Module 13 Air Pollution and Global Change Study Guide

Air is a mixture of many gases including: Nitrogen, Oxygen,

Carbon Dioxide, and Water Vapor and trace other gases.
Any change in the atmosphere that has harmful effects is called
air pollution
Any substance that causes pollution is called a pollutant
Solid particles and gases that are released into the air are called
emissions
Main cause of emissions is by motor vehicles releasing carbon
monoxide into the air
When certain gases in the air react with sunlight it can create a
think brownish haze called photochemical smog
When the smog level is high it can settle over a city creating a
dirty haze
Potential threats to humans are breathing trouble, throat
irritation and burning eyes
Major sources of smog are the gases emitted by vehicles
Acid rain is another type of air pollution
It is caused by power plants and factories that burn coal and oil
and release chemicals into the air
These gases react with water vapor in the atmosphere forming
acids which return to Earths surface in the form of
precipitation
Acid rain affects many things in the environment including: fish,
plants, buildings, statues, etc
The air inside buildings can be polluted too= indoor air
pollution
Dust, pet hair, air fresheners, smoke and toxic fumes from
cleaning supplies can all contribute to air pollution
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is an indoor air pollutant that is a
colorless and odorless gas that forms when wood, coal, oil or
gas is not completely burned
Radon is another colorless and odorless gas formed naturally by
certain rocks underground that is radioactive.
Humans are the leading factor in creating air pollution and other
hazardous wastes on earth
Humans contribute to deforestation (cutting down trees which
produce oxygen)
Humans also effect the natural process on earth called The
Greenhouse effect
Hazardous waste is any material that can be harmful to human
health or the environment if not properly disposed of

 Greenhouse gases trap heat in the air which aids in keep the
earth a suitable temperature for us to survive
Humans add greenhouse gases to the atmosphere through
everyday activities including driving and burning fossil fuels
The more greenhouse gases that are trapped in the atmosphere
the more likely it is for our overall temperature of earth to
increase (global warming)
Toxic waste= or poisonous wastes are wastes that can damage
health of humans or other organisms
Explosive wastes= wastes that react very quickly when
exposed to the air or water or that explode when they are
dropped
Flammable wastes= catch fire easily and can begin burning at
fairly low temperatures
Corrosive wastes= wastes that dissolve or eat through many
materials
Radioactive wastes = contain unstable atoms that give off
radiation that can cause cancer and other diseases
Short term exposure to hazardous wastes may cause irritation
to certain body parts or more severe health problems
Long term exposure may cause diseases such as cancer and
may damage body organs including: the brain, liver, kidneys
and lungs
Methods of hazardous waste disposal include burial in landfills,
incineration and breakdown by living organisms
Liquid wastes can be stored in deep rock layers
Most often Hazardous wastes are disposed in carefully designed
landfills
These landfills are lined with plastic to keep chemicals from
seeping into the soil and groundwater (which could cause serious
contamination and health problems)
The best way to manage hazardous waste is to produce less of
them and educate consumers on finding subsitutes for common
household chemicals