Ozone

Question 1

Where is the “bad” ozone located?

Answer 1

Up high in the stratosphere

Question 2

Where is the “good” ozone located?

Answer 2

Down at the ground level in the troposphere

Question 3

Function of good ozone

Answer 3

Protect planet from harmful UV radiation

Question 4

UV Radiation Health Effects

Answer 4

• Skin cancer
• Eye cataracts
• Increased skin aging and keratosis
• Reduced immune response

Question 5

Primary contributor holes in the stratospheric ozone layer

Answer 5

chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s)

Question 6

Ozone- depleting chemicals

Answer 6

• CFC’s
• HCFC’s (refrigerants)
• Halons (refrigerants)
• Halocarbons
• CCl4, Methyl chloroform, Methyl bromide

Question 7

What does stratospheric ozone do?

Answer 7

• Blocks UV light from entering the troposphere.

Question 8

Ground Level Ozone composition

Answer 8

• Volatile organic compounds

- O2 + Volatile organic cmpds + NOx + sunlight

Question 9

Health effects of Ozone in Lungs

Answer 9

• Can trigger asthma attack for those who have asthma
• Interferes with normal lung functioning.
• Causes eye irritation.
• Aggravates respiratory disease.
• Pain in breathing, wheezing, coughing.
• Long term exposure associated with premature aging of lungs.

Question 10

National EPA standard for Ground level ozone

Answer 10

0.075 ppm

Question 11

The Clean Air Act Amendment: Ozone control strategies

Answer 11

• Emission limits
• Ambient air quality standards.
• Control industrial precursor limits
• Control automotive precursor limits
  •Trip reductions

Question 12

What is MTBE?

Answer 12

• Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether
• Additive for gasoline.
• Suspected carcinogen.

Question 13

Effects of MTBE Water Contamination

Answer 13

• Very soluble in water.
• EPA enacted reduced MTBE use.
• Ethanol as alternative.

Question 14

RFG fumes study

Answer 14

• Telephone survey
• No specific syndrome evident.
• Milwaukee residents had highest symptoms.
• MTBE exposure in gas 1000x worse than ambient exposure.
• Exposure to RFG fumes not associate with acute effects

Question 15

Montreal Protocol 1987

Answer 15

• 180 nations agreed to cut CFC production in half

- CFC production has decreased by 95%

Question 16

T/F CFC’s directly affect human health.

Answer 16

F

Question 17

What was the biggest hole in ozone that we saw?

Answer 17

11.4 million km^2

Question 18

Where was the ozone hole and when did it appear?

Answer 18

• Antarctica

- In 1980’s

Question 19

Reformulated Gasoline

Answer 19

A gasoline whose composition has been changed to reduce the percentage of olefins, aromatics, and sulfur and to add oxygenated compounds

Question 20

T/F: EPA has reduced MTBE use and requirements of fuels for CFC precursor prevention.

Answer 20

False. It is for ozone precursor prevention.