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Environmental Engineering > Air Pollution > Flashcards

Air Pollution Flashcards

0
Q

NAAQS has standards for 6 “criteria pollutants”

A
  • Primary standards

* Secondary standards

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1
Q

Clean Air Act

A

EPA establishes National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS)

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2
Q

Primary standards for Clean Air Act

A

Set to levels to protect human health

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3
Q

Secondary standards for Clean Air Act

A

Set to protect environmental property damage

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4
Q

Regulated air pollutants

A
  • Carbon Monoxide (CO)
  • Nitrogen Oxides
  • Ozone
  • Sulfur Oxides (SOx)
  • Particulate Matter (PM)
  • Lead
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5
Q

Carbon Monoxide (CO) (primary pollutant) produced by…

A

incomplete combustion of carbon

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6
Q

Major source of Carbon Monoxide

A

Motor vehicle exhausts

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7
Q

Health effects on humans of Carbon Monoxide

A
  • binds to hemoglobin
  • forming carboxyhemoglobin (COHb)
  • reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of blood
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8
Q

CO sources

A

1) on-road vehicles: 56%
2) non-road vehicles and engines: 22%
3) miscellaneous: 12%
4) fuel combustion: 6%
5) industrial processes: 4%

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9
Q

How many Oxides of Nitrogen are there?

A

7

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10
Q

2 important air pollutants of nitrogen oxides (primary pollutant)

A

1) NO: nitric oxide

2) NO2: nitrogen dioxide

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11
Q

Health effects of NO

A
  • NO2 irritates lungs

* promotes respiratory infections

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12
Q

Environmental effects of NO

A
  • Acid deposition (rain)

* Formation of photochemical smog

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13
Q

Acid rain

A
  • NO2 results in the formation of nitric acid

* causing acidification of lakes (drops pH of water) & eutrophication

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14
Q

Formation of photochemical smog

A

Sunlight + NOx + hydrocarbons –> photochemical smog (e.g ozone)

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15
Q

NO sources

A

1) motor vehicles: 55%
2) utilities: 22%
3) industrial/ commercial/ residential: 22%
4) all other: 1%

16
Q

Ozone know as…

A

“Secondary pollutant”

17
Q

Tropospheric (ground level ozone)

A
  • air pollutant

* harmful to humans/ vegetation

18
Q

Stratospheric ozone

A
  • beneficial to humans

* protection from harmful UV radiation

19
Q

Primary pollutant

A

Directly emitted into the atmosphere

20
Q

Secondary pollutant

A

Created by reactants in the atmosphere

21
Q

Health effects of ozone

A
  • increased incidents of respiratory distress

* symptoms: chest pain & coughing

22
Q

Environmental effects of ozone

A
  • reduction in agricultural yields, forest yields

* increased plant susceptibility to disease, pests etc.

23
Q

Sulfur Oxides (SOx)

A
  • all fossil fuels contain sulfur

* during combustion, SO2 is released

24
Q

Health effects of sulfuric oxides

A

Temporary breathing impairment

25
Q

Environmental effects of sulfuric oxides

A

Acid deposition: SOx reacts with H2O to form sulfuric acid

26
Q

Sources of sulfuric oxides

A

~86% fossil fuel combustion: mostly coal-fired power plants

~5% highway vehicles

27
Q

Particulate Matter (PM)

A
  • consists of small particles & liquid droplets
  • also called “aerosols”
  • may include: soil, smoke, dust, acids, organic chemicals
28
Q

2 classifications of PM

A

1) PM 10

2) PM 2.5

29
Q

PM 10

A
  • course particles

* 2.5 μm- 10 μm in diameter

30
Q

PM 2.5

A
  • fine particles

* 2.5μm and smaller

31
Q

Health effects of particulate matter

A
  • potential for heart & lung disease

* primarily 2.5

32
Q

Environmental effects of particulate matter

A
  • decreased visibility

* damage to buildings e.g paint

33
Q

Lead

A
  • historically motor vehicles were important

* as lead gasoline was phased out, emissions have decreased

34
Q

Lead health effects

A
  • accumulates in the blood, bones & soft tissues
  • adversely affects the kidneys, liver & other organs
  • may cause neurological impairments e.g seizures, mental retardation & behavioral disorders
  • may be a factor in high BP & heart disease

Environmental Engineering (11 decks)

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