Air Quality Terms and Definitions
Ozone
A colorless gas that is formed when pollutants react with sunlight and that is a major part of smog.
Carbon Dioxide
A colorless, odorless gas formed during breathing, combustion, and decaying that adds to the greenhouse effet.
chlorofluorocarbons
Chemicals used as coolants in refrigerators and air conditioners that can harm the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere and add to the greenhouse effect.
Fossil Fuels
Coal, oil, and natural gas formed from the remains of ancient plant and animal life.
Pollution
Impurities in the air, water and land that create an unclean enviornment.
Ambient Air
Outdoor Air
Particle Matter
Specks of solid or liquid matter, including dust, smoke, fumes, spray, and mist.
Photochemical Process
The chemical changes resulting in smog brought about by the energy of the sun acting on air pollutants.
Smoke
The gaseous products and small carbon particles resulting from incomplete combusion
Air Pollution
The soiling of the atmosphere by contaminants to the point that may injure health, property, plant or animal life, or prevent the use and enjoyment of the outdoors.
Atmosphere
The whole mass of air surrounding the Earth.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Containments that can help form ozone near the ground and can be harmful to health.
Nitrogen Oxides
Gases that form when nitrogen and oxygen in the atmosphere are burned with fossil fuels at high tempuratures.
Stratosphere
The layer of air that extends from about 10 to 30 miles above the earths surface.
Smog
The ground level haze resulting from the suns effect on air pollutants.