Science, Chem - Pollution

Question 1

What are living indicators for Air pollution?

Answer 1

Lichens

Question 2

Lichens?

Answer 2

• help indicate if the air is polluted or clean
• grow in clean air
• need air and rainwater to live
• no roots

Question 3

What are the pollutants that affect lichens?

Answer 3

Sulfur dioxide and Oxides of nitrogen

Question 4

What are the sources of air pollution?

Answer 4

Traffic - Cars release oxides of nitrogen

Human population - More people use more materials and burn more fuels, releasing sulfur dioxide

Question 5

Acidic gases => acid rain

Answer 5

Sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen are both very soluble. They dissolve in rainwater making acid rain.

Question 6

Problems acid rain causes

Answer 6

1. Makes soil more acidic. Plants can’t take in essential mineral elements from the soil
2. Damages decomposers. Don’t return minerals to the soil.
3. Dissolve aluminium from rocks. Can poison plants and water life
4. Damages leaves and seeds. Pathogens can infect plants more easily
5. Slowly dissolves any structures made of chalk, limestone, or marble

Question 7

How to reduce air pollution

Answer 7

• using catalytic converters

- this process is called: flue gas desulfurisation

Question 8

How are the pollutants released?

Answer 8

Car engines - oxides of nitrogen

Burning Fuels - Sulfur Dioxide

Question 9

what are living indicators for water pollution?

Answer 9

dying fish

Question 10

Why are dying fish an indicator of water pollution?

Answer 10

Dying fish show that the water lack oxygen, and because of that the fish die.

Question 11

Eutrophication

Answer 11

fertilizer enters water => algae multiply rapidly => plants below the surface die => micro-organisms use up oxygen as they decompose dead plants => fish die

Question 12

Persistent pollutants

Answer 12

• Don’t break down naturally, they spread around the world in air and water
• First insecticides had persistent molecules. Not used but still cause problems

Question 13

Bioaccumulation

Answer 13

Fish take in persistent pollutants => Seals eat fish => Polar bears eat seals

Soon the polar bears will have too much insecticides that it will eventually poison them and kill them.

Question 14

How to monitor rivers?

Answer 14

By using living indicators: algae, fish or invertebrates.

Scientists preferably will use invertebrates because they are easy to catch and find

Question 15

How does landslide relate to deforestation?

Answer 15

The roots of trees act like a giant net that holds the soil in place. When the trees are cut down there isn’t anything to hold it together. When it rains, the soil will be wet and loose and when the wind comes it is going to carry it away

Question 16

Why does deforestation occur so much?

Answer 16

• to make space to grow food or keep farm animals
• to remove metal ores or coal from the ground
• for wood to use as a fuel or building material
• to grow food crops and biofuels to sell to other countries
• to build new roads and houses

Question 17

Why is deforestation bad?

Answer 17

• plants and animals lose their habitats
• people lose the food and fuel the forest provided
• changing the local climate to become warmer and windier, which dries the soil
• bare soil is easily washed away
• lost soil fills river beds, causing more floods

Question 18

Deforestation

Answer 18

• affects every country

- less trees => less photosynthesis => less carbon dioxide that is removed => global warming increases

Question 19

Making forest more valuable

Answer 19

• Sustainable forests