Environmental Science Pollutants

Which is NOT a criteria pollutant?

• Sulfur dioxide

• Lead

• Carbon dioxide

• Particulate matter

• Tropospheric ozone

A secondary pollutant

• forms in the stratosphere.

• is transformed by sunlight or water.

• cannot be directly tracked.

• does not directly harm humans.

• forms primarily from incomplete combustion.

Which is a source of sulfur dioxide found in nature?

• Forest fires

• Lightning strikes

• Plant emissions

• Volcanoes

• Soil

Which size of particulate matter causes the greatest health concerns?

• PM_2.5

• PM₁₀

• PM₁₀₀

• PM₃₀

• PM₁₅

Carbon monoxide

• increases lung cancer rates.

• leads to the formation of photochemical smog.

• is most problematic in rural areas

• does not directly cause deaths.

• is produced by incomplete combustion.

High levels of photochemical smog are due to

I. nitrogen dioxide.

II. sulfur dioxide.

III. VOCs

• I only

• I and II only

• II and III only

• I and III only

• I, II, and III

Recent increases in acid deposition in the western United States are due to

• increased emissions in the United States.

• decreased precipitation due to climate change.

• increased emissions in China.

• increased precipitation due to climate change.

• increased emissions in Europe.

Thermal inversions

• increase the rate of smog formation.

• trap high concentrations of pollution at ground level.

• result in increased levels of acid deposition.

• are caused by high levels of precipitation.

• reduce the negative effects of VOCs.

Acid deposition forms as a result of

• nitrogen oxides and photochemical smog.

• carbon monoxide and VOCs.

• sulfur dioxide and VOCs.

• nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.

• carbon monoxide and photochemical smog.

The effects of acid deposition include

• increased cancer rates in aquatic organisms.

• decreased aquatic biodiversity.

• decreased mobilization of metals.

• increased pH of lake water.

• decreased human health in impacted areas.