Intro To Pollution Flashcards
What is the pollution
The release of substances or forms of energy into the environment that causes harm to living organisms
What are four examples of human activities that cause pollution
- Combustion of fossil fuels
- Oil spills
- Transport (vehicle emissions e.g. NOXs & particulates)
- Agriculture & deforestation
What are three examples of natural processes that causes pollution
- Oil leaks in natural oil fields
- Smoke from forest/wildfire fires
- Volcanic eruptions releasing acidic gases and dust
What are five factors that affect the degradation of pollutants in the environment
- Temperature
- Light levels
- Oxygen
- pH
- Pollutant interactions
What are 5 examples of pollutants in the form of gases
- Carbon dioxide
- Carbon monoxide
- Sulphur dioxide
- Methane
- NOXs
What are 5 examples of pollutants in the form of liquids
- Sewage / waste
- Oil
- Pesticides
- Fertilisers
- mine drainage
What are 5 examples of pollutants in the form of solids
- Plastic
- Dust / particulates
- Heavy metals
- Landfill waste
- Nuclear waste
How does the physical state of a pollutant affect dispersal into the environment
Solid = Slowest dispersal / stays near source & disperses slowly
Gases = Disperses quickly under normal circumstances / up & outwards
Liquid = Disperses quickly near coasts and rivers / dilutes
Concentrates behind dams
What are three factors that affect dispersal
- Wind velocity and water currents
- Temperature inversions
- Presence of adsorbent materials
Which two physical states of matter are called trans-boundary pollutants
Gases and liquids
What are the 15 major properties of pollution
- Energy form
- Density
- Persistence
- Toxicity
- Specificity
- Reactivity
- Adsorption
- Solubility
- Bioaccumulation
- Biomagnification
- Synergism
- Mutagenic action
- Carcinogenic action
- Teratogenic action
- Mobility
What is a primary pollutant
First pollutant emitted/released directly into the atmosphere from the source
What is an example of a primary pollutant
CO2
What is a secondary pollutant
Formed when other pollutants react in the atmosphere
What is an example of a secondary pollutant
Carbonic acid
(CO2 reacts with water = carbonic acid)
How does temperature affect degradation of pollutants
How does light levels affect degradation of pollutants
Provides the activation energy that drives chemical reactions involving pollutants
How does oxygen affect degradation of pollutants
Oxygen is involved in many chemical and biological reactions involving pollutants
The oxidation state affects the solubility of many metals
How does pH affect degradation of pollutants
pH affects the solubility of substances
How do pollutant interactions affect degradation of pollutants
How does wind and water currents/velocity affect dispersal of pollutants
Velocity and direction of air & water currents affects how far a pollutant is dispersed and or diluted
How does temperature inversion affect dispersal of pollutants
How does the presence of adsorbent materials affect dispersal pollutants
