SCIE 1P50 Final Exam Flashcards
What does REE stand for?
Rare earth elements
What does REM stand for?
rare earth metals
How many rare earth metals exist?
17
Name 3 types of REEs
lanthanides, candium and yttrium
In what form are REEs mined?
as mixed ores
What country is the main supplier of REEs and what percent of REEs do they produce?
China, 95%
Name some products REEs are used to make
electronic devices, rechargeable batteries, guidance systems, solar panels, wind turbines
What is lanthanum used for?
hybrid engines, metal alloys
What is erbium used for?
optical fibres, lasers
What is dysprosium used for?
permanent magnets, hybrid engines
What is neodymium used for?
hard drives, headphones, hybrid engines
What is europium used for?
Red colour for television and computer screens
In what form are rare earth metals found when mining them?
small concentrations in ore deposits, usually with several REMs mixed together
Describe the process of mining REMs
Many processing steps are taken in the separation and removal of unwanted elements, especially uranium and thorium, which are radioactive.
What are the main routes taken to produce the final product when mining REMs?
acid/base leaching and conversion to oxides/halides
Where are REMs most commonly mined?
In tailings ponds in Baotou, China
What does WEEE stand for?
Waste Electric & Electronic Equipment
What is the WEEE?
The largest growing solid waste sector
What was discussed at the Basel Convention?
what should be done with hazardous waste
How are toxic wastes typically disposed of, especially prior to the Basel Convention?
“Toxic traders” in developed countries usually ship their toxic wastes to developing countries and Eastern Europe
What was the result of an increase of environmental regulations in 1980?
The cost of hazardous waste disposal rose dramatically
Name the four characteristics of hazardous waste
ignitability/flammability, reactivity, corrosivity, and toxicity
Name four shapes/forms of hazardous waste
liquids, solids, contained gases, sludge
What came out of the Basel Convention?
A global legal agreement on “the control of trans-boundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal.”
When were the rules of the Basel Convention adopted, and then when did they enter into force?
adopted in 1989, entered into force 1992
How many countries are currently participating in the Basel Convention? Name one country who is NOT participating.
181, the US is not participating
Why is the Basel Convention not as effective as it could be?
Its rules are not enforced, as the convention does not closely monitor the activity of countries involved
Name the 3 objectives of the Basel Convention’s rules?
- Reduce trans-boundary movements of hazardous waste
- Dispose of hazardous wastes as close as possible to the source of generation
- Minimize the generation of hazardous wastes
What five kinds of waste did the Basel Convention cover?
Toxic wastes, corrosive waste, ignitable waste, reactive waste and eco-toxic waste
Define toxic waste and give examples
wastes which are harmful or fatal when ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin, e.g. spent cyanide solutions, waste pesticides, lead, mercury, chromium
Define corrosive wastes and give examples
acids or alkalis that are capable of dissolving human flesh and corroding metals such as storage tanks and drums, e.g. liquor from steel manufacture, and acid from metal cleaning processes including ferric chloride from printed circuit board manufacture
Define ignitable wastes and give examples
wastes which can cause fires under certain conditions or are spontaneously combustible, e.g. waste oil, used solvents, organic cleaning materials, paint waste
Define reactive wastes and give examples
wastes which are unstable under “normal conditions”. They can cause explosions, toxic fumes, gases or vapours, e.g. peroxide solutions, hypochlorite solutions/solids, munitions, explosives
Define eco-toxic wastes and give examples
wastes which are harmful to other species or to the ecological integrity of their habitats, e.g. heavy metals, detergents, oils, soluble salts
Name five environmental legislative acts in Canada that pertain to e-waste
Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, Canadian Environmental Protection Act, Clean Air Act, Canada Water Act, Ocean Dumping Control Act
How and where in Canada is electronic waste regulated?
Responsibility for regulating e-waste is provincial, and is not regulated in any territories. The “Take Back” program exists in a number of provinces.
What three methods are used to manage toxic waste production, and which is most effective?
source reduction (most effective), conversion to less hazardous materials, and long-term storage
What field of study is involved in the process of source reduction of e-waste?
green chemistry
Define green chemistry, give examples and state its purpose.
