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APES > APES Unit 7 > Flashcards

APES Unit 7 Flashcards

Pollution

1
Q

The four major sources of emissions that contribute to air pollution

A

Natural, area, stationary, mobile

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2
Q

Clean Air Act 1970

A
  • Required EPA to develop and enforce regulations to protect citizens
  • Regulated especially the use of lead
  • Prevents an estimated 160,000 deaths p/y
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3
Q

6 pollutants that the Clean Air Act identified as threatening to humans

A

Nitrogen oxides, ground level ozone, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, lead, particulate matter (PM)

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4
Q

Nitrogen Oxides sources, effects, removal

A

Car and fuel combustion, forest fires, and lightning. Respiratory irritant, acid rain, smog. Removal through catalytic converters

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5
Q

Ground-level ozone (formation, effects, removal)

A

secondary pollutant formed by sunlight and water reacting with VOCS NOX and O2. Respiratory irritant, damages plants. Must reduce primary pollutants to remove

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6
Q

Nitrogen Oxides symbol

A

NO or NO2

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7
Q

Ground level ozone symbol

A

O3

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8
Q

Good Ozone (location and contents)

A

In the stratosphere, natural process, there is a depletion in this layer by CFCs which causes an increase in NO2 released

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9
Q

Bad Ozone (location and contents)

A

In troposphere, NOX and VOCS react with sunlight here, humans influence the process. There is an increase in sun cancer from harmful UV rays, destruction of marine life.

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10
Q

3 consequences of bad ozone

A

Respiratory problems, plant damage and greenhouse gas

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11
Q

Sulfur Dioxide (sources, effects and removal)

A

From the combustion of coal and oil, forest fires and volcanoes. Respiratory irritant, affects plant tissues. Forms acid rain and acid deposition which harms aquatic life. Reducing coal exhaust and using scrubbers help

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12
Q

Carbon Monoxide (how it forms, dangers, removal)

A

Formed during incomplete combustion of most matter through vehicle exhaust or other combustion. Especially dangerous indoors with poor ventilation, manure, charcoal, kerosene, can make it hard for people to breathe. Catalytic converters or cooking in ventilated areas

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13
Q

Sulfur Dioxide symbol

A

SO2

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14
Q

Carbon Monoxide symbol

A

CO

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15
Q

Lead (sources and side effects)

A

From old gasoline (1996 phased out) paint in older buildings, pipes. Toxic to the Central nervous system of living things

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16
Q

Particulate matter (PM) sources, effects, removal

A

Combustion of fossil fuels and biomass, road dust, volcanoes, dust storms, fires. Sunlight can be blocked preventing photosynthesis. Anything less than 10 is considered a respiratory irritant and can make lung conditions/asthma worse and lead to premature deaths. To remove: scrubbers, baghouse filters, gravitational settling

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17
Q

Which is worse for PM, gas or diesel?

A

diesel

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18
Q

PM 2.5

A

greatest health concern, usually more toxic

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19
Q

PM 10

A

too small to be filtered, health concern

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20
Q

PM 10+

A

Caught in nose and filtered out.

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21
Q

What does VOC stand for?

A

Volatile organic compounds

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22
Q

What are VOCs and removal

A

Organic chemicals with a high vapor pressure at room temp (plants) or hydrocarbons from building supplies in household products; things like benzene, toluene, formaldehyde. Range from very toxic to harmless. Using vapor recovery nozzles, lowering emissions, better ventilation and not using certain products all help

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23
Q

Sources of mercury, effects and removal

A

Coal, gold mining, oil, volcanoes, forest fires. Toxic to the CNS. Technologies to reduce PM also help reduce mercury

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24
Q

Mercury concentrations have increased in fish, what is this called?

A

Bioaccumulation

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25
Q

Primary pollutant (5) + sources

A

Comes from a source like a smokestack or an exhaust pipe. CO, NO, VOCs, PM, NH3

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26
Q

Secondary pollutant (6) + sources

A

Undergone transformation that occurs in the daytime in wet conditions. Ozone, SO3, H2SO4, H2O2, HNO3, PANS

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27
Q

There are two main categories of smog what are they?

