AP Environmental Science: Air Pollution - Case Studies & Examples

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 💨 Primary Pollutants: 🏭 Directly emitted from sources (e.g., vehicles, factories). Examples: SO₂, NOx, particulate matter.
• ☀️ Secondary Pollutants: 🧪 Formed in the atmosphere through chemical reactions. Example: Ozone (O₃) formed from NOx and VOCs in sunlight.
• 🌫️ Photochemical Smog: 🏙️ A mix of pollutants formed under the influence of sunlight, mainly in urban areas.
• 🌡️ Temperature Inversion: ⬆️ Occurs when a layer of warm air traps cooler air near the surface, worsening pollution.
• 🌧️ Acid Rain: 🌧️ Caused by sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) reacting with water, oxygen, and other chemicals in the atmosphere. The pH is typically below 5.6.
• 🏭 Major Air Pollution Disasters: Examples include the London Smog of 1952 and the Bhopal Gas Tragedy.
• 📝 Clean Air Act: 📜 U.S. federal law designed to control air pollution.

Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following is a primary air pollutant?
   1. Ozone (O₃)
   2. Sulfuric Acid (H₂SO₄)
   3. Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂)
   4. Peroxyacyl nitrates (PANs)
2. Which of the following is a secondary air pollutant?
   1. Carbon Monoxide (CO)
   2. Particulate Matter (PM)
   3. Ozone (O₃)
   4. Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂)
3. What meteorological condition can worsen air pollution by trapping pollutants near the ground?
   1. Frontal Passage
   2. Temperature Inversion
   3. High Wind Speed
   4. Cloud Cover
4. Acid rain is primarily caused by which of the following pollutants?
   1. Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) and Methane (CH₄)
   2. Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂) and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
   3. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Ammonia (NH₃)
   4. Particulate Matter (PM) and Ozone (O₃)
5. The London Smog of 1952 was primarily caused by:
   1. Photochemical Smog
   2. Industrial Emissions and Coal Burning
   3. Volcanic Eruptions
   4. Nuclear Accidents
6. Which U.S. law is designed to control air pollution?
   1. Clean Water Act
   2. Endangered Species Act
   3. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
   4. Clean Air Act
7. Which of the following contributes to the formation of photochemical smog?
   1. High concentrations of carbon dioxide
   2. Release of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
   3. Reactions between NOx and VOCs in sunlight
   4. Increased levels of sulfur dioxide