Green chemistry is the redesigning of chemical processing. For example, Apple and HP have reduced/eliminated the use of BPAs in their products. The purpose of green chemistry is to reduce environmental harm.
What is material conversion, how is it done, and what are some examples?
The reduction of compounds to less dangerous compounds using high temperature incineration. Ash left over from the incineration must still be disposed of.
E.g. PCBs are converted to water and CO2
Describe the long term storage of e-waste
Hazardous wastes are stored in landfills in accordance with strict environmental criteria and design. Leaching into local soil and water must be prevented.
What is the goal of the Extended Producer Responsibility Principle?
To ensure that businesses who place products on the market take responsibility for those products in terms of wastes once the products reach the end of their life, e.g. send your cell phone back to the company when it is no longer usable.
What is urban mining and why is it so prevalent?
Urban mining is the use of spent electronics as a resource. It is effective as 1 tonne of e-waste material contains as much gold as 17 tonnes of unprocessed ore. E-waste also contains silver, palladium, copper, and other REEs, although they can be hard to remove.
In what city is e-waste mining highly prevalent? How much e-waste mining is done here?
Guiyu, where 1.5 million pounds of junked computers, cell phones, and other devices are dismantled every year in small family-run workshops. Also takes place in Agboggloshie, Ghana.
What are 3 problematic aspects of urban/e-waste mining?
- lead extraction - saudering gives off toxic fumes
- e-waste is illegally imported
- process is very informal
What contaminants were found to be above environmental limits in the soils near Longtang, China?
Cadmium, lead, and mercury in paddy and vegetable soils, and cadmium also in farmland soils
According to the UN, what human rights exist in terms of the environment?
Every person has the right to an ecologically sound environment, sustainable development and peace. They state that these three rights are interdependent and indivisible.
Define biotechnology
the material application of biological science to create products derived from organisms
define transgenic organism
an organism containing DNA from another species
define transgenes
genes moved between organisms
What developments has biotechnology helped us to make?
creation of medicines, pollution clean-up, gaining understanding of cancer causes, dissolving blood clots after heart attacks, making higher quality beer and cheese
How is genetic engineering SIMILAR to traditional agricultural practices?
It alters gene pools for preferred characteristics and applies to both plants and animals.
How is genetic engineering DIFFERENT from traditional agricultural practices?
- Traditional breeding uses genes from within the same species
- Selective breeding (traditional) deals with whole organisms, not just individual genes
- In traditional breeding, genes come together on their own
What is genetic engineering?
laboratory manipulation of genetic material
what is recombinant DNA?
DNA patched together from the DNA of multiple organisms. Genetic modification of organisms depends on recombinant DNA.
What products are being highly affected by the use of genetic engineering?
soy, corn, cotton, canola
What are 4 impacts of using genetically modified crops?
- dangerous to human health
- escaping transgenes could pollute ecosystems and damage non-target organisms
- pests could evolve resistance
- could ruin integrity of native ancestral races (we become picky about wanting perfect, uniform looking products)
Why is it a problem that GMOs are ruining the integrity of native ancestral races?
If we stop buying native ancestral races, they could go extinct, thereby reducing genetic variation, as ancestral races interbreed with closely related wild plants
What is the problem with allegations made that GMOs are problematic?
There are not necessarily good studies done to back up this opinion
What four arguments do GM crops supporters make?
- GM crops pose no ill health effects
- They benefit the environment by using less herbicides
- herbicide-resistant crops encourage no-till farming
- they reduce carbon emissions by needing few fossil fuel burning tractors and sequestering carbon in soil by no till farming
What did Monsanto have Percy Schmeiser charged with?
Reusing or growing patented seeds without a contract
What did Percy Schmeiser claim was the reason why Monsanto’s seeds were founding growing in his field?
The seeds blew into his field from the neighbour’s adjacent field
What was the outcome of Percy Schmeiser’s hearing?
He was initially fined $238,000 when the courts sided with Monsanto, but he appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada and was exempted from the fine because he in no way benefited from the seed
Which nation was the first to prohibit patents on higher organisms? (e.g. mice)
Canada
Where was the documentary “Bitter Seeds” shot?
India
In “Bitter Seeds,” what kind of seeds were Indian farmers being sold and by what company?
