Other Contemporary Environmental Issues Flashcards
What causes water pollution? Where is this most common? - Urban Environmental Issues
Water pollution occurs when pollutants are either directly (point source pollution) or indirectly (non-point source pollution) into water without adequate treatment to remove contaminants. High population/highly industrialised cities produce more waste that is likely to enter watercourses.
What is point source pollution? What is non-point source pollution? - Urban Environmental Issues
Point source pollution is pollution that is directly discharged into river from a specific and identifiable source, such as a factory or industrial area. Non-point source pollution is where diffuse contamination occurs, with pollutants gathering that do not originate from a single source.
What causes atmospheric pollution? - Urban Environmental Issues
Vehicle congestion and exhausts from cars, industrial pollution/power stations/oil reserves, lack of emission regulations, ANTI-CYCLONIC WEATHER can cause the accumulation of pollution.
What are causes of dereliction? - Urban Environmental Issues
Buildings are difficult to maintain over time so fall into disrepair, decline in economic activity has left some buildings disused, loss of industry after de-industrialisation leaves houses and industry vacant.
What are impacts/effects of water pollution? (Name 3) - Urban Environmental Issues
Water pollution can cause eutrophication if fertilisers runoff into watercourses, leading to algae growing and river ecosystems being damaged. Contaminated drinking water can cause severe health problems such as dysentery and cholera. Illness and death can result.
What are impacts/effects of atmospheric pollution? (Name 3) - Urban Environmental Issues
Photochemical smog can emerge when sunlight breaks down pollutants, temperature inversions develop, health issues (stroke, heart disease, respiratory issues, etc) can be caused by poor air quality, damage to built environment due to acidic rain.
What are effects/impacts of dereliction? (Name 3) - Urban Environmental Issues
Increased crime and vandalism can be caused, out-migration of residents, house price fall, urban social exclusion/multiple deprivation, lack of investment, risks posed to human health and safety due to contamination by toxic elements.
What solutions are there to water pollution? - Urban Environmental Issues
Pollutants can be PREVENTED from entering watercourses through legislation on discharges, strategies such as SUDS, catchment management strategies, education on waste disposal, provision of plants to filter pollutants. TREATMENT of waste so that it is not harmful when placed into water. REMEDIATION to remove pollutants from watercourses.
What solutions are there to atmospheric pollution? - Urban Environmental Issues
LOCALISED STRATEGY used such as congestion charges, car sharing schemes, park and ride, public transport improvements, ZONING OF INDUSTRY to prevent major pollution in urban areas, ALTERNATIVE FUELS, REGULATION such as clean air acts and govt targets.
What are solutions to dereliction? - Urban Environmental Issues
REGENERATION SCHEMES which convert brownfield sites into new developments, UDCs, City Challenge, New Deal for Communities.
What are positives and negatives of water pollution management in HICs? - Urban Environmental Issues
Positives: strict regulations regulate water quality in HICs, with these directly targeting point source pollution such as industries which discharge water pollution into watercourses.
Negatives: litter is dropped into and around watercourses, with pollutants from non-point source areas still a major issue in runoff.
What are positives and negatives of atmospheric pollution management in HICs? - Urban Environmental Issues
Positives: attempts to introduce green transport methods (active travel, walking, cycling), expansion of green space in urban areas, prevention and reduction of atmospheric pollution succeeding.
Negatives: population increase/urbanisation in HICs continue to undermine and destabilise air quality.
What are positives and negatives of dereliction management in HICs? - Urban Environmental Issues
Positives: strategies to renovate/redevelop former industrial sites seeing success.
Negatives: land remediation must occur before use of brownfield sites for construction in order to remove pollution and contaminants. Cities lack investment and still some dereliction remains.
What are the negatives of water pollution management in LICs? - Urban Environmental Issues
Few regulations and inadequate provision of treatment facilities in LICs. A lack of money and investment in LICs has resulted in reduced water quality standards, with untreated sewage and industrial waste often managing to enter watercourses.
What are the positives and negatives of atmospheric pollution management in LICs? - Urban Environmental Issues
Positives: most countries have successfully eradicated the use of leaded petrol to reduce emissions.
Negatives: Severe health damage still being caused by pollutants, rapid urbanisation creates infrastructure challenges which require fossil fuel use and GHG production to overcome.
