Core

innermost zone of the earth, mostly nickel and iron

Mantle
contains molten rock, above core
Magma
molten rock inside the earth
Asthenosphere
outer mantle, semi-molten rock
Lithosphere
brittle outermost layer of the earth
Convection
causes movement of hot materials towards surface
Hot spots
weak areas in crust where hot molten materials reach surface
Plate Tectonics
theory that crustal plates on surface are in motion
Crustal Plate
piece of earth's crust
Subduction
one crustal plate converging under another
Volcano
vent in Earth's surface that emits gas, ash and molten lava
Divergent Plate Boundary
two crustal plates move apart
Seafloor Spreading
diverging plates underwater
Convergent Plate Boundary
two crustal plates move together
Transform Fault Boundary
two crustal plates slide along side each other
Fault
crack in the earth's crust
Fault Zones
area surrounding crack in the earth's crust
Earthquakes
rocks of the lithosphere rupture and unexpectedly slip along fault
Seismic Activity
geologic activity surrounding a fault zone
Epicenter
point on surface of earth above earthquake

Richter Scale
reports magnitude of earthquake, logarthmic
Minerals
solid chemical substances with uniform crystalline structures
Rock Cycle
forms new rock by erosion, compression and heat
Igenous Rock
rock formed from hardened molten materials
Intrusive
rock formed inside earth, small crystals, igneous
Extrusive
rock formed outside earth, large crystals, igneous
Fractures
cracks formed when rocks cool
Sedimentary Rock
rock formed from compression and compaction of eroded rock particles
Metamorphic Rock
rock formed from heating and compressing other rocks
Weathering
wearing away of rock from wind, rain and certain chemicals
Physical Weathering
mechanical breakdown of rock by water and wind
Chemical Weathering
breakdown of rock by chemical reactions, dissolving of elements
Acid Precipitation
acidic atmospheric moisture that breaks down rocks and minerals
Erosion
physical removal of rock fragments
Deposition
accumulation or depositing of eroded material
Soil
mixture of geologic, chemical and biological components that support plant growt
h
Parent Material
rocks and minerals that make up soil and other rocks
Topography
lay of the land, surface slope and arrangement of landscape
Soil Horizons
layers of soil that depend on climate, vegetation and parent material
O-Horizon
organic top layer of soil, contains leaf litter

A-Horizon
topsoil layer
E-Horizon
zone of leaching, nutrients removed
B-Horizon
subsoil, composed primarily of mineral material, low organics
C-Horizon
weathered parent material
Texture
determined by percentages of sand, silt, and clay
Soil Pyramid
used to determine soil texture
Cation Exchange Capacity
nutrient holding capacity of soil
Base Saturation
measure of the proportion of soil bases to soil acids
Soil Degradation
loss of some or all of the ability of soils to support growth
Crustal Abundance
average concentration of an element in the crust
Ores
concentrated accumulations of minerals from which valuable materials can be extr
acted
Metals
elements with properties that allow them to conduct electricity
Reserve
the known quantity of the resource that can be economically recovered
Surface Mining
mining operations above ground
Strip Mining
removal of strips of soil and rock to expose ore
Mining Spoils
unwanted waste material from mining
Open-Pit Mining
large pit or hole in the ground for easy extraction of materials
Mountaintop Removal
miners remove mountaintop to extact materials
Placer Mining
process of looking for metals or minerals in stream sediment
Subsurface Mining

mining operations below ground

Mining Law of 1872
regulates the mining of materials on federal land
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977
requires mining companies to restore land after mining operations
tragedy of the commons
the tendency of a shared, limited resource to become depleted because people act
from self-interest for short-term gain
externality
the unintended side effect of an action that affects something not involved in t
he action and is not included in the purchasing price etc.
maximum sustainable yield
the maximum amount that can be harvested without compromising the future availab
ility of that resource
national park
a tract of land declared by the national government to be public property used f
or scientific, educational, and recreational use
managed resource protected areas
allows for the sustained use of biological, mineral, and recreational resources
habitat management areas
areas actively managed to maintain biologial communities
nature reserves and wilderness areas
areas established to protect species and ecosystems
protected landscapes and seascapes
areas combined with the nondestructive use of natural resources with oppurtuniti
es for tourism and recreation (orchards, villages, beaches)
national monuments
areas set aside to protect unique sites of special natural or cultural interest
(Arc de Triomphe
resource conservation ethic
states that people should maximize resource use based on the greatest good for e
veryone
multiple use lands
public lands that can be used for recreation, grazing, timber harvesting, and mi
neral extraction, wildlife preserving, or scentific research
bureau of land management
Used for grazing, mining, timber harvesting, and recreation
united states forest service
Service used for timber harvesting, grazing, and recreation
national park service
Service used for recreation and conservation
fish and wildlife service
Service used for wildlife conservation, hunting, and recreation

