Help
Options
Didn't know it?
click below
click below
Knew it?
click below
click below
Don't Know
Remaining cards (0)
Know
retry
shuffle
restart
0:00
Embed Code - If you would like this activity on your web page, copy the script below and paste it into your web page.
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Air Pollution
Effects of Air Pollutants on Health
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Air | The mixture of invisible tasteless gases (nitrogen and oxygen) that surrounds the earth |
| Air Quality Index (AQI) | The Pollution Standards Index. Scientists use it to describe how clean or dirty the air is based on five main pollutants |
| Baghouse | A large filter that works very much like a giant vacuum. Heavy dirt particles fall out and are removed; smaller particulates are trapped on filters (bags). Industries use to help decrease air pollution |
| Carbon Dioxide (CO2) | A colorless, odorless gas formed during breathing, combustion and decaying that adds to the greenhouse effect |
| Carbon Monoxide (CO) | A colorless, odorless gas made of one carbon atom and one oxygen atom |
| Catalytic Converters | An emission-control device that changes hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide in automobile exhaust into carbon dioxide and water vapor |
| Cyclone | A device that provides low-cost method of controlling particulate pollutants.The swirling motion creates inertia that causes the dust particles to collect against the wall, then they can be disposed of |
| Dioxin | A highly-toxic family of chemicals used to make poisonous substances, such as weed killers and bleaching products (like for paper). It is poisonous at 1ppb (part per billion) |
| Electrostatic Precipitator | A device for controlling particulate pollutants. A static charge makes dirt particles stick to electrified plates (static electricity on clothes). The dirt is knocked loose, collected and removed. |
| Emissions | Gases or particles that are given off when fossil fuels are burned |
| Fossil Fuel | Something that forms naturally, underground from the remains of ancient organisms (plants and animals) from millions of years ago. Coal is an example. |
| Hydrocarbon | An organic compound containing atoms of hydrogen and carbon |
| Industrial Smog | Air that contains sulfur oxide and solid particles that are released when fossil fuels are burned. It appears as a grayish haze and usually forms over heavily industrialized cities |
| Nitrogen Oxides | gases that form when nitrogen and oxygen in the atmosphere are burned with fossil fuels at high temperatures |
| Oxygen | A colorless, tasteless and odorless gaseous element that constitutes 21% of the atmosphere |
| Ozone (O3) | Ground-level ozone is the principle component of smog, created from chemical reactions and of pollutants: VOCs, and NOx |
| Particulate Matter | Very small particles of solid matter and or droplets of liquid. It includes things that have been burned, ash, smoke, soot, dust, pollen, soil or even chemicals - basically, anything that floats in the air |
| Photochemical Smog | A condition that occurs when strong sunlight reacts with pollution (formaldehyde, ozone and pollutants from cars and power plants) It appears as a brownish-orange haze and usually appears over large cities |
| pollutant | A harmful chemical or waste material discharged into the water of the atmosphere. Some are visible and some are invisible |
| Reformed Gasoline (RFG) | A cleaner-burning form of gasoline that reduces the amount of pollutants emitted into the air through an automobile's tailpipe and via evaporation from the gas tank. Oxygenates are a principle component |
| Scrubber | A particulate pollution-reduction device in which solid particles and gases are trapped as they pass through a fine water mist. Sometimes the mist is injected with limestone powder to help extract the dirt particles. it unfortunately produces wastewater |
| Smog | A combination of smoke and fog in the air |
| Thermal Inversion | When an upper layer of warm air traps the pollutants over a lower layer of cool air, preventing normal atmospheric circulation. |
| Visible Pollutants | Air pollution that can be seen with the naked eye |
| Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) | Organic chemicals that are volatile and escape into the air easily. Many are also hazardous air pollutants, which can cause very serious illnesses. Aerosol hairspray and air freshener are both examples |
Created by:
tbostwick
Popular Earth Science sets