Chapter 14: Environment Flashcards
air pollution
ontamination of the air that interferes w/ comfort, safety, & health of living organisms
What are teh 3 major sources of air pollution?
transportation, electric power plants, & industry
What is the difference between primary and secondary pollutants?
primary: emanding directly from transportation, power+industrial plants, & refineries
secondary:air pollutant formed when primary air pollutants react w/ sunlight & atmospheric components to form new substances
What is the difference between photochemical smog and industrial smog?
photochemical smog = haze/fog formed when air pollutants react w/ sunlight aka brown smog
industrial smog (haze/fog formed primarily by sulfur dioxide & suspended particles from burning of coal, aka gray smog)
What is the most dangerous air pollutants?
ozone
Where is ozone found?
in stratosphere but also found at ground level
What is ozone
inorganic molecule considered a pollutant in atmosphere bc it harms human tissue, but considered beneficial in stratosphere bc it screens out uv rays
How does ozone impact human health?
chest pain, coughing, throat irritation, congestion, bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, reduced lung function, & permanent scar tissue
What is thermal inversion?
caused ground level ozone;
a condition that occurs when warm air traps cool air at surface of the earth
What is the clean air act?
the fed. law that provides the gov. w/ authority to address interstate air pollution
what are examples of amendments made during the clean air act?
emission standards for automobiles, emission standards for new industries, & ambient air quality standards for urban areas
What is the environmental protection agency?
the fed. agency primarily responsible for setting maintaining, & enforcing environmental standards/authorizing & overseeing state agencies that enforce established standards- gives state power to punish violators & implement programs
What are criteria pollutants?
most pervasive air pollutants & those of greatest concern in u.s
What are designated pollutants?
sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, ground lvl ozone, respirable particulate matter, & lead
What is the air quality index?
an index that indicates the lvl of pollution in the air & associated health risk ; calculated by epa and metioned on weather channels
What are greenhouse gases?
atmospheric gases, principally carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, ozone, methane, water vapor, & nitrous oxide, that are transparent nto visible light but absorb infrared radiation
What do greenhouses gases do that contribute to global warming?
reduces heat retention; trap excessive amounts of heat
What are the major sources of air pollution?
building+insulation materials, biogenic pollutants, combustion by-products, home furnishing+cleaning agents, radon gas, & tobacco smoke
What are asbetos?
a naturally occurring mineral fiber identified as a class a carcinogen by epa
Where do you find asbetos today?
used in older buildings to insulate pipes, walls+ceilings, component of floor+ceiling tiles, sprayed in structures for fireproofing; major release after 9/11
What are biogenic pollutants?
airborne biological organisms/their particles/gases/other toxic materials that can produce illness
How do you reduce biogenic pollutants?
remove standing water & wet/water-damaged materials
What are combustion by-product?
gases & particulates generated by burning
What do combustion by-product include?
carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide
What are major sources of combustion by-product?
fireplaces, wood stoves, kerosene heaters, candle, incense, secondhand tobacco smoke, & improperly maintained gas stoves & furnaces
What are volatile organic compounds?
compound that exists as vapor over the normal range of air pressures & temperatures
Where are volatile organic compounds found?
onstruction materials (paint+insulation), structural components (vinyl tile+sheet rock), furnishings (drapes+upholstery fabric), cleansers & solvents (liquid detergent+furniture polish), personal care products (deodorant+eyeliner pencil), insecticides/pesticides, electrical equipment (computers), & combustion of wood+kerosine
What is formaldehyde?
water-soluble gas used in aqueous solutions in hundreds of consumer products
Where can you find formaldehyde?
grocery bags, wallpaper, carpet, insulation, wall paneling, wallboard, wood products (plywood+particle board); also a carcinogen
What is radon and where do you find it?
radioactive gas; seeps into a home from surrounding soils, rocks and water
How does radon affect somebody’s health?
