Primary Pollutants: These are directly emitted into the atmosphere from a source. When you burn fossil fuels like in cars and factories, you're creating primary pollutants. Examples include carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and nitrogen monoxide (NO).
Think of it like this: If pollution was a cooking show, primary pollutants would be the raw ingredients. Just like onions right out of the ground, they're released as-is into the air.
Secondary Pollutants: These pollutants aren't released directly. Instead, they form in the air when primary pollutants interact with each other or with natural components of the atmosphere. A prime example is tropospheric (ground-level) ozone (O3).
Here's an analogy: Secondary pollutants are like a freshly baked pie. The pie wasn't in the oven to start, but the heat combined the ingredients into something new.
Dive deeper and gain exclusive access to premium files of Environmental Systems & Societies SL. Subscribe now and get closer to that 45 🌟
Primary Pollutants: These are directly emitted into the atmosphere from a source. When you burn fossil fuels like in cars and factories, you're creating primary pollutants. Examples include carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and nitrogen monoxide (NO).
Think of it like this: If pollution was a cooking show, primary pollutants would be the raw ingredients. Just like onions right out of the ground, they're released as-is into the air.
Secondary Pollutants: These pollutants aren't released directly. Instead, they form in the air when primary pollutants interact with each other or with natural components of the atmosphere. A prime example is tropospheric (ground-level) ozone (O3).
Here's an analogy: Secondary pollutants are like a freshly baked pie. The pie wasn't in the oven to start, but the heat combined the ingredients into something new.
Dive deeper and gain exclusive access to premium files of Environmental Systems & Societies SL. Subscribe now and get closer to that 45 🌟
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