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pollution Flashcards

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1
Q

what is particulate matter?

A

a solid that is produced by the incomplete combustion of carbon based fuels such as coal

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2
Q

what are major sources of PM

A
  • transport
  • coal & oil powered station
  • combustion of forests
  • combustion of crop waste
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3
Q

what are the properties of PM

A

size - density of particles will determine how far they are carried by wind
toxicity - contains heavy metals and toxic chemical

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4
Q

what are the impacts on human health

A
  • smoke particles inhaled
  • respiratory diseases such as bronchitis
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5
Q

what are the impacts of plants

A
  • the PM deposits onto the leaves which blocks sunlight so reduced PHS
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6
Q

what are the impacts on the climate

A
  • the particulates reflect incoming solar radiation which leads to a cooling affect on the climate
  • decrease in light intensity
  • smoke can be an ozone depleting substance
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7
Q

what are the environmental features that affect dispersal and severity of PM pollution

A
  • wind (direction & speed) affects mobility and dispersal
  • rain can mobilises into the soil
  • temperature = energy suspends PMs in the air
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8
Q

what is a temperature inversion

A

is a situation in the troposphere where the warm air lies above the cold air

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9
Q

what are scenarios that lead to temperature inversions

A
  • occur in valleys
  • low wind velocities
  • clear night skies
  • mist or fog in day
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10
Q

what is smog

A

the joining of smoke (PM) and fog

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11
Q

how does fog form

A

forms when moist air is cooled until is reaches dew points

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12
Q

case study:
what caused the smoke smog in London

A

coal powered stations

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13
Q

what is a legislation to reduce smog

A

clean air act 1956 in the UK

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14
Q

what are the pollutants involved in photochemical smog

A

NOx
hydrocarbons
tropospheric gases

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15
Q

what are the sources of NOx

A
  • high temp combustion and oxidation of N2
  • road transport
  • energy production and distribution
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16
Q

how does NO2 break down

A
  • UV light splits NO2 through photolysis
  • this forms NO and monoatomic O
17
Q

how does tropospheric ozone form

A

the monoatomic O combines to the diatomic O2 in the atmosphere to form tropospheric ozone

18
Q

what are health impacts of tropospheric ozone

A

burning eyes and throat

19
Q

what are the impacts to vegetation from O3

A
  • visible leaf damage which leads to premature leaves
  • reduced biomass
20
Q

what are the properties of hydrocarbons

A
  • carcinogenic
  • synergistic
21
Q

how does photochemical smog form

A

when NOx, hydrocarbons and O3 react together with UV

22
Q

case study
where did photochemical smog form

A

LA in 1943

23
Q

what is acid rain

A

the combination of pollution problems caused by a range of acidic gases and other pollutants

24
Q

what are the main gases of acid rain

A
  • oxides of nitrogen
  • sulphur dioxide
25
Q

where does sulphur dioxide come from

A

the incomplete combustion of coal

26
Q

what does tropospheric ozone and sulphur dioxide form

A

sulphur trioxide

27
Q

name a major contributor and receiver of acid rain

A

contributor - Poland
receiver - Sweden

28
Q

what are the properties of acid rain

A
  • toxicity
  • synergistic
  • solubility in water
  • mobile
  • state of matter
29
Q

what are the direct impact on plants

A
  • denature protein & enzymes so reduces PHS
  • waxy cuticles can be dissolved
  • stomata damage so reduced CO2
30
Q

what are the indirect impacts on plants

A
  • reduced nutrient uptake e.g. mycorrhizal fungi die
  • uptake of toxic materials such as iron and lead
31
Q

what are the 2 sources of acid mine drainage

A
  1. metal mines
  2. coal mines
32
Q

how does drainage water become more acidic and contaminated with heavy metals

A

1.

33
Q

what are the properties of acid mine drainage

A
  • mobile
  • state of matter -> liquid
  • pH
  • solubility -> contains heavy metals
  • toxicity
  • specificity = low
34
Q

impacts of the high acidity

A
  • enzyme inhibition
  • similar impacts to acid rain
35
Q

impacts of heavy metals

A
  • aquatic species (fish) absorb the metals and bioaccumulate them this increases the concentrations in trophic levels
  • toxic impacts. mutagenic and carcinogenic`
36
Q

what is natural gas desulfurisation

A

is the removal of sulphur from the fuel before it is burned

37
Q

how does natural gas desulfurisation occur

A
  1. the sour gas is run through a tower which contains an amine solution
  2. the sulfur is removed allowing it to be reused to treat more sour gas
38
Q

what is crude oil desulfurisation

A

the removal of sulfur compounds from crude oil during distillation using molybdenum catalysts in the process of hydrodesulfurisation

39
Q
A

environmental science (12 decks)

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