rangelands
dry, open grasslands used for cattle grazing (the most common use for land in th
e USA)
clearcutting
a timber harvesting technique that involves removing all or almost all the trees
within an area. This has a big short term profit. Quick growing trees will do w
ell with a lot of sunlight. This technique increases wind and water erosion, sed
iments nearby streams, harms aquatic populatins, mudslides, heating of water
selective cutting
a timber harvesting technique that involves the removal of few trees or relative
ly small numbers of trees from among many in a forest. This produces optimum gro
wth from shade tolerant trees. It is a less extensively damaging technique. Tran
sporting logs can lead to road creation and soil impaction
ecologically sustainable forestry
an approach that has a goal of maintaining all species in as close a natural sta
te as possible
tree plantations
large areas typically planted with a single rapidly growing tree species
prescribed burn
a deliberate fire set to reduce the accumulation of dead biomass
national environmental policy act
An act from 1969 that mandates an environmental assessment of all projects invol
ving federal money or federal permits
environmental impact statement
A NEPA rule that require an outline of the scope and purpose of a federal projec
t. It must describe the environmental context, suggest alternative aproaches to
the project and analyzes the environmental impact of each alternative
environmental mitigation plan
a plan that states how a developer will address the environmental impact of a pr
oject or building
endangered species act of 1973
A 1973 law designed to protect species from extinction
national wildlife refuges
the only federal public lands managed for the primary purpose of protecting wild
life
national wilderness areas
areas set aside with the intent of preserving large tracts of intact ecosystems
or landscapes
suburban
areas sourrounding metropolitan centers with low population densities
exurban
similar to suburban areas but not connected to any central city or densely popul
ated area
urban sprawl
the creation of urbanized areas that spread into rural areas and remove clear bo

undaries between the two

urban blight
the degradation of the built and social environments of the city that often acco
mpanies and accelerates migration to the suburbs
highway trust fund
A U.S. federal fund that pays for the construction and maintenance of roads and
highways begun by the Highway Revenue Act of 1956
induced demand
when an increase in the supply of a good causes demand to grow
zoning
a planning tool developed in the 20s to seperate industry and business from resi
dential neighborhoods
smart growth
stratagies that encourage the development of sustainable healthy communities. Th
ey include mixed land uses, creating choice in housing opportunities and walkabl
e neighborhoods, compact building design, a sense of place, preserved spaces of
beauty, vareity of transportation, etc.
stakeholders
people with an interest in a particular place or issue
transit oriented development
A mixed-use residential or commercial area designed to maximize access to public
transport, and often incorporates features to encourage transit ridership
infill
the process of filling in empty or rundown parts of a city with new development
urban growth boundaries
A regional boundary, set in an attempt to control urban sprawl by mandating that
the area inside the boundary be used for higher density urban development and t
he area outside to be used for lower density development. Used by local governme
nts as a guide to zoning and land use decisions
eminent domain
the right of the state to take private property for public use
multi-use zoning
A zoning classification that allows retail and high-density residential developm
ent to coexist in the same area.
subsidized mortgages
housing payments that are artificially low because of federal help through the F
ederal Housing Adminstration, usually for newly-built houses in the low-density
suburbs
sense of place
People's attachment to the region that they perceive as their home.
preventing the tragedy of the commons
1) private ownership holds owner responsible for environmental harm, and prevent
s externalization of cost; 2) regulation by gov't prevents overuse; 3) self-regu
lation by communities/users prevents overuse
International Categories of Public Lands

