semester 2 - pollution Flashcards
Flashcard 1: Definition & Pollutant Classification
Q: What is air pollution and how are pollutants classified?
A: Air pollution occurs when the atmosphere deviates from its unpolluted baseline due to the release, movement, transformation, and removal of substances. Pollutants are classified as primary (emitted directly, e.g., SO₂, NOₓ, VOCs, CO, particulate matter) and secondary (formed via chemical reactions in the air, e.g., ground-level ozone, acid rain).
Flashcard 2: Legally Regulated Pollutants
Q: Which major air pollutants are legally regulated in the UK?
A: The UK sets legal limits on key pollutants including
sulphur dioxide (SO₂),
nitrogen oxides (NOₓ),
particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5),
lead,
benzene,
carbon monoxide,
and ozone.
Flashcard 3: Emission Trends & Contributing Factors
Q: What are the trends in pollutant emissions in the UK and what factors have contributed to these trends?
A: Emissions of SO₂ and NOₓ have dropped due to less coal use, switching to gas, and stricter rules. However, particulate emissions from domestic sources (like wood stoves) have increased.
Flashcard 4: Acid Deposition
Q: What is acid deposition?
A: Acid deposition, or acid rain, occurs when pollutants like SO₂ and NO combine with water in the air to form acids that can harm nature and buildings.
Human Health Effects
Q: How does air pollution affect human health?
A: Air pollution can cause respiratory problems, heart disease, strokes, and other illnesses, especially from fine particles (PM2.5) and ground-level ozone.
Effects on Nature and Structures
Q: What impact does air pollution have on plants, animals, and buildings?
A: It can damage wildlife and vegetation and can also corrode metals, damage paints, and weaken building materials.
UK Air Pollution Controls
Q: What actions has the UK taken to reduce air pollution?
A: The UK has introduced laws like the Clean Air Act, built air quality monitoring networks, and uses technology (filters, scrubbers) to reduce harmful emissions.
Sustainable Solutions
Q: What sustainable methods can help reduce air pollution?
A: Using renewable energy, recycling, and conservation, along with encouraging changes by individuals and governments, can help lower air pollution.
Ozone Layers Explained
Q: What is the difference between stratospheric and ground-level ozone?
A: Stratospheric ozone forms a high-altitude layer that protects us from UV rays, while ground-level ozone is a harmful pollutant that affects breathing.
Ozone Depletion and Recovery
Q: What causes ozone depletion and what has been done about it?
A: Ozone depletion is mainly caused by CFCs that break down ozone (especially over Antarctica). International agreements like the Montreal Protocol have reduced CFC use, helping the ozone layer to recover.
Q: Which two case studies are discussed exploring the human dimensions of air pollution—how people perceive, experience, and respond to air quality—using interdisciplinary approaches.
(Day and Huang)
A: Day (2007), which examines how local place effects shape air quality perceptions, and Huang (2023), which investigates how coal miners in China perceive and cope with air pollution.
Q: What are “place effects” in the context of air pollution?
A: They refer to how local socio-economic conditions, the built environment, and cultural factors influence how residents experience and rate air quality.
Q: What does the term “materialist landscapes” mean?
A: It describes the physical and socio-economic characteristics of an area—such as terrain, infrastructure, and economic status—that shape how people perceive their environment.
Q: What are “therapeutic landscapes”? - pollution
A: These are places that are culturally seen as healing or restorative, often due to natural elements like greenery, which can improve perceptions of air quality.
Q: How is “ontological security” defined in the lecture? - pollution
A: It is the confidence that the natural and social world is stable, helping individuals maintain their identity; this can lead people, like coal miners, to downplay pollution to preserve their sense of security.
Findings from Day (2007)
Q: What did the Day (2007) study reveal about air quality perceptions?
A: It found that while measured pollution often aligns with public perceptions, factors like socio-economic conditions and local physical features significantly influence how people judge air quality.
POLLUTION - Socio-Economic Influence
Q: How do socio-economic factors affect air quality ratings in Day (2007)?
A: Areas with greater socio-economic challenges tend to rate their air quality lower, even when pollution levels are similar to those in more affluent areas.
POLLUTION - Insights from Huang (2023)
Q: What are the key findings from the Huang (2023) study on coal miners?
A: Coal miners often downplay the impact of smog by attributing it to external sources and maintaining a sense of stability, which helps them cope with powerlessness at work.
POLLUTION - Policy Implications
Q: What broader implications do these case studies have for air pollution policy?
A: Effective policies must consider both technical pollution data and the social, cultural, and economic contexts that shape public experiences, ensuring local voices are included in decision-making.
