Air Pollution
This pollutant, produced by burning fossil fuels, contributes to acid rain.
What is sulfur dioxide (SO₂)?
This radioactive gas can seep into basements and increase cancer risk.
What is radon?
The primary greenhouse gas produced by human activities.
What is carbon dioxide (CO₂)?
The practice of burning fossil fuels has this main environmental effect.
What is increased greenhouse gas emissions or climate change?
Planting trees is an example of this type of carbon solution.
What is carbon sequestration?
A major contributor to smog, this pollutant forms when sunlight reacts with NOx and VOCs.
What is tropospheric ozone (O₃)?
Common in older homes, this metal can cause neurological damage if ingested.
What is lead?
This international agreement aimed to reduce global GHG emissions.
What is the Paris Agreement?
The leading source of anthropogenic methane emissions.
What is livestock farming or agriculture?
This U.S. law regulates air pollutant emissions.
What is the Clean Air Act?
These tiny particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause respiratory issues.
What are PM2.5 or particulate matter?
Mold growth indoors is most often caused by this environmental condition.
What is humidity or moisture?
The greenhouse gas 25x more potent than CO₂.
What is methane (CH₄)?
This health effect is linked to both indoor and outdoor air pollution.
What is respiratory illness?
Scrubbers and electrostatic precipitators reduce this kind of pollution.
What is particulate matter or industrial emissions?
This pollutant is a secondary pollutant formed from NO2 and VOCs.
What is photochemical smog?
A common source of carbon monoxide inside homes.
What is an unvented gas stove or heater?
This process describes when ice reflects sunlight and its loss accelerates warming.
What is the albedo effect?
This phenomenon causes increased storm intensity and sea level rise.
What is climate change or global warming?
Cap-and-trade programs aim to limit this type of emission.
What are greenhouse gas emissions?
These two pollutants are used to calculate the AQI (Air Quality Index).
What are ozone and particulate matter?
VOCs are emitted by many household items. The "V" in VOC stands for this.
What is volatile?
The part of the ocean where CO₂ is stored long-term.
What is the deep ocean or deep ocean carbon sink?
A long-term consequence of rising global temperatures on biodiversity.
What is species extinction or habitat loss?
This policy tool puts a price on CO₂ emissions.
What is a carbon tax?