Download Environmental Science Name: Air Section Goal: The student will

Environmental Science
Name: ______________________________
Air
Section Goal: The student will describe three human health problems caused by noise pollution and describe
solutions to energy waste caused by light pollution.
Vocabulary:
1. decibel (dB)
Notes:
Chapter 6.2…continued: Air, Noise and Light Pollution
Radon Gas
• Radon gas is invisible, tasteless, and odorless, and it is also __________________________; second
leading cause of lung cancer in the US
• Produced by radioactive decay of __________________________, which occurs naturally in the Earth
• It is concentrated in ______________________ soil overlying rocks that contain radon; can enter home,
offices and schools by ____________________________ through cracks and holes in foundations and
adheres to dust particles; when you ____________________ the dust, it enters the lungs
• In the lungs, radon releases alpha particles, which destroy the genetic material in cells lining the air
passages, leading to cancer, especially among ______________________.
Noise Pollution
 A sound of any kind is called _____________________; however, some are unnecessary and can cause
noise pollution (noise that affects human health and quality of life)
 Examples: airplanes, construction equipment, city traffic, factories, home appliances, lawnmowers
 Health problems associated with noise pollution: __________________ of hearing, high blood pressure,
stress, loss of _____________________ (leads to decreases productivity at work and in the classroom)
 Noise is measured in __________________ (dB). Lowest point on decibel scale is 0 dB; highest point
if 180 dB; for each increase in dB intensity, the decibel level is _________ times higher than the
previous level. (ex: 20 dB is 10 times higher the intensity of 10 dB, 30 dB is 100 times the intensity of
10 dB, etc.)
 120 dB is at the threshold of _______________________; permanent deafness may come as a result of
continuous exposure to ______________________ over 120 dB
 Ex: rocket engine 180 dB; jet engine 140dB; rock-and-roll concert 120dB; car horn 110 dB; chainsaw
100 dB; lawnmower 90dB; doorbell 80 dB; conversation 60 dB; whisper 30dB
Light Pollution
 Unlike air or water pollution, ____________________pollution does not present a direct hazard to
human health; however, it does cause ______________________ affects on the environment (ex:
inefficient lighting diminishes our view of the night sky and in urban areas, is often much brighter than
the natural sky)
 Most important environmental concern of ____________________________ lighting is energy waste
(ex: light directed upward into the night sky and lost to space – billboards, other signs that are lit from
below, lighting exteriors of buildings, poor quality street lights)
 One solution to energy ____________________: shielding light so it is directed downward, using time
controls, using low-pressure sodium sources (most efficient source of light)
Lesson Reflection:
Ear Activity: Using the picture of the ear, label all the parts of the ear and how sound is received by the
ear. Then, read the information about headphones and hearing loss. After reading the article, did the
information presented personally change your outlook on sounds and hearing loss? Write a paragraph
response.
Assessment:
1. Describe some of the human health problems caused by noise pollution.
2. Describe several solutions to the energy waste associated with light pollution.
Lesson extension (Technology/Application/Connection to real-world):
1. Watch Homer Simpson’s episode on Light Pollution (Season 14, Episode 16) – 30 minutes