ENSC 201 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Vog, Sulfur Dioxide, Chemical Hazard

• School: Queen's University
• Department: Environmental Studies
• Course: ENSC 201
• Professor: Heather Jamieson

Document Summary

Any type of chemical hazard caused by earths natural processes. Geological hazards: volcanoes, natural radiation, naturally toxic groundwater. Biological hazard: plant toxins, bacterial toxins, aflatoxin, snake venom. Gas and particles from erupting volcanoes produce air pollution called vog: volcanic equivalent to dog. Sudden release o surrounding area replaces oxygen and kills all life i. e 1700 killed overnight at lakes nyos in cameroon: odourless sudden wave of co2. Pipe now used to degas lake: to avoid co2 buildup. Fluorine exposure to high and damaging concentrations occur from: natural sources (groundwater- fluorine rich rocks, volcanic eruptions, human exposure at low and beneficial concentrations is through fluoridated drinking water and toothpaste. *narrow interval where its just right volcanic eruptions: include f in ash, humans were probably killed during earlier eruptions, as recorded in. Wildfires gases: carbon dioxide (may contribute to climate change, methane. Particles: fine ash may be inhaled other toxicants, more problem with urban fires where industrial materials burned.