National Parks, Managed Resource Protected Areas, Strict Nature Reserves and Wil
derness Areas, Habitat/Species Management Areas, Protected Landscapes and Seasca
pes, National Monuments International Categories of Public Lands
consequences of clear-cutting
increases wind and water erosion, harms aquatic populations, causes mudslides, r
aises water temperatures, reduces soil quality(fire, herbicides), contaminates w
ater, fragments habitats, decreases biodiversity
consequences of selective cutting
less impact, but road construction fragments habitats and compacts soil, leading
to loss of biodiversity, nutrients,and reduction in water infiltration
Malnourished
Having a diet that lacks the correct balances of proteins, carbohydrates, vitami
ns, and minerals.
Undernutrition
The condition in which not enough calories are ingested to maintain health.
Food Security
A condition in which people have access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food
that meets their dietary needs for an active and healthy life.
Food Insecurity
A condition in which people do not have adequate access to food.
Famine
The condition in which food insecurity is so extreme that large numbers of death
s occur in a given area over a relatively short period.
Overnutrition
Ingestion of too many calories and improper foods
Industrial Agriculture
Agriculture that applies the techniques of mechanization and standardization.
Agribusiness
(AKA Industrial Agriculture) Agriculture that applies the techniques of mechaniz
ation and standardization.
Energy Subsidy
The energy input per calorie of food produced.
Green Revolution
A shift in agricultural practices in the twentieth century that included new man
agement techniques, mechanization, fertilization, irrigation, and improved crop
varieties, and resulted in increased food output.
Economics of Scale
The observation that average costs of production fall as output increases.
Waterlogging
A form of soil degradation that occurs when soil remains under water for prolong
ed periods.
Salinization
A form of soil degradation that occurs when the small amount of salts in irrigat
ion water becomes highly concentrated on the soil surface through evaporation.

Organic Fertilizers
Fertilizer composed of organic matter from plants and animals.
Synthetic or Inorganic Fertilizers
Fertilizer produced commercially, normally with the use of fossil fuels.
Monocropping
An agricultural method that utilizes large plantings of a single species or vari
ety.
Pesticides
A substance, either natural or synthetic, that kills or controls organisms that
people consider pests.
Insecticides
A pesticide that targets species of insects and other invertebrates.
Herbicides
A pesticide that targets plant species that compete with crops.
Broad Spectrum Pesticide
A pesticide that kills many different types of pests.
Selective Pesticide
A pesticide that targets a narrower range of organisms.
Persistent
A pesticide that remains in the environment for a long time.
Bioaccumulation
An increased concentration of a chemical within an organism over time.
Nonpersistant
A pesticide that breaks down rapidly, usually in weeks or months.
Resistant
An individual that survives a pesticide application.
Pesticide Treadmill
A cycle of pesticide development, followed by pest resistance, followed by new p
esticide development
Conventional Agriculure
(AKA Industrial Agriculture) Agriculture that applies the techniques of mechaniz
ation and standardization.
Desertification
The transformation of arable, productive land to desert or unproductive land due
to climate change or destructive land use.
Nomadic Grazing
Feeding herds of animals by moving them to seasonally productive feeding grounds
, often over long distances.
Sustainable Agriculture
Agriculture that fulfills the need for food and fiber while enhancing the qualit
y of the soil, minimizing the use of nonrenewable resources, and allowing econom
ic viability for the farmer.
Intercropping

An agricultural method in which two or more crop species are planted in the same
field at the same time to promote a synergistic interaction.
Crop Rotations
An agricultural technique in which crop species in a field are alternated from s
eason to season.
Agroforestry
An agricultural technique in which trees and vegetables are intercropped.
Contour Plowing
An agricultural technique in which plowing and harvesting are done parallel to t
he topographic contours of the land.
No-till Agriculture
An agricultural method in which farmers do not turn the soil between seasons, us
ed as a means of reducing erosion.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
An agricultural practice that uses a variety of techniques designed to minimize
pesticide inputs.
Organic Agriculture
Production of crops with the goal of improving the soil each year without the us
e of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)
A large indoor or outdoor structure used to raise animals at very high densities
.
Fishery
A commercially harvestable population of fish within a particular ecological reg
ion.
Fishery Collapse
The decline of a fish population by 90 percent or more.
Bycatch
The unintentional catch of nontarget species while fishing.
Individual Transferable Quotas (ITOs)
A fishery management program in which individual fishers are given a total allow
able catch of fish in a season that they can either catch or sell.
Aquaculture
Farming aquatic organisms such as fish, shellfish, and seaweeds.
nonrenewable energy source
an energy source with a finite supply, primarily the fossil fuels and nuclear fu
els
fossil fuels
fuels derived from biological material that became fossilized millions of years
ago
nuclear fuels
fuels derived from radioactive materials that give off energy
commercial energy sources
energy sources that are bought and sold

