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Science > Section 6 Human Impacts > Flashcards

Section 6 Human Impacts Flashcards

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1
Q

Wastewater

A

Wastewater is used water. It includes substances such as human waste, food scraps, oils, soaps, chemicals, and storm runoff.

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2
Q

Dissolved Oxygen

A

A measure of the amount of oxygen dissolved in the water

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3
Q

Sources of Dissolved Oxygen

A
  • Mixed in from the air through waves on lakes or tumbling water in faster rivers
  • Photosynthetic organisms, such as plants, algae, phytoplankton, etc
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4
Q

Impacts on Aquatic Ecosystem

A
  • Low levels of DO can be a sign of high decomposition levels related to increased nutrient runoff
    -Most aquatic plants and animals need oxygen to survive
    -Areas of low (hypoxic) to no (anoxic) oxygen result in dead zones, with little to no life
    -Dissolved Oxygen levels naturally change with water depth
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5
Q

Q-Value Relationship

A

Water quality increases as DO increases until DO reaches 100%. Once the water has over 100% DO water quality decrease

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6
Q

Fecal Coliform

A

A measure of the amount of fecal coliform bacteria, which is found in human and animal waste.

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7
Q

Sources of Fecal Coliform

A

These bacteria can enter water bodies directly or form agricultural and storm runoff carrying wastes from human sewage discharged into water

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8
Q

Impacts on Aquatic Ecosystem

A
  • Fecal coliform is associated with pathogens
    -Higher levels of fecal coliform associated with untreated waste can lead to excess organic material in the water which decompresss depleting oxygen and heading to dead zones
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9
Q

Impacts on Humans

A
  • If fecal coliform counts are high (over 200/calories) in a water body, there is a greater chance that pathogenic organisms are also present
  • Pathogenic organisms are bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms that can cause disease, such as cholera
  • A person swimming in such waters has a greater chance of getting sick from swallowing disease-causing organisms, or from pathogens entering the body through cuts in the skin, the nose, mouth, or the ears
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10
Q

Q-Value Relationship

A

Water quality decreases as fecal coliform increases

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11
Q

pH

A

A measure of the acid content of water
-A pH of 7 is neutral

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12
Q

Causes of pH Change

A
  • Water contains both hydrogen ions and OH ion
  • The pH test measures the H+ ion concentration of liquids and substances
  • The normal pH range for aquatic ecosystems is between about 6 and 9
    -Below 6 is considered low pH
    -Above 9 is considered high pH
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13
Q

Source of pH change

A
  • Increased amounts of nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide, primarily from automobile and coal-fired power plant emissions, are converted to nitric acid in the atmosphere, these acids combine with moisture in the atmosphere and fall to earth as acid rain or acid rain or acid snow
  • In many areas of the United States, the type of rocks and minerals present determine the acidity of the local water. If limestone is resent, the alkaline limestone neutralizes the effect the acids might have on lakes and streams
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14
Q

Impacts on Aquatic Ecosystem pH

A
  • Water containing a lot of organic pollution will tend to be somewhat acidic
  • Most forms of aquatic life tend to be very sensitive to pH and high or low pH can affect reproduction, growth, respiration, etc.
  • pH alters the chemical state of many pollutants, changing their solubility, transport, and bioavailability. This can increase exposure to and toxicity of metals and nutrients to aquatic plants and animals.
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15
Q

Q-Value Relationship

A

Water quality increases and pH increases until pH reaches about 7.3. Once the water has a pH of over 7.3 water quality decreases

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16
Q

BOD

A

A measure of the amount of biodegradable waste for bacteria that is found in water
- Bacteria use DO in the water to break down organic matter during respiration

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17
Q

Conditions for High BOD

A
  • High organic context
  • BOD indirectly measures the level of biodegradable waste in the water, such as leaves, grass clippings, manure
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18
Q

Impacts on Aquatic Ecosystem BOD

A
  • High levels of BOD equate to low levels of DO and can be a sign of high decomposition levels related to increased nutrient runoff
  • Most aquatic plants and animals need oxygen to survive
  • Areas of low to no oxygen form dead zones with little to no life
19
Q

Q-Value Relationship

A

Water quality decreases as BOD increases

20
Q

Total Phosphates

A

A measure of the amount of phosphate found in water
-Essential nutrient in aquatic environments

21
Q

Sources of Higher Phosphates

A
  • Sources can be natural, such as waterfowl waster, weathering of geologic phosphate material, and plant decomposition
  • Sources can be human-caused, such as fertilizer, agricultural and urban runoff, sewage, or broken/overloaded septic system
22
Q

Impacts On Aquatic Ecosystems Phosphates

A

-High levels of phosphates can lead to, increased growth of photosynthetic organisms, more biodegradable waste in the ecosystem, more use of DO by bacteria for respiration during decomposition
-Areas of low to no oxygen form dead zones, with little to no life

