Review Questions Flashcards
what are the four gases that compose most of the atmosphere?
carbon dioxide, argon, nitrogen, oxygen
what are the major regulated air pollutants?
SO2, NO2, NOx, PM10, CO, CO2, O3, trace metals- lead, cadmium, platinum
what are the units associated with gaseous air pollutants?
ugm-3 , ugl-1, ppm
what are the units associated with particulate air pollutants?
ugm-3
what is the equation for converting ppb to ugm-3
ugm-3 = ppb x molar weight/molar volume
how do you work out the molar volume?
22.4 x T/273 x 1013/P
what pollutant source is a motorway?
Line
what pollutant source is a coal mine?
point
what pollutant source is a large supermarket complex?
area
what pollutant source is a steam engine?
line
what pollutant source is a nuclear power station?
area
what pollutant source is a hospital incinerator?
point
give examples of how air pollution can damage human health
list indoor air pollutants and their sources
.
what are the main sources of nitrogen oxides?
road transport
what are the main sources of aldehydes?
road transport
what are the main sources of sulphur oxides?
combustion of fossil fuels for heating and energy
why is time-series data often used to illustrate the emissions of gaseous pollutants?
times series data enables the identification of daily or seasonal variations, as well as trends
state the potential health effects of sulphur dioxide
SO2 causes problems of the respiratory and pulmonary function
state the potential health effects of hydrocarbons
some hydrocarbons have carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic effects
state the potential health effects of carbon monoxide
causes diminution of the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood
what is the urban concentration range of benzene?
10-12 mg m-3
what is the urban concentration range of SO2
3-20 ppb
what is the urban concentration range of CO
(3-15) x 10^3 ppb
what is the urban concentration range of formaldehyde?
5-40 ppb
what is the urban concentration range of acetone?
10-20 ppbv
what is the urban concentration range of NO2
10-50 ppb
what is the main legislation in place to control the emissions of SO2 in Europe?
EEC LCP Directive (88/609)
what is the main legislation in place to control the emissions of SO2 in Hong Kong?
Air Pollution Control Ordinance and its subsidiary regulation
what are two types of air quality standard and what is the difference between them?
limit values and guide values
limit values are designed to protect human health and identify the concentrations of pollutants, which MUST NOT be exceeded anywhere.
guide values are generally lower, being intended to serve as long-term precautions for health and the environment.
identify 4 main sources of VOC emissions in 1970, and state how these had changed by 2019?
road transport
solvent use
production processes
domestic
by 2006, domestic emissions had been significantly reduced, whilst those from the extraction and distribution of fossil fuels had increased.
list 6 main types of VOC
hydrocarbons aldehydes ketones alcohols heterocycles and other organics toxic organic micropollutants (TOMPS)
what are the air quality standards for CO issued by the European commission?
.there are no standard issues for CO in Europe
what are the air quality standards for CO issued by the WHO
.87 ppm over 15 mins
50 oom over 30 minutes
25 ppm over 1 hour
10ppm over 8 hours
what are the sources of VOCs in the home?
household chemicals (cleaning and bleaching agents, polishes, air fresheners, deodorants, pesticide sprays, solvents), building materials and furnishings (paints, glues and varnishes), tobacco smoke, gas and paraffin heaters.
what are the possible units for CO emissions from motor vehicles?
there are a number of possible units for pollution emissions from motor vehicles:
mass of pollutant emitted per distance travelled per vehicle
mass of pollutant emitted per volume of fuel consumed per vehicle