Bt cotton seeds sold by Monsanto
How did Monsanto negatively impact the lives of Indian farmers by marketing Bt seeds to them with false advertising?
Monsanto lied to the farmers about how the crops would need to be treated, so the farmers:
1) ended up borrowing money to purchase new seeds every year, fertilizers, etc.
2) got into debt as Bt seeds cost more but do not yield more
3) lost their sense of livelihood when their farms got taken away by the money lender, resulting in high suicide rates
What type of GM salmon does AquaAdvantage produce which has not yet been approved by the FDA?
AquaBounty GM salmon
How are AquaBounty GM salmon made? what is the purpose of this modification?
DNA from ocean pout (eel) is added to Chinook salmon to let the salmon continually produce growth hormone no matter what the temperature is (all year round), which makes the salmon cheaper to farm
How long does it take for a regular Chinook salmon to mature compared to AquaBounty GM salmon?
Chinook = about 7 years
GM salmon = about 3 years
How long has the FDA been evaluating GM salmon?
For the past 19 years
What is a Marine Protected Area?
A no take, or limited take zone for fishing
What are 2 problems involved with Marine Protected Areas?
1) Fish Move in and out of the protected area
2) There is overfishing on the periphery of the area
How can we prevent the accumulation of Marine Garbage? (2 points)
1) Reduce, Reuse, Recylce
2) Use Biodegradable plastics
What are 2 problems with Biodegradable Plastics?
1) Need international agreements
2) Plastics still degrade into tiny pieces
When a species becomes overfished what do companies do?
Target another species of fish causing it to decline as well
What happens when large predator fish are removed? Give an example.
Removing the predatory fish simplify trophice levels
Eg. Salmon Fisheries in BC indicat 90% decline in catch (2009)
What are issues caused by the dumping of plastics into the sea?
Harms wildlife
eg. Turtles mistake plastic bags for Jellyfish
What issues are found with driftnetting and what actions are being taken?
Drowns dolphins, turtles and seals
Banned or restricted by many nations
What is By-Catch?
The accidental capture of animals that were not being fished
What problems are associated with Longline Fishing?
Longline fishing kills turtles, sharks and albatrosess
300,000 sea birds die each year
What are the problems associated with Bottom-Trailing?
Destroys communities, as if they are clear cutting the bottom of the ocean
What is a Gyre?
A circular ocean current
What is the North Pacidic Gyre?
A large garbage patch that is not contiguous
What are issues caused by the dumping of plastics into the sea?
Harms wildlife
eg. Turtles mistake plastic bags for Jellyfish
Why are environmental groups taking the government to court for approving the sale of GM salmon eggs?
They are concerned about GM salmon escaping into the wild, since the sterilization of GM fish is 99.8% effective so the possibility still exists that a fertile GM fish could escape into the wild and reproduce, thereby affecting the salmon gene pool.
What were the results of the study done by Sandström et al on the effects of GM coho salmon on populations of steelhead trout, chinook salmon and non-GM coho salmon?
Steelhead trout - no impact
chinook salmon - no impact
non-GM coho salmon - some impact
What was the specific impact of GM coho salmon on non-GM coho salmon in the study done by Sandström et al?
no impact on non-GM coho salmon if the GM coho were raise in “stream-like” conditions, but 20% reduction in population if the GM coho were raised for approximately 6 months in a hatchery and then released
What does IPCC stand for?
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Control
Who established the IPCC and when?
Established by the UN and World Meteorological Organization in 1988
What is the role of the IPCC?
to assess the scientific, technical and socioeconomic information relevant for understanding of the risks of human-induced climate change
What are the assessments of the IPCC based on?
published and peer-reviewed literature (the IPCC does not conduct its own research or monitor climate related data or other relevant parameters)
What are the two main focuses of the Fifth Assessment Report by the IPCC, released in 2014?
1) Consensus of scientific climate research from around the world
2) trends in surface temperature, precipitation patterns, snow & ice cover, sea levels, storm intensity and other factors
How does the IPCC decide which peer reviewed literature they will use in their assessment reports?
Authors are nominated by government observer organizations
What were the predictions of the first assessment report released by the IPCC in 1990?
