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Enviro 24-25 > unit 7 > Flashcards

unit 7 Flashcards

1
Q

when was the clean air act and what did it do

A

-1970
-identified the 6 criteria air pollutants that the EPA is now required to monitor

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2
Q

what are the 6 criteria air pollutants

A

SO2, NOx, CO, Pm, Lead (PB), O3

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3
Q

what is so2, where does it come from, and how does it effect humans

A

-sulfer dioxide
-coal combustion (electricity)
-resp. irr./ smog/ acid precip

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4
Q

what is Nox, where does it come from, and how does it effect humans

A

-nitrogen oxides (NO (nitric oxide) No2 (nitrogen dioxide))
-all FF combustion (gas especially)
-o3/ photochemical smog/ acid precip

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5
Q

what is CO, where does it come from, and how does it effect humans

A

-carbon monoxide
-incomplete combustion
-03/ lethal to humans

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6
Q

what is PM, where does it come from and how does it effect humans

A

-particulate matter
-FF/biomass combustion
-resp. irr./ smog

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7
Q

what is O3, where does it come from and how does it effect humans

A

-ozone
–photochemical oxidation of NO2
–resp. irr./ smog/ plant damage

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8
Q

what is PB, where does it come from and how does it effect humans

A

-lead
-metal plants, waste incineration
-neurotoxin

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9
Q

why is Co2 not considered one of the 6 air pollutants

A

Co2 is GHG, meaning it does not directly lower air quality from a human health standpoint. its not toxic to organisms, or damaging to lungs, and it doesn’t lead to smog

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10
Q

whhat does coal combustion release

A

-CO, Co2, SO2, NOx, toxic metals, and PM

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11
Q

impacts of SO2

A

-respiratory irritant
-sulfer aerosols blocking sun
-forms sulfuric smog
-combines with water and o2 in air-> acid precip

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12
Q

what are vehicles required to have after 1974

A

a catalytic converter

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13
Q

what is a huge success story of the clean air act

A

reducing NOx, Co, and lead in the air by requiring a catalytic converter in cars (lead damages it so it can’t be in the gasoline)

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14
Q

what are primary air pollutants

A

-emitted directly from sources such as vehicles, PP, factories, or natural sources (volcanoes, forest fires)
-ex. NOx, CO, CO2, VOCs, SO2, PM, hydrocarbons

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15
Q

what are secondary air pullutants

A

-primary pollutants that have transformed in the presence of sunlight, water, o2
-occur more in day (since sunlight often drives formation)
-O3, sulfuric acid, sulfate, nitric acide, nitrate

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16
Q

how is Co2 measured

A

in PPM (parts per million)

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17
Q

what are some natural sources of air pollutants

A

-lightning strikes: converting N2 into NOx
-Forest fires: CO, PM, NOx
-plants(esp. conifers): VOCs
-Volcanoes: So2, PM, CO, NOx

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18
Q

what are natural sources of CO2 and PM

A

-respiration: releases Co2 (even plants)
-sea salt, pollen, ash

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19
Q

what is aerobic decomp. and what does it release

A

decomp. of organic matter by bacteria and decomposers in the presence of oxygen
-releases CO2

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20
Q

what is anaerobic decomp. and what does it release

A

-decomp of org matter by bacteria and decomposers with little to oxygen present
-release CH4 (methane)

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21
Q

what is PM 10 and what are its effects

A

-particulates like dust, pollen, ash, or mold that are smaller than 10 micrometers
-too small to be filtered out by nose hairs: can irritate respiratory tract and cause inflamation

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22
Q

what is PM 2.5 and what are its effects

A

-Particles from combustion/smaller dust particles
-more likely to travel deep into lungs
-associated with chronic bronchitis and increased risk of lung cancer

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23
Q

what is the normal atm. temperature range of the troposphere

A

-warmest at the earths surface, and cools as altitude rises
-because warm air rises (its less dense) air convection currents carry it and the pollutants its carrying up and distribute them