subsistence energy sources

energy sources gathered by individuals for their own immediate needs
energy carrier
something that can move and deliver energy in a convenient, usable form to end u
sers
turbine
a large device that resembles a fan or a jet engine/ a device with blades that c
an be turned by water, wind, steam, or exhaust gas from combustion that turns a
generator in an electricity-producing plant
electrical grid
a network of interconnected transmission lines that joins power plants together
and links them with end users of electricity
combined cycle
natural gas-fired power plant, which has two turbines and generators /a power pl
ant that uses both exhaust gas from combustion that turns a generator in an elec
tricity-producing plant
capacity
a maximum electrical output/ in reference to an electricity -generating plant, t
he maximum electrical output
capacity factor
the fraction of the time a plant operates in a year
cogeneration
the use of a fuel to generate electricity and produce heat
coal
a solid fuel formed primarily from the remains of trees, ferns, and other plant
materials that were preserved 280 million to 360 million years ago
petroleum
a fluid mixture of hydrocarbons, water, and sulfur that occurs in underground de
posits/ a fossil fuel that occurs in underground deposits, composed of a liquid
mixture of hydrocarbons, water, and sulfur
crude oil
liquid petroleum that is removed from the ground
oil sands
slow-flowing, viscous deposits of bitumen mixed with sand, water, and clay.
bitumen
often called tar or pitch, a degraded type of petroleum that forms when a petrol
eum deposit is not capped with nonporous rock/ a degraded petroleum that forms w
hen petroleum migrates to the surface of Earth and is modified by bacteria; also
called tar or pitch
CTL (coal to liquid)
the technology to convert solid coal into a liquid fuel/ the process of converti
ng solid coal into liquid fuel
energy intensity
the energy use per unit of gross domestic product

Hubbert curve
a bell-shaped curve representing oil use and projecting both when world oil prod
uction will reach a maximum and when we will run out of oil
Peak oil
the point at which half the total known oil supply is used up
fission
a nuclear reaction in which a neutron strikes a relatively large atomic nucleus,
which then splits into two or more parts
fuel rods
cylindrical tube that enclose nuclear fuel within a nuclear reactor
control rods
cylindrical devices that can be inserted between the fuel rods to absorb excess
neutrons, thus slowing or stopping the fission reaction
radioactive waste
Nuclear fuel that can no longer produce enough heat to be useful in a power plan
t but continues to emit radioactivity
Becquerel (Bq)
unit that measures the rate at which a sample of radioactive material decays; 1
Bq = decay of 1 atom or nucleus persecond
curie
a unit of measure for radiation; 1 curie = 37 billion decays per second
nuclear fusion
a reaction that occurs when lighter nuclei are forced together to produce heavie
r nuclei.
biomass
The total mass of all living matter in a specific area
renewable
In energy management, an energy source that is either potentially renewable or n
ondepletable
energy conservation
The implementation of methods to use less energy
tiered rate
A billing system used by some electric companies in which customers pay higher r
ates as their use goes up
energy efficiency
The ratio of the amount of work done to the total amount of energy introduced to
the system
peak demand
The greatest quantity of energy used at any one time
passive solar energy
A method of converting solar energy into heat without pumps or fans (passive sol
ar design- construction designed to take advantage of solar radiation without ac
tive technology)
thermal inertia