Projected increase in temperature of 3-8ºF, resulting in rising sea levels, increase in extreme weather events, serious pressure on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems
How many governments approved the IPCC’s ‘Summary for policymakers’ which was included in the fifth (most recent) assessment report?
195 governments
What are 4 points about plastics in the ocean and seas?
1) It is non-biodegradable
2) Anthropogenic in origin
3) Drifts for decades
4) Breaks down into tine particles
What are some of the issues involved with Climate Change Models (3)
1) uncertainty regarding future emissions of greenhouse gases and aerosols
2) Anthropogenic land use
3) Volcanic Eruptions
What is Mitigation?
Pursuing actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to lessen the severitude of future climate change
What is an examples of Mitigation? (in reference to climate change)
Renewable energy sources; farm practices to protect soil integrity, preventing deforestation
What is Adaption? (in reference to climate change)
Accept climate change is happening and pursue stratagies to minimize its imapts on us
What are changes that must be made to our lifestyle to decrease Climate Change? (3)
1) Use of high efficency lightbulbs and appliances
2) Reduction of electricity consumption
3) A change in lifestlye choices
What are changes that must be made to our sources of electricity to decrease Climate Change?
1) Alter the types of energy we use
2) Reduce C02 from power plant emissions
Areas with high population density facing water shortages are condidered what?
Water-Poor
From 1983-2013 was likely the warmest 30 year period in the past how many years?
1400
Define climate change
an area’s long term atmospheric conditions (e.g. temperature, moisture content, wind, precipitation, etc.)
Define weather
conditions at localized sites over hours or days
What percentage of the worlds largest freshwater sources have we strongly affected?
60%
the worls largest 227
What do we use to effect freshwater sources?
Dams, canals and diversions
In most areas of the world are water consumption is considered what?
Unsustainable
What are the reasons why water consumption is considered Unsustaiable?
1) We are depleting many sources of surface water and ground water
2) Water supplies houses, agriculture and industry
What are the two catagories of Aquifers?
Confined/Artesian and Unconfined
Explain an Artesian or Confined Aquifer?
Water bearing porus rocks are trapped between layers of less permeable substate (ie, clay)
-Is usually under a lot of pressure
Explain an Un-Confined Aquifer?
There is no upper later to confine it
-is readily recharged by surface water
How does ground water become surface water?
Through sprins or human drilled wells
What is Ground Water considered?
Ancient: average is 1,400 years old
Who is E. Burtynsky
The creater of Watermark (Came from St. Catherines)
Define Groundwater?
percipitation that does not evaporate, flow into water ways or get taken up by organism
What is the RCP’s?
Representative Concentration Pathways
Models use information about what 4 things?
1) Atmospheric Circulation
2) Ocean Circulation
3) Interactions
4) Feedback Mechanisms
The CMIP5 provides model simulation to do what?
1) evaluate how realistic the models are (validation using the recent past)
2) provide projections of future climate change
3) understand factors responnsible for differences in projections
What is the RCP’s?
Representative Concentration Pathwats
Models use information about what 4 things?
1) Atmospheric Circulation
2) Ocean Circulation
3) Interactions
4) Feedback Mechanisms
Define global climate change
trends and variations in Earth’s climate, such as temperature, precipitation, storm frequency
Define global warming
an increase in Earth’s average temperature
What sort of human activity has caused a recent rapid change in earth’s climate?
fossil fuels, combustion and deforestation
What 3 factors exert more influence on the environment than all others?
1) the Sun (supplies the planet’s energy)
2) the atmosphere (absorbs 70% of incoming solar radiation)
3) the oceans (shape climate by storing and transporting heat and moisture)
What is the result of the earth’s surface absorbing solar radiation?
Increased surface temperature and emission of infra-red radiation
Define greenhouse gases
atmospheric gases that absorb infrared radiation
Name 6 greenhouse gases
water vapour, ozone, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, chlorofluorocarbons
How do greenhouse gases differ from each other?
they differ in their ability to warm the troposphere
Define greenhouse effect
After absorbing radiation, greenhouse gases re-emit infrared energy; some energy is lost to space. The greenhouse effect occurs when some energy travels back down, warming the troposphere and the planet’s surface.
