Air Pollution

Dusts

Solid particles that are entrained by process gases directly from the material being handled and processed. Direct offspring of a parent material undergoing a mechanical operation; Grinding, crushing, sanding, drilling.

Fumes

Solid particles formed by the evaporation then condensation of a vapor by sublimation, distillation, calcination, or chemical processes. Common in welding, soldering, and metal casting.

Smoke

A combination of solid, liquid, and gas caused by incomplete combustion of carbonaceous materials such as carbon monoxide.

Mists

Liquid particle formed by the condensation of a vapor and by chemical reaction. Generated by condensation, spraying, bubbling.

Sprays

Liquid particle formed by atomization of a parent liquid. It is the intentional release to air in a controlled application.

Nitrogen Monoxide (NO)

Produced whenever air is heated to high temperature such as automobile cylinders or high temperature furnaces of power plants and industrial boilers.

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

A brown or reddish-brown, highly reactive gas that is present in all urban atmospheres. Can irritate lungs, cause bronchitis and pneumonia, and lower resistance to respiratory infections.

Sulfur Dioxides

A colorless pungent toxic gas that is irritating to the respiratory system. Compounds in the air contribute to visibility impairment. A primary contributor to acid deposition and rain. The primary source is industry sector 90%. Usually emitted from the burning pf coal and oil.

Carbon Monoxide

a colorless, odorless, and poisonous gas produced by incomplete burning of carbon in fuels, primary by vehicles and incomplete burning of fossil fuels. When it enters the bloodstream, it reduces the delivery of oxygen to the body's organs and tissues. Most are from transportation sources.

Hydrocarbons

a diverse group of organic compounds that contain only hydrogen and carbon. Usually unburned fumes that evaporate from gas tanks and emitted from exhaust of vehicles.

Ground Level Ozone (O3)

Man-made pollutant in the lower atmosphere. Component of photochemical smog.

Yellow-green gas

What colour and state is chlorine at room temperature?

Pale blue gas with acrid odor

Color, state, and odor of Ozone

Liquid with sweet smell

Characteristics of Benzene.

Colorless, odorless gas

Characteristics of Carbon monoxide, dioxide, and methane.

Colorless gas with strong odor

Characteristics of sulfur dioxide

Lead

Excessive exposure to this can cause seizure, mental retardation and/or behavioral disorders. Low doses can lead to central nervous system damage. Recent studies have shown that it may be a factor in high blood pressure and in subsequent heart disease in middle-aged males.

Ambient Air Quality

The general amount of pollution present in a broad area; and refers to the atmosphere's average purity as distinguished from discharge measurements taken at the source of pollution.

Ambient Air Quality Monitoring

The measurement of a representative sample and is indicative of a portion of the atmosphere.

Airshed

Areas with common weather or meteorological conditions and sources of air pollution which affect the interchange and diffusion of pollution in the surrounding atmosphere.

Air Quality Index (AQI)

Index for reporting daily air quality. It tells you how clean or polluted your air is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for you.

"Good"

Level of Health Concern; Air is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.

"Moderate"/"Fair"

Level of Health Concern; Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people. For example, people who are unusually sensitive to ozone may experience respiratory symptoms.

"Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups"

Level of Health Concern; Although general public is not likely to be affected at this AQI range, people with lung disease, older adults, and children are at greater risk from exposure to ozone, whereas persons with heart and lung diseases, older adults and children are at greater risk from the presence of particles in the air.

"Unhealthy"

Level of Health Concern; Everyone may begin to experience some adverse health effects, and members of the sensitive groups may experience more serious effects.

"Very unhealthy"

Level of Health Concern; This would trigger a health alert signifying that everyone may experience more serious health effects.

"Hazardous"/"Emergency"

Level of Health Concern: This would trigger a health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected.

Photochemical Smog

A mixture pollutants that are formed when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react to sunlight, creating a brown haze above cities.

Thermal Inversion

A condition when warm air becomes trapped between layers of cold air and acts like a lid on the valley.

Global Warming

Increase in temperature of earth due to greenhouse effect of gases.

Greenhouse Effect

The warming thought to occur from the increase of greenhouse gases.

Climate Change

A change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods.

Climate Change

The variation in the Earth's global climate or in regional climates over time.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

Enters the atmosphere thru burning of fossil fuels, solid wastes, trees, and wood products, and also a result of certain chemical reactions.

Methane (CH4)

Emitted through the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil. Can result from livestock and other agricultural practices and by the decay of organic waste.

Nitrous Oxide (N2O)

emitted during agricultural and industrial activities, as well as during combustion of fossil fuels and solid waste.

Fluorinated Gases

Synthetic gases, powerful greenhouse gases that are emitted from a variety pf industrial processes. They are referred to as High Global Warming Potential Gases.

Kyoto Protocol

It is a protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) aimed at fighting global warming.

December 11, 1997; Kyoto, Japan

When and where was the Kyoto Protocol initially adopted?

February 16, 2005

The Kyoto Protocol entered into force on _____.

Kyoto Protocol

The first major international agreement towards GHGE reduction.

Emissions Trading

The selling of excess allowable emission of carbon dioxide of a country to another country that is still behind its target reduction of GHG emissions

Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS)

Those substances that significantly deplete or otherwise modify the ozone layer in a manner that is likely to result in adverse effects on human health and the environment such as, but not limited to, chlorofluorocarbons, halons, and the like.