Outdoor Pollution Flashcards
what is the world’s single largest environmental health risk?
air pollution
what is NATA?
national air toxics assessment: estimates risk in terms of cancer “drivers” and non-cancer hazard drivers by geographic area
of the 139 air toxics, how many are carcinogenic?
80 of 139 of carcinogenic
what are the primary and secondary standards of the EPA?
Primary standards: to protect health
secondary standards: to protect public welfare
what are the major sources of air pollution?
transportation fuel consumption in stationary sources industrial processes forest fires solid waste disposal chemical dumps active volcanoes
what are the four major toxics we are worried about in regards to air pollution?
lead, CO, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide
what are some examples of stationary sources of air pollution?
oil or chemical refineries
power plants (NO, particulate matter, SO2)
incinerators (NO, CO)
smaller sources of stationary air pollution?
dry cleaners
nail salons
auto body shops
indoor pollutants from homes, schools, etc.
what does diesel combustion put into the air? gasoline emissions are made up of what?
diesel: particulate matter, nitrogen oxides
gasoline: CO, ozone, benzene, formaldehyde
primary and secondary methods of air pollution formation?
primary: emitted directly from a source
secondary: formed in atmosphere as result of interaction btw 2 or more existing chemicals in the air
what category is ozone?
secondary! b/c made via an interaction btw nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds in presence of sunlight
two physical categories of air pollution?
gaseous
particulate: classified by size- smaller means it can penetrate deeper into branches of respiratory tract
ecological effects of air pollution?
acid rain (wet precipitation with pH below 5.6)
global warming
ozone depletion
smog
what is smog?
mixture of air pollutants including gases and fine particles often seen as a brownish-yellow or grayish-white haze in the air
components of smog?
ground level ozone, NOs VOCs, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter
routes of exposure to air pollution?
ingestion, inhalation, dermal absorption
body systems air pollutants affect and diseases it can cause?
lungs (decreased lung fxn w/increased size of particulate matter)
reproductive/developmental
cardiovascular
immune (increased allergies)
neurological (higher particulate matter= decreased cognitive fxn over time)
cancer (esp lung cancer)
6 most common pollutants?
ground level ozone nitrogen oxides carbon monoxide particulate matter heavy metals (lead) sulfur dioxide
what is ground level ozone?
colorless, odorless gas composed of 3 oxygen molecules= ROS
created by chemical reaction btw nitrogen oxides and VOCs + sun
when do ozone levels tend to be highest?
increase during the day with peak level in early even
decline at night
lowest in the morning
sources of nitrogen oxides and VOCs?
industrial facilities electric utilities motor vehicle exhaust gasoline vapors chemicals solvents
main cause of concern with ground level ozone?
can be transported long distances by wind and therefore can be a problem even in rural settings
health problems associated with ozone exposure?
HEENT: eye irritation, throat irritation
respiratory: worsen asthma, bronchitis, emphysema
one of the primary causes of acid rain?
nitrogen dioxide
how are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons formed?
created when products like coal, oil, gas and garbage are burned but burning process not complete
from cigarettes, food from contaminated soil, grilling food, shampoos for dandruff, occupational exposure as well
target tissues for PAHs?
fat, KDs and liver