pollution

Question 1

what is a contaminant and what is pollution?

Answer 1

contaminant: presence of elevated concentrations of a potentially toxic substance in the environment
pollution: contamination that results in measurable effects on natural processes

Question 2

what is a primary pollutant?

Answer 2

pollution that is produced directly from a source

Question 3

what is a secondary pollutant?

Answer 3

primary pollutants undergoing chemical changes within a natural reservoir forming a different form of pollutant

Question 4

what is bioaccumulation?

Answer 4

toxin levels increasing in the body issues of an individual during its lifetime

Question 5

what is biomagnification?

Answer 5

toxin levels concentrating in higher trophic levels

Question 6

what is above ground pollution?

Answer 6

deterioration of land surfaces as a result of contamination
ex. landfill, soil contamination, pesticides and herbicides

Question 7

what is DDT?

Answer 7

pesticide that was seen as a miracle compound
- it can bioaccumulate and biomagnify
- interfered with calcium metabolism in birds

Question 8

what are some examples of water pollution?

Answer 8

• human sewage
• PCBs
• mercury
• heavy metals
• fertilizers
• oil spills
• pharmaceuticals

Question 9

how does mercury water pollution work?

Answer 9

mercury gas is not considered a pollutant until it is converted by bacteria in water systems to become methylmercury (bioaccumulates and biomagnifies)

Question 10

what are the effects of phosphorus fertilization?

Answer 10

eutrophication!
excessive P in waterways causes algae bloom -> algae die -> increase in decomposition -> removes large amount of oxygen from water -> fish die from lack of oxygen

Question 11

what are the effects of pharmaceuticals in water systems?

Answer 11

• can enter food chains and directly impact wildlife
• can be reintroduced back into drinking water
  –> increases prevalence of antibiotic resistance and induces gender change in fish

Question 12

what are the consequences of lead air pollution?

Answer 12

brain damage, lower IQ

Question 13

what is acid rain?

Answer 13

when sulfur dioxides and nitrogen oxides mix with atmospheric molecules to create acids and mix with precipitation to create acid rain -> removes important plant nutrients in soils and kills species in freshwater ecosystems