*Air Pollution Flashcards
Define air pollution
Any substance introduced into the atmosphere that has damaging effects on living things and the environment
What are some sources of air pollution?
Vehicle emissions
Industrial emissions
Smoke and burning
Air pollution is the most important environmental health risk of our time, true or false?
True
Air pollution cause 1 in 7 deaths, true or false?
False, 1 in 9
What are the five types of air pollution?
Industrial smog
Sulphureous smog
Photochemical smog
Criteria pollutants
Inside home/workplace pollution
What is IAQ?
Indoor Air Quality
What are primary pollutants?
Substances emitted directly into the atmosphere
What are secondary pollutants?
Substances that are already in the atmosphere that react with sunlight
What are 4 causes of incomplete combustion?
- Combustion temp not high enough
- O2 supply limited
- Fuel
- Not enough time to burn completely
What does incomplete combustion cause?
Carbon monoxide
Sulphur oxides
Nitrogen oxides
Fly ash
Unburned hydrocarbons
What contributes to industrial and sulphureous smog?
Combustion of real
hydrocarbons like gas and diesel
What does VOC stand for and how is it created?
Volatile Organic Compound
Cause by HC evapouration
What is “good ozone”?
Stratospheric ozone, helps protect from UV rays
What are the 7 criteria pollutants?
Sulphur Oxides (SOx)
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Particulate Matter (PM)
Ammonia ( NH3)
Ground-Level Ozone (O3)
What is known as the “silent killer” and why?
Carbon monoxide, it reduces your bodies ability to carry oxygen in your blood and cause you to asphyxiate
What is the biggest contributor to NOx in the environment?
Transportation and mobile equipment
95% of NOx is in what form?
NO (Nitrogen Oxide)
What does SOx cause?
Acid rain
Respiratory Impacts
What is the biggest contributor to Sox in the environment?
Oil and gas industry
What is the biggest contributor to VOCs in the environment?
Oil and gas industry
Ozone inhibitors can be built into your tires, true or false?
True
What is the biggest contributor to PM in the environment?
Home firewood burning
Ozone directly damages plants, true or false?
True
Ozone is a primary pollutant, true or false?
False, it is a secondary pollutant
What is lapse rate?
The lapse in temp with altitude
What is positive lapse rate?
Temp decreases with height
What is negative lapse rate?
Temp increases with height
Describe unstable conditions
Vertical movement of air parcel is upward or downward
Describe stable conditions
Vertical movement of air parcel is discouraged
Describe neutral stability
Vertical movement of air is neither encouraged nor supported
What is the difference between dry adiabatic lapse rate and environmental lapse rate?
Dry adiabatic lapse rate is the ideal condition while environmental lapse rate is actual temp versus altitude
