Unit 8 Flashcards
Primary Pollutant
Emitted directly from the polluting process
Primary Pollutant Examples
Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, Particulate matter(PM)
Secondary Pollutant
Formed when primary pollutants react with other chemicals in the atmosphere, often involving sunlight in a photochemical reaction.
Secondary pollutant examples
Tropospheric ozone, PM, PAN.
Formation of tropospheric ozone
Nitrogen oxides form when oxygen and nitrogen react at high temperatures during combustion.
Normal conditions without tropospheric ozone
Under normal conditions, ozone oxidizes nitric oxide back to nitrogen dioxide, creating a cycle with minimal ozone buildup at ground level.
Where is tropospheric ozone highest at?
Sunny and have high traffic density
Effect of ozone
Plants:
Ozone enters plants through leaves, degrading chlorophyll and reducing photosynthesis, lowering productivity.
Humans:
Ozone irritates the lungs, causing breathing difficulties, increasing susceptibility to respiratory diseases, and irritating the eyes, nose, and throat.
Materials and Products:
Ozone damages rubber, cellulose, and some plastics, shortening the life of car tires and bleaching fabrics.
Formation of Particulates
Burning organic materials and fossil fuels releases small carbon particles, especially from poorly maintained diesel engines.
Dangers of particulates
Particulates are too small to be filtered, causing respiratory issues, asthma, and lung cancer. They can also cover crops, blocking sunlight.
Formation of Photochemical Smog
Smog is air pollution caused by a mix of smoke, fog, and pollutants like ozone and nitrogen oxides. It forms when these react with sunlight, often in areas with heavy traffic or industry, reducing visibility and causing health problems like respiratory issues and eye irritation.
