Urban air pollution

Question 1

What percentage of the world’s population lives with unhealthy air?

Answer 1

92%

Question 2

How many deaths did PM2.5 cause globally in 2015?

Answer 2

4.2 million

Question 3

What percentage of PM2.5 deaths did India and China account for?

Answer 3

50%

Question 4

Where does particulate matter come from? (3 things)

Answer 4

Vehicle exhaust fumes
Industry/construction dust
Landfill incineration

Question 5

What is the air quality index for Delhi? (0-50 = good)

Answer 5

500

Question 6

What are 3 issues that result from pollution?

Answer 6

Chest infections, respiritory issues
Schools closed
Construction work stopped

Question 7

How much worse is air quality in India than anywhere else in the world?

Answer 7

10x worse

Question 8

How have Delhi managed the air pollution problem?

Answer 8

Gvmt keeps inputting ‘quick fix’ strategies that don’t do much

Question 9

How do temperature inversions work?

Answer 9

1. Cold dense air sinks
2. Warmer air above traps the cold air
3. Pollutants get trapped and concentrate in cold air layer

Question 10

How do trees reduce air pollution?

Answer 10

1. Shade buildings, reducing the need for air con
2. Absorbs small particulate matter

Question 11

What is acid rain?

Answer 11

Any precipitation with levels of nitric and sulfuric acid

Question 12

How is acid rain formed?

Answer 12

When emissions of SO2 and NOx react with water and oxygen in the atmosphere

Question 13

What are 4 impacts of acid rain?

Answer 13

1. makes water toxic to aquatic organisms
2. trees in forests are harmed
3. leaches nutrients from the soil
4. Wider food chain is impacted

Question 14

Why is acid rain international?

Answer 14

Prevailng winds blow NOx and SO2 across borders

Question 15

What is Mexico City’s air management scheme called?

Answer 15

Pro air

Question 16

What was air quality like in Mexico City in the 1980s?

Answer 16

Birds would ‘fall out of the sky’
Air quality index = 300+
Tropospheric ozone = 500ppm (v high)

Question 17

How much money did Mexico City spend on pro air in 2019?

Answer 17

$29 billion

Question 18

What is the ‘cars don’t circulate’ scheme?

Answer 18

Citizens aren’t allowed to drive their cars 1 out of 5 days

Question 19

What is the ‘metrobus’ scheme?

Answer 19

Increasing buses and other public transport

Question 20

How much have they told industries to cut emissions by?

Answer 20

40%

Question 21

What else have Mexico City done to reduce emissions? (2 things)

Answer 21

Air pollution forecasting
Catalytic convertors

Question 22

Have Mexico City been successful?

Answer 22

Air quality has halved to 150 BUT still v high
Ozone has redced 80% (now 130ppm)
Congestion is still veyr high as public transport is ineffiecient and disorganised