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.