APES Unit 7: Atmospheric Pollution

What does SPM stand for?

suspended particle matter

What are the types of biomass fuels in indoor stoves?

wood, charcoal, animal dung, and/or crop residues

What do biomass fuels, especially through the use of wood contribute to?

contributes to deforestation

What are 5 dangerous indoor air pollutants in developed countries?

-tobacco smoke & carbon monoxide (CO)

-formaldehyde

-radioactive radon222 gas

-asbestos which produces fibers (SPM's)

-mold & mold spores

What are the sources of tobacco smoke & carbon monoxide?

cigarettes and cigars

What are the sources of carbon monoxide

comes from the incomplete combustion of carbon based fuels so if you have a gas furnace you should have CO detector

What are sources of formaldehyde?

a preservative, think new car, new drape, new furniture smell.

What are the sources of radioactive radon222 gas?

rock

What are the sources of asbestos?

insulation and ceiling tiles made of silicate fibers and is resistant to heat and fire.

What are mold & mold spores and what is the source?

naturally occurring organisms that prefer damp places like your basement

What are the effects of tobacco smoke?

bronchitis, lung cancer

What are the effects of carbon monoxide?

carbon monoxide poisoning: chest tightness, lightheadedness, sleepiness, dizziness, difficulty breathing

What are the effects of formaldehyde?

nasal & eye irritation, lightheadedness, dizziness, difficulty breathing

What is the effect of radioactive radon222 gas?

lung cancer

What are the effects of asbestos?

bronchitis, asbestosis, mesothelioma

What are the effects of mold & mold spores?

nasal & eye irritation, dizziness, difficulty breathing, aggravation of asthma, bronchitis

What parts of a building influence the type of pollutants?

the age of the building and if there is a furnace, wood burning stove or fireplace (a carbon fuel burning apparatus).

What was a common insulator?

asbestos, before its negative effects were known

What is legionnaires disease?

a type of pneumoniacausing bacteria were able to grow in the HVAC system.

What is the cause of legionnaires disease?

leaky refrigeration units and stagnant water in HVAC conduits

What happened at the convention for the american legion, PHL 1976?

there was mists of air laced with the aerosolized bacteria circulated in the building and 182 ppl got sick and 29 died. The bacteria turned out to be a new strain that was then named Legionella.

how was COVID19 spread through ventilation in a restaurant in Guangzhou, China 2020?

droplet transmission was prompted by airconditioned ventilation

What is sick building syndrome?

when building occupants experience acute health effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness can be identified.

What are the characteristics of SBS?

What qualifies SBS?

More than 20% of people must complain

What do dust mites do?

feed on human skin and dust, and live in bedding and couches.

What can dust mites cause?

asthma attacks and allergic reactions in some people.

What are two characteristics of bed bugs?

NOT microscopic; feed on human blood.

Does indoor air pollution or outdoor air pollution pose a greater threat?

indoor air pollution because people spend 70%98% indoors

What nitrogen compound is a part of photochemical SMOG?

nitrogen dioxide / nitrogen oxide, NO2/NOx

How do nitrogen oxides and nitric acid form?

forms when nitrogen and oxygen gases react at highcombustion temperatures or can also form from lightning and Rhizobium bacteria as part of the nitrogen cycle.

When are nitrogen oxides and nitric acid produced?

produced in greater amounts earlier in the day

How is NO2 formed?

NO reacts with oxygen to form NO2, a reddishbrown gas.

How is nitric acid ((HNO3) formed?

NO2 reacts with H2O in the air to form nitric acid (HNO3) and nitrate salts (NO3) which are components of acid deposition

93% of this compound comes from the carbon cycle

carbon dioxide (CO2)

How much do humans contribute to the release of CO2?

7% of CO2 released to the troposphere occurs as a result of human activities (mostly burning fossil fuels).

How much of CO2 makes up atmospheric gases?

CO2 is only ~0.04% of atmospheric gases; the most are nitrogen (1st), oxygen (2nd)

When was CO2 regulated and by what act?

not regulated by the U.S. Clean Air Act until 2011.

What is a VOC and how is it emitted?

volatile organic compounds, emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids.

VOCs can be through what form?

other hydrocarbons emitted by the leaves of many plants, fumes rising from a gas nozzle.

How much methane emissions come from human resources?

two thirds of global methane emissions comes from human sources (landfills, natural gas wells and cows we use for milk & beef b/c of flatulence)

What are other forms of VOCs?

other VOCs include industrial and dry cleaning solvents: trichlorethylene (TCE), benzene, formaldehyde, and vinyl chloride.

What is formaldehyde?

A VOC, this compound gives drapes their permanentpress finish, is found in building materials, and is also an indoor air pollutant.

What is nitrous oxide (N2O)

this greenhouse gas is emitted from fertilizers and animal waste.

What is carbon monoxide?

highly toxic (colorless & odorless) gas that forms during the incomplete combustion of carbon fuels.

What is a source of CO?

major source of this pollutant is vehicle exhaust

How does CO affect health?

binds with hemoglobin and is the cause of death in a car garage

What are the sources of carbon monoxide?

cigarettes, camp fires (biomass), natural gas, motor vehicles

What is sulfur dioxide (SO₂)?

A gas with an irritating odor, released from burning coal, and can be converted into a component of acid rain.

What are the natural sources of sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere?

One-third of SO₂ in the troposphere occurs naturally through the sulfur cycle, such as from volcanic eruptions.

What are the human sources of sulfur dioxide emissions?

