1B3 Impacts on Environment and Society

Question 1

Define:

pollution

Answer 1

The introduction of contaminants that harm nature and human health into the environment.

Contaminants can be found in water, air, or land, and can affect human survival.

Question 2

List three main types of pollution.

Answer 2

1. Water pollution
2. Air pollution
3. Land pollution

Each type poses unique challenges and requires different strategies for mitigation.

Question 3

List four causes of water pollution.

Answer 3

1. Industrial discharge
2. Municipal wastewater
3. Acid rain
4. Natural erosion

Inadequately treated wastewater and oil spills are significant contributors to water contamination.

Question 4

List five sources of air pollution.

Answer 4

1. Automobiles
2. Airplanes
3. Factories
4. Power plants
5. Wildfires

Question 5

What strategies have countries implemented to reduce air pollution?

Answer 5

• Reducing toxic chemicals in gasoline.
• Promoting cleaner energy sources like wind and solar.

These measures help decrease emissions from vehicles and power plants.

Question 6

What health risks are associated with long-term air pollution?

Answer 6

Increased risk of respiratory disorders, including lung cancer.

Question 7

What city in the U.S. is known for high levels of air pollution?

Answer 7

Los Angeles

This is partly due to its large population and heavy automobile use.

Question 8

List three sources of land pollution.

Answer 8

• Landfills
• Hazardous waste
• Construction waste

These contribute significantly to public health threats.

Question 9

Define:

greenhouse effect

Answer 9

A process that traps heat in Earth’s atmosphere, keeping the planet warm enough to support life.

It involves greenhouse gases that trap infrared radiation, allowing life to thrive.

Question 10

List three examples of greenhouse gases.

Answer 10

1. Carbon dioxide
2. Methane
3. Water vapor

All of these gases occur naturally, but human activity has increased the levels of these gases. These increased levels of gas causes the greenhouse effect.

Question 11

True or False:

Oxygen and nitrogen make up 99% of the atmosphere by volume.

Answer 11

True

Oxygen is crucial for life, while nitrogen plays a role in the fertilizer industry. Interestingly enough, it’s estimated that oxygen makes up 21% of the atmosphere, whereas nitrogen makes up around 78% of the atmosphere.

Question 12

List four consequences of the greenhouse effect.

Answer 12

1. Ocean warming
2. Sea level rise
3. Habitat loss
4. Altered precipitation patterns

These changes threaten ecosystems and species with extinction.

Question 13

What measures can be taken to reverse the greenhouse effect?

Answer 13

• Cutting dependence on conventional fuels.
• Protecting forests and land.
• Utilizing renewable energy sources like solar and wind.

These actions aim to achieve net-zero emissions.

Question 14

Which gases are introduced solely by human activities and have no natural source?

Answer 14

Fluorinated gases

They include hydrofluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride.

They are potent and long-lasting in the atmosphere, and contribute to the greenhosue effect.

These gases are emitted during the manufacturing, use, or disposal of certain products such as air conditioning units or electrical equipment.

Question 15

True or False:

Ozone is a greenhouse gas that has a significant impact on climate.

Answer 15

True

Ozone’s impact is difficult to estimate due to its uneven distribution and brief existence.

Question 16

What chemicals primarily cause ozone layer depletion?

Answer 16

Chlorofluorocarbons

(CFCs)

CFCs, found in older refrigerators and air conditioners, break down ozone in the stratosphere.

Question 17

True or False:

The ozone layer is essential for regulating Earth’s climate.

Answer 17

False

The ozone layer primarily protects against harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, not directly regulating Earth’s climate.

Question 18

What is one long-term consequence of ozone layer depletion?

Answer 18

Increased skin cancer rates.

Prolonged exposure to UV radiation increases the risk of skin cancers, including melanoma, and can also lead to cataracts and weakened immune systems.

Question 19

How does ozone layer depletion affect the environment?

Answer 19

Increased UV radiation exposure.

This can harm human health and disrupt ecosystems, especially marine life.

Question 20

Define:

acid rain

Answer 20

It is any precipitation that contains increased sulphuric and nitric acid levels.

It includes wet deposition (rain, dew, fog, snow, hail) and dry deposition (gases and particles like smoke and dust).

Question 21

List three natural causes of acid rain.

Answer 21

1. Volcanoes
2. Forest fires
3. Rotting vegetation

These natural events release sulfur and nitrogen compounds into the atmosphere.

Question 22

List five man-made causes of acid rain.

Answer 22

1. Carbon emissions from vehicles
2. Burning of fossil fuels
3. Chemical factories
4. Oil refineries
5. Industrial processes

Question 23

What are the primary components of acid rain?

Answer 23

• Nitric acid
• Sulphuric acid
• Carbonic acid

These acids form when gases such as nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide react with water in the atmosphere.

