Chapter 15 - Air Pollution and Stratospheric Ozone Depletion

Question 1

Air pollution

Answer 1

The introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or microorganisms into the atmosphere at concentrations high enough to harm plants, animals, and materials such as buildings, or to alter ecosystems.

Question 2

Ground Level Pollution

Answer 2

A secondary pollutant, harmful to children and people with respiratory problems. formed when NO2 and volatile compounds (VOCs) react with sunlight. Also, air pollution that occurs in the troposphere, the first 16 km (10 miles) above Earth’s surface

Question 3

Tropospheric Ozone

Answer 3

A secondary pollutant contains smog ozone- toxic to humans, animals, and vegetation

Question 4

Haze

Answer 4

Reduced visibility.

Question 5

Photochemical smog

Answer 5

Smog that is dominated by oxidants such as ozone. Also known as Los Angeles–type smog; brown smog.

Question 6

Gray smog

Answer 6

Smog dominated by sulfur dioxide and sulfate compounds. Also known as London-type smog; gray smog; industrial smog.

Question 7

Atmospheric Brown Cloud

Answer 7

Combination of PM and ozone which is brownish or black due to the carbon particles and/or NO2 it attracts; observed in cities and regions such as Asia

Question 8

Primary pollutant

Answer 8

A polluting compound that comes directly out of a smokestack, exhaust pipe, or natural emission source.

Question 9

Secondary pollutant

Answer 9

A primary pollutant that has undergone a transformation in the presence of sunlight, water, oxygen, or other compounds.

Question 10

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

Answer 10

Amendment of the EPA’s Clean Air Act which specifies concentration limits for pollutants and requires localities to improve air qualities to meet these limits

Question 11

Stratospheric Ozone

Answer 11

The primary UV radiation screen that protects us

Question 12

Clean Air Act

Answer 12

Set emission standards for cars, and limits for release of air pollutants. Also, Monitors and controls the most important air pollutants - the act ultimately identified six pollutants that pose a significant threat to human well being and ecosystems.

Question 13

Thermal Inversion

Answer 13

A situation in which a relatively warm layer of air at mid-altitude covers a layer of cold, dense air below.

Question 14

Acid Deposition

Answer 14

Acids deposited on Earth as rain and snow or as gases and particles that attach to the surfaces of plants, soil, and water.

Question 15

Low Sulfur Coal

Answer 15

Best means of controlling air pollution but is more expensive

Question 16

Fluidized bed combustion

Answer 16

Granulated coal is burned in close proximity to calcium carbonate, which absorbs the sulfur dioxide and reduces SO2 emissions

Question 17

Catalytic converter

Answer 17

Removes emissions from cars. Catalyzes reactions to break down. It can create sulfur compounds.

Question 18

Baghouse filters

Answer 18

Air pollution control device which removes particulate matter through a series of filter bags that physically filter out the particles

Question 19

Scrubber

Answer 19

Air pollution control device where particles are “scrubbed”
from the exhaust stream by water droplets; the water-particle “sludge” is collected and processed for disposal; also used to reduce SO2 emissions, and sometimes ionizes particles to improve efficiency

Question 20

Electrostatic precipitator

Answer 20

Air pollution control device which negatively charges particles, which are then attracted to a positively charged plate, where they are held until removal and disposal

Question 21

Pollution Permits

Answer 21

When emitters are not allowed to emit sulfur than the amount for which they have permits for - helps regulate pollution control methods.

Question 22

Ozone Layer hole

Answer 22

The depletion in ozone was dubbed the ozone hole. There is no actual hole in the ozone shield where all the ozone is depleted, rather the term describes the relative depletion in the concentration of ozone that occurs during the Antarctic spring.

Question 23

Sick building syndrome

Answer 23

Occurs in new or renovated buildings that contain many products made with synthetic materials and flues that may not have fully dried out a significant amount of off gassing occurs which means the indoor levels of VOCS, hydrocarbons and toxic materials are high.

Question 24

Montreal Protocol

Answer 24

One of the most effective environmental efforts. Amended to phase out ozone depleting chemicals in developed countries by 2000 and in developing by 2010. Originally agreed to scale back CFC production 50% by 2000.

Question 25

Polar Vortex

Answer 25

A huge mass of very cold air that circulates over Antarctica and isolates its air from the rest of the atmosphere until the sun returns a few months later.

Question 26

Mobile Sources

Answer 26

Sources of air pollutants that move from place to place, for example, automobiles, trucks, buses, and trains.

Question 27

Copenhagen Protocol

Answer 27

An amendment that accelerated the phaseout of key Ozone-depleting compounds

Question 28

Melanoma

Answer 28

The deadliest of skin cancers involves melanocyte cells, which produce pigment. It can develop from a mole or on blemished skin, grows quickly, and can spread to other parts of the body (metastasize).

Question 29

UV radiation

Answer 29

Penetrates deeply into the skin and can cause skin cancers

Question 30

Cataracts

Answer 30

A medical condition in which the lens of the eye becomes progressively opaque, resulting in blurred vision

Question 31

Stationary sources

Answer 31

Non-moving sources of pollution, such as factories.

Question 32

Asbestos

Answer 32

A long, thin, fibrous silicate mineral with insulating properties, which can cause cancer when inhaled.

Question 33

Carbon Dioxide

Answer 33

a heavy odorless colorless gas formed during respiration and by the decomposition of organic substances

Question 34

Chlorofluorocarbons

Answer 34

man-made chemical substance that depletes the ozone layer

Question 35

sulfur dioxide

Answer 35

produced by chemical interacting between sulfur and oxygen. Contributes to acid rain. Harm plant life, irritate the respiratory system.

Question 36

Radon

Answer 36

a radioactive gaseous element formed by the disintegration of radium

Question 37

Nitric Oxide

Answer 37

The production of fertilizers and the combustion of fossil fuels and wood has increased concentrations of this gas.

Question 38

Volatile Organic Compounds

Answer 38

Compounds including hydrocarbons, produced by combustion of gasoline, from surface coatings and from electric utility combustion; participates in the production of PAN through reactions with nitric oxides.

Question 39

Tropospheric Ozone

Answer 39

Ozone in the troposphere

Question 40

Fine Particles

Answer 40

PM10 - combustion of coal/oil/diesel which mobilize soil/soot/dust – reduces visibility and contributes to haze and smog

Question 41

Formaldehyde

Answer 41

One of the most toxic VOCs; common in new homes because it is used to manufacture building products such as particle board

Question 42

Lead

Answer 42

Pb - gasoline additive -impairs central nervous system

Question 43

Mercury

Answer 43

Hg - coal/oil/mining - impairs central nervous system

Question 44

Nitric Acid

Answer 44

HNO3 - a secondary pollutant

Question 45

Nitrogen Dioxide

Answer 45

a reddish-brown poisonous gas occurring commonly as an air pollutant, formed by the oxidation of nitric oxide or by combustion in the presence of air.

Question 46

Sulfuric Acid

Answer 46

H2SO4 - a secondary pollutant

Question 47

Ultrafine Particles

Answer 47

PM2.5 - combustion of coal/oil/diesel which mobilize soil/soot/dust – reduces visibility and contributes to haze and smog