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Clean Air Act

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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)

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Dust Dome

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A dome of heated air that surrounds an urban area and contains a lot of air

pollution

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Electrostatic Preceptor

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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)

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Green House Gases

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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

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Hydrocarbons

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A diverse group of organic compounds that contain

only hydrogen and carbon

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Industrial Smog

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The traditional, London-type smoke pollution,

which consists principally of sulfur oxides and 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.

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Nitrogen

oxides

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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

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Particulate Matter

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Solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in the

atmosphere

Often referred to as PM

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Persistent Organic

Pollutants

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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

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Photochemical Smog

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A brownish orange haze formed by complex chemical reactions involving

sunlight, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons

some of the pollutants in photochemical smog include peroxyacyl nitrates (PANs), ground

level ozone, and aldehydes

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Reading Prong

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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 radon which seeps into houses and long term exposure results in lung cancer.

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Radon

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Info.

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Sick Building

Syndrome

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Eye irritations, nausea, headaches, respiratory infections, depression,

and fatigue caused by the presence of air pollution inside

office buildings

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Stockholm Convention on

Persistent Organic

Pollutants

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An international (UN) treaty effective 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

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Thermal

Inversion

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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

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Urban Heat

Islands

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Local heat buildup in an area of high population density with lots of dark

surfaces (roads & buildings) that lowers albedo & buildings block wind

circulation. Green space & green roofs helps reduce heat buildup.

Often hotter downtown than in surrounding suburbs.

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Cultural Eutrophicati

on

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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

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Biological Oxygen Demand

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Also known as BOD.

The amount of oxygen needed by microorganisms to decompose the

organic material in a given volume of water.

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Bioremediation

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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.

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Clean Water

Act

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A U.S. law that has two basic goals:

Created in 1972 & amended in 1977, 1981, & 1987

1. 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.

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Eutrophic Lake

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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

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Fecal Coliform

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Coliform bacteria generally originate in the intestines of

warm-blooded animals. A test can indicate of fecal contamination

with E.coli

Contamination usually comes from human sewage, livestock, and pet

waste (dog & bird poop are common)

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Hypoxia

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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”

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Non-Point Source

Pollution

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Pollutants that enter bodies of water over large areas rather 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

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Oligotrophic Lake

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A lake that has minimal (few) nutrients but high dissolved

oxygen. Usually clear & often used as drinking water. Has

slow growth rate & low population density.

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Point Source

Pollution

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Water pollution that can be traced to a specific spot (such as a factory or sewage treatment plant) because it is discharged into the environment through

pipes, sewers, or ditches

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Primary Sludge

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A slimy mixture of bacteria-laden solids that settles out

from sewage wastewater during primary treatment

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Primary Treatme

nt

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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.

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Secondary

Treatment

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Treating wastewater biologically, by using microorganisms to

decompose the suspended organic material (poop, food waste & soaps); occurs after primary

treatment

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Secondary

Treatment

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Biological solids are neutralized, then disposed of or reused; the treated

water is disinfected either chemically (ozone or chlorine) or physically

(lagoons or microfiltration).

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Red Tide

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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 irritates eyes and lungs. Red tide can end up in filter feeders like oysters and make people sick if they eat them.

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Thermal

Pollution

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Water pollution that occurs when heated water 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.

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Bottom Ash

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The residual ash left and stays at the bottom of an incinerator during coal

combustion.

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Fly Ash

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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.

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Municipal Solid Waste

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Solid waste generated in homes, office buildings, retail stores, restaurants, schools, hospitals, prisons, libraries, and other commercial and

institutional facilities.

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Non-Municipal

Solid Waste

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Solid waste generated by industry,

agriculture, and mining

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Photodegradable

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Breaking down upon exposure to sunlight.

Plastics are photodegradable (not a full degrade…small

pieces are left & can be eaten by animals)

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Polychlorinated

biphenyls

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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 CANCER

Banned by the United States Congress in 1979 and by the

Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants

in 2001

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Dioxins

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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.

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Sanitary

Landfill

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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.

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Comprehensive Environmental

Response, Compensation,

and Liability Act (CERCLA)

(Superfund Act)

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A U.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.

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LD50

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Lethal Dose that kills 50% of population of test

organisms

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ED50

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Effective Dose that causes side effect in

50% of the population of test organisms

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Teratogen

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Agents that result in fetal/birth defect.

Examples: Thalidomide (sedative was used during pregnancy) Measles causes deafness

Alcohol causes Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

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Acid Depositi

on

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Also known as Acid Rain

Primary pollutants, sulfates & nitrogen combine with water in atmosphere to form sulfuric

acid (H2SO4) & nitric acid vapor (HNO3)

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Aerosols

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Solid particles & droplets suspended in the

atmosphere.

Can help COOL earth (like clouds do)

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Asbestos

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A naturally occurring fibrous mineral that is flame/fire

resistant previously used as insulation for pipes &

housing. Carcinogen causes mesothelioma.

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Carbon monoxi

de

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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.

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Carbonic

Acid

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Formed when water reacts with carbon dioxide…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.

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Chlorofluorocarbons

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Also known as CFCs.

Primary human-made compounds involved in the depletion of the ozone. Chlorines in CFCs break O3 bonds. 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).

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Hydro chlorofluorocarb

ons

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Also known as HCFCs

Manmade 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.

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Hydrofluorocarbons

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Also known as HFCs

Manmade compounds that contain NO chlorine and do NOT directly affect

stratospheric ozone. Viewed as acceptable long-term alternative to CFCs and HCFCs. But HFCs DO contribute to

global warming.

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Ground-level

Ozone

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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.

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Ice Core

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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 gas and deposits, which give an accurate

representation of historical climate & can be used to develop a climate

record.

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Peroxyacetyl nitrate

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Also known as PAN

Produced 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.

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SOx

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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).

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Volatile Organic

Compounds

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Also known as VOCs

Unstable 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.

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Volatile Organic

Compounds

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Also known as VOCs

Unstable 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.

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Minamata

Disease

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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.

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Exxon Valdez

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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.

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Hole in Ozone

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Has caused: Increased skin cancer rates, sunburn rates, cataracts, crop

damage, reduction in crop production, increase mutation rates &

chromosomal damage, & climate change.

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Reducing Ozone

Depletion

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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 alternatives

Tax credits for turning in old refrigerators and air conditions

Support legislation that reduces ozone-destroying products.

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Impacts of Global Warming

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Shutdown of thermocline circulation (ocean conveyor belt)

Increased wild fires & pest infection

Methane released from melting permafrost

Decreased agriculture productivity

Destabilization of governments

Rise in sea levels

Ocean acidification: Increased CO2

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Thermohaline

Circulation

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Another name for theOcean Conveyor Belt

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Montreal

Protocol

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1989: An agreement among nations requiring

the phase-out of chemicals that damage the ozone

layer (CFCs)

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Kyoto Protocol

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International treaty on industrialized countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (especially CO2). Problem is

that developing countries do NOT have 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.

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International Panel on Climate Change

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Also called the IPCC

An 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

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United Nations

Framework Convention on Climate

Change

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Also called the UNFCCC

The 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 (CO2 in particular) in the atmosphere. It

later negotiated for the Kyoto Protocol (which the US refuses to agree to)