Chapter 18: Air Pollution Quiz Flashcards by Alaura Foust

Per molecule, methane is 25 times more effective at warming the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.

True

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Human inputs of outdoor air pollutants occur mostly ____.

in urban areas

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Radioactive ____ gas is a product of uranium decay.

radon

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Most of the world’s forests and lakes are being destroyed or seriously harmed by acid deposition.

false

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Despite the effectiveness of the Clean Air Act at bringing down pollution levels, the health risk of exposure to indoor air pollution in more-developed urban areas is actually increasing. Why?

People in these areas are spending up to 90% of their time indoors or in cars.

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Which statement about acid deposition is false?

Low pH increases plant nutrients in forest soils.

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Long-lived air pollutants can circle the entire planet in about ____.

two weeks

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Rising and falling air currents, winds, and concentrations of CO2 and other greenhouse gases in the ____ play major roles in the planet’s short-term weather and long-term climate.

troposphere

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The stratosphere ____.

contains the ozone layer

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Acid deposition is best classified as a ____ problem.

regional

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Acid deposition is not a concern in China.

false

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Before the 1980s, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were primarily used as ____.

coolants in air conditioners and propellants in aerosol cans

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According to a 2018 EPA report, between 1970 and 2017, the combined emissions of the six major outdoor air pollutants decreased by ____.

73%

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If the earth were an apple, the lower layer of the atmosphere containing the air we breathe would be the thickness of ____.

the skin

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Which action would be an ineffective preventive measure for acid deposition?

adding lime to neutralize acidified lakes

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Sick-building syndrome is not associated with ____.

lung cancer

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A U.S. cap-and-trade (or emissions trading) program was used to reduce emissions of ____.

sulfur dioxide SO2

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Which substance is a colorless, odorless, and highly toxic gas that forms during the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing materials?

carbon monoxide CO

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Rain and snow partially remove pollution from the atmosphere.

True

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One of the primary components of industrial smog is ____.

sulfur dioxide SO2

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Which statement about indoor air pollution in the United States is false?

Exposure to outdoor air pollution presents a higher cancer risk than with indoor air pollution.

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As a capstone project for your environmental science degree, you have the idea of monitoring air quality in your region, but you need an inexpensive yet effective approach. Which is the most suitable option?

Monitoring lichens

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Which substance is a secondary pollutant?

sulfuric acid

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Temperature inversions

make pollution problems worse

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The atmospheric layer containing about 75–80% of the mass of earth’s air is the ____.

troposphere

The Clean Air Act was passed in ____.

1970

What do all volatile organic compounds have in common?

All are gasses in the atmosphere

Dry deposition occurs when ____.

acidic particulates fall to the ground

The pollution that causes acid deposition can cross national boundaries.

true

According to environmental scientists, U.S. air pollution control laws would be weakened if ____.

controls on petroleum refineries were relaxed

Air pollution is a recent phenomenon that did not occur until coal burning became common during the Industrial Revolution.

false

In the United States, the highest levels of air pollution from ultrafine particles—and subsequent premature deaths—are found in ____.

the Eastern half of the country

Radon-222 gas is commonly used to make furniture, drapes, carpeting, foam insulation, and other products.

false

Burning coal produces pollutants such as ____.

carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and soot

As a result of the Clean Air Act, Congress directed the EPA to establish standards for six pollutants. Which of these is not one of the six?

Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide makes up 21% of the air we breathe.

false

Which statement about ozone thinning is true?

Ozone levels fluctuate seasonally, with the lowest levels occurring in September and October.

Atmospheric brown clouds are ____.

large clouds of dust, smoke, soot, and toxic metals

The density of the atmosphere is lower at sea level than it is higher up.

false

The ultimate success of any emissions trading approach to pollution reduction depends on how low the initial cap is set and how often it is lowered.

True

Based on what you know about ozone thinning, which location would be the most concerning in terms of exposure to UV radiation, assuming you were planning to travel there?

