ENVS195 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Volatile Organic Compound, Criteria Air Contaminants, Particulates
11 Dec 2019
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Envs 195 march 7, 2017: air pollution. Atmosphere as a resource: ecosystem services, blocks uv radiation, moderates climate/temperature, redistributes water. Any substance that people introduce into the atmosphere that has damaging effects on living things and the environment (national geographic, n. d. ) Whatever is emitted has negative impacts on living things. Trace gases: gases that make up less than 1% of earth"s atmosphere, such a small amount (trace) of 1% Volatile organic compounds (vocs): organic chemicals that can vaporize in the air: hydrocarbons such as methane, propane, butane, human activity accounts for approx. half of vocs remainder are from natural sources, strong odor. Particulate matter and aerosols (referencing the) small solid particles and liquid droplets: particulate matter suspended the air = aerosols, more dense, denser than air, force of gravity makes it fall back into the earth surface so travel less. Less dense, more movement in atmosphere, travel further. First pollutants to come under government regulations - criteria air contaminants:
