Air Pollution Vocabulary Review

Flashcards covering vocabulary terms related to air pollution and its various components.

Air Pollution

The introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or microorganisms into the atmosphere at concentrations high enough to harm plants, animals, or alter ecosystems.

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.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Chemicals used for cooling refrigerators and air conditioners.

Carbon Monoxide

A colorless, odorless gas formed during incomplete combustion of fossil fuels.

Carbon Dioxide

A by-product of all combustion, where biofuel-derived carbon dioxide contains modern carbon from woody material.

Acid Deposition

Precipitation high in sulfuric acid and nitric acid, also known as acid rain.

Photochemical Smog

Smog dominated by oxidants such as ozone, commonly referred to as Los Angeles-type smog or brown smog.

Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂)

A corrosive gas primarily produced from the combustion of fossil fuels.

Particulates (Particulate Matter)

Solid or liquid particles suspended in the air, classified by size.

Ozone (O₃)

A pale blue gas composed of molecules made up of three oxygen atoms.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Organic compounds that evaporate at typical atmospheric temperatures.

Lead (Pb)

A trace metal occurring naturally in rocks and soils, present in small concentrations in coal and oil, and known to be a neurotoxin.

Industrial Smog

Smog dominated by sulfur dioxide, sulfate compounds, and particulate matter, often referred to as London-type smog.

Formaldehyde

A colorless gas with a strong odor used in building materials, causing irritation to the eyes and respiratory system.

Atmospheric Brown Clouds (ABCs)

Extensive layers of air pollution consisting of a dense mixture of aerosols and gases, affecting climate and human health.

Arctic Haze

A reddish-brown or grayish-white shroud of air pollution, primarily from sulfates and organic matter, that blankets the Arctic atmosphere.

Nitric Oxide (NO)

A colorless toxic gas formed during high-temperature combustion, contributing to photochemical smog.

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂)

A highly reactive, reddish-brown gas primarily produced by fossil fuel combustion that causes respiratory issues.

Nitric Acid (HNO₃)

A highly corrosive secondary pollutant formed in the atmosphere from nitrogen oxides and water.

Sulfuric Acid (H₂SO₄)

A strong secondary pollutant formed when atmospheric sulfur dioxide reacts with oxygen and water vapor.

Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM)

A complex mixture of microscopic solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in the air.

Aerosols

Minute solid particles or liquid droplets suspended in the atmosphere.

Center for Disease Control Prevention (CDC)

The US Federal agency responsible for protecting public health.

Temperature Inversion

A meteorological phenomenon where a layer of warm air sits over cooler air, trapping pollutants near the ground.

Wet Deposition

The process by which atmospheric pollutants are removed from the atmosphere and deposited on Earth through precipitation.

Dry Deposition

The direct transfer of gases and solid particles from the atmosphere onto surfaces without precipitation.

Buffer

A solution that resists significant changes in pH when small amounts of acid or base are added.

Principle of Sustainability

Using Earth's resources in a way that meets current needs without compromising future generations.

Tobacco Smoke

A major indoor air pollutant consisting of a complex mixture of gases and particulate matter from burning tobacco.

Radon-222 Gas

A colorless, odorless, naturally occurring radioactive gas that poses a significant lung cancer risk.