topic 6 Flashcards
means any
alteration of the physical,
chemical and biological
properties of the atmospheric
air, or any discharge of any
liquid, gaseous or solid
substances
air pollution
any matter found in the
atmosphere other than oxygen,
nitrogen, water vapor, carbon
dioxide, and the inert gases in
their natural or normal
concentrations
air pollutants
released directly from the
source into the air in a harmful
form
primary pollutants
converted to a hazardous form
after they enter the air or are
formed by chemical reactions as
components of the air mix and
interact
secondary pollutants
the general amount of pollution
present in a broad area; and
refers to the atmosphere’s
average purity as distinguished
from discharge
ambient air quality
the air around us
ambient air
most massive
example of this category is dust
from soil erosion, strip mining,
rock crushing, and building
construction (and destruction).
Fugitive Emissions
Six Conventional or Criteria Pollutants
- Sulfur dioxide
- Nitrogen oxides
- Carbon monoxide
- Ozone
- Lead
- Particulate Matter
contributed the largest volume
of air quality degradation and considered the most serious
threats to human health and
welfare
Six Conventional or Criteria Pollutants
Total yearly emissions of sulfur
from all sources amount to
some ____________
114 million metric tons
__________ and the ________ are
the largest sources of
anthropogenic sulfur, primarily
from coal burning and smelting
China
US
Once in the atmosphere, it can
be further oxidized to sulfur
trioxide (SO3), which reacts
with water vapor or dissolves in
water droplets to form sulfuric
acid (H2SO4).
Sulfur Dioxide
Colorless corrosive gas, directly
damaging to both plants and
animals
Sulfur Dioxide
Highly reactive gases formed
when nitrogen in fuel or when
air is heated (during
combustion) to temperatures
above 650°C in the presence of
oxygen
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
In addition, ___________
is an intermediate form that
results from soil denitrification.
It absorbs ultraviolet light and it
is an important greenhouse gas
nitrous oxide (N2O)
Colorless, odorless,
nonirritating, but highly toxic
gas.
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
formed through photochemical
reactions driven by sunlight,
where pollutants like nitrogen
oxides (NOx) and volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) play
a crucial role. Nitrogen dioxide
(NO2) is split into nitrous oxide
(NO) and oxygen (O), with the
released oxygen atoms
combining to create ________
Ozone
general term for
organic chemicals that
evaporate easily or exist as
gases in the air.
Volatile Organic Compounds
(VOCs)
Most Abundantly Produced
Metal Air Pollutant
lead
Toxic to Nervous Systems and
Cellular Functions
lead
produced by various
industrial and mining
processes.
- The primary sources of
this sustance include
smelting of metal ores,
mining activities, and
the combustion of coal
and municipal waste.
airborne lead
consists of solid particles and
liquid droplets suspended in the
air
particulate matter (PM)
can encompass a
wide range of materials,
including dust, ash, soot,
smoke, pollen, and more.
aerosols
often
conspicuous as it can diminish
visibility and leave unclean
residues on surfaces like
windows, painted areas, and
fabrics
particulate matter (PM)
toxic metal
released into the environment
from various sources, including
coal and oil burning, mining,
smelting, and manufacturing
mercury
is a
natural component of the
Earth’s atmosphere, generated
through the respiration or the
oxidation of organic compounds
within plant and animal cells.
Typically, these emissions are
balanced by the uptake of CO2
through photosynthesis in
green plants. At normal
concentrations, __________
is harmless and non-toxic.
carbon dioxide
six potent greenhouse gases
carbon dioxide (CO2), methane,
nitrous oxide,
hydrofluorocarbons,
perfluorocarbons, and sulfur
hexafluoride
halogens
fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine,
have a
noteworthy impact as
greenhouse gases, trapping
more energy per molecule than
carbon dioxide (CO2).
halogens
a
well-known halogen
compounds, have been phased
out for most uses in
industrialized nations due to
their severe depletion of the
ozone layer.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
distinct group of toxins
that receive special attention
from the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) due to
their exceptional danger
Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs)
mainly consist of metal
compounds, chlorinated
hydrocarbons, and volatile
organic compounds.
Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs)
refers to
undesirable alterations in the
physical attributes or chemical
composition of the atmosphere
Aesthetic Degradation
Can greatly concentrate air
pollutants.
Temperature Inversions
occur when a stable
layer of warmer air lies above
cooler air
temperature inversion
persistent inflammation of
bronchi and bronchioles (large and small
airways in the lung) that causes mucus
buildup, a painful cough, and involuntary
muscle spasms that constrict airways.
bronchitis
severe bronchitis, an
irreversible chronic obstructive lung
disease in which airways become
permanently constricted and alveoli are
damaged or even destroyed.
Emphysema
