Types of Air Pollutants
This is a colorless and odorless gas that is produced by incomplete combustion and can be really deadly at high levels.
What is Carbon Monoxide?
This type of smog is common in warm, sunny cities like Los Angeles.
What is photochemical smog?
Acid rain mainly forms from sulfur dioxide and this other major pollutant.
What are nitrogen oxides?
This radioactive gas seeps from bedrock and is a leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.
What is radon?
Air pollution primarily affects this human body system.
What is the respiratory system?
These are small particles, usually from diesel engines and wildfires, that can penetrate deep into the lungs.
What is particulate matter?
Ground-level ozone forms when sunlight reacts with NOx and these compounds.
What are volatile organic compounds (VOCs)?
Acid deposition can lower the pH of these ecosystems, harming fish and amphibians.
What are lakes or freshwater ecosystems?
Burning biomass indoors without ventilation commonly causes this pollutant buildup.
What is particulate matter/carbon monoxide?
Children, the elderly, and people with asthma are examples of this group.
What are sensitive populations?
This pollutant contributes to acid rain and is mainly released from burning coal.
What is sulfur dioxide?
Unlike stratospheric ozone, this type of ozone is harmful to human health.
What is tropospheric ozone?
This process occurs when acidic particles fall to Earth without precipitation.
What is dry deposition?
This building material was banned due to its link to lung disease and cancer.
What is asbestos?
This disease is commonly linked to long-term exposure to air pollution.
What is asthma/lung cancer?
A group of pollutants including NO and NO₂ that contribute to smog and acid rain.
What are nitrogen oxides?
This weather condition traps pollution near the ground by preventing air circulation.
What is a temperature inversion?
This material is often added to soils or lakes to neutralize acid rain effects.
What is limestone/calcium carbonate?
This indoor pollutant often comes from furniture, paints, and cleaning products.
What are VOCs?
This is when acidic particles and gases (like sulfates and nitrates) settle out in the absence of moisture.
What is dry deposition?
These pollutants react in the atmosphere to form photochemical smog rather than being emitted directly.
What are secondary pollutants?
This gas helps protect Earth from UV radiation but becomes harmful when found near the surface.
What is ozone?
The Clean Air Act significantly reduced acid rain by regulating emissions from this industry.
What is coal-fired power plants?
People in developing countries are most affected by indoor air pollution due to reliance on this fuel source.
What is biomass?
Long-term exposure to air pollutants increases the risk of this cardiovascular issue.
What is heart disease?