Presentation Transcript

1. Clean Air Act

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2. A U.S. law that authorizes the EPA to set limits on the amount of specific air pollutants that are permitted everywhere in the United States Focuses on six air pollutants (lead, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and ozone) McClain

3. Dust Dome

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4. A dome of heated air that surrounds an urban area and contains a lot of air pollution McClain

5. Electrostatic Preceptor

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6. An air pollution control device that gives ash a positive electrical charge so that it adheres to negatively charged plates Used in smelting and other combustible processes to remove dust, sulfuric acid & lead oxide. Some home purifiers/filters use this process, but produces ozone (bad for lungs) McClain

7. Green House Gases

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8. The gases that absorb infrared radiation, which include carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and tropospheric ozone, all of which are accumulating in the atmosphere as a result of human activities McClain

9. Hydrocarbons

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10. A diverse group of organic compounds that contain only hydrogen and carbon McClain

11. Industrial Smog

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12. The traditional, London-type smoke pollution, which consists principally of sulfur oxidesand particulate matter Smog is the brown-colored haze which hangs in the air over industrial areas. It is often visible over cities, particularly in summer when the particles in smog catch the light. McClain

13. Nitrogen oxides

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14. Gases produced by the chemical interactions between nitrogen and oxygen when a source of energy, such as combustion of fuels, produces high temperatures Often referred to as Nox McClain

15. Particulate Matter

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16. Solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in the atmosphere Often referred to as PM McClain

17. Persistent Organic Pollutants

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18. A group of persistent, toxic, chemicals that bioaccumulate in organisms and can travel long distances through air and water to contaminate sites far removed from their source; some disrupt the endocrine system, cause cancer, or adversely affect the developmental processes of organisms Also referred to as POPs McClain

19. Photochemical Smog

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20. A brownish orange haze formed by complex chemical reactions involving sunlight, nitrogenoxides, and hydrocarbonssome of the pollutants in photochemical smog include peroxyacyl nitrates (PANs), ground level ozone, and aldehydes McClain

21. Reading Prong

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22. Stretches from near Reading Pennsylvania, through northern New Jersey and southern New York. Soil contains elevated concentrations of uranium, the decay of which produces gaseous radonwhich seeps into houses and long term exposure results in lung cancer. McClain

23. Radon

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24. Info. McClain

25. Sick Building Syndrome

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26. Eye irritations, nausea, headaches, respiratory infections, depression, and fatigue caused by the presence of air pollution inside office buildings McClain

27. Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants

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28. An international (UN) treatyeffective in 2004 whose goal is to phase out the use of at least 12 persistent toxic chemicals (POPs), including PCBs, dioxins and furans (chemical contaminants), and DDT and eight other pesticides McClain

29. Thermal Inversion

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30. A layer of cold air temporarily trapped near the ground by a warmer, upper layer (acts like a cape & locks in smog). If this phenomenon persists, air pollutants may build up to harmful or even dangerous levels. Common in Los Angeles McClain

31. Urban Heat Islands

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32. Local heat buildup in an area of high population density with lots of darksurfaces (roads & buildings) that lowers albedo & buildings block wind circulation. Green space & green roofs helps reduce heat buildup.Often hotter downtown than in surrounding suburbs. McClain

33. Cultural Eutrophication

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34. Also known as Artificial Eutrophication.Over-nourishment of an aquatic ecosystem by nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates. In this event, the pace of eutrophication is rapidly accelerated due to human activities such as agriculture and discharge from sewage treatment plants McClain

35. Biological Oxygen Demand

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36. Also known as BOD.The amount of oxygen needed by microorganisms to decompose the organic material in a given volume of water. McClain

37. Bioremediation

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38. A method employed to clean up a hazardous waste site that uses microorganisms to break down the toxic pollutants. Genetic engineering is helping create organisms that can bioremediate. McClain

39. Clean Water Act

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40. A U.S. law that has two basic goals: Created in 1972 & amended in 1977, 1981, & 1987 To eliminate the discharge of pollutants in U.S. waterways 2. To attain water quality levels that make these waterways safe to fish and swim in. McClain

