APES Chapter 15 Key Terms

air pollution

the 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

particulate matter (PM)

solid or liquid particles suspended in air AKA particulates or particles

haze

reduced visibility

photochemical oxidant

a class of air pollutants formed as a result of sunlight acting on compounds such as nitrogen oxides

ozone

a secondary pollutant made up of three oxygen atoms bound together

smog

a type of air pollution that is a mixture of oxidants and particulate matter

photochemical smog

smog that is dominated by oxidants such as ozone AKA Los Angeles-type smog or industrial smog

Sulfurous smog

smog dominated by sulfur dioxide and sulfate compounds AKA London-type smog, gray smog, or industrial smog

Volatile organic compounds (VOC)

an organic compound that evaporates at typical atmospheric temperatures

primary pollutant

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

secondary pollutant

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

thermal inversion

a situation in which a relatively warm layer of air at mid-altitude covers a layer of cold, dense air below

inversion layer

the layer of warm air that traps emission in a thermal inversion

asbestos

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