| A | B |
|---|
| air pollution | harmful substances build up and make air unhealthy |
| primary pollutant | pollutant put directly in the air by human activity |
| secondary pollutant | primary pollutants react with other substances |
| volatile organic compounds (VOCs) | organic chemicals that vaporize readily and form toxic fumes |
| carbon monoxide (CO) | odorless, poisonous gas produced by incomplete burning of fossil fuels |
| particulate matter | tiny particles of liquid or solid matter |
| sea coal | source of air pollution before modern times |
| Clean Air Act | EPA regulation of vehicle emissions |
| zero-emission vehicle | have no emissions from tailpipe or gasoline |
| catalytic converter | helps clean car exhaust |
| scrubbers | spray gases with water to remove pollutants |
| electrostatic precipitators | remove dust particles from smokestacks |
| smog | results from chemical reactions involving sunlight, air, exhaust, and ozone |
| temperature inversion | atmospheric condition that traps pollution near the ground |
| headache, nausea, bronchitis, pneumonia | short-term effects of air pollution |
| emphysema, lung cancer, heart disease | long-term effects of air pollution |
| sick-building syndrome | common in hot places where buildings are tightly sealed |
| radon gas | colorless, odorless gas produced by decay of uranium |
| asbestos | forms in long, thin fibers and is used as an insulators |
| noise pollution | unwanted sound |
| decibels | unit of measurement that measures sound |
| light pollution | does not present a direct hazard to human health |
| acid precipitation | precipitation that contains a high concentration of acids |
| pH | unit of measurement that measures how acidic or basic a substance is |
| acidification | increase in concentration of acid |
| acid shock | sudden influx of acidic water that causes a rapid change in the water's pH |
| electrostatic precipitator | works by giving dust particles an electrical charge |
| noise pollution | can lead to stress and high blood pressure |
| asbestos | can lead to difficulty breathing and heart failure |
| sick-building syndrome | can lead to allergic reactions to fungi and mold |
| light pollution | leads to energy waste |
| primary pollutant | soot from smoke |
| secondary pollutant | ground-level ozone |
| ozone | involved in the formation of smog |
| primary pollutants | carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, VOCs |
| transportation | largest producer of primary air pollutants |
| direct light downward | one way to decrease light pollution |
| fossil fuels | source of acid precipitation |
| increase in acidity of soil | some nutrients are dissolved and washed away |
| treatment for acid shock | add powdered lime to affected water |
| 1991 Canada-US Air Quality Agreement | reduce acidic emission flowing across Canada-US boundary |
