Unit 6 APES

Ozone

"Good up high, bad nearby,"

Clean Air Act

(CAA, 1970) set emission standards for cars and limits for release of air pollutants; sets standards for these pollutants called the National Ambient Air Quality Standards

Which of the following values of ozone concentration in parts per million would indicate good air quality?

0.060

Which of the following reactions show the formation of a secondary pollutant?

2 NO + O2 → 2 NO2

Secondary Pollutants include...

2NO + O2 → 2NO2 NO2 + UV light → NO + O and then O + O2 → O3 Volatile Organic Compounds Peroxyacyl Nitrates General reaction: UV light + hydrocarbons or VOCs + O2 + NO2 → PANs

Lisa is feeling a little ill from some indoor air pollutants. Her symptoms include dizziness, nausea, weakness, and headaches. Which of the following could be the reason for this?

A heating system is releasing carbon monoxide in the home.

Asbestos

A mineral used for insulation in homes and businesses; if disturbed, particulate matter can be released into the air lung cancer mesothelioma asbestosis disruption of respiratory system

In which of the following would you most likely find formaldehyde?

A pressed wood table

Which of the following would not be responsible for monitoring air quality under the Clean Air Act?

An individual homeowner

CO2 can be caused by...

Respiration, Decomposition, and Volcanic Eruptions

Which of the following reactions show the formation of a primary pollutant?

S + O2 → SO2

Which of the following is a type of technology that is widespread and can be used at a coal-burning power plant to remove both particulate matter and gases?

Scrubber

Which of the following is the best technique to deal with exposed and deteriorating asbestos in a home?

Seal the asbestos in the wall

Which of the following radon reduction systems could best be installed in a home with a crawl space beneath it?

Sub-membrane suction

Two cities have smokestacks on their power plants. Which city's weather condition would you expect to have increased air pollution dispersal?

The city with a higher wind speed

Two cities have smokestacks on their plants. Which of the following weather conditions would you expect to create an increase in air pollution dispersal for one of the cities?

The city with a lower temperature

Which of the following would be considered a natural source of particulate matter?

Volcanic eruptions

Formaldehyde

a colorless, pungent gas that is used in building materials and dry cleaning (for permanent press) and is a byproduct of combustion watery eyes burning sensations in eyes and throat nausea difficulty breathing asthma attacks potentially cancer causing

sick building syndrome

a condition in which the majority of a building's occupants experience certain symptoms that vary with the amount of time spent in the building, without being able to identify a specified cause or illness

Radon-222 is

a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is produced by the decay of uranium found in some rocks and soils.

Near a warm front or ocean upwelling, a warm air mass can move over a cool air mass, which produces

a thermal inversion

Common combustion air pollutants include

carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, particulates, and tobacco smoke.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrocarbons such as methane (CH4)

causes eye, nose, and throat irritation and headaches

Primary pollutants

come directly from the source and are in the same form.

building-related illness

condition in which the occupants or residents of a building become acutely sick with a diagnosable illness attributed to indoor air pollutants in the building

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

contributes to global climate change

Environmental indicators of acid deposition include the following:

decreased pH levels in lakes, rivers, or other bodies of water increased concentrations of metals, such as aluminum increased levels of sulfates and nitrates changes in the development or population size of "indicator organisms," usually those at the bottom of a food chain

Stationary sources of pollutants

factories, including power plants, chemical plants, oil refineries, and commercial facilities.

Electrostatic precipitators

filters that apply charges to particles in the air, then attract those charges to a filter, removing them from the airstream

Ozone is the product of...

gases (NOx) from emissions from cars, power plants, chemical plants, and other industrial facilities mixing with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) under the influence of heat and sunlight. These emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and VOCs react with heat and sunlight to form ozone.

Pesticides

includes insecticides, termiticides, rodenticides, fungicides, and disinfectants sold as sprays, liquids, sticks, powders crystals, balls, and foggers similar to health effects of household products highly dependent on specific chemical composition

Radon gas can

infiltrate homes as it moves up through the soil and enters homes via the basement or cracks in the walls or foundation. It is also dissolved in groundwater that enters homes through a well.

Common human-made indoor air pollutants include

insulation, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from furniture, paneling and carpets; formaldehyde from building materials, furniture, upholstery, and carpeting; and lead from paints.

Nitrogen oxides (NOx)

irritate the lungs

Suspended particulates, fine-sized particles, (soot)

irritate the lungs

A catalytic converter

is an air pollution control device for internal combustion engines that converts pollutants (CO, NOx, and hydrocarbons) in exhaust into less harmful molecules (CO2, N2, O2, and H2O).

