unit 1

Question 1

environmental movement

Answer 1

term used to describe humanity’s increasing awareness of the importance of conserving the environmental health of our planet
Although it takes different forms in different countries and across different groups of people, it is essentially a worldwide campaign to continue raising this awareness and to coordinate action to help reduce the negative effects humans are having on planet Earth
The environmental movement promotes sustainable development and the sustainable use of natural resources - this can be achieved by implementing changes in public policy and encouraging changes in our individual behaviours

Question 2

Various historical events have been key in the development of the environmental movement
These events and influences have come from many different areas, including:

Answer 2

Literature
Media
Scientific research
Technological advancements
Major international disasters
International agreements

Question 3

environmental value system

Answer 3

is the way that an individual, or any group of people, perceives the environment and the resources it provides them with
That includes you - your environmental value system determines the way that you perceive and evaluate environmental issues, as well as the course of action you might decide to take regarding these issues
A person’s or group’s environmental value system is shaped and influenced by a variety of factors, including cultural, religious, social, political, economic and environmental factors
These factors act as flows of information into individuals within societies
Individuals then process and transform this information into their perception of the environment and how to act on environmental matters

Question 4

evs inputs

Answer 4

• education
• cultural influences
• social influences
• economic status
• political context
• media

Question 5

evs outputs

Answer 5

perspectives
evaluations
decisions
actions

Question 6

Although there is a very wide spectrum of environmental value systems, EVSs can be broadly divided into three categories. These are:

Answer 6

Ecocentric environmental value systems (ecocentrism)
Anthropocentric environmental value systems (anthropocentrism)
Technocentric environmental value systems (technocentrism)

Question 7

ecocentrism

Answer 7

Ecocentrism is a philosophical and ethical approach that prioritises the intrinsic value of nature and the environment over human needs and interests
This approach emphasises that all living organisms and ecosystems have inherent worth and should be protected for their own sake
Ecocentrism advocates for sustainable practices that maintain the balance and integrity of ecosystems and the natural world, rather than exploiting them for human benefit
This approach is often associated with environmental movements and conservation efforts that aim to protect biodiversity, ecosystems and natural resources

Question 8

anthropocentrism

Answer 8

Anthropocentrism is a worldview that places human beings at the centre of the universe, prioritising human needs and interests over those of other living beings and the environment
This approach emphasises that humans have the right to use natural resources and ecosystems for their own benefit
Although an anthropocentric viewpoint would ideally involve sustainable managing global systems, in reality anthropocentrism often results in unsustainable practices such as overexploitation of natural resources, habitat destruction, and pollution
This approach only values preserving biodiversity when it can provide economic and ecological advantages to humans
This approach is often criticised by environmentalists and conservationists for ignoring the intrinsic value of nature and its ecosystems

Question 9

technocentrism

Answer 9

Technocentrism is a worldview that places technology and human ingenuity at the centre of all problem-solving and decision-making processes, often overlooking the impact on the environment and other living beings
This approach emphasises the use of technology to overcome environmental problems and maintain human well-being
Technocentrism often assumes that all environmental problems can be solved through technological innovation and economic growth, which may lead to neglect of the need for conservation and sustainability
This approach is often criticised by environmentalists for being short-sighted and ignoring the complex and interconnected nature of environmental issues

Question 10

The spectrum of environmental value systems (from ecocentrism to anthropocentrism to technocentrism) can be broken down into further categories

Answer 10

These categories can either be extreme forms of a particular end of the EVS spectrum (such as deep ecologists and cornucopians), or they can lie somewhere between two EVSs (such as soft ecologists and environmental managers) as they contain a mixture of different values and perspectives from the three broader EVS categories

Question 11

deep ecologists

Answer 11

View nature as having intrinsic value beyond its usefulness to humans
Believe in preserving biodiversity and ecosystems as a moral obligation
Advocate for reducing human impact on the environment and promoting sustainability
Prioritise the needs of the environment over those of human societies

Question 12

soft ecologists

Answer 12

View individual responsibility and self-sufficiency in living sustainably as highly important for societies
Believe in reducing consumption, waste, and dependence on technology
Advocate for small-scale and local solutions to environmental problems
Prioritise self-sufficiency and personal freedom over environmental regulations