The ability of a material to maintain its temperature

modern carbon
Carbon in biomass that was recently in the atmosphere
fossil carbon
Carbon in fossil fuels
carbon neutral
An activity that does not change atmospheric CO2 concentrations
net removal
The process of removing more than is replaced by growth, typically used when ref
erring to carbon
biofuels
Liquid fuels created from processed or refined biomass
ethanol
Alcohol made by converting starches and sugars from plant material into alcohol
and CO2
biodiesel
A diesel substitute produced by extracting and chemically altering oil from plan
ts
flex-fuel vehicles
A vehicle that runs on either gasoline or ethanol
hydroelectricity
electricity generated by the kinetic energy of moving water
run-of-the-river
Hydroelectricity generation in which water is retained behind a low dam or no da
m
water impoundment
The storage of water in a reservoir behind a dam
tidal energy
Energy that comes from the movement of water driven by the gravitational pull of
the Moon
siltation
The accumulation of sediments, primarily silt, on the bottom of a reservoir
active solar energy
Energy captured from sunlight with intermediate technologies (pumps or photovolt
aic cell)
photovoltaic solar cells
A system of capturing energy from sunlight and converting it directly into elect
ricity
geothermal energy
Heat energy that comes from the natural radioactive decay of elements deep withi
n Earth
ground source heat pumps
A technology that transfers heat from the ground to a building

wind energy
Energy generated from the kinetic energy of moving air
wind turbine
A turbine that converts wind energy into electricity
fuel cell
An electrical-chemical device that converts fuel, such as hydrogen, into an elec
trical current
electrolysis
The application of an electric current to water molecules to split them into hyd
rogen and oxygen
smart grid
An effcient, self-regulating electricity distribution network that accepts any s
ource of electricity and distributes it effectively to end users
Water Pollution
pollution of the water in rivers and lakes
Point Sources
point, from specific location such as a pipe. Non-point, from over an area such
as runoff
Nonpoint Sources
broad, and diffuse areas, rather than points, from which pollutants enter bodies
of surface water or air
Wastewater
water mixed with waste matter
Oxygen-demanding Waste
organic matter that enters a body of water and feeds microbes that are decompose
rs
Biochemical Oxygen Demand
Amount of oxygen required by aquatic bacteria to decompose a given load of organ
ic waste;a measure of water pollution
Eutrophication
process by which a body of water becomes too rich in dissolved nutrients, leadin
g to plant growth that depletes oxygen
Cultural Eutrophication
an increase in biological productivity and ecosystem succession caused by human
activities
Dead Zones
a area of water where there is no oxygen left
Indicator Species
species that serve as early warnings that a community or ecosystem is being degr
aded
Fecal Coliform Bacteria
bacteria found in the intestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals
Septic System

small waste water system used by a single home or business

Septic Tank
large tank where solid matter or sewage is disintegrated by bacteria
Sludge
gooey mixture of toxic chemicals, infectious agents, and settled solids removed
from wastewater at a sewage treatment plant
Septage
the middle layer of fairly clear water, contains large quantities of bacteria an
d may also contain pathogenic organisms and inorganic nutrients such as nitrogen
and phosphorous
Leach Field
the ground area around a septic tank through which wastewater filters after leav
ing the tank
Manure Lagoons
human-made ponds lined with rubber built to handle large quantities of manure pr
oduced by livestock
Acid Deposition
the return to earth as rain or snow of the sulfate or nitrate salts of acids pro
duced by commercial and industrial activities
PCBs
synthetic chemicals containing chlorine that are used in the manufacture of plas
tics and other industrial products, become stored in the tissue of animals, and
also persist in the environment
PBDEs
synthetic compunds that provide fire retardant properties and are used in a dive
rse array of consumer products including computers tvs plastics and furniture
Thermal Pollution
a temperature increase in a body of water that is caused by human activity and t
hat has a harmful effect on water quality and on the ability of that body of wat
er to support life
Thermal Shock
sudden increase or decrease in temperature that puts great stress on a fired cla
y body, causing it to crack, When a source of thermal pollution first starts of
stops, fish and other organisms adapted to particular temperature range can be k
illed by the abrupt change in water temperature
Coal Scrubbers
Installed to coal-burning facilities to combat the problem of acids being releas
ed to the atmosphere. They pass the hot gases through a limestone mixture, which
the limestone reacts with the acidic gases and removes them from the hot gases
that subsequency leave the smokestack.
Offshore Platforms
A method to extract oil underseas. There are 5,000 offshore oil platforms in Nor
th America and another 3,000 across the world. Leaks are fairly common.
BP Oil Spill
An oil spill in 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico, caused by an explosion in the Deepwa
ter Horizon platform caused a pipe to break on the ocean floor nearly 1.6 km (1
mile) below the surface of the ocean. An estimated 780 million liters (206 milli

on gallons) of crude oil was spilled.