41. Eutrophic Lake

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42. A lake enriched with nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates and consequently overgrown with plants or algae (blooms); LOW dissolved oxygen (DO); fish kills result McClain

43. Fecal Coliform

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44. Coliform bacteria generally originate in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. A test can indicate of fecalcontamination with E.coliContamination usually comes from human sewage, livestock, and pet waste (dog & bird poop are common) McClain

45. Hypoxia

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46. LOW dissolved oxygen(DO) concentrations that occur in many bodies of water when nutrients stimulate the growth of algae that subsequently die and are decomposed by oxygen-using bacteria (decomposition).Creates “dead zones” McClain

47. Non-Point Source Pollution

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48. Pollutants that enter bodies of water over large areasrather than being concentrated at a single point of entry. Example: Cars on roads leak oil as they drive around all day/everyday…rain washes oil into water systems McClain

49. Oligotrophic Lake

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50. A lake that has minimal(few) nutrients buthigh dissolved oxygen. Usually clear & often used as drinking water. Has slow growth rate & low population density. McClain

51. Point Source Pollution

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52. Water pollution that can be tracedto a specific spot (such as a factory or sewage treatment plant) because it is discharged into the environment through pipes, sewers, or ditches McClain

53. Primary Sludge

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54. A slimy mixture of bacteria-laden solids that settles out from sewage wastewater duringprimary treatment McClain

55. Primary Treatment

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56. Also known as “mechanical treatment” or screening. Treating wastewater by removing gross suspended and floating large particles by mechanical processes. Large particles can include toilet paper and other trash. McClain

57. Secondary Treatment

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58. Treating wastewater biologically, by using microorganisms to decompose the suspended organic material (poop, food waste & soaps); occurs after primary treatment McClain

59. Secondary Treatment

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60. Biological solids are neutralized, then disposed of or reused; the treated water is disinfected either chemically (ozone or chlorine) or physically (lagoons or microfiltration). McClain

61. Red Tide

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62. A red, orange, or brown coloration of water caused by a bloom, or population explosion, of algae called dinoflagulates. They produce natural toxins, deplete dissolved oxygen, and have caused fish, birds, & mammal deaths. Produce a gas that irritateseyes and lungs. Red tide can end up in filter feeders like oysters and make people sick if they eat them. McClain

63. Thermal Pollution

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64. Water pollution that occurs when heatedwater produced during many industrial processes is released into waterways. The water is used to COOL coal & nuclear power plants (and other industries like steel) and the heated water is released into nearby waterways. The hot water is LOW in oxygen, and the large temperature difference kills fish. McClain

65. Bottom Ash

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66. The residual ash left and stays at the bottom of an incineratorduring coal combustion. McClain

67. Fly Ash

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68. The portion of the ash that escapes out the chimney (flue) of an incinerator during coal combustion.That ash can be trapped using electrostatic precipitators to prevent air pollution. McClain

69. Municipal Solid Waste

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70. Solid waste generated in homes, office buildings, retail stores, restaurants, schools, hospitals, prisons, libraries, and other commercial and institutional facilities. McClain

71. Non-Municipal Solid Waste

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72. Solid waste generated by industry, agriculture, and mining McClain

73. Photodegradable

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74. Breaking down upon exposure to sunlight. Plastics are photodegradable (not a full degrade…small pieces are left & can be eaten by animals) McClain

75. Polychlorinated biphenyls

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76. Also called PCBsChlorine-containing organic compounds that enjoyed a wide variety of industrial uses like coolant fluids until their dangerous properties, slow to degrade and therefore persist in the environmentCauses CANCERBanned by the United States Congress in 1979 and by the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants in 2001 McClain

