air pollutant bingo lab

Question 1

chlorofluorocarbons

Answer 1

• CFCs
• used in cleaning products, refrigerants, propellants (hair spray, paint)
• depletes stratospheric ozone
• solutions: Montreal Protocol, reduce use of items with cfcs

Question 2

carbon dioxide

Answer 2

• CO2
• emitted from car/truck exhaust, forest fires, volcanic eruptions, coal-burning powerplants
• increases greenhouse effect, produces smog
• solutions: decrease auto & powerplant emissions, use non-emitting power sources

Question 3

greenhouse gases

Answer 3

• CO2, CH4, H2O, O3, CFCs, N2O
• emitted through combustion (burning) of fossil fuels
• traps heat in atmosphere, leads to climate change/global warming
• solutions: Kyoto Treaty, Paris Accords, decrease fossil fuel use

Question 4

sulphuric acid

Answer 4

• H2SO2
• used in fertiliser production
• increases acidity of rivers/streams, corrosive
• solutions: stronger water quality standards & enforcement

Question 5

coal

Answer 5

• composed mostly of carbon
• mined (mountain-top), burned in powerplants
• increase CO2 production, sulphur is released during the mining process
• solutions: decrease dependence on coal, stronger mining regulations, invest in renewable energies

Question 6

mercury

Answer 6

• Hg
• emitted by combustion of fossil fuels
• contaminates the food chain (bioaccumulates & biomagnifies)
• solutions: reduce fossil fuel use, invest in renewable energies

Question 7

mercurous nitrates

Answer 7

• HgNOx
• used in the garment industry, used to make detonators for war
• may cause respiratory & gastrointestinal disorders in humans
• solutions: stronger regulations (ban them everywhere)

Question 8

nitrous oxide

Answer 8

• N2O
• used in fertiliser for agricultural fields & livestock manure, used in aerosols
• traps heat in atmosphere (ghg), leads to climate change/global warming
• solutions: sustainable agricultural practices, lower amount of livestock

Question 9

nitrogen dioxide

Answer 9

• NO2
• emitted by combustion of fossil fuels, cars, and burning coal
• acts as a respiratory irritant, aggravates asthma, creates acid rain & smog
• solutions: stronger regulations on air quality standards

Question 10

nitrogen oxides

Answer 10

• NOx
• emitted from burning fossil fuels & cigarettes
• forms smog and acid rain, acts as respiratory irritant
• solutions: stronger regulations

Question 11

ozone (troposphere)

Answer 11

• O3
• created from chemical reactions between NOx and VOCs in the presence of sunlight
• acts as a respiratory irritant, aggravates asthma, harmful to vegetation
• solutions: uphold & strengthen ozone standards in the Clean Air Act

Question 12

photochemical smog

Answer 12

• O3, PAN
• secondary pollutants formed in the presence of sunlight -> form photochemical smog
• solutions: uphold & strengthen ozone standards in the Clean Air Act

Question 13

lead

Answer 13

• Pb
• emitted from leaded fuel & metal refineries
• causes brain & kidney damage, contaminates crops
• solutions: ban leaded gas, decrease usage

Question 14

radon-222

Answer 14

• Rn-222
• emitted by natural decay of uranium in underground granite
• causes cancer
• solutions: test areas for radon, seal buildings to prevent leakage

Question 15

sulphur dioxide

Answer 15

• SO2
• emitted from coal-burning powerplants, refineries, and volcanic eruptions
• causes lung damage, forms acid rain, causes eye irritation
• solution: decrease coal usage, recycle metals (less use for refineries)

Question 16

methane

Answer 16

• CH4
• emitted by fracking, increasing global appetite for beef, landfill decomposition
• traps heat in atmosphere (ghg), leads to climate change/global warming
• solutions: regulations (bans) on fracking, decreased beef consumption, lanffill vent & capture systems

Question 17

uranium

Answer 17

• U
• emitted by fuel in nuclear powerplants
• acts as radioactive waste (for which there is no permanent storage plan), creates H2O vapour (which is a ghg)
• solutions: create permanent waste storage facilities, decrease usage of nuclear power

Question 18

primary pollutants for O3 depletion (stratosphere)

Answer 18

• SO2, CO, Pb, CFCs (!)
• depletion of O3 leads to increased levels of sunburn & skin cancer
• solutions: decrease auto emissions and leaded cas, Montreal Protocol

Question 19

sulphur trioxide

Answer 19

• SO3
• emitted by the production of H2SO4 and explosives
• affects respiratory tract, potential carcinogen
• solutions: regulations and air quality standards (NAAQs)

Question 20

addressed by Clean Air Act

Answer 20

• SO2, NOx, CO, O3, Pb, PM (particulate matter)
• solutions: CAA set standards for ambient air quality & limits for pollutants (NAAQs)

Question 21

required for photochemical smog formation

Answer 21

• UV, VOCs, NO2
• VOCs and NO2 are emitted from automobile exhaust
• UV rays (sunlight) react with VOCs and NO2 to create photochemical smog
• irritates lungs and eyes
• solutions: reduce auto emissions

Question 22

catalytic converter

Answer 22

used to reduce emissions in cars

Question 23

decreased plankton

Answer 23

results from stratospheric O3 depletion & ocean acidification

Question 24

depleted soil fertility

Answer 24

results from acid deposition

Question 25

electrostatic precipitators

Answer 25

removes industrial particulate matter through use of charged particles

Question 26

industry

Answer 26

primary producer of grey smog
(e.g. Beijing, China)

Question 27

wet scrubber

Answer 27

used to remove Cl, NOx, SOx, and PM

Question 28

smoke

Answer 28

combines with fog to produce smog

Question 29

pipes

Answer 29

source of Pb in order homes (water pipes/plumbing)
(e.g. Flint, Michigan)