Reading...
Play button
Play button
Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
32 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
AIR POLLUTION
|
The presence in the outdoor atmosphere of one or more air contaminants in such quantities and duration as tend to be injurious to human health or welfare, animal, or plant life or property, or would unreasonably interfere with the enjoyment or life or property
|
|
|
HISTORY OF AIR POLLUTION
|
London, England(13th century)
-increases in air pollution was met with protest from monarchs and public -silver and armor smithing banned By 1800s -fog becomes trade of city -attempts to change were ignored by industry and capitalism United States(1950s and 1960s) -switch from coal to natural gas and oil -reduced urban smoky conditions |
|
|
TEMPERATURE INVERSIONS
|
1930-Meuse Valley
1948-Donora 1952-London |
|
|
EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION on HUMAN HEALTH
|
-can't expose people who are most-sensitive
-problematic to tie to health effect also confounding from smoking -induces respiratory or cardiovascular disease -Large particle=trapped by nasal hairs -Small particles=settle in trachea/bronchi -Tiniest aerosols=deposited on alveoli lining Acute effects and chronic health effects -asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, skin cancer, heart disease |
|
|
EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION ON:
1. Vegetation/Agriculture 2. Property 3. Visbility 4. Economy 5. Weather |
VEGETATION/AGRICULTURE
-ozone damages flowers and food plants -forsts have been destoryed from fumes of copper smelts PROPERTY -paint on cars/houses blackened or corroded by hydrogen sulfide -rubber cracked, metal corroded VISIBILITY -particulate matter and smog impair visibility -need headlights during day ECONOMY -absenteeism -morbidity/mortality -loss from dying crops and property WEATHER -increased particulates can result in cloud seeding |
|
|
Clean Air Act (1970)
|
The first one in 1970 was the first comprehensive program to tackle air pollution
Reagan's legislations dismantled advancements made in tackling air pollution; signified a reversal in improvement |
|
|
Clean Air Act(1990)
|
George Bush addressed new issues
Introduced NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standards) |
|
|
NAAQS
|
Secondary standards were stronger than primary standards
Concerned with protecting crops, livestock, property, and environment Had strict auto emission standards Used reformulated gasoline= to reduce ozone disruption |
|
|
NAAQS Criteria Air Pollutants
|
Ozone; Lead; Particulates; Nitrogen oxides; Sulfur dioxides; Carbon monoxide
-Representing acceptable concentrations that would be protective of the general population, including sensitive groups |
|
|
Primary standards
|
-focused on human health and included sensitive groups
|
|
|
Clean Air Act (1970)
|
The first one in 1970 was the first comprehensive program to tackle air pollution
Reagan's legislations dismantled advancements made in tackling air pollution; signified a reversal in improvement |
|
|
Clean Air Act(1990)
|
George Bush addressed new issues
Introduced NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standards) |
|
|
NAAQS
|
Secondary standards were stronger than primary standards
Concerned with protecting crops, livestock, property, and environment Had strict auto emission standards Used reformulated gasoline= to reduce ozone disruption |
|
|
NAAQS Criteria Air Pollutants
|
Ozone; Lead; Particulates; Nitrogen oxides; Sulfur dioxides; Carbon monoxide
-Representing acceptable concentrations that would be protective of the general population, including sensitive groups |
|
|
Primary standards
|
-focused on human health and included sensitive groups
|
|
|
Secondary standards
|
-focused on Environmental and property damage
|
|
|
Carbon monoxide
|
-found at high levels in city
-weakens heart's contractions and lowers the amount of oxygen distributed to organs -a result of motor vehicle emissions and incomplete combustion |
|
|
Nitrogen oxides
|
-result of power plants, industry, and motor vehicles
-shortness of breath, coughing -irritates nose and throat for those w/ asthma -increases susceptibility to respiratory infections |
|
|
Lead
|
-lead based paint
-primary source was from leaded gasoline -leads to physical and neurological damage |
|
|
Particulate matter
|
-"all airborne pollutants that appear in liquid or solid form"
Ex. Pollen, dust, soot, smoke, acid Particles <1 micrometer to thumbnail in size -result from diesel vehicles, power plants, and industry -aggravates lung and heart diseases -toxic chemicals can accompany particulates -TSP=Total Suspended Particulates |
|
|
Sulfur Dioxide
|
-result of power plants, industrial facilities, and oil-burning home heaters
-also aggravates lung diseases like bronchitis -constricts breathing passages -wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing |
|
|
Ozone
|
-auto associated pollutant
-occurs when nitrogen dioxide +VOCs react with oxygen +sunlight Coughing, choking, reduced lung capacity -affects asthmatics, heart patients, and those with bronchitis -cracks rubber, deteriorates fabrics, impairs plant growth Ozone is good when it is in the upper levels of atmosphere; Bad when it is in the lower-levels of atmosphere |
|
|
Causes of Acid Rain and Deposition
|
-burning of fossil fuels
Sulfur dioxide and Nitrogen oxides react with water, oxygen, and oxides to form nitric and sulfuric acids -deposition of rains and dry gases/particles -cars, power plants, industry, electric plants |
|
|
Acid rain
|
-change in 1 pH unit indicates a 10 fold change
-Rain has a pH of 5.6 -Acidic rain has pH that is less than this -NJ Pine Barrens have the highest rates of acidic streams in the nation |
|
|
Effects of Acid Rain and Deposition
|
-Lake and Stream acidification=eutrophication
-Tree damage=forest degradation; strips nutrients -Effects Materials= decay of stone and paint; corrosion of metal; loss of cultural objects -Visibility= increases surface particulates in atmosphere; 50% visibility reduction in eastern US -Human health=aggravates asthma and bronchitis; nitrogen oxides can react with VOCs to form ozone which effects lung disorders |
|
|
Global Warming
|
-concentration of greenhouse gases are increasing:
-temperatures are increasing -sea levels are rising -increases the amount of time gases remain in atmosphere -polar ice caps have decreased by 4 feet over the last 40 years Emissions affecting greenhouse effect: carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide |
|
|
Impacts of global warming
|
-rising sea level
-extreme precipitation events -spread of tropical diseases; heat waves -lower soil moisture; alteration of agricultural lands -alter forests and water supplies -harm birds and fish -disappearance of ecosystems |
|
|
IPCC findings
|
-IPCC=Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
|
|
|
URBANIZATION
|
-people are moving to urban areas
|
|
|
MEGACITIES
|
-21 megacities
-Now: NYC, Mumbai, Mexico city, Tokyo |
|
|
EFFECTS ON ENVIRONMENT
|
-Urban penalty: underweight children, infectious parasitic diseases, affected by chronic disease, obesity, circulatory problems
-Reminiscent of England during Industrial Revolution |
|
|
PROBLEMS WITH MEGACITIES
|
-lack of clean water, sanitation
-lack protection for humans and environment -Pollution from rapid industrial growth -shanty town ans squatter devleopments -air pollution -produce a lot of garbage -loss of farmland |