Question 13

environmental managers

Answer 13

View the environment as a resource to be managed and conserved for human benefit
Believe in balancing economic development with environmental protection
Advocate for regulations and policies that promote sustainable resource use
Prioritise the needs of human societies over those of the environment

Question 14

cornucopians

Answer 14

View the environment as a resource to be exploited for human benefit
Believe in human ingenuity and technological advancements to overcome environmental problems
Advocate for economic growth and development as a means to address environmental issues
Prioritise the needs of human societies over those of the environment

Question 15

intrinsic value

Answer 15

this means it is still worth something, even if it doesn’t have any obvious economic value (monetary value)
This can sometimes be difficult to understand as in today’s society we tend to view everything from a financial perspective - we see almost everything, including our homes, food, heating, water, electricity, recreational activities and holidays, in terms of money

Question 16

aspects of the environment that have intrinsic value

Answer 16

The experience of observing wild animals in their natural habitats
The incredible views that can be seen from mountain tops
Weather events, such as snow falling or warm summer days
Swimming in rivers and lakes

Question 17

systems approach

Answer 17

is the term used to describe a method of simplifying and understanding a complicated set of interactions
Systems, and the interactions they contain, may be environmental or ecological (e.g. the water cycle or predator-prey relationships), social (e.g. how we live and work) or economic (e.g. financial transactions or business deals)
The interactions within a system, when looked at as a whole, produce the emergent properties of the system
For example, in an ecosystem, all the different ecological interactions occurring within it shape how that ecosystem looks and behaves - if the interactions change for some reason (e.g. a new predator is introduced), then the emergent properties of the ecosystem will change too
A systems approach is required in order to understand how these different factors combine and interact with one another, as well as how they all work together as a whole (the holistic approach)

Question 18

two main ways of studying a system

Answer 18

A reductionist approach involves dividing a system into its constituent parts and studying each of these separately - this can be used to study specific interactions in great detail but doesn’t give the overall picture of what is occurring within the system as a whole
A holistic approach involves looking at all processes and interactions occurring within the system together, in order to study the system as a whole

Question 19

a system is comprised of storages and flows

Answer 19

the flows provide inputs and outputs of energy and matter

Question 20

the flows are processes that may be either

Answer 20

Transfers (a change in location)
Transformations (a change in the chemical nature, a change in state or a change in energy)

Question 21

Transfers and Transformations

Answer 21

These are two fundamental concepts in systems (and systems diagrams) that help to understand how matter and energy move through a system

Question 22

transfers

Answer 22

Transfers are the movement of matter or energy from one component of the system to another, without any change in form or quality
For example, water flowing from a river to a lake is a transfer

Question 23

transformations

Answer 23

Transformations, on the other hand, involve a change in the form or quality of matter or energy as it moves through the system
For example, when sunlight is absorbed by plants, it is transformed into chemical energy through the process of photosynthesis

Question 24

three main types of systems

Answer 24

Open systems
Closed systems
Isolated systems

Question 25

The category that a system falls into depends on what

Answer 25

on how energy and matter flow between the system and the surrounding environment

Question 26

open systems

Answer 26

Both energy and matter are exchanged between the system and its surroundings Open systems are usually organic (living) systems that interact with their surroundings (the environment) by taking in energy and new matter (often in the form of biomass), and by also expelling energy and matter (e.g. through waste products or by organisms leaving a system) An example of an open system would be a particular ecosystem or habitat Your body is also an example of an open system - energy and matter are exchanged between you and your environment in the form of food, water, movement and waste

