The 6 criteria pollutants

What are the 6 criteria pollutants?

NOSCLP—Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), Ozone (O3) Sulfur dioxide (SO2) Carbon monoxide (CO) Lead (Pb) and particulate matter

What are the natural sources of nitrogen dioxide (NO2)

Volcanic activity, lightning striking and forest fires

What are the anthropogenic sources of nitrogen dioxide?

Combustion of fossil fuels

What is the biggest contributor to atmospheric pollution and causes all six criteria pollutants?

Combustion of FF

What are the impacts of nitrogen dioxide (NO2)

It is a respiratory irritant, leads to photochemical smog, and converts nitric acid in the atmosphere (which contributes to the formation of acid rain)

What are the natural sources of Ozone?

The “good” ozone in the stratosphere (protects us from harmful UV radiation)

Is ozone a primary or secondary pollutant

secondary

What are the anthropogenic sources of ozone?

the “bad” tropospheric ozone, which is a secondary pollutant also known as PHOTOCHEMICAL SMOG

What are the impacts of ozone?

Irritation of the nose/throat and causes respiratory illnesses.

What are the natural sources of sulfur dioxide?

volcanoes and forest fires

What are the anthropogenic sources of sulfur dioxide?

Combustion of FF

Is sulfur dioxide a primary or secondary pollutant?

primary

What primary pollutant transforms into sulfuric acid and then leads to acid rain/deposition

Sulfur dioxide

What are the natural sources of carbon monoxide?

volcanoes and forest fires

What are the anthropogenic sources of carbon monoxide

incomplete burning of FF (this occurs when there is not enough oxygen around to make CO2 (complete combustion)

What are the impacts of carbon monoxide?

Keeps red blood cells from binding oxygen—which can lead to hypoxia (insufficient amount of oxygen) and even death

What are the natural sources of lead

exists naturally in the earth’s lithosphere

what are some of the anthropogenic sources of lead

exists in air as a particulate, was added to paint but banned in 1978, added to gasoline in the 1920s to enhance vehicle performance, and used to make piping

what are the impacts of lead

lead exposure at ANY level is unsafe. Breathing or drinking lead is toxic to the nervous system and can affect intelligence and learning abilities in kids

what are the natural sources of particulte matter?

dust storms, wildfires, volcanoes and pollen

what are the anthropogenic sources of particulate matter

soot from the combustion of FF, smoking, construction, agriculture

What are the impacts of particulate matter?

it is a respiratory irritant, can cause heart and lung disease like COPD and even death. Particulate matter also creates haze, which scatters sunlight and therefore decreases photosynthesis/NPP