7.8 Flashcard Pollution

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What is a primary air pollutant?

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A primary air pollutant is a substance that is directly emitted into the atmosphere from a source, such as nitrogen dioxide, which can come from vehicle emissions.

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What is eutrophication?

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Eutrophication is the process by which water bodies become overly enriched with nutrients, leading to excessive growth of algae and decreased oxygen levels, which can harm aquatic life.

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What is point source pollution?

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Point source pollution refers to contaminants that enter the environment from a single, identifiable source, such as a factory discharge pipe.

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What is non-point source pollution?

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Non-point source pollution comes from multiple, diffuse sources and is not easily traced to a single point, such as runoff from agricultural fields.

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What is a chemical pollutant?

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A chemical pollutant is a harmful substance that can contaminate air, water, or soil, such as pesticides, sewage, or heavy metals.

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What is a catalytic converter?

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A catalytic converter is an air pollution control device used in vehicles to convert harmful gases like carbon monoxide into less harmful emissions before they exit the exhaust system.

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What is stratospheric ozone?

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Stratospheric ozone is a layer of ozone gas located in the stratosphere that protects the Earth from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

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What is tropospheric ozone?

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Tropospheric ozone is a secondary air pollutant formed by the reaction of sunlight with pollutants like volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the lower atmosphere.

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What are the effects of decreased dissolved oxygen in water?

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Decreased dissolved oxygen in water can lead to decreased biodiversity, as aquatic organisms like fish and invertebrates may struggle to survive.

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What is the role of wet scrubbers?

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Wet scrubbers are air pollution control devices that remove pollutants from industrial exhaust gases by passing them through a liquid, usually water.