38 Questions
What type of chemicals are found in particulates in the fraction PM2.5?
Sulfate and nitrate
Why do PM2.5 sulfate and ozone tend to occur together in urban air pollution?
They have similar chemical properties
What is one major health effect associated with high levels of ozone?
Episodes of asthma
What does recent research suggest about the impact of PM2.5 and sulfate on cities?
They cause an increase in deaths
What is one reason why particulate air pollution is considered a significant health risk?
There is no obvious level below which the public is protected
Why are hydrocarbons like benzo(a) Pyrene included among the criteria air pollutants?
As they act as catalysts in smog formation
What is the impact of an unstable atmosphere on pollution dispersal?
Effluents are rapidly dispersed throughout the atmosphere
What is a characteristic of a stable atmosphere?
Vertical mixing is very little
What type of atmospheric condition is associated with sub adiabatic lapse rate?
Stable
What does the term 'neutral stability' refer to in the context of the atmosphere?
The ambient lapse rate equals the dry adiabatic lapse rate
How does an inversion layer influence the dispersion of pollutants?
By restricting vertical mixing, leading to slow dispersion of pollutants
What is a common characteristic of an elevated subsidence inversion?
Associated with high-pressure systems
Which type of particulates is associated with an elevated risk of mortality and morbidity, especially among asthmatics and the elderly?
PM 2.5
What is the primary contributor to respirable particles indoors in developed countries?
Tobacco smoke
What is the standard set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for particulate matter in ambient air?
265 μg/m3
What type of particulates mainly consist of carbon-containing material and are produced from combustion?
PM 10
Where do usual concentrations of particulates range from 500 μg/m3 in bars and waiting rooms to about 50 μg/m3?
Homes
How do larger particulates (PM 10) differ from the smaller particulates (PM 2.5) in terms of their effect on human health?
Larger particulates are less harmful than smaller particulates
What is the primary source of lead in ambient air?
Combustion of leaded petrol
Why is it important to remove lead from gasoline according to the text?
To prevent nerve damage
What does the dry adiabatic lapse rate refer to?
How quickly dry air cools as it rises
What is the term used to describe air in motion from an area of high pressure to low pressure?
Wind
What does the moist adiabatic lapse rate depend on?
Amount of moisture the air can hold before condensation begins
Why is it important to understand natural processes responsible for dispersion of pollutants?
To prevent dangerous levels of pollutants near emission sources
What determines the degree of stability of the atmosphere according to the text?
Rate of change of ambient temperature with altitude
Which term describes pollutants emitted from anthropogenic sources being transported and diluted in the atmosphere before reaching receptors?
Dispersion
What process causes a dilution of air pollutant concentration?
Wind motion
What is responsible for determining day-to-day variations in air quality at a specific site?
Weather factors like wind strength and sunlight availability
What is the term used to describe air at a given altitude that has physical forces acting on it that make it want to remain at that elevation?
Stable air
Which factor largely determines the ease with which pollutants can disperse vertically into the atmosphere?
Rate of change of air temperature with altitude
What kind of atmosphere is described when the environmental lapse rate is greater than the dry adiabatic lapse rate?
Super adiabatic atmosphere
What assumption is made about the process of an air parcel moving upward or downward in the atmosphere?
The process is adiabatic
When the environmental lapse rate and the dry adiabatic lapse rate are exactly the same, what type of atmosphere is present?
Neutrally stable atmosphere
What happens to a rising parcel of air in a super adiabatic atmosphere?
It becomes warmer and less dense than the surroundings
What is an important factor that helps determine the ability of the atmosphere to dilute emissions?
Atmospheric stability
What does a negative sign indicate in relation to temperature and altitude?
Temperature decreases with increasing altitude
What happens to an air parcel that moves upward in the atmosphere?
It expands and cools
What term is used to describe an atmosphere where a displaced mass of air neither returns to its original position nor continues its displacement?
Neutrally stable atmosphere
Explore the impact of particulate matter (aerosols) on human health, including mortality and morbidity risks. Learn about sources of particulate matter such as fireplaces, stoves, tobacco smoke, and exhaust emissions. Understand the US Environmental Protection Agency's standards for ambient air quality.
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