Chapter 24 APES Study Quizlet

What is a Point Source?

-A Point Source emits pollutants from one or more controllable sites -Example: A power-plant smokestack

What are area sources?

-Area Sources are, "well defined areas within which are several sources of air pollutants" -Examples: Small urban communities, areas of intense industrialization with urban complexes, and agricultural areas sprayed with herbicides and pesticides.

Carbon Monoxide impacts on human health

-Carbon Monoxide is hazardous to people with heart disease, anemia, or respiratory disease -It can cause birth defects, and impairment of the growth of the fetus

Sulfur Dioxide & Characteristics

-Colorless and odorless gas normally present at the Earth's surface at low concentrations -Significant feature of Sulfur Dioxide, that once it is emitted into the atmosphere, it can be converted through complex oxidation reactions into fine particulate sulfate and removed from the atmosphere by wet or dry deposition. -Major source of Sulfur Dioxide: burning of fossil fuels, mostly coal in power plants as well as other industrial processes ranging from petroleum refining to the production of paper, cement, and aluminum. -can cause acid rain

What are Fugitive Sources?

-Fugitive Sources emit/generate air pollutants from open areas exposed to wind processes. -(Places where particulates may be removed by wind) -does not go through pipe or smokestack -Examples: Dirt roads, construction sites, farmlands, surface mines, storage piles

Lead & Characteristics

-Lead is an important constituent of automobile batteries and many other industrial products -Lead can help improve fuel consumption if added to gasoline -Lead is commonly released out exhaust pipes from automobiles and has now increased levels in water and soils -Lead enters food chains from absorption from plants, it also can make its way into aquatic food chains

What is the definition of a Mobile Source?

-Mobile Sources are places where the air pollutants move from place to place while emitting pollutants. -Examples: Cars, trucks, planes, buses, trains, and ships

Nitrogen Oxides & Characteristics

-Nitrogen Oxides can occur in many forms in the atmosphere (main two: Citric Oxide, and Nitrogen Dioxide) -Nitrogen Dioxide (yellow-brown to reddish-brown gas that with a few complex reactions can cause an ion that is able to impair vision -Causes smog and acid rain -Two main sources of Nitrogen Dioxides: 1) Cars that burn fossil fuels 2) Power plants that burn fossil fuels -It can suppress plant growth

Ozone and other photo chemical oxidants & characteristics

-inorganic molecule -Result from atmospheric interactions of Nitrogen Dioxide and sunlight. -Ozone is a colorless, but slightly "sweet" odorous gas -Ozone is unstable and can readily release the third oxygen atom, as a result it oxidized or burns things much easier -Used for water purification, kills harmful bacteria -Short atmospheric lifetime -The ozone layer protects us from extreme UV radiation -Secondary Pollutant -Main human activities that include burning fossil fuels produce ozone -can kill plant cells at high levels of concentration and high levels of primary pollution

Ozone and impacts on human health

-reduction of growth rates -damage to eyes and respiratory system -can cause breathing trouble even for healthy individuals

National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants

-regulates emissions (from point sources) -for specific substances (air toxics or HAPs with known or suspected serious health effects (mutagens, carcinogens, neurotoxins, teratogens) - Tend to be localized, from point sources -Examples: Ammonia, chlorine, asbestos, arsenic, mercury, benzene

Respiratory problems linked with air pollution

1) Asthma 2) Chronic Bronchitis 3) Lung Cancer 4) Emphysema

Anthropogenic sources of particulate matter

1) Burning of fossil fuels (power plants) 2) Vehicle exhaust 3) Incineration of waste 4) Soil erosion (desertification, deforestation)

Barrons %'s of primary pollutants in the air

1) Carbon Monoxide (49%) 2) Sulfur Oxides (16%) 3) Nitrogen Oxides (15%) 4) VOC's (14%) 5) Particulates (6%)

Which of the Primary pollutants account the most for our pollution problems? (In order, with %'s)

1) Carbon Monoxide (58%) 2) Nitrogen Oxides (15%) 3) Sulfur Oxides (13%) 4) Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCS's) (11%) 5) Particulates (3%)

Two main processes of car exhausts (preventing air pollution)

1) Carbon monoxide is converted to carbon dioxide 2) hydrocarbons are converted to carbon dioxide and water

What main impacts of air pollution on our atmosphere?