Question 27

closed systems

Answer 27

Energy, but not matter, is exchanged between the system and its surroundings Closed systems are usually inorganic (non-living), although this is not always the case The International Space Station (ISS) could perhaps be seen as a closed system It is a self-contained environment that must maintain a balance of resources, including air, water, and food, as well as waste management, energy production, and temperature control The ISS cannot exchange matter with its surroundings The Earth (and the atmosphere surrounding it) could be viewed as a closed system The main input of energy occurs via solar radiation The main output of energy occurs via heat (re-radiation of infrared waves from the Earth’s surface) Matter is recycled completely within the system Although, technically, very small amounts of matter enter and leave the system (in the form of meteorites or spaceships and satellites), these are considered negligible Artificial and experimental ecological closed systems can also exist - for example, sealed terrariums, containing just the right balance of water and living organisms (such as mosses, ferns, bacteria, fungi or invertebrates) can sometimes survive for many years as totally closed systems, if light and heat energy is allowed to be exchanged across the glass boundary

Question 28

isolated systems

Answer 28

Neither energy nor matter is exchanged between the system and its surroundings Isolated systems do not exist naturally - they are more of a theoretical concept (although the entire Universe could be considered to be an isolated system)

Question 29

model

Answer 29

simplified version of reality A model is often used to represent a system The model can then be analysed or tested to learn more about how the system works and to predict how the system might respond to change For example, weather models are used to predict how our weather systems change over time, allowing us to create weather forecasts Some models can be very simple, such as a child’s model car, whilst other models can be highly complex and require the power of supercomputers, such as the computer models that are currently being used to predict how our climate will change in the future To some extent, due to their very nature, all models involve some level of approximation or simplification, and therefore some loss of accuracy (even the very powerful and complex models)

Question 30

strengths of models

Answer 30

Models simplify complex systems Models allow predictions to be made about how systems will react in response to change System inputs can be changed to observe effects and outputs, without the need to wait for real-life events to occur Models are easier to understand than the real system Results from models can be shared between scientists, engineers, companies and communicated to the public Results from models can warn us about future environmental issues and how to avoid them or minimise their impact

Question 31

limitations of models

Answer 31

Models can be oversimplified and inaccurate Results from models depend on the quality of the data inputs going into them Results from models become more uncertain the further they predict into the future Different models can show vastly different outputs even if they are given the same data inputs Results from models can be interpreted by different people in different ways Environmental systems are often incredibly complex, with many interacting factors - it is impossible to take all possible variables into account

Question 32

energy

Answer 32

exists in many different forms, including light energy, heat energy, chemical energy, electrical energy, and kinetic energy The way in which energy behaves within systems can be explained by the laws of thermodynamics

Question 33

first law of thermodynamics

Answer 33

Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, it can only be transformed from one form to another It means that the energy entering a system equals the energy leaving it

Question 34

The transfer of energy in food chains within ecosystems demonstrates the principle of conservation of energy

Answer 34

Energy enters the system (the food chain or food web) in the form of sunlight Producers convert this light energy into biomass (stored chemical energy) via photosynthesis This chemical energy is passed along the food chain, via consumers, as biomass All energy ultimately leaves the food chain, food web or ecosystem as heat energy

Question 35

second law of thermodynamics

Answer 35

The entropy of a system increases over time

Question 36

entropy

Answer 36

is a measure of the amount of disorder in a system As entropy increases (through inefficiencies in energy transformations) the energy available to do work decreases This is because the transformation and transfer of energy is any system is never 100% efficient In other words, in any energy conversion, the amount of useable energy at the end of the process is always less than the amount of energy available at the start

Question 37

the second law of thermodynamics explains

Answer 37

the decrease in available energy within ecosystems In a food chain, for example, energy is transformed from a more concentrated (ordered) form (e.g. light energy the Sun), into a more dispersed (disordered) form (heat energy)

Question 38

equilibrium

Answer 38

refers to a state of balance occurring between the separate components of a system Open systems (such as ecosystems) usually exist in a stable equilibrium This means they generally stay in the same state over time They can be said to be in a state of balance A stable equilibrium allows a system to return to its original state following a disturbance

Question 39

main type of stable equilibrium

Answer 39

steady-state equilibrium

Question 40

steady-state equilibrium

Answer 40

occurs when the system shows no major changes over a longer time period, even though there are often small, oscillating changes occurring within the system over shorter time periods These slight fluctuations usually occur within closely defined limits and the system always return back towards its average state Most open systems in nature are in steady-state equilibrium For example, a forest has constant inputs and outputs of energy and matter, which change over time

