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Questions and Answers
What is air pollution defined as?
What is air pollution defined as?
- The presence of one or more contaminants in the atmosphere that are injurious to human beings, plants, and animals (correct)
- The absence of contaminants in the atmosphere
- The introduction of harmless substances into the atmosphere
- The natural process of atmospheric renewal
What is a major role of air pollution according to the text?
What is a major role of air pollution according to the text?
- Reducing global climate change
- Contributing to nuclear hazards
- Polluting the water supply
- Increasing premature deaths throughout the world (correct)
What are the two main categories of air pollution sources?
What are the two main categories of air pollution sources?
- Urban and rural
- Industrial and agricultural
- Natural and man-made (correct)
- Visible and invisible
What is an example of a natural source of air pollution?
What is an example of a natural source of air pollution?
Which of the following is a man-made source of air pollution?
Which of the following is a man-made source of air pollution?
What is a classification of air pollutants?
What is a classification of air pollutants?
What is a consequence of air pollution according to the text?
What is a consequence of air pollution according to the text?
Which organization reported on air pollution in 2019?
Which organization reported on air pollution in 2019?
What is environmental science?
What is environmental science?
What does the term 'ecosystem' derive from?
What does the term 'ecosystem' derive from?
What is the main characteristic of an ecosystem?
What is the main characteristic of an ecosystem?
What percentage of the world's land area is occupied by forests?
What percentage of the world's land area is occupied by forests?
What is an example of a terrestrial ecosystem?
What is an example of a terrestrial ecosystem?
What is the main characteristic of a grassland ecosystem?
What is the main characteristic of a grassland ecosystem?
What is the percentage of the world's land area occupied by grasslands?
What is the percentage of the world's land area occupied by grasslands?
What is an example of an aquatic ecosystem?
What is an example of an aquatic ecosystem?
What is a major environmental effect of sulfur dioxide emissions?
What is a major environmental effect of sulfur dioxide emissions?
According to the WHO, what percentage of cities in the Americas saw a fall in PM pollution between 2010 and 2016?
According to the WHO, what percentage of cities in the Americas saw a fall in PM pollution between 2010 and 2016?
What is a common source of lead in the environment?
What is a common source of lead in the environment?
What are the health effects of ground-level ozone?
What are the health effects of ground-level ozone?
What is a method to control air pollution mentioned in the text?
What is a method to control air pollution mentioned in the text?
What is the purpose of a catalytic converter?
What is the purpose of a catalytic converter?
What type of device can be used to remove particulates from a gas stream?
What type of device can be used to remove particulates from a gas stream?
What is the principle of operation of a cyclone separator?
What is the principle of operation of a cyclone separator?
What percentage of energy is lost in the form of heat as it flows through different trophic levels?
What percentage of energy is lost in the form of heat as it flows through different trophic levels?
What is the primary role of nutrients in ecosystems?
What is the primary role of nutrients in ecosystems?
What is the primary component of all organic compounds?
What is the primary component of all organic compounds?
What is the process by which plants take up CO2 from the atmosphere?
What is the process by which plants take up CO2 from the atmosphere?
What is the primary source of nitrogen in the atmosphere?
What is the primary source of nitrogen in the atmosphere?
What happens to the carbon compounds in the soil after decomposition?
What happens to the carbon compounds in the soil after decomposition?
What is the process by which carbon is returned to the atmosphere from plants and animals?
What is the process by which carbon is returned to the atmosphere from plants and animals?
What is the result of the cycling of nutrients in an ecosystem?
What is the result of the cycling of nutrients in an ecosystem?
What is the primary source of primary pollutants?
What is the primary source of primary pollutants?
Which of the following is an example of a secondary pollutant?
Which of the following is an example of a secondary pollutant?
What is the major source of indoor air pollution according to the World Health Organization (WHO)?
What is the major source of indoor air pollution according to the World Health Organization (WHO)?
What is carbon monoxide (CO)?
What is carbon monoxide (CO)?
Which of the following is NOT a primary pollutant?
Which of the following is NOT a primary pollutant?
What is the major health risk associated with indoor air pollution?
What is the major health risk associated with indoor air pollution?
What is the source of radon gas in indoor air pollution?
What is the source of radon gas in indoor air pollution?
What is the major cause of indoor air pollution?
What is the major cause of indoor air pollution?
Study Notes
Air Pollution
- Air pollution is one of the most concerning problems and has a major role in global climate change and premature deaths worldwide.
- Air pollution refers to the introduction of substances into the atmosphere that have harmful effects on humans, other living organisms, and the environment.
- Sources of air pollution can be divided into two categories: natural (e.g., volcanic eruption, forest fires) and man-made (e.g., automobiles, thermal power plants, industries, burning of fossil fuels).
Types of Air Pollutants
- Primary pollutants: released directly from the source into the air (e.g., carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxides, particulate matter, toxic metals).
- Secondary pollutants: produced through reactions between primary pollutants and normal atmospheric compounds (e.g., ground-level ozone, sulfuric acid, nitric acid).
Indoor Air Pollution
- Indoor air generally contains higher concentrations of toxic pollutants than outdoor air.
- Examples of indoor air pollutants: radon gas, burning of fuels in the kitchen, smoking.
Common Pollutants
- Carbon Monoxide (CO): a toxic gas emitted from combustion processes, can cause environmental damage and health problems.
- Lead: a metal found naturally in the environment and in manufactured products, can damage the nervous system and cause heart problems.
- Ground-level ozone (O3): a reactive oxidant gas created by the interaction of sunlight, heat, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds, can cause respiratory problems and damage vegetation.
Controlling Air Pollution
- Use unleaded gasoline, biodiesel, and low-sulfur fuels.
- Plant trees along busy streets to reduce particulates, CO, and noise.
- Situate industries outside the city.
- Use catalytic converters to control emissions of CO and hydrocarbons.
- Implement mechanical devices like electrostatic precipitators, baghouse filters, cyclone separators, and wet scrubbers to remove pollutants.
Cyclone Separators
- A low-cost, low-maintenance method of removing larger particulates from a gas stream.
- Uses the principle of inertia separation, forcing particulates to change direction.
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Description
Air pollution is a major concern globally, contributing to climate change and premature deaths. This quiz covers various types of air pollutants and their effects.