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24
Q

what is a thermal inversion

A

during a thermal inversion, a cooler air mass becomes trapped near earth’s surface. because the cool air is more dense then the hot air, it won’t rise

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25
why does thermal inversion happen
-due to a warm front moving over the cooler air or -due to hot urban surfaces cooling overnight while IR radiation absorbed during day is still being released
26
what are the effects of thermal inversion
-air pollutants (smog, PM, Ozone<, SO2, NOx) trapped closer to earth -resp irr. -decreased tourism revenue -decrease photosynthesis rate
27
what are the two primary pollutants that cause acid precip.
NOx and SO2
28
what are the primary sources of NOx
-vehicle emissions -coal PP
29
what are the primary sources of SO2
-coal PP -deisel fuel
30
what can we do to limit acid deposition
-reducing NOx and SO2 emissions with higher CAFE standards, more public transit, renewable energy sources, and more efficient energy usage
31
what is acid rain/ how is it formed
-NOx and SO2 react with water and oxygen in the atm. forming nitric and sulfuric acid -sulfuric and nitric acid dissociate in the presence of water into sulfate and nitrate ions and hydrogen ions
32
Environmental effects of acid precip.
-higher H+ ions = lower PH (more acidic) -H+ ions displace other positively charged nutrients from soil, and makes toxic metals more soluble in soil/water -when PH leaves range of tolerance species can't survive
33
how can indicator species help warn about PH levels getting to low
-species that can only survive in high PH places will be less common, while ones that can survive in low PH will be more common
34
how cam limestone help mediate the effects of acid rain
-limestone (calcium carbonate) is a natural base that can neutralize acidic soil -it reacts with H+ ions, forming CHO3 and giving off Ca2+ -this neutralizes soil and brings it closer to a PH of 7
35
how can we reduce SO2 and NOx
-renewable energy sources -dry or wet scrubbers
36
what are the precursors for photochemical smog
NO2 VOCs O3
37
what are the sources of VOCs and what are they
-carbon based compounds that volitize (evaporate) at room temperature -Comes from: gasoline, formaldehyde, cleaning fluids, oil based paints, even coniferous trees (pine smell)
38
what are the conditions for photochemical smog
-Sunlight: drives O3 formation by breaking down NO2 into NO+O -warmth: hooter atm. temp. speeds O3 formation, evap. of VOCs and thus smog formation
39
what is the normal O3 formation cycle
-sunlight breaks O3 into NO+O , O bonds with O2 to form O3 -at night, O3 reacts with NO to form NO2 and O2 once again; O3 levels drop overnight
40
when does O3 formation peak
in the afternoon when sunlight is most direct and No2 emissions from morning traffic have peaked
41
how does photochemical smog form
-sunlight breaks NO2 into NO+O, which binds with O2 to create O3 -VOCs bind with NO to form photochemical oxidants (PANs) -With no NO to react with at night, O3 builds up instead of returning to O2 and NO2 -O3 combines with PANs to form photochemical smog
42
what are factors that increase photochemical smog formation
-more sunlight -warmer temps -higher VOCs emissions (gas stations, Laundromats, plastic factories) -increased vehicle traffic (increases NO2 emissions)
43
why do urban areas have more smog
-more traffic (more NO2) -hotter temps -more VOCs (more gas stations/factories)
44
what are the environmental effects of smog
-reduces sunlight; limiting photosynthesis -O3 damages plant stomata and irritants respiratory tracts
45
what are the human health effects of smog
-resp. irr. -worsens asthma, bronchitis, COPD, and can irritate eyes
46
what are the economic effects of smog
-increased healthcare costs to treat the health effects -lost productivity due to sick workers missing work -decrease ag. Yield due to less photosynthesis
47
where does PM come from inside
-smoke (from fire or cigarette), dust or asbestos
48
what is asbestos
a long silicate particle previously used in insulation
49
when does asbestos become harmful to humans and what does it do
-when it gets disturbed and becomes airborne -it has been licked to lung cancer
50
how should asbestos be removes
by trained professionals
51
what is CO produced from
-CO (carbon monoxide) comes from incomplete combustion of basically any fuel (not all fuel is combusted due to not enough O2)
52
