Air Pollutants and Sources Quiz

Air Pollutants and Their Sources

• Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a common air pollutant emitted by natural and human sources such as volcanic eruptions, power plants, industrial facilities, and vehicles burning high-sulfur fuel.
• Nitrogen oxides, including nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), are hazardous pollutants primarily emitted by combustion processes at high temperatures, particularly from traffic in cities.
• Ozone is a pale blue gas that forms in large concentrations in cities due to the chemical reaction between nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, originating from traffic and combustion emissions.
• Particulate Matter (PM) consists of solid and liquid particles suspended in the air, emitted directly from sources like combustion processes and windblown dust, or formed in the atmosphere through the transformation of gases emitted such as SO2.
• Lead (Pb) emissions into the atmosphere primarily come from gasoline-powered vehicles, chemical industries, mining industries, metal smelting, waste incineration, coal combustion, and battery manufacturing.
• Exposure to sulfur dioxide can cause short-term effects like sneezing and coughing, and long-term effects including lung damage and bronchitis.
• Nitrogen oxides can lead to respiratory issues, lower resistance to infections, and, at high levels, can cause burns, spasms, and tissue dilation in the throat and upper airways, leading to fluid buildup in the lungs and death.
• Ozone at high concentrations can irritate the respiratory system, aggravate asthma and chronic lung diseases, reduce lung function, and shorten life expectancy.
• Long-term exposure to suspended particles in the environment can affect the lungs of both children and adults, and lead to a shorter life expectancy, especially in people with cardiac and pulmonary conditions.
• Lead is considered very dangerous for the environment as it does not degrade, leading to bioaccumulation in living organisms and affecting food chains.
• Volcanic eruptions, power plants, industrial facilities, and vehicles burning high-sulfur fuel are major sources of sulfur dioxide emissions.
• Traffic in cities is the primary source of nitrogen oxides, while traffic and combustion emissions contribute to the formation of high concentrations of ozone.