chapter 15

Question 1

Sulfur Dioxide SO2

Answer 1

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)

Question 2

Nitrogen Oxides NOx

Answer 2

Source: any combustion (car engine, lightning)

Health effects: respiratory irritant, photochemical smog, nitric acid (harms aquatic ecosystem)

Question 3

Carbon Oxides COx

Answer 3

Source: incomplete combustion (mostly fossil fuels)

Health effects: Harms oxygen transport in blood stream and causes headaches/death, global warming

Question 4

Particulate Matter PM

Answer 4

Source: combustion and construction

Health effects: respiratory harm and cardiovascular systems, premature death, haze

Question 5

Lead Pb

Answer 5

Source: gas, coal, and old paint

Health effects: impairs nervous system, learning and disabilities

Question 6

Ozone O3

Answer 6

Source: secondary component (from combination)

Health effects: exacerbates, respiratory symptoms, damages plants

Question 7

Air pollution

Answer 7

the introduction of chemicals, PM, or micro-organisms into the atmosphere

Question 8

Particulate Matter PM

Answer 8

a solid or liquid particles that are suspended in air

Question 9

Haze

Answer 9

Reduces the visibility, caused when particulate matter from air pollution scatters light

Question 10

Photochemical Oxidant

Answer 10

a class of air pollutants formed as a result of sunlight acting on compounds

Question 11

Smog

Answer 11

smoke and fog, causes hazy view

Question 12

Photochemical smog

Answer 12

dominated by oxidants such as ozone

Los angeles type smog/brown smog

Question 13

Sulfurous Smog

Answer 13

dominated by sulfur dioxide and sulfate compounds

London type smog/ gray smog

Question 14

Volatile organic compound VOC’s

Answer 14

organic compounds that become vapors at typical atmospheric pressures

Question 15

Primary Pollutant

Answer 15

polluting compounds that directly come out of the source

Question 16

Secondary pollutant

Answer 16

are primary pollutants that have undergone transformation in presence of sunlight, water, oxygen, or other compounds

Question 17

Thermal Inversion

Answer 17

the war inversion layer traps emissions that then accumulate beneath it

Question 18

Inversion Layer

Answer 18

the warm layer of air at mid altitude

Question 19

Asbestos

Answer 19

long, thin, fibrous silicate mineral with insulating properties

Question 20

Sick Building Syndrome

Answer 20

the toxic compounds and chemicals that people inhale from new construction