AP: Overview 📖

Air Pollution

Introduction

By closely examining the composition and origins of air pollutants, you will gain valuable insights into the intricate dance between human activities and the air we breathe. After this module, you will be better equipped to tackle environmental challenges head-on, make thoughtful decisions regarding pollution control, and emphasize the pressing need for sustainable practices to safeguard air quality.

Learning Objectives

In this module, you will learn how to....

  • Identify...
    • the sources and effects of air pollutants.
    • indoor air pollutants.
  • Explain...
    • the causes and effects of photochemical smog and methods to reduce it
    • how air pollutants can be reduced at the source.
  • Describe...
    • thermal inversion and its relationship with pollution.
    • natural sources of CO2 and particulates.
    • the effects of indoor air pollutants.
    • acid deposition.
    • the effects of acid deposition on the environment.
    • human activities that result in noise pollution and its effects.

 

Module Lessons Preview

In this module, each lesson will focus on teaching you the following topics:

Introduction to Air Pollution (⏳11-13 mins): Air pollution disrupts natural processes, poses threats to biodiversity, and jeopardizes the health of both plant and animal species.

Photochemical Smog (⏳4-6 mins): Photochemical smog contributes to air quality degradation, poses risks to plant and animal life, and disrupts ecological processes.

Thermal Inversion (⏳4-6 mins): Thermal inversion contributes to air quality degradation, poses risks to plant and animal life, and disrupts ecological processes.

Atmospheric CO2 and Particulates (⏳4-7 mins): Atmospheric carbon dioxide and particulates influence climate patterns, air quality, and biodiversity, with elevated levels contributing to global warming and posing direct threats to the health and functioning of ecological communities.

Indoor Air Pollution (⏳8-10 mins): Indoor air pollution can affect human health, disrupt indoor plant life, and, indirectly, impact outdoor environments through emissions associated with energy use, emphasizing the interconnectedness of indoor and outdoor air quality.

Reduction of Air Pollutants (⏳6-8 mins): Reducing air pollutants safeguards biodiversity, preserves air and water quality, and ensures the health and resilience of ecological communities.

Acid Rain (⏳5-7 mins): Acid rain poses a threat to soil, water, and plant life, disrupting nutrient cycles and potentially leading to adverse impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem health.

Noise Pollution (⏳4-6 mins): Noise pollution can disrupt wildlife behavior, communication, and migration patterns, impacting the overall health and functioning of ecological communities.

 

AP Classroom Connection

This module aligns with Unit 7 in AP Classroom. You can view AP Daily videos, progress checks, and topic questions in AP Classroom. Topic Alignment:

          • Types of Air Pollution: 7.1 - 7.5
          • Reducing Air Pollution: 7.6
          • Other Types of Air Pollution: 7.7 - 7.8

This module is 7-10% of the AP Environmental Science Exam.

 

Textbook Alignment

This module aligns to the following modules/chapters in your AP Environmental Science textbook:

📚 Introduction to Air Pollution (Topic 7.1): Ch. 12, Module 35; Ch. 15, Module 46

📚 Photochemical Smog (Topic 7.2): Ch. 10, Module 30; Ch. 15, Modules 47-48

📚 Thermal Inversion (Topic 7.3): Ch. 15, Modules 47

📚 Atmospheric CO2 and Particulates (Topic 7.4): Ch. 15, Module 46

📚 Indoor Air Pollution (Topic 7.5): Ch. 15, Module 50

📚 Reduction of Air Pollutants (Topic 7.6): Ch. 15, Module 48

📚 Acid Rain (Topic 7.7): Ch. 14, Module 42-43; Ch. 15, Module 47

📚 Noise Pollution (Topic 7.8): Ch. 10, Module 30; Ch. 14, Module 44

These modules/chapters cover content found in this module and offer practice videos, questions, and flash cards.

 

 Key Terms (click to reveal)

🖨 Click here to download a PDF of the Air Pollution Key Terms Links to an external site.

