Lecture 1 (Week 12)

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Primary Pollutants
-Directly emitted into the air
-E.g. particulates, SO2, CO, NOx, various
hydrocarbons (HC)
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Secondary Pollutants
-Produced through reactions between primary pollutants and normal atmospheric compounds
-E.g. ozone forms over urban areas as a result of chemical reactions involving
primary pollutants, sunlight, and naturally occurring gases
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Anthropogenically enhanced
pollution: Sulphur dioxide (SO2)
-Description: Naturally occurring gas
-Source: Released in burning fossil fuels
-Risks: Death and injury to plants and animals. Contributes to acid rain formation
-Mitigation options: Change fuel (e.g. low-sulphur coal)
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Nitrogen dioxides (NOx)
-Description: Principally nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which both contribute to smog
-Source: Nearly all NO2 is anthropogenic
-Risks: NO2 contributes to acid rain
-Mitigation option: Enhanced combustion to reduce NOx production
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Carbon monoxide (CO)
-Description: Colourless, odourless gas
-Source: It occurs naturally or is produced when fuel is combusted at low oxygen levels
-Risks: Toxic to animals (inc. humans) at ‘low concentrations
-Mitigation options: Reducing owing to cleaner-burning engines
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Volatile Organic Compounds
-Description: Organic compounds that have a high vapour pressure at room temperature
-Source: In UK VOCs are produced by
vegetation, transport, solvent use and from industrial processes
-Risks: Carcinogenic
-Mitigation options: Reduce exposure
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Particulate matter
-Description: Particulate matter (PM) defined according to size
-Source: Asbestos, heavy metals
-Risks: Easily inhaled into lungs –embedded into lungs, arteries or carried in the blood
-Mitigation options: Improve fuels to reduce emissions at combustion
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Lead
-Description: A heavy metal that is highly mobile.
-Source: Formerly used as additive to petrol, now majority of emissions in UK from tyres and brakes
-Risks: Impact on brain function
-Mitigation options: Use in petrol discontinued in UK in 1999
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Secondary Pollutants

Back

-Produced through reactions between primary pollutants and normal atmospheric compounds
-E.g. ozone forms over urban areas as a result of chemical reactions involving
primary pollutants, sunlight, and naturally occurring gases

Card 3

Front

Anthropogenically enhanced
pollution: Sulphur dioxide (SO2)

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Nitrogen dioxides (NOx)

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Carbon monoxide (CO)

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

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