Air Pollution

Front 1

In 2008, approximately ______ people lived in counties that exceeded national air quality standards

Back 1

127 Million

Front 2

Name 6 health effects of air pollution

Back 2

Respiratory and cardiovascular disease;
Decreased lung function;
Susceptibility to respiratory infections;
Effects on the nervous system;
Cancer; and
Premature death.

Front 3

5 Major Air Pollutants

Back 3

Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Hydrocarbon Emissions (VOCs)
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
Particulates

Front 4

What are 9 causes of air pollution

Back 4

Combustion of fuels
Automobiles
Unburned gasoline
Oraganic solvents in manufacturing
Dry cleaning liquids, inks, Paints
Incineration
Transportation
Local and global
Ozone

Front 5

What were some components of the Clean Air Act of 1970?

Back 5

- Federal
- reduces outdoor (ambient) air pollutants that cause cancer or other serious health effects
-for criteria pollutants
Timeframes and milestones for attainment by states
-Phases out production and use of chemicals that destroy stratospheric ozone.

Front 6

Who has control of the Clean Air Act?

Back 6

EPA

Front 7

What are the state's responsibilities under the Clean Air Act of 1970?

Back 7

Each state is required to monitor the ambient air to determine whether it meets each standard.
If the air quality does not meet a standard, the state must develop and implement pollution control strategies to attain that standard

Front 8

What are six Criteria Pollutants?

Back 8

carbon monoxide,
lead,
nitrogen dioxide,
sulfur dioxide,
ozone; and
particulate matter (including PM10 and PM2.5).

Front 9

What are the primary standards for regulating criteria pollutants?

Back 9

Set limits based on human health

Front 10

What are the secondary standards for regulating criteria pollutants?

Back 10

prevent environmental and property damage

Front 11

A geographic area with air quality that is cleaner than the primary standard is called an

Back 11

an "attainment" area

Front 12

what are the two sources of air pollutants?

Back 12

Stationary sources (like chemical plants, gas stations, and powerplants)
mobile sources (like cars, trucks, and planes).

Front 13

What is another name for the ozone?

Back 13

stratospheric O3

Front 14

What are three aspects of the Ozone?

Back 14

greater than 30,000 feet
is beneficial to all life
it filters out the sun’s harmful UV radiation before it reaches the earth’s surface.

Front 15

Ground Level Ozone is formed by

Back 15

reactions between certain pollutants (precursors) in the presence of intense, high-energy sunlight

Front 16

Ozone is a principal component of

Back 16

smog

Front 17

Buildup of ground-level ozone concentrations may be

Back 17

far downwind from the original source of the precursors.

Front 18

What are three Ground level Ozone precursors and where do they come from?

Back 18

Nitrogen dioxide
Nitrous oxide
volatile organic compounds (VOCs or hydrocarbons

These pollutants, in turn, come from our vehicle emissions, industrial and utility plants and other sources.

Front 19

We see more ozone in the summer/winter, especially in the afternoons and early evenings

Back 19

summer

Front 20

What forms the ozone?

Back 20

Sunlight and warm temperatures drive NOx and VOCs to react to form ozone.

Front 21

What are four effects of ground-level troposhperic O3?

Back 21

A health and environmental problem.
Reduce lung function by inflaming & damaging cells
asthma attacks,
nasal congestion, and
throat irritation,
reduces resistance to infection.
aggravate chronic lung diseases.
toxic to vegetation, inhibiting growth and causing leaf damage.
deteriorates materials such as rubber & fabrics

Front 22

How is smog formed?

Back 22

- pollution from cars, manufacturing and chemical plants, direct releases
- Sun chemical reactions -> ozone (a principal component of smog)
- smog pollutes the air, often many miles away from where the pollutants were released

Front 23

What are some effects of Sulfer Dioxide?

Back 23

harmful to the respiratory tract,
combines with water vapor to form acidic aerosols
SO2 is a primary contributor to acid deposition.
Acid deposition causes:
acidification of lakes and streams,
damage to vegetation, damage to materials, and
Lower visibility.

Front 24

How is SO2 formed

Back 24

SO2 is a product of fuel combustion (e.g., the burning of coal and oil that contains sulfur ).
Sources include heat and power generation facilities, and petroleum refineries

Front 25

Nitrous Oxides Effects

Back 25

lowers resistance to respiratory infections and aggravates symptoms associated with asthma and bronchitis.
contributes to acid deposition.
Impacts of acid deposition include: acidification of lakes and streams, damage to vegetation, damage to materials, and diminution of visibility.
contribute to the formation of ozone.

Front 26

Carbon Monoxide Effects

Back 26

CO binds with hemoglobin in the blood
reducing the amount of oxygen carried to organs and tissues.
Symptoms of exposure
shortness of breath,
chest pain,
headaches, confusion, and loss of coordination
Threat is most severe for those with cardiovascular disease.

Front 27

What are the three biggest sources of carbon monoxide?

Back 27

1. motor vehicle emissions
2. industrial processes
3. non-transportation fuel combustion

Front 28

How is NO2 formed? What are the sources?

Back 28

NO2 is formed from the oxidation of nitric oxide (NO).
Major sources of NO are fuel combustion, space heating, power plants and motor vehicles.

Front 29

What are some Nitrous Oxides Effects

Back 29

lowers resistance to respiratory infections and aggravates symptoms associated with asthma and bronchitis.
contributes to acid deposition.
Impacts of acid deposition include: acidification of lakes and streams, damage to vegetation, damage to materials, and diminution of visibility.
contribute to the formation of ozone.

Front 30

What is particulate matter?

Back 30

Tiny airborne particles or aerosols
Dust & dirt,
Soot &smoke
liquid droplets.

Fine particulate matter (mostly below 2.5 microns in size)
result of direct emissions,
can be formed in the atmosphere by chemical reactions involving gaseous pollutants.

Front 31

What can particulate matter do to an environment/ individual?

Back 31

can migrate through the lungs and into the circulatory system and potentially produce cardio-vascular symptoms,
Transport toxic components
Cause soiling and corrosion of materials.
Contribute to atmospheric haze that degrades visibility.

Front 32

How does Lead enter the atmosphere

Back 32

the incineration of lead containing materials
manufacture and processing of lead containing products or materials like storage batteries
smelting and paint removal.

Front 33

Children exposed to lead can experience

Back 33

mental retardation,
brain damage, and
liver disease.
It may be a factor in high blood pressure and damages the nervous system.

Front 34

What are some of the results of the Clean Air Act?

Back 34

Since 1970, the six commonly found air pollutants have decreased by more than 50%
air toxics from large industrial sources, such as chemical plants, petroleum refineries, and paper mills have been reduced by nearly 70%
new cars are more than 90 % efficient
production of most ozone-depleting chemicals has ceased.

Front 35

What are the economic effects of the clean air act?

Back 35

the U.S. gross domestic product, or GDP, has tripled
energy consumption has increased by 50 percent, and
vehicle use has increased by almost 200 percent.

Front 36

What is the only pollutant for which MA monitors indicate violations?

Back 36

ozone

Front 37

T/F MA is in attainment for the other criteria pollutants.

Back 37

T

Front 38

What is the NAAQS

Back 38

National Ambient Air Quality Standards
for criteria pollutants
Timeframes and milestones for attainment by states