1) Changes in the environment's visual qualities 2) Changes in the environment's vegetation 3) Changes in the environment's animals 4) Changes in the environment's soils 5) Changes in the environment's water quality 6) Changes in the environment's natural and artificial structures 7) Changes in the environment's human health

Air Pollution's impacts on: Vegetation (4 main)

1) Damage to leaf tissue, needles, and fruits 2) Reduction in growth rates or suppression of growth 3) Increased susceptibility to a variety of diseases, pests, and adverse weather 4) Disruption of reproductive processes

Air Pollution's impacts on: Human-made structures

1) Discoloration 2) Erosion 3) Decomposition of building materials

Examples of Air Toxics:

1) Hydrogen Sulfide: Highly corrosive gas, with rotten egg odor. Produced by natural resources and human activities, can cause death for plants and animals 2) Hydrogen Fluoride: Extremely toxic gaseous pollutant created by human activities, can harm animals by making plants toxic, which can harm grass-eating animals, disrupting the food chains 3) Methyl Isocyanate: Extremely lethal gas that can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation as well as to the lungs. Exposure of the gas is very, very, dangerous and can cause bleeding, violent coughing, and swelling of the lungs. 4) Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's): variety of organic compounds as well as hydrocarbons. Mainly released from automobiles and other human activities 5) Benzene: Additive to gasoline and is an important industrial solvent. Produced when carbon-rich material undergo full combustion. Mainly created from man-made activities such as exhaust from automobiles 6) Arcolein: Volatile hydrocarbon that is extremely irritating to the nose, eyes, mouth, and respiratory system. Created from combustion of fuels and a product of cigarette smoke.

Air Pollution's impacts on: Vertebrate Animals

1) Impairment of the respiratory systems 2) Damage to eyes, teeth, and bones 3) Increased susceptibility to disease, parasites, and other stress-related environmental hazards 4) Decreased availability of food sources (such as vegetation affected by pollutants) 5) Reduced ability for successful reproduction

Nitrogen Oxides impact of human health

1) Irritation of eyes, nose, throat, lungs 2) Increased susceptibility to viral infections, including influenza (which can cause bronchitis and pneumonia)

What are the environmental effects of particulate matter?

1) Makes lakes and streams more acidic 2) Changes the nutrient balance in the coastal waters and large river basins 3) Depletes the nutrients found in the soil 4) Damages sensitive forests and farm crops 5) Affects diversity of ecosystems

Natural releasing of pollutant examples:

1) Release of Sulfur Dioxide from volcanic eruptions, causes, "vog", and can result in acid rain 2) Release of Hydrogen Sulfide from geysers and hot springs and from biological decay in bogs and marshes 3) Release of Ozone in the lower atmosphere as a result of unstable meteorological conditions, such as violent thunderstorms 4) Emission of a variety of particles from wildfires and windstorms 5) Natural Hydrocarbon seeps, ex: La Brea tar pits (LA) 6) Releasing of Pollen

What are the six main criteria pollutants?

1) Sulfur Dioxide 2) Nitrogen Oxides 3) Carbon Monoxide 4) Ozone 5) Particulates 6) Lead

What pollutants are gaseous pollutants?

1) Sulfur Dioxide 2) Nitrogen Oxides 3) Carbon Monoxide 4) Ozone 5) Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's) such as hydrocarbons 6) Hydrogen Sulfide 7) Hydrogen Fluoride

Air Pollution's impacts on: Human health

1) Toxic poisoning 2) Cancer 3) Birth defects 4) Eye irritation 5) Respiratory system irritation 6) Increased susceptibility to viral infections (causing pneumonia, and bronchitis) 7) Increased susceptibility to heart disease 8) Aggravation of chronic diseases (such as asthma, and emphysema)

Barrons %'s of primary pollutant SOURCES

1) Transportation (46%) 2) Stationary sources/fuel combustion (27%) 3) Industrial processes (15%) 4) Misc (9%)

Examples of naturally occurring particulate matter

1) Volcanoes 2) Dust storms 3) Forest and grassland fires 4) Sea spray

Possibilities for air pollution prevention from Sulfur Dioxide

1) Washing the coal with water to remove the sulfur (expensive) 2) Coal Gasification - converts coal that is relatively high in sulfur to a gas in order to remove the sulfur 3) Scrubbing - mixing the sulfur rich gases with a mix of calcium/lime or limestone 4) Smoke filtering

Human health effects of lead poisoning

1) failure of blood to make hemoglobin 2) endocrine (hormone) disruptors 3) mental disabilities 4) hypertensions 5) miscarriages, and/or premature births

When was the word, "smog", introduced to the English language to mean, "poor air quality resulting from a mixture of smoke and fog"?