1 cause for cancer for nonsmokers
Where do you find mold?
fungi that thrive in warm, damp and humid conditions. damp surfaces
How can you prevent mold from getting in your home?
emoving damp/wet furnishing/building materials, preventing condensation, maintaining indoor humidity between 30%-60%, venting damp air out of home, using air conditioners, dehumidifiers, & bathroom exhaust fans to control moisture
What is environmental tobacco smoke/ second hand smoke?
bacco smoke in the environment that is a mixture of mainstream & sidestream smoke that can be inhaled by nearby/transient nonsmokers
What is mainstream smoke?
tobacco smoke inhaled & exhaled by the smoker
What is sidestream smoking?
tobacco smoke that comes off the end of burning tobacco product
What is passive smoking?
inhalation of ets by nonsmokers
What is sickbuilding syndrome?
= a situation in which the air quality in a building produces generalized signs & symptoms of ill health in building’s occupants; proper indoor air control limits are not implemented
What are sources of water?
surface/ groundwater
What is surface water?
precipitation that does not infiltrate the ground/return to atmosphere by evaporation; the water in streams, rivers, & lakes
What is ground water?
water located under the surface of the ground
What is point source water pollution?
pollution that can be traced to a single identifiable source
What are aquafers?
water saturated layers of bedrock
What is a nonpoint source?
all pollution that occurs through runoff, seepage, or falling of pollutants into the water where the source is difficult/impossible to identify; cannot be controlled
What
What are biological water pollutants?
pathogens (parasites, bacteria, viruses, & other undesirable living miroorgs.)
What are non biological pollutants?
heat, inorg. chem. (lead, copper, & arsenic), org. chem., & radioactive contaminants; include endocrine-disrupting chem. & pharmaceuticals+personal care products
What are endocrine-disrupting chem?
chem. that interferes in some way w/ the body’s endocrine system
What are pharmaceuticals + personal care products?
synthetic chem. found in everyday consumer health care products & cosmetics; harm human and aquatic life and contribut to resistance to antibiotics
What is a waterborne disease outbreaks?
a disease in which at least 2 ppl. experience a similar illness after the ingestion of drinking water/after exposure to water used for recreational purposes & epidemiological evidence implicates water as the probable source of illness
What is quality deterioration of water attributed to?
pop. growth, agriculture/manufacturing activities, land use practices, mismanagement of hazardous materials, deteriorating treatment & distribution infrastructure
How can we ensure quality of water?
treat surface water, fluoridation, use of septic tanks in unsewered areas,
How are waters treated?
by removing solid (via coagulation, flocculation, & filtration), then disinfection (chlorine/sodium hypochlorite/ozone/other disinfectant added to kill viruses, bacteria, algae, + function), then fluoride added after
What is the clean water act?
the fed. law aimed @ ensuring that all rivers are swimmable & fishable, & that limits the discharge of pollutants in U.S waters to zero
What is the goal of the clean water act?
restore & maintain chem., phys., & bio integrity of waters in u.s so that they can support the protection & propagation of fish, shellfish, & wildlife & recreation in & on the water
What classifies as a foodborne disease outbreak?
the occurrence of 2+ cases of a similar illness resulting from the ingestion of food
What are the leading factors of a foodborne disease outbreak?
inadequate cooking temps/inproper holding temps, unsanitary conditions/practices, & drinking raw milk
What are some universal signs and symptoms of food borne disease?
nausea, vomiting, & diarrhea
How does a foodborne illness start at a farm?
use of pesticides, accidental contact of manure, temp stored in truck all contribute
FDA regulations for farm to table- transport
must be clean vehicle w/ proper holding temp
FDA regulations for farm to table- retail
grocery & restaurant, must follow fda codes & pass health inspection, & train staff on sanitation
FDA regulations for farm to table- table
sound & safe preparation of food, recognize signs of foodborne illness
Which age groups are susceptible to foodborne illnesses?
- HIV or autoimmune diseases
- The very young and the very old
- Pregnant women
- Alcoholics
- Antacid users
- People taking antibiotics
What is a pest?
any org.—multi-celled animal/plant/microbe—that has an adverse effect on human interests
What is a pesticide?
synthetic chem. developed & manufactured for the purpose of killing pest
Who is most at risk for gettig an illness from pesticides?
young children & those who work w/ pesticides
What is the fight bacteria procedures?
clean, separate, cook, chill
Where can you get listeria from?