why is CO lethal to humans
its an asphyxiant: cause suffocation due to it binding to your blood instead of O2
53
what is the main reason CO is released in homes in developing nations
-CO is released from indoor biomass combustion for heating/cooking
54
what is the main reason CO is released in homes in developed nations
CO released into home by malfunctioning natural gas furnace ventilation
55
what can you use to detect CO
Carbon monoxide detectors
56
where are VOCs released in homes
chemical used in a variety of home products that vaporize, enter air, and can irritate eyes, lungs, bronchioles -adhesives/sealants -formaldehyde -cleaners -plastics and fabrics -paint
57
what is randon gas and where is it released from
-radioactive gas released by the decay of uranium naturally found in rocks underground (esp. granite)
58
how does randon gas enter homes
through cracks in the foundation and disperse from basement/foundation to home
59
what does randon gas cause
2nd leading cause of lung cancer after smoking
60
how to prevent randon gas
-EPA recommends testing home with airborne randon monitor -sealing cracks in foundation can also prevent it from getting into your home
61
where does mold grow
dark damp areas that are not well ventilated
62
what type of mold is esp. harmful to resp. system
black mold
63
how to remove mold
can be removed by cleaning it and fixing the leak that made it grow (can release VOCs if you use cleaning products
64
where is lead found in houses (older houses)
in the paint or in lead water pipes
65
how can lead effect the CNS
paint peals off wall and children eat it, or it becomes airborne and gets into you lungs. thsi damages CNS
66
how does the clean air act help manage air pollutants
-allows EPA to set acceptable levels for criteria air pollutants -monitor emissions levels from PP and other facilities -tax/sue/fine corporations that release emissions above levels
67
how do pollution credits help manage air pollutants
-part of amendment to CAA in 1990 -companies that reduce emissions well below EPA-set levels earn pollution credits -they can sell these to companies that release more than acceptable levels
68
what is CAFE vehicle standards
requires new cars to have a certain MPG
69
how do vapor recovery nozzles help reduce VOCs (hydrocarbons)
-capture VOCs released from gasoline fumes during refueling -separate tube inside nozzle capture vapors and returns them to underground storage tank beneath gas station -reduces VOCs, which contribute to smog also reduces benzene
70
how does a catalytic converter reduce NOx, CO, and lead
-required on all vehicles after 1975 -contains metal (platinum and palladium) that bind to NOx and CO converts Nox and CO and other hydrocarbons into CO2, N2, O2, and H2O
71
what is the difference between wet and dry scrubbers
both can include a large column /tube/pipe filled with chemicals that absorb or neutralize oxides (NOx, SOx, VOCs) from emissions -wet scrubbers include mist nozzles that capture PM too
72
how does electrostatic precipitator reduce PM
-coal PP/factory emissions passed through a device with a negatively charges electrode, giving the particles a negative charge -negatively charged particles stick to positively charges collection plates, trapping them -plates discharge occasionally so particles fall down and can be collected
73
how do baghouse filters reduce PM
-large fabric bag filters that trap PM as air from combustion /industrial process passes though -shaker device knocks trapped particles loose into collection hopper below
74
what defines urban noise pollution
-any noise at great enough volume to cause physiological stress(heart problems, sleep disruption, headaches, confusion) or hearing loss
75
what are some sources of noise pollution
-construction: Jack hammers, trucks, concrete pouring -transportation: cars, buses, trains -domestic activity:loud music, lawn mowing, home project
76
how can noise pollution effect wildlife on land
-noise pollution can disrupt animal communication, migration, and damage hearing -hearing loss can lead to an inability to hear prey/predator or mates
77
how can noise pollution effect wildlife in water
all the same as on land, except whales are especially harmed because the use sound more than any other aquatic animal
78
what are sources of noise pollution in the water
-ship engines, military sonar, and seismic air blasts searching for oil and gas

Enviro 24-25 (8 decks)

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