Environmental Chapter 12: Air

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What causes air pollution?

Harmful substances that build up in the air to unhealthy levels

Nitrogen

78%

Oxygen

21%

Other gases

1%

Examples of Other Gases

ozone, neon, helium

Most Air pollution is the result of:

human activity

Sources of Natural Pollution

Volcanos

Sources of Natural Pollution

Dust

Sources of Natural Pollution

Pollen

Sources of Natural Pollution

Spores

Sources of Man-Made Pollution

Industry

Sources of Man-Made Pollution

Power Plants

Sources of Man-Made Pollution

Transportation

Sources of Man-Made Pollution

Household Products

Sources of Man-Made Pollution

Construction

Sources of Man-Made Pollution

Agriculture

Types of Pollutants

Primary-put directly in the air by human activity

Example-Soot

Soot=impure carbon from incomplete combustion

Secondary-forms when...

primary pollutants react with other primary pollutants

or with naturally occurring substances.

examples: water vapor, oxygen

Ground level ozone comes from...

Burning fossil fuels

Sources of Primary Air Pollutants

Household Products

Power Plants

Motor Vehicles

Particulate Matter

Burned fuel from vehicles

Coal Burning power plants

cement plants

mining

incinerators

Oil Refineries

Metal Smelting

What are the FIVE primary air pollutants?

Carbon Monoxide

Nitrogen Oxides

Sulfer Dioxide

Volatile organic compounds

Particulate Matter

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Clean Air Act

A law that gives the EPA the authority to regulate vehicle emission in the United States.

Their job is to protect and improve the nation's air quality and the stratospheric ozone layer.

EPA= Environmental Protection Agency

This required the gradual elimination of ________ from gasoline.

Lead

Why is the world air quality wise than previous era's? (pg 305)

Modern Industrial burns LARGE amounts of fossil fuels.

Gasoline contributes to 1/3 of air pollution.

Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV)

An electric car is powered by battery.

No tailpipe emissions

No emission control systems=has no catalytic converter.

Partial Zero Emission Vehicles

Hybrids=powered by battery and gasoline engine.

Methanol=burns alcohol

Scrubbers

moves gases through water to dissolve pollutants

Smog

When air pollution hangs over urban areas and reduces visibility.

It results from chemical reactions that involve:

sunlight

air

automobile exhaust

ozone

Temperature Inversion

When there is warmer air above cooler air.

It traps pollutants in the atmosphere.

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