env sci air pol test

Natural sources of air pollution

volcanoes, dust, pollen, spores

biggest cause of air pollution

human activities

volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

chemical compounds that form toxic fumes

examples of VOCs

household products, oil refineries, furniture refinishers, auto repair shops, chemical manufacturer

primary air pollutants

pollutants put directly into the air by human activity

primary air pollutant example

soot from smoke, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, VOCs, particulate matter

who releases the most primary pollutants

electric power plants- 2/3 of all sulfur dioxide

secondary air pollutants

form when primary pollutants react with other primary pollutants or with naturally occurring substances such as water vapor

example of secondary pollutants

ground level ozone

ozone

forms when auto exhaust reacts with air

smog

when air pollution hangs over urban areas and reduces visibility; forms when auto exhaust reacts with ozone in the air and in the presence of sunlight

clean air act

gives the EPA the authority to regulate vehicle emissions in the US

catalytic converter

device used to clean exhaust gases before they exit an automobile’s tailpipe

electrostatic precipitator

machine used in cement factories and coal-burning power plants to remove dust particles from smoke stacks

scrubber

machine that moves gases through a spray of water that dissolves many pollutants

what do catalytic converters, electrostatic precipitators, and scrubbers have in common?

they are all technologies used to control pollution emissions

zero emission vehicles (ZEVs)

have no tailpipe emissions, no emissions from gasoline, and no emission-control systems

what keeps air pollutant from reaching dangerous levels

circulation of air

temperature inversion

pollutants are trapped near earth’s surface

what is the relationship between air pollution and human population?

higher populations typically release more air pollution because of more vehicles and higher demands for electricity

sick building syndrome

buildings that have poor air quality

long-term health effects of air, noise, and light pollution

• emphysema

• lung cancer

• heart disease

• lung damage for children

• worsened medical conditions of the elderly

short-term health effects of air, noise, and light pollution

• headaches

• nausea

• irrigation to eyes, nose, throat

• tightness in chest

• coughing

• upper respiratory infections like bronchitis or pneumonia

• worsens asthma and emphysema

radon

odorless, colorless, tasteless gas

source of radon

uranium bearing rocks under a house

long-term health effects of noise pollution

• hearing loss

• ruptured ear drums

asbestos

long, thin fibers made of minerals that are valued for strength and heat resistance

why are asbestos not used anymore?

government banned the use of most asbestos products

acid precipitation

precipitation such as rain, sleet, or snow that contains a high concentration of acids

process of acid precipitation

1. burning fossil fuels release sulfur and nitrogen oxides

2. react with water vapor in air

3. form sulfuric acid and nitric acid

4. falls as acid precipitation

consequences of acid precipitation

• increase in the pH of soil and water

• death of aquatic plants and animals

• destruction of calcium carbonate in building materials

acid shock

sudden influx of acidic water causes a rapid change in the water’s pH

when does acid shock happen

when acid snow melts in spring and rushes into bodies of water

pH

• stands for POWER of hydrogen(in this class only)

• measures level of acidity in a substance

• ranges from 0-14

• the higher the more basic; the lower the more acidic

neutral pH

7.0

• ie pure water

6.9 and lower pH

acidic

• ie lemon juice

7.1 and higher pH

BASIC(also only for this class)

• ie bleach

solutions to energy waste related to inefficient lighting

1. use low-pressure sodium lighting sources

2. place light sources on time controls

3. shield light to direct it downward

Canada-US air quality agreement

• 1991

• meant to reduce the acidic emissions flowing across the Canada-US boundary

substances involved in the production of smog

1. ozone

2. sunlight

3. auto exhaust

who releases the most primary pollutants into the air

electric power plants

natural sources of air pollution

• dust

• pollen

• spores

• volcanoes

examples of primary pollutants

1. sulfur dioxide

2. nitrogen oxide

3. particulate matter

4. carbon monoxide

5. volatile organic compounds

relationship between air pollution and human population

• most air pollution is the result of human activities despite some pollutants coming from natural sources

• higher populations release more air pollution because of more vehicles and higher electricity usage

what do most industries and power plants for energy

fossil fuels

producers of VOCs

• oil refineries

• furniture refinisher

• automobile repair shop

what happens when people use a product that contains VOCs

more VOCs are added to the air

what does not produce VOCs

organic farm

what secondary pollutant is formed when auto exhaust reacts with air

ozone

not involved in the production of smog

particulate matter

clean air act

gives the environmental protection agency the authority to regulate vehicle emissions in the US

ZEVs have

1. NO tailpipe emissions

2. NO emissions from gasoline

3. NO emission-control systems

where are the highest levels of air pollution located

1. large cities

2. highly populated areas

3. urban areas

the air pollution in our region

low

a respiratory disease that is considered a long-term effect of air pollution on human health

emphysema

not an effective solution to the energy waste related to insufficient lighting

pointing lights on billboards and street signs upward

→> point them downward instead

when is acid precipitation formed

sulfur oxides or nitrogen oxides combine with water