Smokestack

large, tall chimney through which combustion gases and smoke are released

Relying on biomass energy for fuel can cause...

lower respiratory infections in children under five and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer in adults

Indoor air pollutants can come from

natural sources, human-made sources, and combustion.

Episodic acidification

occurs over a short period of time

Chronic acidification

occurs over the long term and depletes an ecosystem of calcium, potassium, and magnesium.

Carbon monoxide (CO)

prevents oxygen from being transported in the body

Common natural source indoor air pollutants include

radon, mold, and dust.

Exposure to radon gas can lead to

radon-induced lung cancer, which is the second leading cause of lung cancer in America.

Methods to reduce air pollutants include

regulatory practices, conservation practices, and alternative fuels.

Methods to reduce air pollution from coal-burning power plants include

scrubbers and electrostatic precipitators.

Environmental factors that affect photochemical smog formation include:

solar ultraviolet radiation high temperatures winds

There are a number of respiratory effects of having too much ozone in the troposphere:

tightness in the chest reduced lung function damage to cells in the lung increased susceptibility to lung infection aggravation of asthma

Mobile sources of pollutants

transportation such as cars, trucks, and planes

Acid deposition

wet deposition (rain, snow, or fog) or dry deposition (particulate matter or gas) with a pH of less than 5

Which of the following indoor pollutants cannot be detected by smell and requires technical assistance to detect?

Radon

Primary Pollutants include...

C + O2 → CO2 2C + O2 → 2CO S + O2 → SO2 N2 + O2 → 2NO

Particulate matter

Complex type of air pollution, consisting of small solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in the atmosphere, with variable size generally measured in microns Both primary and secondary pollutant

There are three primary ecological effects of acid deposition in different ecosystems:

Depletion of base levels of nutrients in an ecosystem Release of aluminum into the ecosystem Nitrogen saturation and eutrophication in an ecosystem

Which of the following would not be a natural source of particulate matter?

Fossil fuel combustion

The Clean Air Act regulates pollutants from which of the following? I. Cars II. Factories III. House chimneys

I and II only

Which of the following pollutants are most likely the result of a malfunctioning chimney? I. Carbon monoxide II. Nitrogen dioxide III. Particulate matter

I, II, and III

Biological Contaminants

Includes anything living or associated with life, including bacteria, mold, mildew, pollen, dust mites, rats, mice, cat and dog saliva and dander, and cockroaches, and associated feces allergic reactions asthma sneezing watery eyes coughing shortness of breath dizziness lethargy fever digestive problems

Household Chemicals

Includes cleaning, disinfecting, degreasing, and hobby products; dust particles can become airborne during cleaning eye irritation respiratory tract irritation memory impairment

Environmental Tobacco Smoke

Includes smoke from cigarettes, tobacco, or pipes, and the exhaled smoke from the smoker (often called secondhand smoke), all resulting in the release of particulate matter eye, nose, and throat irritation aggravation of asthma symptoms in children reduced lung function lung cancer lower respiratory tract infections

Heating Systems

Includes stoves, heaters, fireplaces, and chimneys that release carbon monoxide (an asphyxiant), nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter Carbon monoxide (CO) headaches dizziness weakness nausea confusion and disorientation unconsciousness death Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) irritation to mucous membranes in eye, nose, and throat shortness of breath respiratory infections lung disease

Lead

Lead exists naturally in the environment and can enter the water supply as natural deposits erode or as older plumbing corrodes. It can also be in the air of homes as particulates or dust from old construction and paint products or soil containing lead. can delay physical and mental development in children, and it can also cause kidney problems and high blood pressure.

Which of the following is a secondary pollutant?

Ozone

Wet and dry scrubbers are

air pollution control devices that remove particulates and/or gases from industrial exhaust streams.

A vapor recovery nozzle is

an air pollution control device on a gasoline pump that prevents fumes from escaping into the atmosphere when fueling a motor vehicle.

Carbon monoxide is

an indoor air pollutant that is classified as an asphyxiant.

benthic macroinvertebrates

animals that lack backbones, are large enough to be seen unaided, and live in or on top of substrate

Indoor air pollutants that are classified as particulates include

asbestos, dust, and smoke.

Secondary pollutants

begin as primary pollutants and change in a chemical reaction in the atmosphere.

Sulfur oxides (SOx)

can form harmful particulates