Environmental scienceLesson 2 of 5 in the course Air pollution

Smog: Formation, Sources, Health Effects, and Control

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Smog is a form of intense air pollution that can create a visible haze and harm people and ecosystems. This lesson introduces the meaning and history of the term, the main components of smog, and the distinction between primary and secondary pollutants.

The word smog combines smoke and fog. It describes polluted air that can look like fog but contains smoke, gases, and particles. The word was used for the smoky, opaque, and often unpleasant-smelling air familiar in cities such as London.

All flashcards

Smog
Polluted air that can appear hazy and contain gases, smoke, and particles; the word combines “smoke” and “fog.”
Primary pollutant
A pollutant released directly into the air from a source, such as sulfur dioxide from coal combustion.
Secondary pollutant
A pollutant formed in the atmosphere through chemical reactions involving emitted pollutants.
Precursor pollutant
A substance that can contribute to the formation of another pollutant through atmospheric reactions.
Peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN)
A secondary pollutant associated with photochemical smog that can irritate the eyes and respiratory tract.

Quiz questions

  1. How can volatile organic compounds (VOCs) help ground-level ozone accumulate during photochemical smog formation?Answer: They help convert nitric oxide to nitrogen dioxide without consuming ozone in the same way as the simpler cycle.
  2. Which group is especially vulnerable to health effects from smog exposure?Answer: Children, older adults, and people with heart or lung conditions.
  3. What is the main purpose of an air quality index (AQI)?Answer: To translate measured pollution into public-facing categories that communicate health risk.
  4. What does a nephelometer measure when assessing haze?Answer: Light scattering associated with particles in the air.
  5. What did the United Kingdom's Clean Air Act of 1956 introduce to help reduce smoky coal pollution?Answer: Smokeless zones that restricted the use of smoky coal.

Based on the Wikipedia article Smog, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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