      • Acid: A substance with a pH value below 7, capable of donating hydrogen ions in a solution.
      • Acid deposition: The process by which acidic pollutants are deposited onto surfaces, such as soil, water bodies, and vegetation, through precipitation or atmospheric deposition.
      • Acid precipitation: Precipitation with an acidic pH, primarily caused by the release of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere, leading to environmental damage.
      • Acid rain: Rainfall with a pH level below normal, often resulting from the atmospheric deposition of pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
      • Air pollutants: Substances or particles present in the atmosphere that have harmful effects on human health, the environment, or property.
      • Air Quality Index (AQI): A numerical scale used to communicate the quality of outdoor air and associated health effects to the public.
      • Alternative fuels: Substitutes for traditional fossil fuels, such as biodiesel, ethanol, hydrogen, and natural gas, used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on oil.
      • Anthropogenic: Originating from human activity, often used to describe pollutants or environmental changes caused by human actions.
      • Asbestos: A mineral fiber used in building materials known for its heat resistance and carcinogenic properties, now banned in many countries due to health risks.
      • Asphyxiants: Substances that interfere with the body's ability to transport oxygen, potentially leading to suffocation or unconsciousness.
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      • Baghouse filter: A large fabric filter used to remove particulate matter from industrial gas streams by capturing particles on the filter surface.
      • Base: A substance with a pH value above 7, capable of accepting hydrogen ions in a solution.
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      • Carbon dioxide (CO2): A colorless, odorless gas produced by the combustion of fossil fuels and other processes, a major contributor to global warming and climate change.
      • Carbon monoxide (CO): A colorless, odorless gas produced by incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels, toxic at high concentrations due to its ability to bind to hemoglobin.
      • Catalytic converter: A vehicle emission control device that converts harmful pollutants in exhaust gases, such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons, into less harmful emissions.
      • Clean Air Act (CAA) 💨: A comprehensive federal law aimed at controlling air pollution on a national level in the United States.
      • Combustion: The process of burning a substance in the presence of oxygen, typically producing heat and light as well as various pollutants.
      • Criteria pollutants: A group of six common air pollutants regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) due to their harmful effects on human health and the environment.
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      • Decomposition: The process by which organic matter is broken down into simpler substances by bacteria, fungi, and other organisms.
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      • Electrostatic precipitator: An emission control device that removes particulate matter from industrial exhaust gases by applying an electrostatic charge to the particles, causing them to adhere to collection plates.
      • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): A federal agency in the United States responsible for protecting human health and the environment by enforcing regulations and conducting research on various environmental issues.
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      • Heavy metals: Metallic elements with high atomic weights and toxic properties, such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, often found as pollutants in the environment.
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      • Indoor air pollution: The contamination of indoor air by pollutants such as gases, particles, and biological agents, posing health risks to occupants.
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      • Lead (Pb): A heavy metal element used in various industrial processes and products, known for its toxicity to humans and the environment.
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      • Megawatt (MW): A unit of power equal to one million watts, commonly used to measure the output of electricity-generating facilities.
      • Mobile: Relating to sources of air pollution that move or are capable of moving, such as vehicles and aircraft.
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      • Nitric acid (HNO3): A corrosive and highly reactive acid formed by the reaction of nitrogen dioxide with water vapor in the atmosphere, a component of acid rain.
      • Nitrogen dioxide (NO2): A reddish-brown gas produced by combustion processes and a precursor to ground-level ozone and fine particulate matter, posing respiratory and environmental hazards.
      • Nitrogen oxides (NOx): A group of reactive gases produced by combustion processes, including nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide, contributing to smog, acid rain, and respiratory issues.
      • Noise pollution: Excessive or disturbing noise that interferes with normal activities, causing annoyance, stress, or hearing loss.
    •  
      • Ozone (O3): A molecule consisting of three oxygen atoms, present in two layers of the atmosphere: the stratosphere (protective ozone layer) and the troposphere (pollutant ozone).
      • Ozone layer: A region of the Earth's stratosphere containing a high concentration of ozone molecules, which absorb and filter out most of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
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      • Particulate matter (PM): Tiny particles or droplets suspended in the air, ranging in size from a few nanometers to several micrometers, with diverse sources and health impacts.
      • Peroxyacetyl nitrates (PANs): A group of toxic secondary pollutants formed by the photochemical reaction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the atmosphere.
      • Photo: A prefix meaning light or relating to light.
      • Photochemical: Relating to chemical reactions triggered or facilitated by light energy.
      • Photochemical oxidant: A secondary air pollutant formed by the reaction of primary pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds in the presence of sunlight.
      • Photochemical smog: A type of air pollution formed by the interaction of sunlight with pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds.
      • Primary pollutants: Pollutants emitted directly into the atmosphere from identifiable sources, such as vehicles, factories, and power plants.
      • Primary standard: A legally enforceable regulation established by government agencies to protect public health or the environment from harmful levels of air pollutants.
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      • Radon-222: A radioactive gas produced by the decay of uranium in rocks and soil, a significant indoor air pollutant and a leading cause of lung cancer.
      • Respiration: The process by which organisms exchange gases, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, with their environment to produce energy.
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      • Secondary pollutants: Pollutants formed in the atmosphere through chemical reactions involving primary pollutants, sunlight, and atmospheric constituents.
      • Severity: The extent or magnitude of harm or damage caused by a hazard.
      • Smog: Air pollution characterized by a mixture of smoke and fog, often resulting from the interaction of pollutants in the atmosphere.
      • Stationary: Referring to sources of air pollution that remain fixed in one location, such as industrial facilities and power plants.
      • Sulfur dioxide (SO2): A colorless gas produced primarily by the combustion of fossil fuels, known for its role in the formation of acid rain and respiratory issues.
      • Sulfuric acid (H2SO4): A strong mineral acid formed by the oxidation of sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere, a major component of acid rain.
      • Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM): Small solid or liquid particles suspended in the air, originating from natural and anthropogenic sources and associated with various health and environmental impacts.
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      • Temperature inversion: A weather phenomenon wherein a layer of warm air traps cooler air near the Earth's surface, preventing the dispersal of pollutants and exacerbating air quality issues.
      • Troposphere: The lowest layer of the Earth's atmosphere where weather occurs and where most air pollutants are concentrated.
      • Tropospheric ozone (O3): Ozone found in the lower atmosphere, formed through the photochemical reaction of pollutants like nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds.
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      • Vapor recovery nozzle: A device used during fueling to capture and recover gasoline vapors, reducing emissions of volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere.
      • Volatile organic carbons (VOCs): Organic compounds that easily evaporate into the air, contributing to the formation of ground-level ozone and smog.
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      • Wood: A natural material derived from trees, used for construction, fuel, and various other purposes.

 

 

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