Chapter 15 air pollution APES
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
A corrosive has that is anthropogenic and natural (volcanoes and carbon) Effects on humans- respiratory irritant, acid rain PRIMARY COAL
Abestos
A long thin fivefold sillicate mineral with insulating properties Source - insulation in buildings Impacts on health - cancer when inhaled
Thermal inversions
A situation in which a relatively warm layer of air at mid altitudes covers a layer of cold dense air below.
Smog
A type of air pollution that is a mixture of oxidants and particulate matter
How does noise pollution impact wildlife (bats)
Bats avoid ambient noise which causes them a hard time to survive and feed because they rely on their hearing to find food!
stratospheric ozone
Beneficial to life on earth has the ability to absorb ultra violet radiation and protect life (UV-A , UV-B , UV-C)
Lead (Pb)
Enters atmosphere - individuals add gas, oil, coal, old paint Effects - central nervous system PRIMARY
Ozone in the troposphere (O3)
Enters atmosphere - oxygen brought together Dangerous to human health respiratory SECONDARY Impacts - component of smog and worsens lung tissue and triggers asthma
Catalytic converters
Filter out - bad pollutant - better Where is it used - cars
Baghouse filters
Filter out - particulate matter Where is it used - power plant
electrostatic precipitator
Filter out - particulate matter Where they are used - power plant
Fluidized bed combustion chamber
Filter out - sulfur dioxide Where is it used - power plants smoke stacks
VOCs (volatile organic compounds)
Formed by fuels, solvents, combustion of fuels Effects - exhaust/odor PRIMARY OIL AND GAS
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Fossil fuels Effects- appearing in environment PRIMARY COAL
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
Fossil fuels and motor vehicle combustion are the anthropogenic sources. Respiratory irritant Ozone precursor leads to smog creation Effects on humans/ environment: Smog, cancer, over fertilizing aquatic and terrestrial systems PRIMARY BURNING COAL
Recent studies have found that fine particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 um or less can have negative human health effects. Which of the following correctly links a negative human health effect to an anthropogenic source of fine particulate matter?
High rates of respiratory disease from power plant emissions
Why does limestone neutralize acid rain?
Limestone is made of calcium carbonate a base that can neutralize acids.
Thermal inversion effects
Lower air quality (traps pollutants near the surface) causes smog Asthma - respiratory
Effects of acid rain
Lowering ph of lake water Damaging statues/ monuments Decreasing species diversity aquatic ReleaSing metal from soils into surface water
Sulfur dioxide in addition to VOCs which of the following components must be present in the atmosphere to create photochemical smog?
NOx and UV light
The air pollutant that computer simulations would likely show as being the most reduced by the installation of bathhouse filters in exhaust systems?
Particulate matter
Anthropogenic sources
Road vehicles, power plants, industrial processes, incineration
Sulfurous smog
Smog dominated by sulfur dioxide and sulfate compounds (grey smog, industrial smog, London smog)
Photochemical smog
Smog that is dominated by oxidants such as ozone. Also known as Los Angeles-type smog; Brown smog. HOW ITS FORMED Sunlight reacts with nitrite to split NO and O then ozone is created a random pollutant combined with with No 2 fo create PAN
particulate matter
Solids particles in the air Effects - exhaust in urban centers PRIMARY
Radon
Sources - radon gas (from rock and soil) infiltration from soil to buildings, water supply, building materials Impacts on health - lung cancer
Acid rain creation / sources
Sources - volcanoes, burning fossil fuels, oil refineries, electricity generation CREATION - nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides are released into the atmosphere and combine with oxygen and water. Secondary pollutants break into sulfate and nitrate which causes acid.
Mercury
Sources - volcanoes, geothermal springs, ocean, geologic deposits Effects - damage human nervous system, liver, immune system TOXIC
The air pollutant that computer simulators would likely show as being the most reduced by the use of fluidized bed combustion in the boiler furnaces is
Sulfur dioxide
Inversion layer
The layer of warm air that traps emission in a thermal inversion
Why was the clean air act passed?
The ozone layer is on track to healing 1987 - protect public health from air pollution
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Vehicle exhaustion and burning fossil fuels Effects - carbon emissions PRIMARY COAL
The three main anthropogenic sources of gaseous air pollutants in the United States are
industry, transportation, and energy production
Ground level ozone is most major United States cities results primarily from
motor vehicle exhaust
secondary pollutants
pollutants that are formed by the combination of primary pollutants in the atmosphere. (Ozone, sulfate, nitrate)
primary pollutants
pollutants that are put directly into the air by human or natural activity.