Environmental Hazards (S2U5) Flashcards
Radon
colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that’s released when uranium decays.
Asbestos
A chronic lung disease caused by breathing asbestos fibers
True or False: Mold can occur when there is moisture and a lack of circulation
True
This hazard is the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer
Radon
What level of Radon is considered dangerous?
4 Picocuries per liter of air (but anything above 0 is considered unsafe)
2 places radon is commonly found?
soil and well water
Common places where Radon enters the home?
Chimney cracks Floor joists Water Soil tracked in from outside Floor drains Sump pumps Cracks in concrete porous walls
When radon is found, what can you do to eliminate it?
1) install a system that vents and filters the radon from the home
2) Seal any cracks or spaces in the concrete slab, foundation walls, or chimneys (Homes with crawl spaces may need a special plastic liner)
Where can Asbestos be found?
Insulation Ceiling Tiles Vinyl Floor Insulation around hot water pipes and steam pipes Wall and ceiling paint Rocks and soil Roofs Heating systems
True or false: Mold needs moisture to grow so leaks should be fixed immediately.
True
Brownfields
abandoned or otherwise unused commercial or industrial sites, many of which are suspected to contain hazardous waste, contaminants, or pollutants.
The Small Business Liabilities Relief & Brownfields Revitalization Act (Brownsfield Law):
enacted in 2002 to provide funds to both assess and clean up the many thousands of brownfields that are believed to exist nationally.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2):
most common greenhouse gas emitted by human activities.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs):
organic chemical compounds made up of only carbon, chlorine, and fluorine.
Formaldehyde:
a flammable gas at room temperature that has a strong odor.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs):
a medium used for cooling and insulation in electronic transformers.
Underground Storage Tanks (USTs):
tanks and any connected underground piping that has at least 10% of its volume underground, These tanks generally store fuel or other hazardous substances.
Resource Conservation & Recovery Act
The goals of the RCRA are to protect people from waste disposal hazards; conserve energy and natural resources by using recovery and recycling; eliminate or reduce waste where possible; and clean up any waste that has leaked or spilled, or was not disposed of in the proper manner.
Waste disposal sites/landfills can be subject to what?
uncontrolled surface emissions of landfill gases into the air. These gases contain carbon dioxide, methane, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), hazardous air pollutants and “odorous” compounds that can adversely affect public health and the environment.
Underground storage tanks are prone to leaks after how many years?
10 to 15 years
If old oil tanks exist on a property, research should be done for what?
To see if the UST was properly decommissioned
