APES Week 26 Vocabulary Flashcards

6290146200	Air pollution	The introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or microorganisms into the atmosphere at concentrations high enough to harm plants, animals, and materials such as buildings, or alter ecosystems.	0
6290146201	Particulate matter	Solid or liquid particles suspended in air; also known as particles and particulates.	1
6290146202	Haze	A slight obscuration of the lower atmosphere, typically caused by fine suspended particles.	2
6290146203	Photochemical oxidant	A class of air pollutants formed as a result of sunlight acting on compounds such as nitrogen oxides.	3
6290146204	Ozone	A secondary pollutant made up of three oxygen atoms bound together.	4
6290146205	Smog	A type of air pollution that is a mixture of oxidants and particulate matter.	5
6290146206	Photochemical smog	Smog that is dominated by oxidants such as ozone. (AKA Los Angeles Smog or Brown Smog)	6
6290146207	Sulfurous smog	Smog dominated by sulfur dioxide and sulfate compounds. (AKA London Smog or Gray Smog)	7
6290146208	Volatile Organic Compounds	An organic compound that evaporates at typical atmospheric temperatures.	8
6290146209	Primary pollutant	A polluting compound that comes directly out of the smokestack, exhaust pipe, or natural emission source.	9
6290146210	Secondary pollutant	A primary pollutant that has undergone transformation in the presence of sunlight, water, oxygen, or other compounds.	10
6290146211	Thermal inversion	A situation in which a relatively warm layer of air at mid-altitude covers a layer of cold, dense air below.	11
6290146212	Inversion Layer	The layer of warm air that traps emissions in a thermal inversion.	12
6290146213	Asbestos	A long, thin, fibrous silicate mineral with insulating properties, which can cause cancer when inhaled.	13
6290146214	Sick building syndrome	A buildup of toxic compounds and pollutants in an airtight space; seen in newer buildings with good insulation and tight seals against air leaks.	14