Overview of Air Pollution and Waste Management Concepts

What is air pollution?

One or more chemicals in high enough concentration in the atmosphere to harm animals, vegetation, or materials.

What are primary pollutants?

Pollutants released into the air in a harmful form (gas or particulate matter).

Define secondary pollutants.

Pollutants that are not toxic when released, but become harmful through atmospheric reactions.

What is Photochemical Smog?

Smog occurring in warm, dry climates with a high density of vehicles and planes.

What characterizes industrial smog?

Smog occurring in cool, wet climates that produces gray, sooty particles.

What is thermal inversion?

When a layer of warm air settles over cooler air near the ground, trapping pollutants.

Define industrial indoor air pollution.

Air pollution within an area shared by multiple people, typically maintained for proper ventilation.

What is Sick Building Syndrome?

A non-specific illness experienced by building occupants related to the time spent there.

What is Building Related Illness?

Specific diagnosed illness attributed directly to the indoor air quality of a building.

What is noise pollution?

Exposure to loud noise or continuous loud sounds over a period of time.

What is a gyre?

A large-scale circular feature of ocean currents that spiral around a central point.

What is considered trash?

Dry discard and waste, such as paper, boxes, and packing.

Define garbage.

Wet discards and waste, including food remains and yard waste.

What does refuse mean?

An inclusive term for wet and dry waste.

What is rubbish?

All refuse, plus construction and demolition debris.

What is biodegradable waste?

Waste capable of being broken down by living organisms in a reasonable timeframe.

Define non-biodegradable waste.

Waste that is incapable of being broken down under normal circumstances.

What is industrial solid waste?

Waste produced by mines, farms, and industries that provide goods and services.

What is Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)?

Waste produced by homes and businesses, excluding factories.

Define industrial ecology.

A field of study focused on finding innovative solutions to environmental problems.

What is composting?

Using decomposers to break down organic matter into valuable humus.

What is compost ‘tea’?

Water drained from compost and used to water plants.

Define recycling.

The act of processing used or abandoned materials into new products.

What is primary recycling?

Reprocessing materials discarded by consumers into products of the same type.

Define secondary recycling.

Converting materials discarded into different, usually lower-quality products.

What is pre-consumer content?

Paper made from scraps generated during the paper manufacturing process.

What is post-consumer waste?

Products made from paper collected from recycled products.

What are dioxins?

A family of chemicals that are among the most toxic known to humans.

Define mercury.

A potent neurotoxin.

What are sanitary landfills?

Landfills where solid waste is compacted, spread in layers, and covered with soil and plastic.

What is leachate?

Residual liquids from solid waste plus rainwater.

What is the United States definition of hazardous waste?

Any material containing one or more of 39 identified toxic compounds, flammable, reactive, and capable of corroding metals.

Define brownfield.

Abandoned industrial or commercial property.

What is e-waste?

Disposal of electronic waste loaded with lead, cadmium, zinc, dioxins, and more.