77. Dioxins

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78. Produced by anthropogenic and natural (volcanoes) processes. Produced during smelting, chlorine bleaching of paper, production of herbicides & pesticides. Largest source is from solid waste & hospital waste incinerators. Accumulates in the food web, 90% of human exposure comes from food (meat, dairy, & fish). Can cause skin lesions, alter liver function, impair immune & reproductive systems, and cancer. McClain

79. Sanitary Landfill

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80. The most common method of disposal of solid waste by compacting it and burying it under a shallow layer of soil. Produces large amounts of methane once buried as bacteria break down the materials. Landfills account for 1/3 of all methane emissions in the US. Methane is vented using pipes. Researching technology to capture & use the methane. McClain

81. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) (Superfund Act)

    McClain
82. AU.S. law which established a program to tackle the huge challenge of cleaning up abandoned and illegal toxic waste sites across the United States. Money comes from a tax on chemical & petroleum companies.Created after discovery of a toxic waste dump was under Love Canal,New York. People had unknowingly built houses & a school on the dump and many became very sick & died. Then people were stuck in houses they could not sell. McClain

83. LD50

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84. Lethal Dose that kills50% of population of test organisms McClain

85. ED50

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86. Effective Dose that causes side effect in 50% of the population of test organisms McClain

87. Teratogen

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88. Agents that result in fetal/birth defect.Examples: Thalidomide (sedative was used during pregnancy) Measles causes deafnessAlcohol causes Fetal Alcohol Syndrome McClain

89. Acid Deposition

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90. Also known as Acid RainPrimary pollutants, sulfates & nitrogen combine with water in atmosphere to form sulfuric acid (H2SO4) & nitric acid vapor (HNO3) McClain

91. Aerosols

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92. Solid particles & droplets suspended in the atmosphere. Can help COOL earth (like clouds do) McClain

93. Asbestos

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94. A naturally occurring fibrous mineral that is flame/fire resistant previously used as insulationfor pipes & housing. Carcinogen causes mesothelioma. McClain

95. Carbon monoxide

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96. A colorless, odorless gas that results when fossil fuels are not fully combusted. Causes headaches, dizziness, loss of consciences, & death. Malfunctioning heating systems in houses have caused many deaths…a silent killer because you don’t realize you are being exposed usually until it is too late. McClain

97. Carbonic Acid

    McClain
98. Formed when water reacts with carbondioxide…lowers pH of water (acidic). The oceans have absorbed almost half of CO2 emitted by humans. Has lowered the world ocean pH by 0.1 and is called ocean acidification. McClain

99. Chlorofluorocarbons

    McClain
100. Also known as CFCs.Primary human-made compounds involved in the depletion of the ozone. Chlorines in CFCs break O3bonds. 1 CFC and destroy 100,000 ozone molecules. They are commonly used as refrigerants in air conditioners, refrigerators, and aerosol propellants. Banned by Montreal Protocol (UN treaty). McClain

101. Hydro chlorofluorocarbons

     McClain
102. Also known as HCFCsManmade compounds have potential to react with stratospheric ozone. Because they have a shorter atmospheric lifespan than CFCs, they tend to break down in the troposphere before delivering reactive chlorine to the stratosphere (to break O3 bonds). A CFC alternative. McClain

103. Hydrofluorocarbons

     McClain
104. Also known as HFCsManmade compounds that contain NO chlorineand do NOT directly affect stratospheric ozone. Viewed as acceptable long-term alternative to CFCs and HCFCs. But HFCs DO contribute to global warming. McClain

105. Ground-level Ozone

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106. A secondary pollutant found in the troposphere (where we live), considered a pollutant. Formed by sunlight reacting with NOx and VOCs. Is a major component of photochemical smog, and causes respiratory and plant damage. McClain

107. Ice Core

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108. A sample of ice that is typically drilled and removed from an ice sheet, usually the polar caps of Antarctica or Greenland. Layers of the ice core are analyzed for trapped gasand deposits, which give an accurate representation of historical climate & can be used to develop a climate record. McClain

