environmental science key words Flashcards
key words and their definitions
pollutant
a substance or agent that contaminates the environment and can cause harm to ecosystems, human health or structures. Pollutant can be in various forms, including air, water, soil, and noise pollution, and this can be caused by both natural and human-made sources
waste
unwanted materials discarded after use, generally by households, industries and agriculture
contaminant
any substance that makes something impure, often by pollution or introduction of foreign materials
pollutant sinks
natural or artificial systems that absorb, reduce, or neutralize pollutants in the environment, such as forests, ocean and wetlands
risk
the probability or like hood of harm, injury, or damage occurring due to exposure to a hazard or adverse environmental condition.
hazard
a potential source of harm or adverse effect on health, the environment, or property
acute toxicity
the harmful effects of a substance resulting from a single or short-term exposure, typically within 24 hours
chronic toxicity
the harmful effects of a substance resulting from long-term exposure, typically within 24 hours
lethal dose (LD50)
the amount of a substance required to cause death in 50% of a test population, commonly used to measure acute toxicity
threshold
the minimum level or concentration of a substance that causes a detectable biological effect
pathways
the routes or processes through which pollutants or contaminants move through the environment, such as air, water, and soil to living organisms
dosage
the amount of a substance administered or absorbed by an organism, often used in relation to medication or pollutants
acute exposure
a short-term exposure to a harmful substance, typically occurring within a brief period, often resulting in immediate health effects.
chronic exposure
long-term exposure to a harmful substance, typically occurring over months or years, and may lead to lasting health effects
bioaccumulation
the accumulation of a substance, such as a pollutant, in the tissues of an organism over time, typically due to continuous exposure
biomagnigication
the increase in concentration of a substance, such as a pollutant, as it moves up the food chain, from prey to predator
bioaccessbility
the extent to which a substance, such as a contaminant, is available for absorption by living organisms after it enters the environment.
point source
a single, identifiable source of pollution or contamination, such as a factory or sewage pipe, where pollutants are discharged.
diffuse source
a source of pollution that is spread out over a large area and cannot be traced to a single point, such as agriculture runoff or urban stormwater
fugitive source
a source of pollution that escapes from an uncontrolled or uncontained process, such as leaks from pipelines or industrial equipment
mobile source
a source of pollution that involves moving sources, such as vehicles, ships, or planes, emitting pollutants into the environment
transport mechanisms
The processes by which pollutants move through the environment, such as air, water, or soil, often influenced by wind, water flow, and human activities
limiting factor
a factor that restricts the growth, reproduction, or distribution of an organism or population, such as temperature, food availability, or habitat space
range of tolerance
the range of environmental conditions within which a species can survive and reproduce
etrophication
the process by which excess nutrients in water bodies promote overgrowth of plants and algae, leading to oxygen depletion and harm to aquatic life
dissolved oxygen
the amount of oxygen present in water, essential for the survival of aquatic organisms
qualitative data
data that describes characteristics or qualities
quantitative data
data that can be measured and expressed numerically
pollutant persistence
the ability of a pollutant to remain in the environment for a long time without breaking down, potentially causing long-term environmental harm
pollutant mobility
the ability of pollutants to move through environmental media that are influenced by factors like chemical properties and environmental conditions
4 spheres of earths environment
atmosphere(air), hydrosphere(water), lithosphere(land), and biosphere(living organisms)
ecological footprint
a measure of human impact on the environment, expressed in terms of the amount of natural resources and land area required to support human activities
endocrine
Related to the glands and hormones of the endocrine system, which regulate essential body functions such as metabolism, growth, and reproduction through chemical signaling
endocrine system
A network of glands and organs that produce, store, and release hormones into the bloodstream, regulating vital processes like growth, metabolism, reproduction, and mood
endocrine disruptors
Chemicals that disrupt the endocrine system, potentially causing health issues like reproductive and developmental problems
dermal (pathway)
The absorption of substances through the skin, often occurring through direct contact with contaminated surfaces or substances
oral (pathway)
Refers specifically to substances taken in through the mouth, usually medicines, foods, or contaminated liquids
inhale (pathway)
The process of breathing in airborne substances, such as gases, dust, or fumes, through the respiratory system
ingestions (pathway)
The intake of substances through the mouth, typically involving food, water, or contaminated objects, which pass through the digestive system.
