Air Quality Management Flashcards
7 cards from real CEI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Air Quality Management flashcards as text
Which air sampling device separates collected particles into size fractions based on aerodynamic diameter?
Answer: Cascade impactor
A cascade impactor collects particles in successive stages at progressively higher velocities, separating them by aerodynamic diameter for size-resolved mass distribution analysis.
What does PM10 specifically refer to in air quality monitoring?
Answer: Particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter of 10 micrometers or less
PM10 is inhalable particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤10 micrometers, which can penetrate into the upper airways and lungs.
Which instrument is the EPA Federal Reference Method for continuous ambient ozone monitoring?
Answer: UV photometric analyzer
UV photometric analyzers measure ozone continuously by detecting its absorption of UV light at 254 nm and serve as EPA's Federal Reference Method for ambient ozone monitoring.
What is the primary purpose of EPA-designated reference methods in air quality monitoring?
Answer: Provide the official benchmark for measuring a specific pollutant
EPA reference methods are the officially designated measurement procedures used to determine compliance with NAAQS and to validate other monitoring equipment and alternative methods.
EPA Method 9 is used to measure which characteristic of stack emissions?
Answer: Visible emission opacity
EPA Method 9 is the visual determination of the opacity of emissions from stationary sources, requiring certified observers trained to estimate the percentage of light blocked by a visible plume.
Which term best describes air pollutant releases from equipment leaks, storage pile dust, and material handling rather than from stacks?
Answer: Fugitive emissions
Fugitive emissions are releases of air pollutants from sources not captured and routed through an exhaust stack or vent, bypassing installed pollution control equipment.
Which monitoring network do states primarily operate to assess NAAQS compliance using ambient air measurements?
Answer: State and Local Air Monitoring Stations (SLAMS)
SLAMS is the principal air quality monitoring network operated by state and local agencies under EPA oversight to measure ambient pollutant concentrations for NAAQS compliance determination.