Air Quality CHAPTER 10-1

Question 1

Many European cities do not meet World Health Organization (WHO) air quality standard for at least one pollutant.

TRUE or FALSE?

Answer 1

TRUE

** In the U.S., about a quarter of the population lives in areas that do not meet U.S. air quality standards.

Question 2

Composition of Pure Air
(by weight)

Answer 2

Nitrogen [ 76% ]

Oxygen [ 23% ]

Argon [ 1% ]

Carbon Dioxide [ 0.03% ]

~there are a variety of other gases in lesser amounts
~water vapor

Question 3

Lethal Air Pollution Episodes in History:

Meuse Valley in Belgium

Answer 3

• 1930
  ~ 63 people dies in this industrial valley. As well as birds, cattle, etc.,

~ Pollutants were trapped beneath a dense fog cloud.

Question 4

Lethal Air Pollution Episodes in History:

Donora, Pennsylvania

Answer 4

• 1948
  ~Temperature inversion trapped industrial & domestic gases.

~Twenty people died, 6,000 became sick.

Question 5

Lethal Air Pollution Episodes in History:

London, England

Answer 5

• 1952

~12,000 people died.
~Caused by the condensation of water on sulfur dioxide.