Define global warming potential
relative ability of one molecule of a given greenhouse gas to contribute to warming, expressed in relation to CO2, whose potential = 1.
What is the global warming potential of nitrous oxide (N2O) in comparison to CO2?
nitrous oxide is 310 times more potent than carbon dioxide
Define residence time
the amount of time a gas stays in the atmosphere
Which greenhouse gas is the major contributor to global warming and why?
Carbon dioxide is the primary concern. Although it is not the most potent, it is extremely abundant.
How does burning fossil fuels affect biogeochemical cycles?
Burning fossil fuels transfers CO2 from lithospheric reservoirs into the atmosphere
How does deforestation affect biogeochemical cycles?
Deforestation transfers CO2 from terrestrial reservoirs into the atmosphere
How does human activity contribute to global warming in terms of biogeochemical cycles?
human activities accelerate the fluxes of material from one reservoir to another
What are ESM’s?
Earth Sytem Models
What do ESM’s do?
Models that combine atmospheric, ocean, land and sea ice, and the biochemical cylces (such as carbon cycle, sulphor cycle or ozone)
What is GCM’s?
General Circulation Models
What do GCM’s do?
Models that contain the behaviour of the ocean circulation, terrestrial hydrology and sea ice
How can the addition of CO2 contribute to global warming?
1) Adding CO2 warms the atmosphere
2) warm atmosphere evaporates surface water
3) some water vapour condenses into clouds
4) clouds trap heat in the atmosphere, which increases global warming
How can the addition of CO2 cool the planet?
1) Adding CO2 warms the atmosphere
2) warm atmosphere evaporates surface water
3) some water vapour condenses into clouds
4) clouds reflect solar energy back into space
define aerosols
microscopic droplets and particles that have either a warming or cooling effect
What are sources of methane gas?
fossil fuel deposits, livestock, landfills, and crops such as rice
What are sources of nitrous oxide?
feedlots, chemical manufacturing plants, auto emissions, and synthetic nitrogen nitrogen fertilizers
What is Ocean Acidification?
The change in ocean Ph levels
What causes Ocean Acidification?
CO2 dissolves in water and reduces Ph
What are the effect on and of organisms in terms of ocean acidification?
1) Orgnisms remove CO2 to make their exoskeletons
2) Lower Ph levels disrupt shell formations
3) Bivalves-Oysters are very sensitive to lowered Ph
4) Acidification reduces the harvest of Molluscs
How much have global sea levels risen in the period of 1901-2010?
0.19m
What are sources of ozone?
photochemical smog
Which greenhouse gas is most abundant?
water vapour
Which greenhouse gas contributes the most to the greenhouse effect?
water vapour
What unit is used by the IPCC to discuss carbon dioxide equivalents?
CO2 eq
What is the warming potential of methane in comparison to CO2?
methane is 23 times more potent
define proxy indicators
types of indirect evidence that serve as substitutes for direct measurements, e.g. ice caps, ice sheets, glaciers
In terms of proxy indicators, what information can be learned from trapped bubbles in ice cores?
atmospheric composition, greenhouse gas concentration, temperature trends, snowfall, solar activity, frequency of fires
What is happening to the cryosphere around the world?
Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets shrinking, glaciers shrinking globally, Arctic Sea ice and Northern Hemisphere spring snow both decreasing in extent
What human activities are causing an increas in Carbon Dioxide Levels?
1) Use of fossil fuels
2) Deforestation
3) Cement Production
What is the effect of an increas in drought frequency?
1) Harming Agriculture
2) Promoting Soil Erosion
3) Reducing Drinking Water
4) Ecouraging Forest Fires
Percipitation Change is similar in various regions. (True/False?)
False
Percipitation Change vary’s from region to regions; some regions are recieving more, while others recieve less
How much of the world undiscovered oil and gas might the artic subsurface hold?
as much as 25%,
In what year, and which country re-affirmed its soveriegnty over Artic Waters?
Canada re-affirmed its soveriegnty over the Artic Waters in 2008
What does the melting of ice cause?
The exposure of darker, less reflective surfaces that absorb more sunlight (causing further melting)
What has born the brunt of Climate Change?