New Zealand

Ozone depletion is caused by ____.

chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the stratosphere

Photochemical smog is characteristic of urban areas with many vehicles and a climate that is ____.

warm and sunny

Air pollution in the urban areas of many less-developed countries is ____.

Getting worse

Approximately how much of the air we breathe is composed of nitrogen and oxygen?

99%

In discussing the problem of ozone depletion, an acquaintance explains that the only real health issue related to this problem can be circumvented by wearing sunscreen. Is this correct?

no, the increased exposure to radiation can also cause eye cataracts.

You hear the claim that environmental regulations are detrimental to the economy. Does the Clean Air Act provide evidence to the contrary?

Yes, because the economy grew while emissions were greatly reduced.

Since the 1970s, the quality of outdoor air in most of the more-developed countries has improved.

true

The difference between industrial and photochemical smog is that photochemical smog ____.

contains secondary pollutants formed under the influence of UV radiation from the sun

Exposure to indoor formaldehyde pollution is least likely to cause ____.

ulcers

In less-developed countries, open fires and inefficient stoves that burn wood, charcoal, or coal are important sources of indoor air pollution.

true

Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) molecules have a short lifespan in the stratosphere.

false

You’ve been considering what part of the United States to settle once you begin your career. You just learned about acid depositions and are curious about how much the region you settle in will be impacted by this phenomenon. Which of these areas you are considering is most affected by acid deposition?

the eastern united states

Los Angeles has minimal air pollution because it is protected on three sides by mountains.

false

Atmospheric brown clouds in Asia have affected weather patterns.

true

Chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs) molecules can stay in the stratosphere for ____.

65-385 years

More than half of all commercial buildings in the United States exhibit sick-building syndrome.

false

The UV filtering effect of the ozone layer is beneficial because it ____.

allows humans and other forms of life to exist on land

Because of the earth’s shape, the troposphere is thicker over the North and South Pole than at the equator.

false

According to the EPA, what are the three most dangerous indoor air pollutants?

Tobacco smoke, formaldehyde, and radon-222

The major source of lead exposure is via ____.

peeling paint and dust in older homes

Since the Clean Air Act, there have been significant declines in the atmospheric concentrations of the six major pollutants, while at the same time ___.

the number of miles traveled in personal vehicles increased

About 90% of radon-related lung cancers in the United States occur among ____.

current or former smokers

Electrostatic precipitators or wet scrubbers can be used to reduce ____ pollution.

particulate matter

Nine of the world’s ten most polluted cities are found in ____.

India

What term refers to harmful chemicals emitted directly into the air from natural processes and human activities at concentrations high enough to cause harm?

Primary pollutants

Photochemical smog is formed when primary pollutants interact with ____.

UV radiation from the sun

Coal-burning power plants are an important source of radon-222 gas.

false

About how many people die each year because of indoor and outdoor air pollution worldwide?

8 million

You’ve been considering what part of the United States to settle in after you complete your degree. You just learned about radon-222. Which of these areas you are considering would expose you to the highest concentration?

The North Central Region

It would be ineffective to attempt to prevent lead poisoning by ____.

banning the use of lead pencils in schools

Outdoor air pollution is increased when ____.

temperature inversions form over cities surrounded by mountains

The ozone layer surrounding the earth is formed when molecules of oxygen in that layer are converted to ozone by UV radiation.

true

The atmosphere is divided into spherical layers based upon the ____ each layer.

temperature differences between

Chemicals in the atmosphere combine with one another and with natural components of air to form new, harmful chemicals, called primary pollutants.

false

What is the correct sequence of layers of the atmosphere from innermost to outermost?

troposphere-stratosphere-mesosphere-thermosphere

Acidic rain, snow, fog, and cloud vapor typically have a pH of ____.

less than 5.6

In most years, atmospheric brown clouds cover an area about the size of ____.

the continental united states