chapter 15 Flashcards
Sulfur Dioxide SO2
sources: Combustion of fuels that contain sulfur, including coal, oil, and gasoline
Health effects: respiratory irritant, harms plant tissue, creates sulfuric acid (harms aquatic ecosystem and some vegetation)
Nitrogen Oxides NOx
Source: any combustion (car engine, lightning)
Health effects: respiratory irritant, photochemical smog, nitric acid (harms aquatic ecosystem)
Carbon Oxides COx
Source: incomplete combustion (mostly fossil fuels)
Health effects: Harms oxygen transport in blood stream and causes headaches/death, global warming
Particulate Matter PM
Source: combustion and construction
Health effects: respiratory harm and cardiovascular systems, premature death, haze
Lead Pb
Source: gas, coal, and old paint
Health effects: impairs nervous system, learning and disabilities
Ozone O3
Source: secondary component (from combination)
Health effects: exacerbates, respiratory symptoms, damages plants
Air pollution
the introduction of chemicals, PM, or micro-organisms into the atmosphere
Particulate Matter PM
a solid or liquid particles that are suspended in air
Haze
Reduces the visibility, caused when particulate matter from air pollution scatters light
Photochemical Oxidant
a class of air pollutants formed as a result of sunlight acting on compounds
Smog
smoke and fog, causes hazy view
Photochemical smog
dominated by oxidants such as ozone
Los angeles type smog/brown smog
Sulfurous Smog
dominated by sulfur dioxide and sulfate compounds
London type smog/ gray smog
Volatile organic compound VOC’s
organic compounds that become vapors at typical atmospheric pressures
Primary Pollutant
polluting compounds that directly come out of the source
Secondary pollutant
are primary pollutants that have undergone transformation in presence of sunlight, water, oxygen, or other compounds
Thermal Inversion
the war inversion layer traps emissions that then accumulate beneath it
Inversion Layer
the warm layer of air at mid altitude
Asbestos
long, thin, fibrous silicate mineral with insulating properties
Sick Building Syndrome
the toxic compounds and chemicals that people inhale from new construction