The Arctic
Who wrote the Article “The Case of the Missing Heat”
Jeff Tollefson
Who wrote the Article “Growth-enhanced coho salmon invading other salmon
species populations: effects on early survival and growth”?
Sundström et al (2014)
Who wrote the article, “Risks of toxic ash from artisanal mining of discarded cellphones”?
Hibbert & Ogunseitan
Who wrote the article, “Effect of battery state of charge on fuel use and pollutant emissions of a full hybrid electric light duty vehicle”?
Duarte et al
Who wrote the article, “Ingestion and defecation of marine debris by loggerhead sea turtles, Caretta caretta, from by-catches in the South-West Indian Ocean”?
Hoarau et al
Which components of used phones did Hibbert & Ogunseitan incinerate and analyze in their study?
battery, screen, circuit board and plastic
In Hibbert & Ogunseitan’s study, which metal was found in particularly high in all components of the cell phones?
lead
Which organic chemicals did Hibbert & Ogunseitan find in the ash of different cell phone components?
dioxins and furans
What quantity of PCBs was found in the ash analyzed by Hibbert & Ogunseitan?
none
In the experiment done by Sundström et al, what was the survival rate (%) of invaded populations of fish when invaded by: a) GM salmon and b) non-GM salmon?
a) 93% b) 100%
According to Sundström et al, what was the impact of GM vs. non-GM coho salmon on the growth rate of steelhead trout and first-feeding Chinook salmon?
genotype had no effect on growth, i.e. GM and non-GM salmon had the same effect on the growth of the fish in question
What effect did genotype of invading coho salmon have on the growth of older Chinook salmon parr?
Growth of the older, invaded, Chinook salmon parr was reduced in the presence of hatchery-reared GM coho salmon, but not stream-reared GM coho salmon (relative to the impact of non-GM coho salmon, regardless of rearing background)
How was the growth of wild-type coho salmon affected by the invasion of GM coho salmon in a complex habitat vs. a simple habitat (relative to how growth was affected by non-GM coho salmon)?
When wild-type coho salmon were invaded,
their growth was faster in the presence of GM coho salmon in the complex habitat, while non-GM invaders and the GM invaders in simple habitats had similar effects on growth of the invaded coho
What was the survival rate of GM and non-GM coho in the presence of predators?
Presence of predators reduced survival of both genotypes similarly when invading first-feeding steelhead trout and Chinook salmon
What was the survival rate of GM and non-GM coho in the absence of predators?
In the absence of predators, GM salmon had better survival than the non-GM invader when invading the Chinook salmon fry
What is Pelagic?
(mainly fish) inhabitating the upper layers of the ocean
What is Benthic?
the ecological region at the lowest level of the ocean or a lake (organisms living in this zone are called Benthos
What is Fecundity?
(Fertility) The ability to produce, healthy and abundant offspring
What does Necropsy mean?
basically autopsy
Phtalates deffinition?
a group of man-made chemicals; the most important use of phthalates is in plastics
What does CCL refer to in the article by Hoaru et al?
the “curved carapace length” - or shell size
In the article by Duarte et al, what does HEV stand for?
Hydro Electric Vehicle
In the article by Duarte et al, what does ICE stand for?
Internal Combustion Engine
In the article by Duarte et al, what does CST stand for?
Charge Sustaining Test
In the article by Duarte et al, what does HEV stand for?
Vehicle Specific Power
In the article by Duarte et al, what does SOC stand for?
State of Charge
In the article by Duarte et al, what does NEDC stand for?
New European Driving Cylce, assesses emission levels of engines
In the article by Duarte et al, what does PEMS stand for?
Portable Emissions Measurment System
In the article by Hibbert and Ogunsteitan, what does leachate mean?
Water that has moved through a solid and leached out some of its contents
In the article by Hibbert and Ogunsteitan, what is the Stockholm Convention?
A global treaty to protect human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants
What elements are these: Sn, Sb, Se, Co, Cu, Tl, V, Mo, Ba
Tin, Antimony, Selenium, Cobalt, Copper, Thallium, Vanadium, Molybdenum, Barium
Define Ecotoxicity?
The study of ecotoxicology, and the potential for biological, chemical or physical stressors to affect ecosystems
What does PAF stand for?
Potentially Effected Fraction
