Water Pollution
Waste & Recyling
Laws & Regulations
Environmental Effects
Data & Graphs
100

This term describes the enrichment of water bodies with nutrients, leading to algal blooms.

Eutrophication

100

Recycling this metal saves a lot of energy compared to mining it.

Aluminum

100

This law protects the nation's drinking water.

Safe Drinking Water Act

100

High nitrate and phosphorus levels can lead to this aquatic effect.

Algae bloom

100

The point on a dose-response graph where 50% mortality is observed.

LD50

200

A point source of water pollution.

Factory effluent

200

This kind of site is contaminated with hazardous materials and underutilized.

Brownfield

200

This law aims to clean up hazardous waste sites.

CERCLA

200

Persistent pollutants build up in organisms in this process.

Bioaccumulation

200

A spike in turbidity, nitrates, and fecal coliform is likely from this source.

Farm
300

This type of bacteria indicates contamination by animal or human waste.

Coliform

300

Reusing a T-shirt by turning it into a tote bag is an example of this.

Upcycling/Recycling

300

This act seeks to maintain the integrity of U.S. waters.

Clean Water Act

300

Acid rain is primarily caused by emissions of this pollutant.

Sulfur dioxide

300

A toxicologist tested four new herbicides. The LD₅₀s are:

  • Herbicide A: 100 mg/kg

  • Herbicide B: 350 mg/kg

  • Herbicide C: 75 mg/kg

  • Herbicide D: 500 mg/kg

Rank them from most to least toxic based on the LD₅₀ values.

C, A, B, D

400

This pollutant in high levels can cause neurological damage, especially in children.

Lead

400

These items are not biodegradable and may take hundreds of years to break down.

Plastics

400

This law helps regulate chemicals before they enter the market.

Toxic Substances Control Act

400

This is why fish often die during eutrophication events.

Lack of oxygen

400

On a dose-response curve, a steep slope means this about the chemical's effect.

Effect increases rapidly with dose

500

The process that removes pathogens using UV light, ozone, or chlorine.

Disinfection wastewater treatment

500

The process by which organic waste is broken down by microorganisms into a soil-like material.

Composting

500

This law mandates cradle-to-grave tracking of hazardous waste.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

500

These chemicals disrupt hormonal functions in wildlife.

Endocrine disruptors

500

A farmer must apply at least this much pesticide if the LD50 is 1,000 g/cm³ and they want to kill 50% of pests.

1,000 g/cm³