apes air pollutants

primary pollutants

come directly out of a smokestack, exhaust pipe, or natural emission source (ie CO, CO2, NOx, suspended particulates)

secondary pollutant

primary pollutant that has undergone transformation in presence of sunlight, water, oxygen, and other compounds (ie O3, sulfate, nitrate)

haze

reduced visibility

photochemical oxidant

air pollutant formed as a result of sunlight acting on a compound

smog

mixture of oxidants and particulate matter, makes up tropospheric ozone

photochemical (LA, brown) smog

made up of mostly oxidants (like ozone)

sulfurous (London, industrial, gray) smog

made up of mostly sulfates (like SO2)

volatile organic compounds

organic compounds that evaporate at atmospheric temperatures (fuels, solvents, paints); form smog when combined with NOx; causes respiratory irritation, cancers, CNS/liver/kidney damage, and moree

sulfur dioxide (SO2)

corrosive gas from combustion of coal/oil or released during volcanic eruptions and forest fires; adversely impacts plant tissue and creates acid precipitation; is a respiratory irritant

nitrogen oxide (NOx)

comes from motor vehicles and fossil fuel combustion; leads to formation of photochemical smog, converts to nitric acid in the atmosphere, and contributes to over fertilizing; is a respiratory irritant

carbon monoxide (CO)

common emission in vehicle exhaust and other combustion processes; causes air pollution in urban areas; leads to unconsciousness, death, dizziness, nausea, etc.

carbon dioxide (CO2)

released by burning fossil fuels and cellular respiration; increases greenhouse effect; has a wide range of health impacts including tingling and high HR/BP

particulate matter

solid or liquid particles suspended in air; absorbs or scatters light, creating haze that reduces the light that reaches the Earth's surface; is a respiratory irritant

lead

gasoline additive or in oil/coal/old paint; accumulates in water and soil; impairs CNS, has a measurable impact on learning and ability to concentrate, inhibits ability to make RBCs