A

Industrial and photochemical smog

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28
Q

Industrial smog examples

A

sulfurous smog, gray smog, london fog, winter fog pea soup smog

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29
Q

How does industrial smog form?

A

Caused by SO2 and particulates reacting with water vapor, the biggest cause is coal.

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30
Q

Photochemical smog examples

A

brown smog, yellow smog, LA smog, summer smog

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31
Q

How does photochemical smog form?

A

Caused by VOCs and NOx reacting wtih water. Biggest contributor is cars, Dry, wamr conditions.

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32
Q

All scents are from…

A

VOCs

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33
Q

Formation of photochemical smog

A

NOXs and VOCs react with heat and sunlight after being emitted into the air. This forms ozone and other chemical oxidants like PANS.

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34
Q

Photochemical oxidants like PANS can enhance…

A

the formation of particulates which scatter light, smoke and fog

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35
Q

Photochemical oxidants definition, negative effects, removal

A

reactive compounds that remove electrons from other substances. PANS, ozone, aldehydes. Can be harmful to plant tissues, are bad for the respiratory system, can cause eye problems and damage to construction materials. Must reduce primary pollutants to “remove”

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36
Q

PANS =

A

peroxyacetyl nitrates

37
Q

How does the time of day affect the formation of photochemical smog? (NOX and Ozone)

A

NOXs are highest early in the day, ozone mid day.

38
Q

Harmful physiological effects of toxic smog

A

stroke, depression, asthma, cancer, burning, eye irritation etc.

39
Q

Ways to reduce photochemical smog

A
  • Reduce production of anthropogenic VOCs and NOX
  • Take care of cars
  • Improve gas mileage
  • Fuel up during cooler hours of the day
  • Avoid using gas, use electric instead
40
Q

What does temperature do in the troposphere?

A

Temperature decreases because pressure decreases

41
Q

Thermal inversion is when…

A

there is a layer of warm air above a layer of cold air, trapping it. Pollutants then also get trapped.

42
Q

Where does thermal inversion most commonly occur?

A

in valleys

43
Q

What situations lead to thermal inversion?

A

Valleys, warm fronts/high pressure, areas of oceanic upwelling, radiation.

44
Q

Can thermal inversion happen on water?

A

No, typically they happen on land, oceans retain heat

45
Q

Natural sources of CO2 + percentages

A

Ocean atmospheric exchange (40) plant and animal respiration (30) soil respiration and decomposition (30) volcanic eruptions (0.03)

46
Q

Natural sources of particulate matter

A

pollen, sea salt, dust, secondary sulfates, volcanic ash, black carbon from wildfires

47
Q

The 3 sources of indoor pollutants

A

Natural, anthropogenic, combustion

48
Q

Examples of natural indoor pollutants

A

radon, mold, dust

49
Q

Examples of anthropogenic indoor pollutants

A

insulation, lead paint, VOCs

50
Q

Examples of combustion indoor pollutants

A

carbon monoxide, NOx, SO2, PM, tobacco smoke

51
Q

Unidentified illnesses with unspecified causes often affecting office workers may be a result of…

A

sick building syndrome

52
Q

What is radon? What are its side effects?

A

Radon-222 is naturally occuring radiactive gas that is produced by the decay of uranium found in rocks and soils. It is the #2 cause of lung cancer

53
Q

How does radon infiltrate homes?

A

Moves up through the soil into homes through cracks in the basement, dissolves into groundwater that enters homes through the well.

54
Q

Recommended EPA action level for radon

A

4.0

55
Q

Air pollution in developing countries

A

indoor burning of woods, charcoal, dung, crop residues, coal. The poor suffer the greatest risk based on location and the inability to escape

56
Q

Air pollution in developed countries

A

indoor air pollution is a bigger problem than in developing countries, common air pollutants are higher inside, 90% of the time indoors.

