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Difficulty: EasyEnvironmental Pollution: Types, Causes and Control Measures

Consider the following statements regarding atmospheric pollutants:
1. Primary pollutants are emitted directly from identifiable sources into the atmosphere.
2. Ground-level ozone is a secondary pollutant formed through chemical reactions between nitrogen oxides (NOxNO_x) and volatile organic compounds (VOCsVOCs) in the presence of sunlight.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A
    1 only
  2. B
    2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2Answer
  4. D
    Neither 1 nor 2

Answer

Both statements 1 and 2 are correct.
Both statements are correct. Primary pollutants are emitted directly from sources (e.g., carbon monoxide from motor vehicles). Ground-level (tropospheric) ozone is a secondary pollutant formed via atmospheric photochemical reactions between precursor emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOxNO_x) and volatile organic compounds (VOCsVOCs).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate Statement 1 regarding primary pollutants
Statement 1 is correct
Primary pollutants (such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter) enter the atmosphere directly from natural or anthropogenic sources.
2
Evaluate Statement 2 regarding ground-level ozone formation
Statement 2 is correct
Ground-level ozone is a classic secondary pollutant produced when primary precursors like NOxNO_x and VOCsVOCs interact photochemically in sunlight.

Key Concept

Classification of Air Pollutants: Primary vs. Secondary Pollutants
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Topics

Environmental Pollution: Types, Causes and Control Measures