unit 7 8

Question 1

What is a primary pollutant?

Answer 1

Emitted directly from a source into the atmosphere.

Question 2

What is a secondary pollutant?

Answer 2

Forms in the atmosphere after chemical reactions.

Question 3

What is photochemical smog?

Answer 3

Smoky haze in the air in urban areas due to car pollution.

Question 4

What is a thermal inversion?

Answer 4

Cold air on bottom, warm air on top, traps pollutants near ground level.

Question 5

What are wet/dry scrubbers?

Answer 5

Large filters to remove industrial pollutants at the source.

Question 6

What did the Clean Air Act (1970) identify?

Answer 6

Criteria air pollutants to monitor and regulate.

Question 7

What are primary pollutants?

Answer 7

Emitted directly into the atmosphere from a source.

Question 8

What are secondary emissions?

Answer 8

Form from chemical reactions happening in the atmosphere.

Question 9

What components contribute to photochemical smog?

Answer 9

• NOx
• VOCs
• Sunlight
• Heat

Question 10

What is particulate matter?

Answer 10

Solid or liquid particles suspended in air.

Question 11

What are the two different sizes of particulate matter?

Answer 11

• PM10 - dust, pollen, ash, or mold
• PM2.5 - particles from combustion or smaller dust

Question 12

What are the primary pollutants that cause acid precipitation?

Answer 12

• NOx
• SO2

Question 13

What are methods to reduce air pollution?

Answer 13

• Laws to control emissions
• Alternative fuels
• Use renewable energy sources
• Vapor recovery nozzle
• Catalytic converter
• Wet and dry scrubbers
• Electrostatic precipitator

Question 14

True or False: Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a criteria pollutant.

Answer 14

False

Question 15

What is radon gas and its significance?

Answer 15

Indoor air pollutant that can cause lung cancer.

Question 16

What natural sources contribute to particulate matter?

Answer 16

• Sea
• Soil
• Pollen
• Ash from forest fires and volcanoes
• Dust

Question 17

Fill in the blank: The reduction of air pollution involves ______ emissions.

Answer 17

[reducing]

Question 19

What is Point Source Pollution?

Answer 19

Pollutants that can be traced back to a single source.

Question 20

What is Nonpoint Source Pollution?

Answer 20

Pollutants that enter the environment from multiple sources and cannot be traced to one specific origin.

Question 21

What are Endocrine Disruptors?

Answer 21

Chemicals that interfere with the endocrine system, leading to birth defects, gender imbalances, and developmental disorders.

Question 22

What is Eutrophication?

Answer 22

The process where nutrient pollution leads to algal blooms, resulting in dead zones.

Question 23

What does LD50 refer to?

Answer 23

The dose of a chemical that is lethal to 50% of a population.

Question 24

What are Oil Spills?

Answer 24

The release of liquid petroleum into the environment from ships, natural leaks, or accidents.

They harm marine organisms, decrease fisheries, and affect tourism.

Question 25

What are Heavy Metals?

Answer 25

Metals that are often toxic at low concentrations, such as Lead and Mercury. ## Footnote Sources include mining, waste, and industrial activities.

Question 26

What is Solid Waste?

Answer 26

Trash or litter resulting from improper disposal of waste. ## Footnote It can cause unsightliness, choking hazards, and entanglement.

Question 27

What is Sediment Pollution?

Answer 27

Loose soil particles in water carried by runoff from soil erosion. ## Footnote It reduces photosynthesis.

Question 28

What is Thermal Pollution?

Answer 28

Heat released into bodies of water from industrial plants. ## Footnote Warm water holds less dissolved oxygen, affecting ecological tolerance.

Question 29

What are Nutrient Pollutants?

Answer 29

Excess nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, from fertilizer runoff, sewage, and manure. ## Footnote They lead to eutrophication and low oxygen levels.

Question 30

What are Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)?

Answer 30

Synthetic chemicals that do not break down easily and can cause human health effects like cancer and hormone disruption.

Question 31

What role do Wetlands and Mangroves play?

Answer 31

They help filter and remove pollutants from runoff but are threatened by human activities.

Question 32

What is Bioaccumulation?

Answer 32

The accumulation of pollutants in an organism over time.

Question 33

What is Biomagnification?

Answer 33

The increasing concentration of pollutants in organisms at each successive level of the food chain.

Question 34

What is the significance of the Clean Water Act?

Answer 34

It is a law aimed at regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States.

Question 35

What is the importance of Waste Reduction?

Answer 35

The principles of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle help minimize waste and conserve resources.

Question 36

What happens during Sewage Treatment?

Answer 36

As BOD increases due to algae blooms, dissolved oxygen levels decrease, creating dead zones. ## Footnote This leads to a positive feedback loop of more BOD and less DO.

Question 37

What are the risks of Landfills?

Answer 37

They can leak and contaminate groundwater and release harmful gases.

Question 38

What are major human health issues related to pollutants?

Answer 38

Dysentery, mesothelioma from asbestos, and respiratory diseases from tropospheric ozone.

Question 39

What are mosquito-borne diseases?

Answer 39

Diseases transmitted via mosquito vectors, which may become more prevalent as mosquito ranges expand with climate change.