Pollution Flashcards
Acid Precipitation
Acid rain, acid hail, acid snow; all of which occur as a result of pollution in the atmosphere
Acute Effect
The effect caused by a short exposure to a high level of toxin
Catalytic Converter
A platinum-coated device that oxidizes most of the VOCs and some of the CO that would otherwise be emitted in exhaust, converting them to CO2
Closed-loop recycling
When materials, such as plastic or aluminum, are used to rebuild the same product; e.g., the use of the aluminum from aluminum cans to produce more aluminum cans
Composting
A process that allows the organic material in soil waste to be decomposed and reintroduced into the soil, often as fertilizer
Building-related Illness
When the signs and symptoms of an illness can be attributed to a specific infectious organism that resides in the building
Chronic Effect
An effect that results from long-term exposure to low levels of toxin
Delaney Clause
A part of the Food Additives Amendment of 1958 that specifically bans any food additives found to cause cancer in humans or in animal testing
Deep Well Injection
Drilling a hole in the ground below the water to hold waste
Disease
Occurs when infection causes a change in the state of health
Dose-response Analysis
A process in which an organism is exposed to a toxin at different concentrations, and the dosage that causes the death of the organism is recorded
Dose-response Curve
The result of graphing a dose-response analysis
ED50
The point at which 50% of the test organisms show a negative effect from a toxin
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
The governmental body in the US that regulates food and related products
Global Warming
An intensification of the greenhouse effect due to the increased presence of heat-trapping gasses in the atmosphere
Gray Smog (industrial smog)
Smog resulting from emission from industry and other sources of gases produced by the burning of fossil fuels, especially coal
Hazardous Waste
Any waste that poses a danger to human health and therefore must be dealt with in a different way from other types of waste
Heat Islands
Urban areas that heat up more quickly and retain heat better than nonurban areas
High-level Radioactive Waste
Radioactive wastes that produce high levels of ionizing radiation
Industrial Smog
Gray Smog
Infection
The result of a pathogen invading a body
LD50
The poing at which 50% of the test organisms die from a toxin LEACHATE - the liquid that percolates to the bottom of a landfill
Low-level Radioactive waste
Radioactive wastes that produce low levels of ionizing radiation
Noise Pollution
Any noise that causes stress of has the potential to damage human health
Non-point source pollution
Pollution that does not have a specific point of release
Open-loop recycling
When materials are reused to from new products
Ozone Holes
The thinning of the ozone layer over Antarctica (and to some extent, over the Arctic)
Pathogens
Bateria, virus, or other microorganisms that can cause disease
Photochemical Smog
Usually formed on hot, sunny days when NOx compounds, VOCs, and ozone combine to form smog with a brownish hue
Point source pollution
A specific location from which pollution is released; e.g., a factory where wood is being burned
Poison
Any substance that has an LD50 of 50 mg or less per kg of body weight
Physical Treatment
In a sewage treatment plant, the initial filtration that is done to remove debris such as stones, sticks, rags, toys, and other objects that were flushed down the toilet
Primary Pollutants
Pollutants that are released directly into the lower atmosphere
Primary Treatment
When physically treated sewage water is passed into a settling tank, where suspended solids seperate and settle out
Risk Assessment
Calculating risk, or the degree of likelihood, that a person will become ill upon exposure to a toxin or pathogen
Risk Management
Using strategies to reduce the amount of risk; e.g., the likelihood that a person will become ill upon exposure to a toxin or pathogen
Secondary Pollutants
Pollutants that are formed by the combination of primary pollutants in the atmosphere
Secondary Treatment
The biological treatment of wastewater in orfer to continue to remove biodegradable waste
Sick Building Syndrome
A condition in which the majority of a building’s occupants experience certain symptoms that vary with the amount of time spent in the building, without being able to identify a specified cause or illness
Sludge
The solids that remain after the secondary treatment of sewage
Sludge Processor
A tank filled with aerobic bacteria that’s used to treat sewage
Solid Waste
Can consist of hazardous waste, industrial solid waste, or muncipal waste; many types of solid waste provide a threat to human health and the environment
Stationary Sources
Non-moving sources of pollution, such as factories
Superfund program
A program funded by the federal government and a trust funded by taxes on chemicals; identifies pollutants and cleans up hazardous waste sites
Threshold dose
The dosage level of a toxin at which a negative effect occurs
Toxicity
The degree to which a substance is biologically harmfull
Toxin
Any substance that is inhaled, ingested, or absorbed at dosages sufficient to damage a living organism
Tropospheric Ozone
Ozone that exists in the troposphere
U.S. Noise Control Act
Gave the EPA power to set emission standards for major sources of noise, including transportation, machinery, and construction
Vector
The carrier organism through which pathogens can attack, such as a tick
Wastewater
Any water that has been used by humans; this includes human sewage, water drained from showers, tubs, sinks, dishwashers, washing machines, water from industrial processes, and storm water runoff
Waste-to-Energy (WTE) Program
When the energy released from waste incineration is used to generate electricity
