ENS Questions New Flashcards
Particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere is often classified in PM10 and PM2.5. What do the numbers 10 and 2.5 stand for?
Particle diameter (in micrometers)
On Long Island, beaches, specifically in semi-enclosed bays, are frequently closed during summertime because of…
fecal coliforms
Most of the ammonia emissions in the USA come from….
Agriculture and livestock waste
Most of the nitrogen oxides emitted to the atmosphere in the US comes from…
motor vehicles
_3__
ammonia
__2__
SOx
__4__
PM2.5
__1__
NOx
- transportation
- coal-fired electric power plants
- agriculture (fertilizer application and livestock waste)
- secondary pollutant that forms when NOx, SOx, and ammonia are abundant
Air pollution by particulate matter…
-can be very high indoors if wood is used for cooking.
-is a big problem in or close to desert areas.
-can be specifically high in proximity to power plants fueled by coal.
-is an issue where agricultural land and urbanized areas intersect.
NOx and SOx emissions in the USA…
still pose a threat to human health in specific regions
play an important role in relation to ground level ozone
have been significantly reduced over the past 50 years
can relate to increased concentrations of PM2.5
The combustion of which fossil fuel releases most air pollutants per unit energy produced?
coal
How many groundwater wells are active on Long Island?
around 800
What percentage of households in Suffolk County are not connected to wastewater treatment plants?
almost 80%
Large container ships use low quality oil. The release of which air pollutant is specifically concerning in this context?
SOx
Ozone can be good or bad for humans depending on where it is. Match the location and effect
(1)
Ozone in the stratosphere
(4)
Ozone near the Earth’s surface
(2)
Ozone at the top of the troposphere
(3)
Ozone at the mid troposphere
- absorbs UV light from the sun
- acts as greenhouse gas
- as a strong oxidant it helps to destroy pollutants
- has a strong negative effect on human health
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)…
are human-made but they are also released by plants
are organic chemicals that are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids
react with nitrogen oxides to form ozone
Ground-level ozone has a strong negative impact on human health. It is typically not released directly by human activities but forms in the air. Which agents have to come together so that ozone forms?
-volatile organic compounds
-sunlight
-NOx or SOx
Hydrocarbons (oil) are very harmful for marine ecosystems. The most important source of oil in the oceans by human activities is
Intentional illegal discharge of oil from ships
We are now producing more than 300 million tons of plastic each year. How much of this plastic is mismanaged?
around 12%
Most of the sulfur oxides emitted to the atmosphere in the US comes from…
Coal-fired power plants
Particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere is often classified in PM10 and PM2.5. What do the numbers 10 and 2.5 stand for?
Particle diameter (in micrometers)
3)
Ozone
(4)
Mercury
(2)
Light
(1)
Nitrate
- Nutrient
- Physical pollutant
- Secondary pollutant
- Neurotoxin
Combined sewer systems….
are problematic after heavy precipitation when the pipe collection system and sewage treatment plants are overwhelmed with the amount of wastewater so that raw sewage is discharged into rivers or coastal waters
are systems in which rainwater runoff, domestic sewage, and industrial wastewater are collected and transported through the same pipe system
Significantly contribute to coastal water pollution in the New York City area
Which factors determine the harmfulness of a pollutant?
Toxicity
Concentration in the environment
Persistence in the environment
The combustion of which fossil fuel releases most air pollutants per unit energy produced?
coal
Hydrocarbons (oil) are very harmful for marine ecosystems. The most important source of oil in the oceans by human activities is
Intentional illegal discharge of oil from ships
Most of the nitrogen oxides emitted to the atmosphere in the US comes from…
motor vehicles
Most of the sulfur oxides emitted to the atmosphere in the US comes from…
Coal-fired power plants
Match water pollutants and their primary sources
(2)
nutrients
(1)
toxic chemicals (e.g., heavy metals)
(3)
pesticides
(4)
salts
- Industrial wastewater
- domestic sewage
- agricultural wastewater
- Urban run-off
Nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides directly affect the human respiratory system, but they also react with other substances to form secondary pollutants. Which are the most important reactions of NOx and SOx that result in secondary pollutants?
with ammonia and moisture to form particulate matter
with volatile organic compounds to form ozone
with water to form acidic rain
A nitrogen removing biofilter…
would - if installed 360.000 times in Suffolk County - eliminate the largest source of excess nitrogen to our coastal waters
is a soil-based on-site wastewater treatment system, which removes nitrogen from wastewater before it is released to the soil and groundwater
transforms ammonium into nitrate and ultimately into inert N2 gas
harnesses the work performed by nitryfing and denitrifying soil bacteria
We are now producing more than 300 million tons of plastic each year. How much of this plastic is mismanaged?
around 12%
On Long Island, beaches, specifically in semi-enclosed bays, are frequently closed during summertime because of…
fecal coliforms
Most of the ammonia emissions in the USA come from….
Agriculture and livestock waste
Match the pollutants with how they act in the environment.
(3)
Ozone
(2)
Light
(4)
Mercury
(1)
Nitrate
- Nutrient
- Physical pollutant
- Secondary pollutant
- Neurotoxin
How many groundwater wells are active on Long Island?
around 800
Particulate Matter can be relased directly by human acitivities, but it can also form in the atmosphere. Which are the reagents that have to come together so that PM is formed as a secondary pollutant?
ammonia (NH3)
water/moisture
NOx or SOx
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)…
are organic chemicals that are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids
are human-made but they are also released by plants
react with nitrogen oxides to form ozone
Most of the ammonia emissions in the USA come from….
Agriculture and livestock waste
Large container ships use low quality oil. The release of which air pollutant is specifically concerning in this context?
SOx
We are now producing more than 300 million tons of plastic each year. How much of this plastic is mismanaged?
around 12%
On Long Island, beaches, specifically in semi-enclosed bays, are frequently closed during summertime because of…
fecal coliforms
Ozone can be good or bad for humans depending on where it is. Match the location and effect
(1)
Ozone in the stratosphere
(2)
Ozone at the top of the troposphere
(4)
Ozone near the Earth’s surface
(3)
Ozone at the mid troposphere
- absorbs UV light from the sun
- acts as greenhouse gas
- as a strong oxidant it helps to destroy pollutants
- has a strong negative effect on human health
Ground-level ozone has a strong negative impact on human health. It is typically not released directly by human activities but forms in the air. Which agents have to come together so that ozone forms?
NOx or SOx
volatile organic compounds
sunlight
NOx and SOx emissions in the USA…
still pose a threat to human health in specific regions
play an important role in relation to ground level ozone
have been significantly reduced over the past 50 years
can relate to increased concentrations of PM2.5
What percentage of households in Suffolk County are not connected to wastewater treatment plants?
almost 80%
The combustion of which fossil fuel releases most air pollutants per unit energy produced?
coal
Particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere is often classified in PM10 and PM2.5. What do the numbers 10 and 2.5 stand for?
Particle diameter (in micrometers)
How many groundwater wells are active on Long Island?
around 800
Match water pollutants and their primary sources
__3__
pesticides
__1__
toxic chemicals (e.g., heavy metals)
__4__
salts
__2__
nutrients
- Industrial wastewater
- domestic sewage
- agricultural wastewater
- Urban run-off
Which factors determine the harmfulness of a pollutant?
Persistence in the environment
Toxicity
Concentration in the environment
Nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides directly affect the human respiratory system, but they also react with other substances to form secondary pollutants. Which are the most important reactions of NOx and SOx that result in secondary pollutants?
with volatile organic compounds to form ozone
with water to form acidic rain
with ammonia and moisture to form particulate matter
