APES Unit 7 Vocabulary

Main focus: pollutants

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)

corrosive gas; comes from combustion of fuels that contain sulfur (coal, oil, gasoline)

SO2 Impacts

• respiratory irritant; asthma and other aliments

• harm stomata and other plant tissue

• converts sulfuric acid in atmosphere; harmful to aquatic life and some vegetation

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)

comes from all combustion (fossil fuel, wood, other biomass burning) in atmosphere

NOx Impacts

• respiratory irritant; prone to respiratory infection

• ozone precursor; leads to formation of photochemical smog

• converts nitric acid in atmosphere; harmful to aquatic life and some vegetation

• contributes to over-fertilization of terrestrial and aquatic systems

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

comes from incomplete combustion of nay kind and malfunctioning exhaust systems and poorly ventilated cooking fires

CO Impacts

• bonds to hemoglobin which interferes with oxygen transport in the bloodstream

• causes headaches at low concentrations

• can cause death with prolonged exposure at high concentrations

Particulate Matter (PM10/PM2.5)

comes from combustion of coal, oil, diesel, and biofuels such as manure and wood

Particulate Matter-10 (PM10)

particles smaller than 10 micrometers and aren’t filtered out by the nose and throat; can be deposited deep within the respiratory tract

Particulate Matter-2.5 (PM2.5)

particles of size 2.5 micrometers and smaller can travel further within respiratory tract and are of even greater health concern

PM10 and PM2.5 Impacts

• can exacerbate respiratory and cardiovascular disease and reduce lung function

• may lead to premature death

• reduces visibility and contributes to haze and smog; correlated with heart disease and higher incidence of lung cancer

Lead (Pb)

trace metal that occurs naturally in rocks and soils and is present in small concentrations in coal and oil as a neurotoxin; gasoline additive, oil and gasoline, coal, old paint

Pb Impacts

• impairs central nervous system

• at low concentrations, can have measurable effects on learning and ability to concentrate

Ozone (O3)

secondary pollutant formed by the combination of sunlight, water, oxygen, VOCs, and NOx

O3 Impacts

• reduces lung function and exacerbates respiratory systems

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

caused by evaporation of fuels, solvents, paints, and improper combustion of fuels like gasoline

VOCs Impacts

precursor to ozone formation

Mercury (Hg)

caused by coal, oil, gold mining

Hg Impacts

• impairs central nervous system

• bioaccumulates in the food chain

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

comes from combustion of fossil fuels and clearing of land

CO2 Impacts

affects climate and alters ecosystems by increasing greenhouse gas emissions

Haze

reduced visibility

Photochemical Oxidant

class of air pollutants formed as a result of sunlight acting on chemical compounds such as nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide

Smog

air pollutant that’s a mixture of oxidants and particulate matter

Photochemical Smog

smog dominated by oxidants such as ozone

Sulfurous Smog

smog dominated by sulfur dioxide, sulfate compounds, and particulate matter

Hydrocarbons

pollutant compounds that contain carbon-hydrogen bonds (gasoline and other fossil fuels, lighter fluid, dry-cleaning fluid, oil-based paints, perfumes)

Air Pollution

introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or microorganisms into the atmosphere at concentrations high enough to harm plants, animals, and materials such as buildings, or to alter ecosystems

Primary Pollutant

polluting compound that comes directly out of a smokestack, exhaust pipe, or natural emission source

Secondary Pollutant

primary pollutant that has undergone transformation in the presence of sunlight, water, oxygen, or other compounds

Evaporate

process of converting from a liquid to a gas or vapor

Sublimate

process of converting from a solid to a gas or vapor

Formeldahyde

naturally occurring compound that’s used as a preservative and as an adhesive in plywood/carpeting

Thermal Inversion

atmospheric condition in which a relatively warm layer of air at mid-latitude covers a layer of cold, dense air below

Inversion Layer

layer of warm air that traps emissions in a thermal inversion

Indoor Air Pollutants

compounds that adversely affect the quality of air in buildings and structures

Abestos

long, thin, fibrous silicate mineral with insulating properties; can cause cancer when inhaled

Radon-222

radioactive gas that occurs naturally from the decay of uranium and is an indoor Air pollutant

Sick Building Syndrome

buildup of toxic pollutants in weatherized spaces, such as newer buildings in the developed world

Vapor Recovery Nozzle

device that prevents VOCs from escaping into the atmosphere while a person is fueling their vehicle

Catalytic Converter

device that uses chemicals to convert pollutants such as nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide to nitrogen gas and carbon dioxide

Scrubber

device that uses a combination of lime/water to separate and remove particles from industrial exhaust streams

Electrostatic Precipiator

device that removes particulate matter by using an electrical charge to make particles coalesce so they can be removed from the exhaust system

pH

relative strength of acids/bases in a substance; logarithmic scale meaning that each number on the scale represents a change by a factor of 10

Acid

substance that contributes hydrogen ions to a solution

Base

substance that accepts/neutralizes hydrogen ions in a solution

Acid Rain/Deposition

precipiation high in sulfuric acid and nitric acid

Noise Pollution

unwanted sound that interferes with normal activities that’s loud enough to cause health issues including hearing loss

decibel A scale (db(A))

logarithmic scale that measures loudness and frequency of sound