not burn completely

criteria air pollutants

set of air pollutant regulated by the EPA

NOSCLP - NOx, ozone, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, lead, & particulate matter (PM)

asbestos

group of naturally occurring minerals that are made up of long, thin fibers

causes lung problems when inhaled (i.e. mesothelioma)

radon

radioactive gas that occurs naturally from the decay of uranium in soil, rocks, and water

seeps into buildings and accumulate to dangerous levels, increasing risks of lung cancer

vapor recovery nozzle

used at gasoline stations to capture harmful gasoline vapors that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere during refueling

reduces the escape of VOCs

catalytic converter

used in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine to reduce harmful emissions by converting them into less harmful substances

wet/dry scrubbers

wet - channel the exhaust through a chamber that is spraying scrubbing liquid (usually water)

dry - dry reagents to neutralize or convert exhaust gases

electrostatic precipitators

device used to remove particulate matter from industrial exhaust gases by using an electric charge to attract and collect the particles

sulfur dioxide

gas that is released into the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels, particularly coal and oil

nitrogen oxides

highly reactive gases composed of nitrogen and oxygen atoms

primarily produced from combustion processes such as burning fossil fuels in vehicles, power plants, and industrial facilities

limestone

used to increase soil's pH, making the soil less acidic and more alkaline