Unpasteurized milk, fresh/soft cheeses, lunch meat and hot dogs
What are the symptoms of listeria?
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle ache, stiff neck, headache, fever (pregnant women very susceptible)
Where can you get salmonella from?
raw eggs, raw poultry, diary, meat, homemade mayonnaise
What are the symptoms of salmonella?
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea 4-7 days
How do you prevent from getting salmonella?
cook/clean thoroughly (juices from poultry should not be clear),
Where can you get e. coli from?
undercooked ground beef,
produce, contaminated water.
What are some symptoms of e.coli?
Bloody diarrhea, cramps, vomiting.
What could you do in prevention of e.coli?
Cook and clean food thoroughly. Use
treated, bottled or boiled water.
How can you get Norovirus?
person-to-person; raw foods,
salads and sandwiches.- Improper food handling
Where can you get Botulism from?
in nonacidic can foods (corn,
peppers, soups, beets, asparagus).
What symptoms can you get from botulism?
double vision, inability to swallow, speech
difficulty, PARALYSIS.
What can you did in prevention of botulism?
Use proper canning
methods. Do not purchase leaky, bent,
bulging or broken cans.
What is solid waste?
solid refuse from households, agriculture, & businesses
What is municipal solid waste?
waste generated by individual households, businesses, & institutions located w/ municipalities
What is hazardous watse?
solid waste/combination of solid wastes that’s dangerous to human health/environment. (ignitable/corrosive/reactive/toxic/if it’s designated by epa)
What are examples of hazardous waste?
by-product manufacturing+industrial processes (solvents+cleaning fluids), by-products petroleum refining operations+pesticide manufacturing, batteries, mercury containing instruments, & fluorescent light bulbs
What is solid waste management?
the collection, transportation, & disposal of solid waste
what is source reduction?
a waste management approach involving the reduction/elimination of use of materials that produce an accumulation of solid
How can you practice source reduction?
By buying what you need and using reusbale grocery bags
What is recycling? Examples?
collecting, sorting, & processing materials that would otherwise be considered waste into raw materials for manufacturing new products, & the subsequent use of those new products
paper, plastics, glass, & metals
What is composting?
natural, aerobic, biodegradation of organic plant & animal matter to compost
It conserves land space
What are sanitary landfills?
waste disposal site on land suited for this purpose & on which waste is spread in thin layers, compacted, & cover w/ a fresh layer of clay/plastic foam each day
will leak and generate methane
what is combustion
burning of solid wastes ; high costs
What is lead?
naturally occurring mineral element found throughout the envir. & used in large quantities for industrial products, including batteries, pipes, solder, paints, & pigment
How can lead negatively affect someone?
anemia, birth defects, bone damage, depression of neuro+psycho functions, kidney damage, learning disabilities, miscarriages, & sterility
What is a vector?
living org., usually an insect/other arthropod that can transmit a communicable disease agent to a susceptible host
What are examples of vectors?
mosquitoes, lice, ticks, fleas, etc.
What is a vector borne disease outbreak?
an occurrence of an unexpectedly large number of cases of disease caused by an agent transmitted by insects/other arthropods
What is an example of a vectorborne disease outbreak?
Lyme disease (problem in usa bc of deer & deer tick)
Most important step to reduce trash
reduction
Most important step to reduce trash
reduction
Mobile sources
motor vehicles
Stationary sources
powerplants and factories
Fight BAC steps
Cook, chill, clean separate
Cook
cook food all the way through to kill harmful pathogens
Chill
store food at the proper holding temperature (less than 40 degrees F) to prevent rot and growth of harmful pathogens
Clean
: wash hands and foods like raw produce
Separate
: keep different foods away from each other to prevent spread of bacteria (example: don’t cut fruit on the same cutting board you used for raw meat)
domestic water use
water for drinking, cooking, washing disease and laundry, bathing, flushing toilets, watering lawns and gardens.
80-100 gallons a day
Municipal water treatment plants