Question 24

Fill in the blank.

Acid rain can damage buildings by reacting with materials like ________ and marble.

Answer 24

limestone

Acid rain corrodes materials, especially those containing calcium carbonate.

Question 25

Why is acid rain **harmful** to **aquatic ecosystems**?

Answer 25

It increases water acidity, disrupting the survival of aquatic species and food chains. ## Footnote Vulnerable species like snails, shrimps, and fish suffer the most due to increased acidity. Acid rain also leaches toxic metals like aluminum into water bodies, harming aquatic life.

Question 26

List *two* **effects** of acid rain on **human health**.

Answer 26

* Respiratory problems * Exposure to harmful toxins ## Footnote One common harmful toxin related to acid rain is methyl mercury. Dry deposition forms of methyl mercury can aggravate asthma and other lung conditions.

Question 27

Why is **reducing fossil fuel use** important in combating acid rain?

Answer 27

They release sulfur and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere, which can cause acid rain. ## Footnote Switching to cleaner energy sources reduces these harmful emissions.

Question 28

# True or False: Acid rain is **limited** to the areas near **industrial sites**.

Answer 28

False ## Footnote Acid rain can be transported by wind and affect regions far from the pollution source.

Question 29

List *three* **solutions** to reduce acid rain.

Answer 29

1. Use alternative energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower. 1. Implement pollution control methods. 1. Promote public transport to reduce carbon footprint. ## Footnote These measures lower emissions of sulfur and nitrogen oxides.

Question 30

# Define: waste disposal

Answer 30

The process of **managing waste** from generation to final disposal. ## Footnote Proper waste management includes: * Collection * Treatment * Disposal

Question 31

List *three* **methods** of waste disposal.

Answer 31

1. Landfilling 1. Incineration 1. Recycling ## Footnote Each method has different environmental impacts.

Question 32

How does **incineration** manage waste?

Answer 32

It burns waste to **reduce volume** and **generate energy**. ## Footnote Incineration can release harmful pollutants if not properly controlled. On the other hand, it can also generate usable energy through a steam-turbine engine.

Question 33

What are the ***3* Rs**?

Answer 33

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle ## Footnote These three steps are the best ways to decrease the amount of waste produced.

Question 34

Why is '*Reduce*' considered the **most effective** of the 3 Rs?

Answer 34

It **eliminates waste** at the source. ## Footnote Reducing minimizes the need to harvest new materials or create new products.

Question 35

List *three* **benefits** of reducing waste.

Answer 35

1. Conserves resources 1. Reduces pollution 1. Saves energy ## Footnote Waste reduction minimizes environmental impact and promotes sustainability.

Question 36

How does '*Reuse*' **help** the environment?

Answer 36

It **extends the life of resources** by repurposing items instead of discarding them. ## Footnote Reusing reduces demand for new materials and cuts down waste.

Question 37

# Fill in the blank. **Recycling** involves creating new products from \_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ .

Answer 37

old materials ## Footnote Recycling transforms waste into usable materials.

Question 38

Why is '*Recycle*' considered the **least effective** of the 3 Rs?

Answer 38

* It is inefficient. * A large percentage of recyclable materials are not successfully recycled. ## Footnote System inefficiencies and contamination lower the success rate of recycling. To recycle successfully, properly sort items.

Question 39

# Define: composting

Answer 39

It turns organic waste like food scraps into **nutrient-rich soil**. ## Footnote It is an eco-friendly way to recycle biodegradable materials.

Question 40

# Define: polymers

Answer 40

They are large molecules made of **repeating subunits** called monomers. ## Footnote Polymers include natural ones like DNA and synthetic ones like plastics. Synthetic polymers can lead to environmental problems when they accumulate in the environment, and often take a very long time to degrade naturally.

Question 41

List *two* **challenges** of recycling plastics.

Answer 41

1. Different types of plastics require separate processing. 1. Contamination can prevent proper recycling. ## Footnote Only about *14%* of plastics are successfully recycled due to these complexities.

Question 42

List *three* **common types** of plastics.

Answer 42

1. Polyethylene (PE) 1. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) 1. Polystyrene (PS) ## Footnote Plastics are versatile but contribute significantly to environmental pollution. PE is used in packaging, PS in insulation, and PVC in pipes.

Question 43

How does human use of plastics **affect marine life**?

Answer 43

Marine animals can **ingest** or become **entangled** in plastic waste. ## Footnote Small fragments of plastics (often called *microplastics*) are ingested by sea life and can block digestive tracts, leading to starvation and death.

Question 44

# True or False: All plastics are **biodegradable**.

Answer 44

False ## Footnote Most plastics are not biodegradable and persist in the environment for centuries.