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
An oil spill in 1989 in the coast of Alaska, the tanker Exxon Valdez spilled 41
million liters (11 million gallons). As a result, 250,000 seabirds, 2,800 sea ot
ters, 300 harbor seals, and 22 killer whales were killed.
Clean Water Act
A law passed in 1972 that expanded the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 19
48, improves water quality standards, requires the EPA to establish standards to
control pollutants that are harmful to human health and welfare
Safe Drinking Water Act
A law passed in 1974, 1986, 1996, sets the national standards for safe drinking
water. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, the EPA is responsible for establishin
g maximum contaminant levels (MCL) for 77 different elements on substances in bo
th surface water and groundwater.
Maximum Contaminant Levels
the greatest amount of a contaminant that can be present in drinking water witho
ut causing risk to human health
Gray Water
Wastewater from baths, showers, bathrooms, and washing machines
air pollution
the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or microorganisms into the at
mosphere at concentrations high enough to harm plants, animals, and materials su
ch as buildings, or to alter ecosystems
particulate matter/ particulates/ particles
solid or liquid particles suspended in air and comes from combustion of wood, an
imal manure, and other biofuels, coal, oil, and gasoline
haze
reduced visibility caused primarily when particulate matter from air pollution s
catters light
photochemical oxidants
class of air pollutants formed as a result of sunlight acting on compounds such
as nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide
smog
the resulting mixture of oxidants and particulate matter
photochemical smog
smog dominated by oxidants such as ozone and sometimes called Los Angeles-type s
mog or brown smog
sulfurous smog
smog dominated by sulfur dioxide and sulfate compounds and sometimes called Lond
on-type smog or gray smog
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
organic compounds that become vapors at typical atmospheric temperatures
primary pollutants
polluting compounds that come directly out of the smokestack, exhaust pipe, or n
atural emission source
Examples: CO, CO2, SO2, NOx, & most suspende
d particulate matter

secondary pollutants
primary pollutants that have undergone transformation in the presence of sunligh
t, water, oxygen, or other compounds
Examples: ozone, sulfate (SO4
2-), nitrate (NO3-), etc.
thermal inversion
a situation where a relatively warm later of air at mid-altitude covers a layer
of cold, dense air below
inversion layer
the warm layer that traps emissions that then accumulate beneath it
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
a family of organic compounds whose properties make them ideal for use in refrig
eration and air-conditioning. It is the major source of chlorine in the stratosp
here
asbestos
a long, thin, fibrous silicate mineral with insulating properties
sick building syndrome
a buildup of toxic compounds and pollutants in an airtight space; seen in newer
buildings with good insulation and tight seals against air leaks
Tropospheric ozone
Photochemical oxidants-class of air pollutants formed as a result of sunlight ac
ting on compounds such as nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide
O
zone is the most frequently measured photochemical oxidant in the troposphere
Catlytic converter
reduces nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide emissions Control of particulate matt
er
baghouse filter (page 254)
An air pollution control device that the particles (gases/particulate matter) ar
e removed by a series of filter bags that physically filter out the particles. C
an remove almost 100 percent of particulate matter emissions. Also known as fabr
ic filters.
electrostatic precipitator (page 254)
An air pollution control device that use an electrical charge to make particles
coalesce so the ycan be removed. Polluted air enters the precipitator and the el
ectrically charge particles withing are attracted to negative or positive charge
s on the sides of the precipitator. The particles collect and relatively clean g
as exits the precipitator.
scrubber (page 255)
An air pollution control device that uses a combination of water and air that ac
tually seperates and removes particles. Particles are removed in the scrubber in
a liquid or sludge form and clean gas exits. Also used to reduce emissions of s
ulfur dioxide.
carbon monoxide
An air pollutant that is a colorless, odorless gas that is formed during incompl
ete combustion, a common emission in vehicle exhaust, malfunctioning exhaust sys
tems, household heaters, and natural gas heaters. Carbon monoxide binds with hem
oglobin and interferes with oxygen transport in the blood, leading to oxygen dep
rivation.

radon
A radioactive gas with an isotope of 222, that occurs naturally from the decay o
f uranium, exists in granitic and other rocks and soils. Can lead to lung cancer
due to the gas seeping through cracks in the foundation or soil, drinking water
, groundwater, by attaching to dust and other particles in the air. Also forms a
byproduct called Polonium-210.