1905

Around how many air pollutants have been recognized and reassured by the US EPA and are listed in the Clean Air Act

200

Acid rain is below that pH?

5.6 (acid rain is not always wet, can be snow, rain, sleet, fog, or even dew). -acid rain can be carried long distances b prevailing winds

What is the definition of a Stationary Source?

A Stationary Source is a source that has a relatively fixed location

Some ways improvement of air quality is possible:

Banning sales of low-quality burning engine machines, raise price of gas, etc.

Less developed countries tend to have a (Bigger/Smaller) problem with air pollution due to lack of funding and tech

Bigger

Two main historical events that showed air pollution

Denora event (1948), and London event (1952)

What are hydrocarbons?

Hydrocarbons are compounds containing only carbon and hydrogen that include petroleum products)

Photochemical smog

LA (car emissions reacting with sunlight)

What famous artist wrote about the, "blue haze formed from materials emitted into the atmosphere from trees?

Leonardo da Vinci (In 1550)

Sulfurous smog

London-type, from burning coal/oil (mostly in stagnant air)

What is classified as particulate matter (PM)?

PM is classified as small particles of solid or liquid substances less than 10 µm in diameter and may be organic or inorganic.

How do you measure air pollutants?

PPM (parts per million)

Largest source of carbon monoxide?

Photochemical reactions in the troposphere

What are some examples of Stationary Sources?

Some examples of stationary sources include: 1) Point Sources 2) Fugitive Sources 3) Area Sources

What are the two main sources of air pollution?

Stationary Sources and Mobile Sources

Sulfur Dioxide effects to animals and plants

Sulfur Dioxide can cause corrosion to paint and metals, which shows its strength. For plants and animals it can cause severe damage to the lungs (especially in the sulfate form)

Air Pollution's impacts on: Soil and Water resources

The degradation of Soil and Water resources from air pollution occurs when the pollutants from the air are deposited. The soils and water can then become toxic. Soils may also be leached of nutrients by pollutants that form acids.

Many air pollutants present have _____ effects.

Synergistic

What are synergistic effects?

Synergistic effects are those that which the combined effects are greater than the sum of the separate effects.

In the long run of human time and presence, what has been a common place of disposal? (Not with complete acknowledgement) (ex: fires)

The Atmosphere has been a common place of disposal due to ease and convenience

Air pollution control act (1955)

The nation's first piece of federal legislation regarding air pollution. Identified air pollution as a national problem an announced that research and additional steps to improve the situation needed to be taken

What two forms do the major air pollutants take place in?

They either take place in gaseous forms or as particulate matter (PM)

The Smokey Mountains were named after what process?

The Smokey Mountain were named due to the "natural photo-chemical smog resulting from hydrocarbons given off by living trees"

Which form is Sulfur Dioxide most dangerous to animals and their respiratory systems?

The Sulfate form is the most dangerous

Air Pollution's impacts on: Visual Resources

The air pollution changes the visual resources by discoloring the atmosphere, which in part, reduces the visual sight range and atmospheric clarity (decreases the contrast of distant objects)

What are TSP's?

When measured, particulate matter is often referred to as total suspended particulates

How are Nitrogen Oxides helpful for plants?

When the Oxides are in the nitrate form, and deposited into the soils, it can promote plant growth through nitrogen fertilization

Point sources pollution is (hard/easy) to control since the contaminant and location are known

easy

National EPA (Act) of 1970

established EPA

For both stationary and mobile sources, the most reasonable strategies for control have been to....

reduce, collect, capture, or retain the pollutants before they enter the atmosphere

Particulate matter & characteristics (PM 10 and PM 2.5)

-PM 10, particles less than 10µm in diameter -Particles are present everywhere, but in different concentrations, and some have been found to be more dangerous than others. (ex: asbestos) -Nearly all industrial processes release particulates into the atmosphere -Many types of particulate matter is visible such as: smoke, smog, soot, dust -Many of the particulates have particles of heavy metals such as zinc, arsenic, etc -Finer particles are more dangerous because they are easier put into the respiratory systems due to the minimal size (sulfates and nitrates, main 2)

What are Primary pollutants?

