UNIT X: AIR POLLUTION Flashcards
The earth’s atmosphere is composed of 99%
nitrogen, oxygen, trace levels of carbon dioxide
Occurs in climate change wherein CO2 does not allow heat to escape through the atmosphere
Warming effect
0.001% is composed of
Non-reactive trace gasses (Group 8 - He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe)
The atmosphere is a _____________ mixture of
chemical species
disequilibrium
is the only mechanism that can account for O2 abundance in the atmosphere
Photosynthesis
T or F: Majority of oxygen comes from forests
F
Oceans
The biggest contributor of oxygen in the planet
Green algae
Regions of the atmosphere
Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Thermosphere
“The presence of contaminants or pollutant substances in the air that interfere with human health or welfare, or produce other harmful environmental e ects.” - US Environmental Protection Agency, 2007 in Vallero, 2008
Air pollution
“Any ___________ of the physical, chemical and biological properties of the atmospheric air, or any discharge thereto of any liquid, gaseous or solid substances that will or is likely to create or to render the air resources of the country harmful, detrimental, or injurious to public health, safety or welfare or which will adversely a ect their utilization for domestic, commercial, industrial, agricultural, recreational or other legitimate purposes” – ___________________
alteration; Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999
According to WHO, May 2018, ___ out of 10 people worldwide breathe polluted air
9
Annually, around ___ ________ deaths are due to exposure from both outdoor and household air pollution
7 Million
Air pollution is a _________ killer
silent/occult
Most impacted by air pollution
Children
Women
Outdoor Workers
Leading cause of death in children below 5 years old
Pneumonia
T or F: 20% of 7M deaths are due to stroke
T
Annually, _____ M deaths of children <5yo are linked to the environment
1.7
A person inhales approximately ________ of air per day
30 m^3
Exposure to air pollutants is
continuous
exposure= frequency x intensity x duration
is the most common chronic illness in children
Asthma
Source of AP
Natural vs. Anthropogenic
Mobile vs. Stationary
Point vs. Fugitive vs. Area Sources
T or F: Natural emissions of air pollutants exceed
human-produced emissions.
T
primarily anthropogenic, industrial pollution (barely seen in nature)
Nitrogen dioxide
air pollutant in volcanoes
sulfur oxides
contains a lot of dissolved gasses, released once heated
Ocean
emitted directly into the air
Primary Pollutants
product of reactions between primary
pollutants and normal atmospheric compounds
Secondary Pollutants
Ubiquitous / Omnipresent
Criteria Air Pollutants
T or F: CAPs are not very toxic
T
Responsible for most of our air pollution problems
Criteria Air Pollutants
trapped in the lower troposphere as a result of the reactions between the air and these other pollutants
Photochemical oxidants
Measure that would tell us whether the air is dangerous
for us
Air Quality Index
Sources may be limited and industry specific
Hazardous Air Pollutants
More toxic and even carcinogenic
~188 chemicals
Hazardous Air Pollutants
linked with aplastic anemia
Benzene
found in paint
Cadmium
A major environmental health problem a ffecting everyone in developed and developing countries alike.
Outdoor Air Pollution
T or F: Most sources of outdoor air pollution are well beyond the control of individuals and demand concerted action by local, national and regional level policy-makers working in sectors like transport, energy, waste management, urban planning, and agriculture. (WHO, 2016)
T
