Case Studies

Question 1

PFAS

Answer 1

per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances

Question 2

“Forever chemicals”

Answer 2

long life spans and stability = difficult to break down in the environment

Question 3

PFAS structure

Answer 3

Contain carbon and fluorine bonds = very difficult to break down
- oxidation by ozone, H2O2, and persulfate
- DBPs made, PFAS can break down into other PFAS chemicals and even reform into more dangerous ones

Question 4

2 main ways to make PFAS

Answer 4

electrochemical fluorination and fluoro telomerization

Question 5

Sources of PFAS in water and soil

Answer 5

Discharge from industrial facilities
Landfill runoff/leachate

Question 6

PFAS effects on human health

Answer 6

Hormone disrupting
- immune system problems, cancers
- developmental delays, lower birth weights, learning/behaviour problems in children

Question 7

Relation of PFAS to the PBs

Answer 7

Novel entities

Question 8

Aragonite

Answer 8

crystalline form of calcium carbonate
- used by marine organisms to create their shells & and by corals to form their skeletons
- buffering agent

Question 9

Climate change and Ocean acidification

Answer 9

Ocean = carbon sink (25% of all atmospheric CO2 emissions absorbed)
Radiative forcing decreases ocean’s ability to act as a CO2 sink (Henry’s Law)
“Carbon sequestration”

Question 10

Conventional Agriculture

Answer 10

Farming methods taht rely on high inputs of machinery, fossil fuels, and synthetic chemicals (fertilizers and pesticides) & use of monocrops

Question 11

Regenerative Agriculture

Answer 11

Farming approach that uses soil conservation to enhance the environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainable food production

Question 12

Cash crops

Answer 12

Crops intended to be sold to generate income (canola, spring wheat and barley)

Question 13

Pulse crop

Answer 13

plants from the legume family (peas, beans, lentils)

Question 14

Silage

Answer 14

crops that are generally used as animal feed and cut while green (alfalfa, corn, clover, barley)

Question 15

Principles of Regenerative Agriculture

Answer 15

• produce highly nutritous food at high yields
• increase soil productivity and health
• protect/increase biodiversity
• carbon capture is important

Question 16

Microbes role in regenerative agriculture

Answer 16

• matter breakdown and nutrient cycling (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur)
• 80-90% total soil metabolism
• 5% SOC but contribute 50% total SOC

Question 17

Higher SOC/SOM levels _________ water retention in soil

Answer 17

increase

Question 18

Regenerative Agriculture techniques

Answer 18

No/Zero-till
Cover crops
Crop rotation
Stubble retention
Chemical application reduction
Multi-species crops

Question 19

Wastewater

Answer 19

water from homes, businesses, industries, and institutions that drain into sewers
- may be combined with stormwater from rain or melting snow

Question 20

Major components of wastewater

Answer 20

human and other organic waste, nutrients, pathogens, microorganisms, suspended solids, household and industrial chemicals

Question 21

Chlorination takes place in what step of wastewater treatment?

Answer 21

Tertiary treatment

Question 22

What major materials react together to form DBPs?

Answer 22

A disinfectant (Cl) with organic and/or inorganic matter

Question 23

2 common DBPs in chlorine treated water

Answer 23

THMs and HAAs
(trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids)

Question 24

THMs are formed when chlorine reacts with ________ groups

Answer 24

alkyl
- ie. chloroform

Question 25

HAAs form when chlorine reacts with __________ containing organic compounds

Answer 25

carboxylic acid

Question 26

Clay Illuviation

Answer 26

translocation of clay particles in water from upper soil layers to lower ones
- important for soil formation (Bt-Horizon), development, and quality

Question 27

Bt Horizon

Answer 27

made of luvisols (layer of dense clay)
- important for agriculture fertility and forms a water basin for plant roots
- site of ion exchange (Ca2+, Mg2+ and K+)

Question 28

Floods/Droughts impact on soils

Answer 28

Floods = wash away clay particles and nutrients
Droughts = long-term increase in erosion (dry soil), limit clay illuviation and Bt horizon formation, water-holding capacity is reduced, more nutrient runoff

Question 29

Eutrophication due to Climate Change

Answer 29

increased need for fertilizers due to polarizing weather patterns = increased runoff into water bodies
- N and P lead to algal blooms = suffocate plants and organisms below, decreased DOC