AP Environmental Science Review of Common Ambient Air Pollutants

Flashcards covering common air pollutants, their sources, and their impacts.

Carbon monoxide (CO)

Incomplete combustion of fuel or waste; outcompetes O2 for hemoglobin, potentially suffocating.

Lead (Pb)

Exhaust fumes from leaded gasoline, metal smelting; toxic to nerve cells.

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)

Transportation, electrical utilities, and some factories; component of photochemical smog and acid deposition.

Particulate matter (SPM)

Soot and SO2 from coal combustion, dust from human activities; inhalation causes respiratory diseases.

Sulfur dioxide (SO2)

Combustion of coal and petroleum; reacts in atmosphere to form SO3 and H2SO4, components of acid deposition.

Tropospheric ozone (O3)

Reaction of NO from motor vehicles with sunlight, heat, and O2; damages plants and respiratory system, traps heat.

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Combustion of organic material, respiration; a greenhouse gas, absorbs and re-emits thermal radiation.

Mercury (Hg)

Combustion of coal; toxic to nerve cells, capable of bioaccumulation and biomagnification.

Nitric Oxide (NO)

Transportation; poisonous, reacts with O2 to form NO2, leading to ground-level ozone production.

Nitric Acid (HNO3)

Transportation; contributes to acid deposition, harms respiratory system.

Peroxacyl nitrates (PANs)

Transportation; strong respiratory and eye irritant, potentially mutagenic, can damage vegetation.

Sulfur trioxide (SO3)

Combustion of coal and petroleum; reacts with water to form sulfuric acid (H2SO4), contributing to acid deposition.

Sulfuric acid (H2SO4)

Combustion of coal and petroleum; contributes to acid deposition, harms respiratory system.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Automobile exhaust, solvents, industrial processes, household chemicals; contribute to climate change and ground level O3.