57
Q

Carbon dioxide (CO2), effects, and how it is removed

A

Part of the carbon cycle so at normal levels is safe. A greenhouse gas so when concentration increases, acts as a blanket over Earth as it absorbs infrared rays. Removed by carbon capture and sequestration as well as reforestation

58
Q

Photochemical oxidants examples (2)

A

ozone, PANS

59
Q

Nitric acid (formation, effects, removal)

A

formed when NOx reacts with water vapor and oxygen. Leads to acid rain and deposition. Lowers the natural acidity of rain, lowers the pH of lakes and soil. Must reduce primary pollutants to “remove”

60
Q

Nitric acid symbol

A

HNO3

61
Q

What are hydrocarbons? Effects and removal

A

CH4 and gasoline, combustion releases CO2, harmful if swallowed. Using vapor recovery nozzles help prevent emissions.

62
Q

Mold (formation, effects, removal)

A

Forms in humid, warm conditions. Can cause allergy symptoms to people who are sensitive, controlling humidity levels and fixing leaks all helps

63
Q

Asbestos (formation, effects, removal)

A

Long, fibrous silicate material with insulate properties. Can cause lung cancer and respiratory diseases. No longer used in new houses, removal form old houses helps

64
Q

Sulfuric acid (formation, effects, removal)

A

sulfur dioxide that causes acid deposition from coal burning plants. Formed when SO2 reacts with water vapor and oxygen. Leads to acid rain and like nitric acid can lower the acidity of rain and the pH of soil and lakes. Can be “removed” through the reduction of primary pollutants

65
Q

Methods to reduce air pollutants (3)

A

Regulatory practices, conservation, alternative

66
Q

Vapor recovery nozzle

A

prevents fumes from escaping into the atmosphere when fueling a motor vehicle

67
Q

Catalytic converters

A

Made in 1975, used for internal combustion engines that convert pollutants in exhaust into less harmful molecules. Hydrocarbons CO, NO into H2O, N2 and CO2

68
Q

Scrubbers

A

remove particulates and or gases from industrial exhaust streams

69
Q

There are 2 types of scrubbers…

A

wet and dry

70
Q

Wet scrubbers

A

Introduce water to dirty gas stream, particulates or gases are collected, most appropriate device to use to pick up particulates and gas

71
Q

Dry scrubbers

A

dry reagents are sprayed into the exhaust stream, pollutants are neutralized or react and turn into a different substance. That substance falls out of the gas stream and is caught in a particulate screen

72
Q

Coal burning power plants use scrubbers… (2)

A

Electrostatic precipitators and desulfurization

73
Q

Electrostatic precipitators

A

dirt particles gain negative charge from one wire and a positive charge from another for collection and diposal

74
Q

Desulfurization

A

reduce SO2 emissions, burn coal near CaCO2 (calcium carbonate to produce sheetrock.

75
Q

Solutions for air pollution

A
  • energy efficient power generation and building
  • improve waste management
  • greener more compact cities
  • safe, affordable public transit
76
Q

Examples of areas where local control measures for air pollution have been implemented

A
  • dry cleaning fluids
  • gas stations
  • lighter fluid
  • wood burning stores
  • transportation
77
Q

Wet deposition of acid

A

rain, snow, fog

78
Q

Dry deposition of acid

A

aerosol particles and gases

79
Q

Sources of acid deposition

A

both natural and anthropogenic, both nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides

80
Q

Nitrogen oxides natural + anthropogenic

A

Lightning & microbes. Motor vehicles, coal burning power plants

81
Q

Sulfur oxides natural + anthropogenic

A

volcanoes. coal burning power plants

82
Q

Nitrogen oxides (3)

A

NO, NO2, N2O

83
Q

Sulfur oxides (2)

A

SO2, SO

84
Q

Harmful impacts of acid deposition

A

communities downwind are at the most risk, soil and water acidification, corrosion of man-made structures

85
Q

What can neutralize acid?

A

limestone through its “buffering” ability.

86
Q

Sound at high enough levels can cause…

A

physiological stress and hearing loss

87
Q

Sources of noise pollution

A

domestic/industrial activity, transportation, construction

88
Q

Effects of noise pollution on children & adults

A

hearing loss, hormone imbalance, stress, anxiety, impaired hearing, etc.

89
Q

Effects of noise pollution on other organisms

A

stress, masking of sounds used to communicate/hunt, damaged hearing, changes to migratory route. Marine animals are especially effected.

APES (1 decks)

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