109. Peroxyacetylnitrate

     McClain
110. Also known as PANProduced by reaction of some volatile organic hydrocarbons (VOCs) with oxygen and nitrogen dioxide (NOx), partially responsible for some negative effects of smog. Can decrease lung capacity and may cause emphysema. McClain

111. SOx

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112. The gases containing sulfur and oxygen (includes many combinations) that play a role in industrial smog. Present in crude oil & coal and SOx is released when they are burned. They include sulfur dioxide (SO2) and sulfur trioxide (SO4). McClain

113. Volatile Organic Compounds

     McClain
114. Also known as VOCsUnstable substances that can be released as gases from a wide variety of products, including carpeting, paints, aerosol sprays, cleaning products, building supplies, pesticides, printers, glues, wood preservatives, moth balls, and air fresheners. Examples: formaldehyde, acetone, and benzene. Causes eye, nose, throat irritation, headache, liver & kidney damage, nausea, and cancer. McClain

115. Volatile Organic Compounds

     McClain
116. Also known as VOCsUnstable substances that can be released as gases from a wide variety of products, including carpeting, paints, aerosol sprays, cleaning products, building supplies, pesticides, printers, glues, wood preservatives, moth balls, and air fresheners. Causes eye, nose, throat irritation, headache, liver & kidney damage, nausea, and cancer. McClain

117. Minamata Disease

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118. 27 tons of mercury-containing compounds from industrial processes were dumped into Minamata Bay, Japan between 1932-1968. The mercury collected (bioaccumulated) in fish & shellfish caught in the bay.Symptoms include blurred vision, hearing loss, blindness, loss of muscular coordination, reproductive disorders, death. Over 2,500 victims were mainly children born with it. McClain

119. Exxon Valdez

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120. In 1989, the oil tanker Exxon Valdez spilled up to 30 million gallons of oil into Prince William Sound, Alaska. About 250,000 sea birds, 3,000 sea otters, 300 seals, 300 bald eagles, 22 whales died along with billions of salmon and herring eggs. After this spill, the US requires all tankers to have a double hull to prevent the same kinds of accidents. McClain

121. Hole in Ozone

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122. Has caused: Increased skin cancer rates, sunburn rates, cataracts, crop damage, reduction in crop production, increase mutation rates & chromosomal damage, & climate change. McClain

123. Reducing Ozone Depletion

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124. Tariffs on products produced in countries that allow the use of CFCs.Use of HCFCs instead of CFCs.Use of helium, ammonia, propane, or butane as a coolant alternativesTax credits for turning in old refrigerators and air conditionsSupport legislation that reduces ozone-destroying products. McClain

125. Impacts of Global Warming

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126. Shutdown of thermocline circulation (ocean conveyor belt)Increased wild fires & pest infectionMethane released from melting permafrost Decreased agriculture productivityDestabilization of governmentsRise in sea levelsOcean acidification: Increased CO2 McClain

127. Thermohaline Circulation

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128. Another name for theOcean Conveyor Belt McClain

129. Montreal Protocol

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130. 1989: An agreement among nations requiring the phase-out of chemicals that damage the ozone layer (CFCs) McClain

131. Kyoto Protocol

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132. International treaty on industrialized countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (especially CO2). Problem is that developing countries do NOThave target amounts for reduction, but are to work to reduce emissions. The US disagrees with not forcing developing countries not having targets and have refused to ratify (sign/agree) the protocol. McClain

133. International Panel on Climate Change

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134. Also called the IPCCAn international scientific intergovernmental body under the UN. It produces reports that supports the UNFCCC’s goal. Leading climatologists & other scientists write summary reports for policymakers. Its focus is on: 1. Human-induced climate change2. The impacts of human-induced climate change3. Options for adaptation & mitigation McClain

135. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

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136. Also called the UNFCCCThe IPCC produces reports that supports the UNFCCC’s (formally known as Earth Summit) goal. The UNFCCC is a treaty among UN countries. The main goal of UNFCCC is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations (CO2in particular) in the atmosphere. It later negotiated for the Kyoto Protocol (which the US refuses to agree to) McClain