Question 41

stable equilibrium

Answer 41

There are no inputs or outputs (of energy or matter) to the system and therefore the system shows no change over time No natural systems are in static equilibrium - all natural systems (e.g. ecosystems) have inputs and outputs of energy and matter Inanimate objects such as a chair or desk could be said to be in static equilibrium

Question 42

stable vs unstable equilibrium

Answer 42

system can also be in an unstable equilibrium Even a small disturbance to a system in unstable equilibrium can cause the system to suddenly shift to a new system state or average state (i.e. a new equilibrium is reached)

Question 43

positive and negative feedback

Answer 43

Most systems involve feedback loops These feedback mechanisms are what cause systems to react in response to disturbances Feedback loops allow systems to self-regulate There are two types of feedback loops: Negative feedback Positive feedback

Question 44

negative feedback

Answer 44

Negative feedback is any mechanism in a system that counteracts a change away from the equilibrium Negative feedback loops occur when the output of a process within a system inhibits or reverses that same process, in a way that brings the system back towards the average state In this way, negative feedback is stabilising - it counteracts deviation from the equilibrium Negative feedback loops stabilise systems

Question 45

positive feedback

Answer 45

Positive feedback is any mechanism in a system that leads to additional and increased change away from the equilibrium Positive feedback loops occur when the output of a process within a system feeds back into the system, in a way that moves the system increasingly away from the average state In this way, positive feedback is destabilising - it amplifies deviation from the equilibrium and drives systems towards a tipping point where the state of the system suddenly shifts to a new equilibrium Positive feedback loops destabilise systems

Question 46

tipping point

Answer 46

is a critical threshold within a system If a tipping point is reached, any further small change in the system will have significant knock-on effects and cause the system to move away from its average state (away from the equilibrium) In ecosystems and other ecological systems, tipping points are very important as they represent the point beyond which serious, irreversible damage and change to the system can occur Positive feedback loops can push an ecological system towards and past its tipping point, at which point a new equilibrium is likely to be reached Eutrophication is a classic example of an ecological reaching a tipping point and accelerating towards a new state

Question 47

tipping point can be difficult to predict for the following reasons

Answer 47

There are often delays of varying lengths involved in feedback loops, which add to the complexity of modelling systems Not all components or processes within a system will change abruptly at the same time It may be impossible to identify a tipping point until after it has been passed Activities in one part of the globe may lead to a system reaching a tipping point elsewhere on the planet (e.g. the burning of fossil fuels by industrialised countries is leading to global warming, which is pushing the Amazon basin towards a tipping point of desertification) - continued monitoring, research and scientific communication is required to identity these links

Question 48

resilience

Answer 48

Any system, ecological, social or economic, has a certain amount of resilience This resilience refers to the system’s ability to maintain stability and avoid tipping points

Question 49

Diversity and the size of storages within systems can contribute to their resilience and affect their speed of response to change

Answer 49

Systems with higher diversity and larger storages are less likely to reach tipping points For example, highly complex ecosystems like rainforests have high diversity in terms of the complexity of their food webs If a disturbance occurs within one of these food webs, the animals and plants have many different ways to respond to the change, maintaining the stability of the ecosystem Rainforests also contain large storages in the form of long-lived tree species and high numbers of dormant seeds These factors promote a steady-state equilibrium in ecosystems like rainforests In contrast, agricultural crop systems are artificial monocultures meaning they only contain a single species. This low diversity means they have low resilience - if there is a disturbance to the system (e.g. a new crop disease or pest species), the system will not be able to counteract this

Question 50

how can humans affect the resilience of natural systems

Answer 50

by reducing the diversity contained within them and the size of their storages Rainforest ecosystems naturally have very high biodiversity When this biodiversity is reduced, through the hunting of species to extinction or the destruction of habitat through deforestation, the resilience of the rainforest ecosystem in reduced - it becomes increasingly vulnerable to further disturbances Natural grasslands have high resilience, due to large storages of seeds, nutrients and root systems underground, allowing them to recover quickly after a disturbance such as a fire (especially if they contain a diversity of grassland species, including some which are adapted to regenerate quickly after fires) However, when humans convert natural grasslands to agricultural crops, the lack of diversity and storages (e.g. no underground seed reserves) results in a system that has low resilience to disturbances such as fires

