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A Level Environmental Science > Pollution - Properties > Flashcards

Pollution - Properties Flashcards

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1
Q

How can pollution be defined?

A

The introduction of contaminants into the natural environment which cause adverse change (harmful substance or energy released)

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2
Q

Which human activities can cause pollution?

A
  • Fossil fuel combustion
  • Landfill waste
  • Oil spills
  • Fertiliser and pesticide use
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3
Q

Which factors impact pollutant behaviour in the atmosphere?

A
  • Presence of H2O
  • Wind velocity and direction
  • Density
  • Topography and altitude
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4
Q

What are examples of gas pollutants?

A
  • CO2
  • CO
  • NOx
  • CH4
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5
Q

What are examples liquid pollutants?

A
  • Pesticides
  • AMD
  • Oil
  • Chemicals
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6
Q

What are examples of solid pollutants?

A
  • Fertiliser
  • Plastics
  • Heavy metals
  • Particulates
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7
Q

How does physical state impact solid pollutant dispersal?

A

Disperse more slowly than liquid and gas pollutants

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8
Q

How does physical state impact liquid pollutant dispersal?

A

Rapid dispersal but can become concentrated behind a dam

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9
Q

How does physical state impact gas pollutant dispersal?

A

Usually rapid dispersal unless a temperature inversion is present

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10
Q

What can liquid and gas pollutants cause?

A

Trans-boundary pollution

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11
Q

What is energy form?

A

Some pollutants are in the form of energy (e.g. heat, noise, ionising radiation)

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12
Q

What is density?

A

Mass per unit volume (impacts dispersal)

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13
Q

What are examples of pollutants with different densities?

A

High = Heavy metals
Low = CO2

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14
Q

What is persistence?

A

The length of time a pollutant remains in the environment (environmental half-life)

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15
Q

What are examples of pollutants with different persistence?

A

High = CFCs
Low = Sewage

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16
Q

What is toxicity?

A

How poisonous a substance is to living organisms

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17
Q

What are examples of toxic pollutants?

A

Lead, CO (binds to haemoglobin)

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18
Q

What is specificity?

A

How targeted a pollutant is

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19
Q

What is an example of a pollutant with high specificity?

A

Pesticides/insecticides

20
Q

What is reactivity?

A

How reactive a pollutant is (alters toxicity)

21
Q

What are examples of pollutants with different reactivity?

A

High = NOx
Low = CFCs (unless UV is present)

22
Q

What is adsorption?

A

The ability to adhere/stick to a solid surface

23
Q

What are examples of pollutants with different adsorption?

A

High = Heavy metals
Low = CO

24
Q

What is solubility?

A

Pollutants may become soluble in water or fats (water- and lipo-soluble)

25
Q

What are example of soluble pollutants?

A

Water = Nitrates
Lipo = Mercury

26
Q

What is bioaccumulation?

A

The build-up of a toxin within a living organism (usually lipo-soluble as water-soluble pollutants are easily excreted?

27
Q

What is biomagnification?

A

A toxin becomes more concentrated as it moved up trophic levels (e.g. mercury in tuna fish)

28
Q

What is synergism?

A

The ability of a pollutant to interact with another pollutant and become more toxic

29
Q

What is an example of synergism?

A

Tropospheric O3 and SO2 (damages leaf cuticles)

30
Q

What is mutagenic action?

A

The ability of a pollutant to change DNA structure which will be passed on to offspring

31
Q

What are examples of mutagenic action?

A
  • Ionising radiation
  • UV light
  • Cadmium
32
Q

What is carcinogenic action?

A

The ability of a pollutant to cause cancer due to cell multiplication

33
Q

What is an example of carcinogenic action?

A

UV can cause skin cancer

34
Q

What is teratogenic action?

A

The ability of a pollutant to cause birth abnormalities due to a change in gene expression (no DNA change)

35
Q

What is an example of teratogenic action?

A

Mercury

36
Q

What is mobility?

A

The ability of a pollutant to move in the environment (impacted by S/L/G)

37
Q

What are examples of pollutants with different mobility?

A

High mobility = CFCs
Low mobility = Lead dust (high density so deposited closer to the source)

38
Q

What is a primary pollutant?

A

A pollutant released directly into the atmosphere (CO2, NOx)

39
Q

What is a secondary pollutant?

A

A pollutant formed by the reaction of a primary pollutant in the atmosphere (tropospheric O3)

40
Q

How can pollutant sources be defined?

A
  • Point (identifiable source)
  • Diffuse (no single identifiable source)
41
Q

Which environmental factors impact pollutant dispersal?

A
  • Air/water velocity and direction
  • Topography
  • Adsorbent materials
  • Temperature inversions
42
Q

Which environmental factors impact pollutant degradations?

A
  • Temperature
  • Oxygen
  • Light levels
  • pH
  • Pollutant interactions
43
Q

How do adsorbent materials impact pollutant dispersal?

A

Clay particles could immobilise a pollutant

44
Q

How does oxygen impact pollutant degradation

A
  • Chemical and biological reactions
  • Oxidation impacts solubility
45
Q

How do light levels impact pollutant degradation?

A

Provides activation energy for reactions

46
Q

How does pH impact pollutant degradation?

A

Heavy metals such as lead are more soluble in acidic conditions (increases mobility)

A Level Environmental Science (23 decks)

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