outdoor and indoor pollution quiz

list the GGs

• carbon dioxide (CO₂)

• ozone (O₃)

• CFCs

• methane (CH₄)

• nitrous oxide (N₂O)

• water vapor (H₂O)

• sulfur hexafluoride (SH₆)

carbon dioxide — CO₂

• sources: burning gasoline, diesel, wood, natural gas, coal, oil, kerosene, etc

• health effects: none

• environmental effects: GG, contributes to CC, most abundant anthropogenic (human-caused) GG

nitrogen oxides — NO_x

SMOG

• sources: burning gasoline, diesel, wood, natural gas, coal, oil, kerosene, etc

• health effects: lung damage, respiratory illness/irritant (including lungs and nasal passages)

• environmental effects: reacts to form acid raid —> damages plants/trees, damages aquatic life in streams/lakes
  forms ozone and smog

  reduces visability
  damages buildings/statues

sulfure oxides — SO_x

ACID RAIN

• sources: burning gasoline, diesel, coal, oil
  & refineries, industrial processes (making paper/metal)

• health effects: respiratory and lung damage, worsens asthma, skin irritation

• environmental effects: forms acid rain —> damages plants, trees, and aquatic life in streams/lakes

  forms ozone and smog

  reduces visibility

  damages to buildings/statues

outdoor particulate matter — PM₁₀

dust, sand, ask, smoke, pollen

• sources: burning of wood, coal, diesel

  industrial processes

  agriculture
  unpaved roads
  construction
  mining, woodstoves, volcanoes

• health effects: lung damage
  eye, nose, and throat irritant

  sneezing, bronchitis, asthma

• environmental effects: reduced visibility

  dust on leaves can damage crops/reduce yields

  discolor/dirty buildings, vehicles, etc

outdoor VOCs (volatile organic compounds)

EVAPORATE AT ROOM TEMP (ex. acetone)

• sources: volatilize - evaps at room temp

  gasoline, paint, pesticides, glue, markers

• health effects: dizziness
  unconsciousness, blood disorders, immune system damage, death

• environmental effects: major component of smog and ground lvl ozone

ground level ozone — O₃

“ozone is good up high (stratospheric) and bad near by (tropospheric )”

• sources: secondary pollutant (main = vehicle exhaust and VOCs)

• health effects: lung damage, breathing problems, asthma, eye, nose, throat irritant, reduces resistance to infections

• environmental effects: reduced visibility and photosynthesis, maj comp of smog

CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons)

causing the hole in the ozone

• sources: synthetic chemical, used in coolants/ACs, refrigerants, aerosol cans, insulation

• health effects: depletes ozone later —> inc UV radiation (skin cancer, sunburn, cataracts)

• environmental effects: inc UV radiation —> wildlife gets skin cancer, cataracts
  reduced photosynthesis —> reduced crop yields, phytoplankton

photochemical smog (brownish, reddish)

• sources: secondary pollutant (main = vehicle exhaust and VOCs)

• health effects: respiratory, eyes, nose, and throat irritant

• environmental effects: reduced photosynthesis —> reduced crop yields and phytoplankton

industrial smog (grayish)

• sources: burning coal (in power plants w/ no emissions tech)

• health effects: eye, nose, and throat irritant, can worsen heart/lung problems

• environmental effects: reduced photosynthesis —> reduced crop yields and phytoplankton

mercury — Hg

• sources: burning FFs (coal*), waste incinerators, fish consumption

• health effects: central nervous damage, brain damage neurotoxin

• environmental effects: fish and wildlife nervous system damage ~~ bioaccumulation

indoor VOCs

• sources: pesticides on clothes, cleaning products, paint, adhesives, stain-resisting chemicals on furniture

• health effects: eye, note, throat, skin irritation, asthma, organ damage, cancer

• mitigation strategy: open windows, purchase natural/low VOC products

mold and bacteria

• sources: mold, mildew in wet/damp areas, showers, near HVAC units, vents, washing machines

• health effects: headaches, sneezing, asthma, respiratory irritant (*brain fog, mood swings/irritability)

• mitigation strategy: clean often, especially damp areas w/ hydrogen peroxide

formaldehyde (colorless, flammable)

• sources: particle board, plywood, furniture, insulation, glues, bamboo flooring

• health effects: eye, nose, throat, skin, respiratory irritant, nausea, dizziness, lung cancer

• mitigation strategy: read labels, purchase formaldehyde-free products

carbon monoxide

• sources: incomplete combustion from furnaces, gas stoves, kerosene heaters, woodstoves

• health effects: reduces oxygen holding capacity of red blood cells, headaches, drowsiness, irregular heartbeat, fainting, death

• mitigation strategy: open windows, limit open burning indoors, install CO detectors

asbestos (naturally occuring mineral, long thin fibers)

• sources: old ceiling tiles, old flooring tiles, old pipe insulation (US banned use in 1989)

• health effects: lung cancer - mesothelioma

• mitigation strategy: inspect old buildings and homes

radon (radioactive gas, colorless)

• sources: gas seeps into home foundation/water supply from rock/soil containing trace amounts of uranium

• health effects: lung cancer

• mitigation strategy: fix cracks in foundation/basement, do a radon test at home

indoor PM

• sources: pollen, dust, pet dander, dust mites, smoke

• health effects: lung irritant, asthma, itchy eyes, running nose

• mitigation strategy: clean often

nitrogen oxides

• sources: unvented gas stoves, kerosene heaters, woodstoves

• health effects: lung irritant, headaches, respiratory illness

• mitigation strategy: limit open burning indoors, open windows

lead

• sources: paint chips/dust, toys made in countries w/ few health regulations (US phased it out in gasoline/pain in 1970s)

• health effects: central nervous system damage, brain damage (neurotoxin)

• mitigation strategy: repaint with lead-free pain, perform lead tests