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Glossary
A - E
Acid (Acidic) - a substance that has a pH below 7. The more
hydronium (H+) ions present, the lower the pH, or the
more acidic the substance.
Air Quality Index (AQI) - The AQI is is a scale used to report
ground level ozone and other common pollutants in the air. It tells you how clean or polluted your air is, and what
associated health effects may be of concern.
Asthma - Asthma is a chronic lung disease that can be life
threatening.
Asthma causes breathing problems, called attacks or episodes, during
which cells in the air tubes make more mucus than normal, clogging up
the air tubes. The air tubes tend to swell, the muscles in your
air tubes tighten, causing the air tubes to narrow, making it hard to
breathe.
Atmosphere - the Earth is surrounded by a blanket of air,
called the atmosphere. It reaches over 560 kilometers (348 miles) from the
surface of the Earth. The atmosphere consists of four layers, starting
from the ground up, the layers are: troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere,
and thermosphere.
Base (Basic) - a substance that has a pH with the range of
7.1 - 14. The more hydroxide (OH-) ions present, the closer to
fourteen, or the more basic the substance.
Bronchitis - Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchi --
the main air passages to the lungs.
Carbon Monoxide (CO) - Carbon monoxide is a colorless,
odorless gas that is formed when carbon in fuel is not burned
completely.
Cardiovascular Disease - Cardiovascular (heart and lung)
disease involves any disorder that affects the heart's ability to function
normally.
Cloud Cover - the amount of clouds in the sky is measured by
scientists and recorded as part of the daily weather record.
Coarse Particle Pollution - coarse particles come from sources
such as wind blown dust, unpaved roads and fuel combustion.
Coarse particles can accumulate in the respiratory system and
aggravate health problems such as asthma.
Criteria - a standard on which a decision may be based, a
matter of importance.
Diesel Particulate Matter - Diesel particulate matter is
part of a complex mixture that makes up diesel exhaust. Diesel
exhaust is emitted from a
broad range of diesel engines; road diesel engines of trucks, buses
and
cars and off-road diesel engines including locomotives, marine vessels
and
heavy duty equipment. School buses are a significant contributor to
the
overall emissions.
EPA - Environmental Protection Agency
Emphysema - A lung disease which involves damage to the air
sacs (alveoli) in the lungs. The air sacs are unable to completely deflate
and are therefore unable to fill with fresh air to ensure adequate oxygen
supply to the body. |
F - K
Ground Level Ozone (O3)
- Ozone is a gas composed of three oxygen
atoms. At ground level, ground level ozone is created by a
chemical
reaction between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic
compounds
(VOC) in the presence of heat and sunlight.
Haze - Haze is caused by fine particles that scatter and absorb
light before it reaches the observer. As the number of fine particles increases,
more light is absorbed and scattered, resulting in less clarity, color, and
visual range.
Inversion Layer - an inversion is a stable layer of
the atmosphere, which does not allow for upward air motion.
Inversions often act like a cap on the atmosphere.
KWL - is a teaching tool used in classrooms that involves
activating students' prior knowledge by asking them what they already Know about a topic; then students set goals specifying what
they Want to learn about the topic; and after completing the
activity or lesson, students discuss what they have Learned. |
L - P
NOx - Nitrogen oxides, or NOx, is the generic term for a group
of highly reactive gases, all of which contain nitrogen and oxygen in
varying amounts. Many of the nitrogen oxides are colorless and
odorless.
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) -
standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency to control the amount
of pollutants considered harmful to public health and the environment.
Off-Road Vehicles - includes airplanes, trains, power boats,
earth movers, tractors, harvesters, forklifts, bulldozers, and
backhoes.
Ozone - Ozone (O3) is a gas composed of three oxygen
atoms. "Good"
ozone occurs naturally in the stratosphere approximately 10 to 30
miles
above the earth's surface and forms a layer that protects life on
earth from the
sun's harmful rays. In the earth's lower atmosphere,
ground level ozone is
considered "bad."
Ozone Action Day - An Ozone Action Day program is a voluntary
initiative by government, environmental groups, and business leaders
working with the general public to take extra action to prevent air
pollution when high ozone levels are predicted
pH - potential of Hydrogen, the concentration of hydrogen ions
in a solution measured on a scale from 0 - 14, with 7 being neutral.
Particulate Matter - Particulate matter, or PM, is the term for
particles found in the air, including dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and
liquid droplets.
Photochemical Reaction - A photochemical reaction is a chemical
reaction that requires light (in this case sunlight) to provide the
energy for the reaction to proceed.
Pollutant - something that contaminates (makes unclean) an
environment, especially with man-made waste. |
Q - U
Road Vehicles - includes passenger cars, large and medium
trucks, and motorcycles.
SOx - Sulfur dioxide, or SO2, belongs to the family of sulfur
oxide gases (SOx). These gases dissolve easily in water. Sulfur
is prevalent in all raw materials, including crude oil, coal, and ore
that contains common metals like
aluminum, copper, zinc, lead, and iron.
Smog - Smog is a brownish haze that is a combination of ground
level ozone (containing VOCs and NOx), SOx and PM.
Stratosphere - layer of the
atmosphere which extends upward from about 10 to 30 miles above the
earth's surface, protects life on earth from the sun's harmful
ultraviolet rays (UV-b).
Sunlight/Ultraviolet Radiation - the light energy produced by
the sun.
Surface Winds - winds that range from 0 to 3,000 feet in
altitude.
Transport - Transport is the movement of emissions, by the
wind, long distances from the original emission sources.
Pollutant transport is an important issue because it creates regional
pollution problems, rather than simply affecting the local area where
the pollutant is emitted.
Triggers - things that may cause an asthma attack, including;
weather, dust or dust mites, animals, pollen, tobacco smoke, mold,
pests, strong smells, food and medicines, exercise, infections and
strong emotions.
Troposphere - layer of the
atmosphere that extends from the earth's surface to about 10 miles up. |
V - Z
VOCs - Volatile Organic Compounds
can be found in household products including: paints, paint strippers,
and other solvents; wood preservatives; aerosol sprays; cleansers and
disinfectants; moth repellents and air fresheners; stored fuels and
automotive products; hobby supplies; dry-cleaned clothing.
Visibility (visual range) - a measure of how far a person can
see, and is frequently decreased due to air pollution.
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EPA | NESCAUM |
CIESE
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