Pollution 1.4

Question 1

Pollutant

Answer 1

The thing released info nature, causing the pollution

Question 2

What are some examples of pollutants?

Answer 2

Nitrates, phosphates, CO2, organic material, methane, crude oil, heavy metals, sewage

Question 3

Point source pollution

Answer 3

Pollution arising from a single clearly identifiable site

Question 4

What is an example of a point source pollution?

Answer 4

Release of methyl mercury into Minamata Bay from the Chisso corporation

Question 5

Non-point source

Answer 5

Pollution that arises from numerous widely dispersed origins

Question 6

What are some examples of non-point source pollutions?

Answer 6

Release of CO2 from combustion of fossil fuels

Question 7

Energy pollutant

Answer 7

The release of an excess amount energy, not based on a chemical
Ex: light, sound, thermal

Question 8

Organic pollutant

Answer 8

Chemicals of organic origin or that could be produced by living organisms or are based on matter formed by living organisms
Ex: oil, plastics, pesticides

Question 9

Living pollutant

Answer 9

Release of an organism into the environment that cause harm

Ex: biological agents and invasive species

Question 10

Inorganic substance

Answer 10

Chemicals of mineral origin, thus not produced by/from living organisms
Ex: inorganic fertilizers, NOx, SOx

Question 11

Biodegradable pollutant

Answer 11

Pollutants that don’t linger in nature, quickly broken down

Ex: soap, paper bags

Question 12

Persistent pollutant

Answer 12

Resistant to breaking down, remain active long, can bio accumulate
Ex: DDT

Question 13

What is DDT?

Answer 13

Colorless, tasteless and almost odorless pesticide with insecticidal properties

Question 14

What is DDT used for?

Answer 14

Agricultural use and anti-malaria use.

Question 15

What is the history of DDT?

Answer 15

Came under investigation in Silent Spring by Rachel Carson, which claimed DDT was linked to cancer and threatened wildlife.
Banned in USA 1972 and worldwide 2004 for agricultural use. Still used as a disease vector control.

Question 16

Why is DDT used?

Answer 16

Because DDT is cheap, persistent and efficient.

Question 17

Acute pollution

Answer 17

When a large amount of w pollutant is released in one go causing a lot of harm.
Ex: Bhopal disaster 1948

Question 18

Chronic pollution

Answer 18

The result of long-term release, but released in small doses. Not catastrophic in short run, but has a larger overall impact. Is offer undetected until tipping point is reached, it’s more difficult to clean up and more widespread.
Ex: release of CFC that degraded the ozone layer

Question 19

Primary pollutant

Answer 19

Active right after they’ve been released

Ex: Carbon monoxide (CO), caused from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels

Question 20

Secondary pollutant

Answer 20

Formed when primary pollutants undergo physical/chemical change
Ex: formation of acid rain when SOx combines with water

Question 21

What is the process of level 1?

Answer 21

Human activity producing pollutant

Question 22

What strategies can be applied to level 1?

Answer 22

Altering human activity that leads to pollution:
Promoting alternative technologies, life styles and values.
Campaigns, education, community groups, legislation, economic incentives

Question 23

What process is level 2?

Answer 23

Release of pollutant into the environment

Question 24

What strategies can be applied to level 2?

Answer 24

Controlling the release of the pollutant when the activity/production isn’t stopped. Regulating or preventing the pollutant can be done through:
Legislation and regulation of emissions.
Developing technologies for extraction of pollutant from emissions.

Question 25

What process is level 3?

Answer 25

Impact of pollutant on ecosystems.

Question 26

What strategies can be applied to level 3?

Answer 26

Clean-up and restoration of damages systems when other levels have failed.
Extracting and removing pollutant from ecosystem.
Replanting/restocking lost or depleted populations or communities.

Question 27

Pollution

Answer 27

The addition of a substance or an agent to an environment through human activity at a rate greater than at which it can be rendered harmful by the environment, and has an appreciable effect on the organisms in the environment