Sources of Pollution
Give an example of a nonpoint source of pollution
Agircultural Runoff
Urban Runoff
Acid Precipitation
Give an example of a "toxic metal"
Lead
Arsenic
Mercury
Cadmium
Identify one safety measure that is implemented in sanitary landfills to prevent contamination
Impermeable lining
Methane recovery system
Leachate treatment system
Well water monitors
Grass/soil cover
The addition of nitrates and phosphates to a waterway will cause what?
Eutrophication
Give an example of a communicable and a noncommunicable disease
Communicable diseases include pneumonia, malaria, dysentery, cholera, zika virus, COVID-19, influenza, and the plague
Noncommunicable diseases include cancer, heart disease, COPD, bronchitis, diabetes, alzheimers, and asthma.
What is the primary source of methylmercury contamination?
Coal combustion
What is the most abundant component of municipal solid waste (MSW)?
Paper
What is an advantage and disadvantage of waste incineration?
The advantages are that you can decrease the volume of waste and generate electricity in the process.
The disadvantage is that it severely pollutes the atmosphere.
The process by which a persistent pollutant builds up in an organisms fatty tissue over time
Bioaccumulation
Give an example of synergy between two factors that affect the lungs
While separately the following might not pose an extreme risk, when together, things like bacterial/viral infections, chronic conditions like asthma, and pollutants like PM or ozone can be deadly
What are the two primary source of nutrient pollution?
Fertilizer runoff from agriculture
Untreated sewage runoffThis type of pollutant mimics hormones and can disrupt the growth and development of many organisms.
Endocrine disruptors
Identify two environmental impacts of sanitary landfills.
Leachate can runoff or infiltrate groundwater
Decomposition releases CO2 and CH4
Landfills attract pests
They sometimes contains hazardous chemicals
Animals can ingest solid waste
In what way does thermal pollution primarily affect aquatic ecosystems?
It lowers the concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO)
Arsenic has a relatively high LD50. What does this indicate about arsenic?
Arsenic is not as deadly as many other common pollutants
This energy source is the most abundant source of thermal pollution (per power station)
Nuclear
DDT, methymercury, and PCBs are all examples of this type of pollutant which is difficult to get rid of once it's been released.
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)
Identify two methods of disinfecting water during water or sewage treatment
Chlorine
UV light
Ozone
Electrification
How is the biological oxygen demand (BOD) affected when untreated sewage is released into a waterway?
BOD increases due to the increase in bacteria
What is the difference between a pathogen and a vector?
A pathogen causes a disease. A vector is what transmits the pathogen.
What is the most common source of endocrine disruptors in sewage?
Human medication
Describe three methods that are used to clean up oil spills.
Boom and skimmer
Dispersants
Burning the oil
Oil-eating bacteria
Absorbents
Vacuum Systems
Explain why recycling, although great in theory, has largely been an ineffective solution to the problem of municipal solid waste.
Recycling requires quick and efficient sorting of trash, separation of materials, and reprocessing of materials into raw components. In practice, this ends up being too difficult and expensive for recycling facilities to make a profit.
Identify two impacts of sediment pollution from urban runoff and deforestation.
Sediment will increase a water body's temperature and decrease its oxygen content
Increase in turbidity will inhibit photosynthesis.
Too much sediment can clog the gills of fish and smother aquatic plants.
Describe three factors in a country that increase the spread of infectious disease
Climate
Amount of habitat for vectors
Sanitation (sewage/water treatment)
Access to healthcare
Building insulation
Amount of time spent outside
Solid waste disposal methods