Two-thirds of SO₂ emissions come from human activities like burning fossil fuels, especially coal.

What is radon (Radon-222)?

A naturally occurring radioactive gas produced from the decay of uranium in soil and rock.

How does radon enter homes and buildings?

It seeps into homes and buildings that sit above uranium-rich soil and rock deposits.

What are the health effects of radon exposure?

Radon exposure increases the risk of lung cancer.

What is suspended particulate matter (SPMs)?

A mix of solid particles and liquid droplets that are small and light enough to remain suspended in the air.

What are the natural sources of SPMs?

Wildfires and volcanic eruptions.

What are the most harmful forms of SPM?

Fine and ultrafine particles.

How does SPM affect human health?

It can enter the lungs, causing damage and increasing the risk of infections.

What is methane?

A volatile organic compound (VOC) and greenhouse gas produced by agriculture, fossil fuel extraction, and landfill decomposition.

Where is photochemical smog most common?

In sunny, dry, warm cities with heavy car traffic, such as Mexico City.

What causes photochemical smog?

Reactions between VOCs, NOx chemicals, and UV radiation (sunlight).

What is industrial smog?

A brownish smog made up of sulfur dioxide, sulfuric acid droplets, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter from burning coal and steel production.

What is a thermal inversion?

A weather condition where a layer of warm air traps pollutants below it, preventing dispersion.

Where are thermal inversions most likely to occur?

In areas with a sunny climate, light winds, mountains on three sides, and an ocean on the other, like Los Angeles.

What are benzene and hexene?

Chemical compounds found in crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke.

What are the health effects of benzene exposure?

It can cause leukemia and damage the blood and immune system.

What symptoms can air pollution cause in humans?

Eye, nose, and throat irritation; respiratory distress; nausea; coughing; dizziness; emphysema; and aggravation of asthma.

Why are the highest air pollution-related deaths found in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia?

Due to coal mines and coal-fired power plants in these regions.

Why is ozone sometimes called "good up high, bad nearby"?

Ozone in the stratosphere is beneficial because it blocks UV radiation, but at ground level, it is a harmful pollutant.

What is ground-level ozone?

A secondary pollutant formed when oxygen reacts with UV light.

Why do ground-level ozone concentrations peak in the afternoon and summer?

Because ozone is produced through a reaction between oxygen and sunlight, which is strongest during these times.

How does ground-level ozone affect human health?

It can cause or worsen respiratory illnesses and heart disease.

How does ground-level ozone affect the environment?

It can damage plants, reduce their growth, and deteriorate materials like rubber, fabrics, and paint.

What are primary pollutants?

Pollutants that are directly emitted from a source.

What are secondary pollutants?

Pollutants that form through reactions between primary pollutants and other atmospheric components like air, water vapor, or sunlight.

how long can you live without food?

up to 2 months IF you have water

how long can you live without water?

3-5 days

what does AQI stand for?

air quality index

what 5 outdoor air pollutants does the AQI monitor?

-particulates

-ground level ozone (O3)

-carbon monoxide (CO)

-sulfur dioxide (SO2)

-nitrogen dioxide (NO2)

-ground level ozone (O3)

-carbon monoxide (CO)

-sulfur dioxide (SO2)

-nitrogen dioxide (NO2)

why cant we see the milky way?

light pollution

what are the effects of light pollution?

obesity, depression, sleep disorders, diabetes, breast cancer, as well as harming nocturnal animals

Whare the effects of noise pollution on humans?

hearing loss in humans, physiological stress

How does noise pollution affect species?

masking of sounds used by species to communicate and/or hunt.

How does noise pollution impact migration?

damaged hearing &/or interference in some migratory individuals which may cause disorientation and changes in migratory routes thus leading to a loss of individuals and a decrease in biodiversity.

noise pollution control act of 1976

regulates harmful noise levels by setting the allowable levels of decibels for specific situations (indoors vs. outdoors)

What is an internal combustion engine (ICE)?

A type of engine that is not a pollution prevention technology. Its inefficiencies require burning more fuel, and its waste products are harmful to ecosystems and people.

What do catalytic converters do?

They convert carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and hydrocarbons into carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrogen (N₂), oxygen (O₂), and water (H₂O).

What are vapor recovery nozzles?

Devices used in gas pumps to capture volatile organic compound (VOC) fumes and prevent their escape into the atmosphere.

What is "knock" in an engine?

Premature ignition of fuel in the cylinder, which reduces efficiency and can damage the engine.

Why was lead added to gasoline?

It was used as an "anti-knock" agent to improve octane ratings.

What is octane?

A measure of a fuel's ability to avoid knock. Fuels contain an oxygenate that prevents knock by adding oxygen to the fuel.

What are the effects of lead exposure?

Lead is a neurotoxin once used in paints and gasoline. It has been banned from these substances since 1978 (paints) and 1996 (gasoline). Children exposed to lead suffer nervous system impairment, lower IQs, and behavioral issues.

What is a wet scrubber?

A device used in coal-burning power plants that sprays a fine mist of water to capture particulates and sulfur dioxide (SO₂).

What is an electrostatic precipitator?

A device that removes particulates from smokestack emissions by using differences in atomic charges.

What are three strategies to reduce air pollution?

Regulatory practices, conservation, and alternative fuels.

What are regulatory practices for air pollution control?

Government pollution limits and requirements, including CAFE standards, catalytic converters, vapor recovery nozzles, wet scrubbers, and electrostatic precipitators.