7.1
Name an air pollutant that would be considered a primary pollutant?
NOx, CO, VOCs, SO2, PM, hydrocarbons
Name one of the two conditions that speed up the formation of smog?
Sunlight and Heat
Name a natural source of air pollutants.
Lightning Strikes, Forest Fires, Plants, Volcanoes
Most major indoor air pollutants in developed nations come from chemicals in products such as:
Adhesives in furniture, cleaning supplies, insulation, lead paint
This attachment on vehicles helps convert air pollutants to safer compounds. (It is frequently stolen)
Catalytic Converter
What primary pollutants cause most of the planets acid deposition (Acid Rain)
NOx and SO2
Name an air pollutant that would be considered a secondary pollutant?
Tropospheric O3 (Ozone)
Sulfuric acid (H2SO4) & sulfate (SO42-)
Nitric acid (HNO3) & nitrate (NO3-)
Identify one primary pollutant and one secondary pollutant involved in the formation of photochemical smog
Primary = NO2, Volatile Organic Compound s(VOCs)
Secondary = Ozone (O3), PANs
What is a natural source of CO2?
Respiration or Aerobic Decompositions.
This gas is an asphyxiant as caused by binding to hemoglobin in blood, displacing O2
CO (Carbon Monoxide)
What two entities (groups) collaborated in each Chattanooga and California to solve the problem of air pollution.
Public sector (government) and Private sector (Companies)
Identify one secondary pollutants (acid) form causing acid deposition.
Sulfuric Acid
Nitric Acid
This metal, which causes neurological (brain development) damage, was removed from gasoline and paints in the 1970s
Lead
How is most NO2 released into the atmosphere?
The incomplete combustion of fuel in vehicles.
Describe the difference between PM10 and PM2.5 and identify which is typically more dangerous to be exposed to for your respiratory health?
PM10 is 10micron diameter, PM2.5 is smaller (2.5 microns).
2.5 is worse.
What are good conditions for mold to grow in?
Mold develops in areas that are dark and damp and aren’t well ventilated (under sinks/showers, behind panels in walls and ceiling)
How does a wet scrubber stop air pollutants from being released into the atmosphere?
Mist nozzles trap particulate matter in water droplets. Droplets with pollutants and PM trapped in them fall to bottom of scrubber or get trapped.
What is noise pollution?
Any noise at great enough volume to cause physiological stress (difficulty communicating, headaches, confusion) or hearing loss.
Most heavy metals are released into the atmosphere through what energy generating process.
The burning of coal. (mercury, arsenic, lead)
What is a human health impact of photochemical smog?
Resp. irritant; worsens asthma, bronchitis, COPD; irritates eyes.
Particulate Matter is measured in what unit?
Micrometers
Carbon Monoxide is caused by...
Incomplete combustion of basically any fuel
Not all the fuel is combusted due to low O2 or temp.
Identify the filtration process that used charged plates, and what pollutant they specifically remove.
Electrostatic Precipitators; PM
Identity one impact of noise pollution on human health.
Sleep Disturbance, High Blood Pressure (Cardiovascular Disease), Hearing Loss, Cognitive Impairment.
SPLONC?
SO2
PM
Lead
Ozone
NO2
CO
What is a VOC? Give an example of a source?
Carbon-based compounds that volatilize (evaporate) easily (this makes them “smelly”)
Sources: gasoline, formaldehyde, cleaning fluids, oil-based paints, even coniferous trees (pine smell)
Sea salt, pollen, ash from forest fires & volcanoes
dust (windborne soil)
Leads to haze (scattering of sunlight & reduced visibility)
This radioactive gas is released by decaying uranium underground. Also, how does it typically enter a home?
Radon; usually enters the home through cracks in the foundation.
Identify the technology, installed at gas pumps, that helped reduce photochemical smog.
Vapor Recovery Nozzles
Identify one impact of noise pollution on ecosystems.
Hearing loss, disrupted communication, mating calls, predator and prey navigation