-Primary pollutants are those emitted directly into the air -Examples: Particulates, Sulfur Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Oxides, and Hydrocarbons

Carbon Monoxide & Characteristics

-Produced from the partial oxidation of carbon-containing compounds and forms when there is not enough oxygen to produce carbon dioxide -Colorless and odorless gas that at even very low concentration, can be very dangerous to humans and other animals -Due to the composition, the Carbon Monoxide is absorbed extremely easily by Hemoglobin (blood), and therefore, with even small amounts, it can be heavily ingested with possibly fatal effects (takes away oxygen ingestion/respiration) -More dangerous at high altitudes -90% is produced naturally -10% produced from incomplete burning of organic compounds (human activities)

What are Secondary pollutants?

-Secondary pollutants are produced through reactions between Primary pollutants and normal atmospheric compounds. -Examples: Ozone forming over urban areas through reactions of primary pollutants, sunlight, and natural atmospheric gases. Therefore, ozone is a Secondary pollutant

What is the NAAQS?

-The NAAQS is the National Ambient Air Quality Standards -sets the 6 criteria pollutants -

What is the air quality index?

-The air quality index is a chart system used to depict the cleanliness of the air with levels of pollutants using color-coding -Measures levels of 5 criteria pollutants (no PB) -Purpose is to protect and educate the public

How do you measure respiratory function?

-You use a spirometer -tidal volume: regular breathing (approx 500 ml) -vital capacity: total volume that can be exchanged -residual volume: air remains after exhalation, not exchanged

Acid deposition

-affects aquatic ecosystems -disrupts forests -can harm lungs -Affects USA, Canada, Scandinavia -Can be controlled by decreasing emissions of Sulfur Oxides and Nitrogen Oxides -Remediation - periodic addition of lime to acidified lakes

What is the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990?

-comprehensive regulations enacted by the US Congress that address acid rain, toxic emissions, ozone depletion, and automobile exhaust -added provisions for acid rain, urban smog, HAPs, Ozone protection, and CFCs, and trade allowances for SOx

The atmosphere is a ____ for waste disposal.

Sink

What type of pollutant causes sick building syndrome?

VOC's

With what does air pollution vary?

Air pollution can vary with location, time of year, population, etc

When was air pollution becoming more noticeable? (In the historical sense)

Air pollution was becoming more noticeable beginning in The Industrial Revolution in the eighteenth century.

What is atmospheric inversion?

Atmospheric inversion is when warmer air is found above cooler air, and it poses a particular problem when there is a stagnant air mass

Methods for controlling particulates (preventing air pollution)

Building containment structures, putting plastic over the piles, or soiling.

What is global dimming?

Global Dimming is the process in which the process of gradual reduction in solar energy that reaches the surface of Earth due to particulate air pollution

Non-point sources are (easier/harder) to moniter

Harder

How are nitrogen oxides formed?

Nitrogen oxides are formed whenever nitrogen occurs in the presence of high temperature combustion

What advancement in pollution knowledge was made in the eighteenth century in relation to acid rain?

In the eighteenth century, it was found out that smog and acid rain damaged plants located in London

As far as Acid Rain, when was it primarily described?

In the seventeenth century

What are the two main classifications of air pollutants

Primary pollutants and Secondary Pollutants

After this event in Pennsylvania (1948), increased research on air pollution in the US occurred.

The, "Denora Event"

Other than the six criteria pollutants, what are other pollutants that cause problems called?

They are called "air toxics"

What are the six most common air pollutants in the 200 pollutants listed/known by the US EPA and the CAA?

They are called the criteria pollutants, and are responsible for most of our air pollution problems

How are Air Toxics commonly categorized?

They are commonly categorized by if they cause cancer or not.

Why are Air Quality Standards important?

They are important because they are tied to emission standards that attempt to control air pollution

How do healthier people and unhealthier people react to high levels of air pollution?

Typically those who have respiratory problems or respiratory systems developing, they will have increased troubles. On the other hand, people who are healthier, will acclimate to the pollution, and not have much trouble with it (as it is a physiological tolerance, which does not imply no health damage is occurring)