Chapter 15 - Air Pollution and Stratospheric Ozone Depletion Flashcards
Air pollution
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.
Ground Level Pollution
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
Tropospheric Ozone
A secondary pollutant contains smog ozone- toxic to humans, animals, and vegetation
Haze
Reduced visibility.
Photochemical smog
Smog that is dominated by oxidants such as ozone. Also known as Los Angeles–type smog; brown smog.
Gray smog
Smog dominated by sulfur dioxide and sulfate compounds. Also known as London-type smog; gray smog; industrial smog.
Atmospheric Brown Cloud
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
Primary pollutant
A polluting compound that comes directly out of a smokestack, exhaust pipe, or natural emission source.
Secondary pollutant
A primary pollutant that has undergone a transformation in the presence of sunlight, water, oxygen, or other compounds.
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
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
Stratospheric Ozone
The primary UV radiation screen that protects us
Clean Air Act
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.
Thermal Inversion
A situation in which a relatively warm layer of air at mid-altitude covers a layer of cold, dense air below.
Acid Deposition
Acids deposited on Earth as rain and snow or as gases and particles that attach to the surfaces of plants, soil, and water.
Low Sulfur Coal
Best means of controlling air pollution but is more expensive
Fluidized bed combustion
Granulated coal is burned in close proximity to calcium carbonate, which absorbs the sulfur dioxide and reduces SO2 emissions
Catalytic converter
Removes emissions from cars. Catalyzes reactions to break down. It can create sulfur compounds.
Baghouse filters
Air pollution control device which removes particulate matter through a series of filter bags that physically filter out the particles
Scrubber
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
Electrostatic precipitator
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
Pollution Permits
When emitters are not allowed to emit sulfur than the amount for which they have permits for - helps regulate pollution control methods.
Ozone Layer hole
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.
Sick building syndrome
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.
Montreal Protocol
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.
Polar Vortex
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.
Mobile Sources
Sources of air pollutants that move from place to place, for example, automobiles, trucks, buses, and trains.
Copenhagen Protocol
An amendment that accelerated the phaseout of key Ozone-depleting compounds
Melanoma
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).
UV radiation
Penetrates deeply into the skin and can cause skin cancers
Cataracts
A medical condition in which the lens of the eye becomes progressively opaque, resulting in blurred vision
Stationary sources
Non-moving sources of pollution, such as factories.
Asbestos
A long, thin, fibrous silicate mineral with insulating properties, which can cause cancer when inhaled.
Carbon Dioxide
a heavy odorless colorless gas formed during respiration and by the decomposition of organic substances
Chlorofluorocarbons
man-made chemical substance that depletes the ozone layer
sulfur dioxide
produced by chemical interacting between sulfur and oxygen. Contributes to acid rain. Harm plant life, irritate the respiratory system.
Radon
a radioactive gaseous element formed by the disintegration of radium
Nitric Oxide
The production of fertilizers and the combustion of fossil fuels and wood has increased concentrations of this gas.
Volatile Organic Compounds
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.
Tropospheric Ozone
Ozone in the troposphere
Fine Particles
PM10 - combustion of coal/oil/diesel which mobilize soil/soot/dust – reduces visibility and contributes to haze and smog
Formaldehyde
One of the most toxic VOCs; common in new homes because it is used to manufacture building products such as particle board
Lead
Pb - gasoline additive -impairs central nervous system
Mercury
Hg - coal/oil/mining - impairs central nervous system
Nitric Acid
HNO3 - a secondary pollutant
Nitrogen Dioxide
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.
Sulfuric Acid
H2SO4 - a secondary pollutant
Ultrafine Particles
PM2.5 - combustion of coal/oil/diesel which mobilize soil/soot/dust – reduces visibility and contributes to haze and smog
