Air Pollutants Flashcards
ozone (tropospheric)
chemical symbol
causees
O3
- chemical reactions between pollutants emitted from vehicles, factories and other industrial sources, fossil fuels, combustion, consumer products, evaporation of paints, and many other sources
-Hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxide gases react in the presence of sunlight to form ozone
ozone (tropospheric)
concerns
solutions
Concerns
Health Risks: Tropospheric ozone can cause respiratory problems and other health issues (worsen bronchitis and emphysema, trigger asthma, and permanently damage lung tissue) because the O3 molecule can split into O2 and a free oxygen atom, which can damage living tissues.
- Air Quality: It is the pollutant that most frequently exceeds its national ambient air quality standard in the United States, contributes to smog and bad air quality
- acts as a strong greenhouse gas causes increased warming, impacts on evaporation rates, cloud formation, precipitation levels, and atmospheric circulation
Solutions
implementing methane control measures that will reduce amount of methane b/c methane is a precursor of tropospheric ozone
Nitrogen oxides
chemical formula
causes
NOx
- primarily gets in the air from the burning of fuel. NO2 forms from emissions from cars, trucks and buses, power plants, and off-road equipment.
nitrogen oxides
concerns
solutions
concerns
Health effects
- exposures over short periods can aggravate respiratory diseases
- Longer exposures may contribute to the development of asthma and may increase susceptibility to respiratory infections
Environmental effects
- NO2 and other NOx interact with water, oxygen and other chemicals in the atmosphere to form acid rain. Acid rain harms sensitive ecosystems such as lakes and forests.
- The nitrate particles that result from NOx make the air hazy and difficult to see though. This affects the many national parks that we visit for the view.
- NOx in the atmosphere contributes to nutrient pollution in coastal waters.
solutions
- switching to cleaner fuels
- improving combustion efficiency
- implementing advanced emission control technologies
- promoting sustainable transportation
- regulating industrial processes
- EPA’s national and regional rules
Sulfur Dioxides
chemical formula
causes
SO2
-burning of fossil fuels by power plants and other industrial farms (main)
-extracting metal from ore
-volcanoes
-locomotives
-ships
-other vehicles and heavy equipment that burn field with high sulfur content
sulfur dioxides
concerns
solutions
concerns
-harm human respiratory system and make breathing difficult
-formation of other sulfur oxides which can cause for small particles to penetrate deep into lungs and sufficient qualities can contribute to health problems
-harm trees and plants by damaging foliage and decreasing growth
-contribute to acid rain which can harm sensitive ecosystems
-create haze
solutions
-EPA’s national and regional rules to reduce emissions
-switching to low sulfur fuels like natural gas
-utilizing flue gas desulfurization to remove sulfur dioxide from power plant emissions
-implementing regulations to limit sulfur content in fuels
VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)
chemical formula
causes
chemical formulas
C2HCl3
MTBE
CHCl₃
causes
emitted as gases from different types of solids or liquids
paints and lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticide, correction fluids and carbonless copy paper, graphics and craft materials
VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)
concerns
solutions
concerns
eye, nose, and throat irritation
headaches and loss of coordination
nausea
damage to the liver, kidney, or central nervous system
formation of ground-level ozone
solutions
reduce use of VOC- containing products, improve ventilation, and use air purifiers
not really any solutions that are easily found so mostly just reducing usage
Carbon Dioxide
causes
- Natural sources of carbon dioxide include most animals, which exhale carbon dioxide as a waste product. Human activities that lead to carbon dioxide emissions come primarily from energy production, including burning coal, oil, or natural gas.
carbon dioxide
concerns
solutions
concerns
Health effects
- headaches and dizziness, shortness of breath, increased heart rate, loss of consciousness
Climate effects
- contributes to tipping the Greenhouse Gas effect out of balance, causing global warming
solutions
Using renewable and clean energy sources
Buying long-lasting products
Disrupted access to food
Shopping seasonally and locally
PM (Suspended Particulate Matter)
causes
complex reactions of chemicals such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides by power plants and industries
PM (Suspended Particulate Matter)
concerns
solutions
concerns
heart disease, asthma, and low birth weight. haze in communities.
solutions
ventilation, cleaning and dusting, using air purifiers, and actively trying to reduce particle generation, using proper cooking ventilation.
CFCs (Chlorofluoro-carbons)
chemical symbols
causes
chemical symbols
CCl4−m and C2ClmF6−m
causes
Released into the atmosphere since the 1930s in various applications such as in air-conditioning, refrigeration, blowing agents in foams, insulations and packing materials, propellants in aerosol cans, and as solvents
CFCs (Chlorofluoro-carbons)
concerns
solutions
concerns
cause significantly stratospheric ozone depletion and global warming relating to the greenhouse effect
solutions
To phase them out by using other chemicals instead, such as HFC’s and HCFCs
Methane
chemical symbols
causes
CH 4
causes
Resources include landfills, oil and natural gas systems, agricultural activities, coal mining, stationary and mobile combustion, wastewater treatment, and certain industrial processes
A result of various anthropogenic activities
methane
concerns
solutions
concerns
Climate warming effect - even small amounts can have a climate warming effect
Also acts as a precursor for the toxic air pollutant tropospheric ozone
Negative effects on human health
solutions
pre-mine degasification and recovery of methane during coal mining
Cutting methane from oil and gas production
Lead
chemical formula
causes
Pb
causes
Lead in fumes from metal smelting, battery manufacturing, and some factories became airborne and then mixed with soil → leads to contaminated soil
lead acid battery manufacturers are a source of emissions
Household dust is also a source of lead
lead
concerns
solutions
concerns
Health issues (eg. damage to brain)
Slowed growth and development
Contaminates soil so affects surrounding wildlife/plant growth
solutions
Keeping home clean
Practice safe mining techniques
Limiting disposal of waste into bodies of water
Lead acid batteries used in an enclosed area/not near soi
carbon monoxide
chemical formula
causes
CO
causes
Released into the atmosphere by the incomplete combustion of fuel by vehicles and engines.
carbon monoxide
concerns
solutions
concerns
Carbon monoxide poisoning brings about nausea, headaches, fatigue, heart and nervous system damage, and potentially death.
solutions
reduce the amount of vehicles we have, regulate carbon monoxide emitting processes