23
Q

Q-Value Relationships

A

Water quality decreases as phosphate levels increase

24
Q

Nitrates

A

A measure of the amount of nitrate found in the water
-Essential nutrient in aquatic environments

25
Q

Sources of Higher Nitrates

A
  • Sources of nitrates include wastewater treatment plant runoff from fertilized lawns and croplands, failing on-site septic system, runoff from animals’ manure storage areas, and industrial discharge that contain corrosion inhibitors
26
Q

Impacts on Aquatic Ecosystem Nitrates

A

-High levels of nitrates can lead to increased growth of photosynthetic organisms
- Areas of low to no oxygen form dead zones with little to no life
-Nitries can also cause serious illnesses in fish

27
Q

Impact on Human Nitrates

A

Nitrates can be harmful to humans because our intestines can break nitrates down into nitrites, which affects the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen

28
Q

Q-Value Relationship:

A

Water quality decreases as nitrate levels increase

29
Q

Total Dissolved Solids

A

A measure of the solid materials dissolved in the water includes salts, some organic materials, a wide range from nutrients to toxic materials

30
Q

Sources of Dissolved Solids

A

Some dissolved solids come from organic sources such as leaves, silt, plankton, industrial waste, and sewage. Other sources come from runoff from urban areas, road salts used on streets during the winter, and fertilizers and pesticides used on lawns and farms

31
Q

Impacts on Aquatic Ecosystems TDS

A
  • A constant level of minerals in the water is necessary for aquatic life
    -High concentrations of TDS may reduce water clarity which contributes to a decrease in photosynthesis and leads to an increase in water temperature
  • The salts act to dehydrate the skin of animals
32
Q

Q-Value Relationship TDS

A

Water quality increases until total dissolved solids are at about 60 mg/t. Water quality decreases as total dissolved solids increase above 60 mg/l.

33
Q

Turbidity

A

A measure of the relative clarity of water due to suspended matter, Greater turbidity = murkier water

34
Q

Sources of Higher Turbidity

A

Suspended matter includes clay, silt, plankton, Industrial water and sewage

35
Q

Impacts on Aquatic Ecosystem Turbidity

A
  • Turbud water’s particles absorb the sun’s rays which causes the water temperature to increase and dissolved oxygen to decrease
  • Suspended solids reduce the amount of light that can pass through the water. As less light penetrates the water. If the light is blocked to bottom-dwelling plants they will cease to produce oxygen and will eventually die and decompose lowering DO
36
Q

Q-Value Relationship Turbidity

A

Water quality decreases as turbidity increases

37
Q

Temperature Change

A

A measure of the change in temperature

38
Q

Sources of Temperature Change

A
  • Industries such as nuclear power plants may cause thermal pollution by releasing water used to cool machinery
    -Thermal pollution may also be caused by rainwater running off warm urban surfaces, such as streets, sidewalks, and parking lots
39
Q

Impacts on Aquatic Ecosystems Temperature Change:

A
  • Most waterborne animals and plant life survives and plant life survive within a certain range of water temoratures
  • Temperature affects DO, rate of photosynthesis, etc
    -Temperature change may affect the ability of aquatic animals to resist toxic wastes, parasites, and diseases
    -Bacteria and other disease-causing organisms grow faster in warm water
40
Q

Q-Value Relationships:

A

Water quality increases as temperature change increases peaking at OC at which quality decreases as temperature change increases

41
Q

Connections Between Tests

A
  1. Effect of Turbidity on Temperature:
    - Suspended particles absorb heat from the sunlight
    - Water becomes warmer faster
    -some organisms cannot survive in warmer water
    -suspended particles scatter light decreasing photosynthetic activity
  2. Effect of Temperature on DO:
    - Warmer water holds less dissolved oxygen
    -increased temperature results in lower levels of dissolved oxygen
42
Q

Eutrophication

A

Is the process in which lakes receive nutrients and sediment from the surrounding watershed and become more fertile and shallow

43
Q

Cultural Eutrophication

A

Humans can speed up the process of eutrophication by adding excess nutrients and sediment quickly where the lake will change trophic states in a matter of decades

44
Q

Dead zones (The result of cultural Eutrophication)

A
  1. Nutrient runoff (nitrogens and phosphorous) from farms and wastewater (sewage)
  2. Aleage bloom (population increase) due to increased nutrients and begin to block sunlight to any sunlight any photosynthetic organism below
  3. Algea die off as population exceeds resources and sinks to the bottom
  4. Decomposers bloom because of more food (dead algae) the decomposers remove oxygen from the water to decompose
  5. Dead zone formation is created due hypoxic and anoxic conditions as large decomposer population removes oxygen from water

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