Chapter 14 Flashcards
pollution that comes from a single identifiable source
point source pollution
pollution that comes from many disperse sources
nonpoint source pollution
source - lead-lined plumbing pipes, paint, some toys; mostly found in older homes and buildings
health effect - brain, nervous system, kidney damage esp.in fetuses, infants and kids (neurotoxin)
removal - replace old pipes, water filtration, laws preventing import of toys with this
lead
source - natural in Earth’s crust & dissolves in groundwater; mining contributes to its presence in groundwater
health effect - skin, lung, kidney and bladder cancer
removal - removed from water with fine membrane filtration
arsenic
source - released into air by burning of coal and incineration of garbage, medical, and dental supplies
health effects - biomagnification in food chain; damage to nervous system, esp;dangerous to fetuses and kids. (neurotoxin)
removal - reduce/stop coal combustion
mercury
- the build up of a toxic chemical in the body of an individual organism over time
- happens as the organism gets bigger in size
bioaccumulation
- toxin increase in concentration as they pass through the tropic levels within a food web
- happens in food webs
- mercury increase up the food web
biomagnification
waterway that high levels of algae as a result of excess nutrients and low dissolved oxygen
eutrophication
waterway with very low nutrient leaves and stable algae populations as well as high dissolved oxygen levels
oligotrophic
a chemical compound that was used as an insecticide in the 1940s through the 1970s
DDT
rain/snow with pH below 6 forms when sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) released from burning coal are converted into sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and nitric acid (HNO3) in the atmosphere
acid precipitation
SO2
sulfur dioxide
NOx
nitrogen oxide
H2SO4
sulfuric acid
HNO3
nitric acid
pesticides, pharmaceuticals, plastics, military compounds, and industrial compounds (PCBs and PBDEs) enter water supply from point or nonpoint sources
synthetic organic compounds (human made)
- Chemicals to reduce pest populations
- source: Farms (DDT), Gardens/yards (Roundup)
- problems: Reduced populations in non-pest species
pesticides
- Antibiotics, steroids, non-prescription drugs, reproductive meds
- source: Households, agriculture, industry, hospitals
- problem: Disrupts reproductive systems of fish and other species
Pharmaceuticals & Hormones (Endocrine Disruptors)
- Chemicals such as perchlorates, used in rocket fuel
- source: Areas rockets are made, tested or dismantled
- problem: Affects thyroid gland and hormone production
military compounds
- Chemicals used in manufacturing (PCBs, PBDEs)
- source: PCB: plastics & electronics. PBDE: flame retardant in furniture and clothes
- problem: PCB: Lethal and carcinogenic
PBDE: Brain damage
industrial compounds
- spills from oil tankers
- offshore drilling
- natural oil seeps
oil pollution sources
fossil fuel and extracted from the Earth, is used to make several petroleum products,
petroleum/crude oil
what was the largest marin oil spill in the US
Deep water Horizon
garbage and sludge
solid waste
Causes brown, cloudy water, reduces infiltration of sunlight, clogs gills
sediment pollution
water used in cooling in electric power plants and industry
thermal pollution
Ships, submarines, military sonar, air guns used in oil exploration interfere with animal communication
noise pollution
Legislation that supports the “protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and recreation in and on the water” by maintaining and, when necessary, restoring the chemical, physical, and biological properties of surface waters
Clean Water Act
Law that sets the national standards for safe drinking water. This law establishes the maximum contaminant levels (MCL) for 77 different elements or substances in surface and groundwater
safe drinking water act
where is safe drinking water scarce?
developing countries
DO
dissolved oxygen
BOD
biochemical oxygen demand
what are ways to clean up an oil spill?
- boom
- dispersants
- burn oil
- GMO
floating plastic devices that contain floating oil and suck it up
boom
break down oil into droplets
dispersants
bacteria eat the oil
GMO
what water temp holds oxygen better?
cold water holds oxygen better than warm water
industrial chemicals that are toxic and can cause cancer
PCB
what happened to the bald eagle population when DDT was banned?
population increased
what are some solutions to the problem about mircoplastics?
- Add filter to washing machine
- Use a filter bag
- Wash clothes less often
toxic and will bioaccumulate in organisms and biomagnify in the food chain; cause neurological damage and birth defects
Methylmercury
