Week 5 Textbook Readings: Air Pollution

Reduced visibility.

A class of air pollutants formed as a result of sunlight acting on compounds such as nitrogen oxides.

A secondary pollutant made up of three oxygen atoms bound together.

Smog dominated by sulfur dioxide and sulfate compounds. Gray smog. Industrial smog.

Smog that is dominated by oxidants such as ozone. Brown smog.

An organic compound that evaporates at typical atmospheric temperatures.

A polluting compound that comes directly out of a smokestack, exhaust pipe, or natural emission source.

A primary pollutant that has undergone transformation in the presence of sunlight, water, oxygen, or other compounds.

Caused by combustion of fuels that contain sulfur like coal, oil, gasoline

Leads to respiratory irritation, harms stomata and plant tissue, converts to sulfuric acid in atmosphere which harms aquatic life and some vegetation

Caused by all combustion in the atmosphere (ex. fossil fuels, wood, other biomass burning)

Leads to respiratory irritation; is an ozone precursor, leads to formation of photochemical smog; converts to nitric acid in atmosphere which harms aquatic life and some vegetation; leads to over-fertilization of terrestrial and aquatic systems

Caused by incomplete combustion, malfunctioning exhaust systems, poorly ventilated cooking fires

Leads to interference with oxygen transport in bloodstream because it bonds to hemoglobin; low concentrations cause headaches; prolonged exposure and high concentration causes death

Caused by combustion of coal, oil, diesel and biofuels (wood, manure, etc.); activities that mobilize soil, soot, and dust (ex. agriculture and road construction).

Leads to reduced lung function; exacerbates respiratory and cardiovascular disease; premature death; reduced visibility; contributes to haze and smog

Caused by its addition to gasoline; oil, coal, old paint

Leads to central nervous system impairment, can have effects on learning and concentration at low concentrations

Leads to reduced lung function and exacerbated respiratory symptoms; degrades plant surfaces; damages materials such as rubber and plastic

Caused by a combination of sunlight, water, oxygen. VOCs, and NOx

Caused by evaporation of fuels, solvents, paints; improper combustion of fuels like gasoline

Is a precursor to ozone formation

Caused by coal, oil, gold mining

Leads to central nervous system impairment, bioaccumulates in food chain