Question 51

sustainability

Answer 51

is the use and management of natural resources that allow full natural regeneration of the resources exploited and full recovery of the ecosystems affected by their extraction and use Sustainable living involves using resources in a way that allows for their renewal and regeneration It is important to manage natural resources in a sustainable manner to avoid depletion, degradation, or destruction of these resources

Question 52

sustainable practices include

Answer 52

Reducing waste (e.g. recycling) Reducing resource use (e.g. reducing water consumption) Conserving energy (e.g. using public transport or cycling, eating locally grown foods ) Using renewable resources (e.g. solar or wind power) Protecting biodiversity (e.g. nature reserves)

Question 53

sustainable development

Answer 53

is a concept that aims to balance economic, social, and environmental factors to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

Question 54

examples of sustainable development

Answer 54

The use of renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, or hydropower, instead of non-renewable energy sources, such as fossil fuels Sustainable agriculture, which involves using techniques that minimise the negative impact of agriculture on the environment, such as crop rotation, soil conservation, and reduced use of pesticides and fertilisers Sustainable urban planning, which aims to create cities that are more liveable, efficient, and environmentally friendly, such as through the use of public transportation, green spaces (e.g. public parks or green roofs), and energy-efficient buildings to mitigate climate change impacts

Question 55

what does sustainable development require

Answer 55

Sustainable development requires a long-term perspective and a commitment to understanding the highly complex interactions between the economic, social, and environmental aspects of our growing and developing societies It is an ongoing process that requires the cooperation and involvement of individuals, organisations, and governments at all levels

Question 56

environmental aspects of sustainable development

Answer 56

Renewable energy Waste management Water treatment Reduce, reuse, recycle Nature reserves Urban wildlife

Question 57

social aspects of sustainable development

Answer 57

Cultural diversity Social stability Education Healthcare Crime Personal freedom

Question 58

economic aspects of sustainable development

Answer 58

Economic growth Developing nations Cost of urban infrastructure Energy-efficient buildings Ecosystem services Economic policies

Question 59

the term natural resources

Answer 59

applies to anything that comes from nature that can be used to benefit humans Examples of natural resources include fresh water, soil, fossil fuels and oxygen in the air

Question 60

what are natural resources referred to in reference to as natural capital

Answer 60

as natural capital think of natural capital as resources from nature that are managed by humans because they provide goods or services These natural goods and services can include directly marketable goods, such as timber and crops, or broader ecological services, such as the flood protection provided by mangroves, or the erosion prevention and climate regulation services that forests provide

Question 61

natural income

Answer 61

is the term used to describe the sustainable income produced by natural capital if trees are cut down for timber but forests are also re-planted or left to recover, so that the rate of timber production is not greater than the rate of new tree growth, then timber production is a sustainable income that can be marketed and used to benefit humans

Question 62

Ecosystem services usually fall into one of four main categories:

Answer 62

Supporting services Regulating services Provisioning services Cultural services

Question 63

supporting service

Answer 63

Essential ecological processes for supporting life Primary productivity (photosynthesis) Soil formation Cycling of nutrients (e.g. carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle)

Question 64

regulating service

Answer 64

A diverse set of services that shape and stabilise ecosystems Climate regulation Flood regulation Water quality regulation Air quality regulation Erosion control Disease and pest control

Question 65

provisioning service

Answer 65

The goods and services humans obtain from ecosystems Food Fibres Fuel Fresh water Timber

Question 66

cultural service

Answer 66

These services derive from humans interacting with nature in a culturally beneficial way Recreation and tourism Education Health benefits Sense of place, national identity and cultural heritage Employment

Question 67

Millenium Ecosystem Assessment (MA)

Answer 67

was a major assessment of the human impact on the global environment It was called for by the United Nations in 2000, launched in 2001, and was published in 200

Question 68

aims of the MA

Answer 68

One of the main aims of the MA was to assess how changes to ecosystems have affected, are affecting and will affect human health and wellbeing Another main aim of the MA was to assess the scientific basis for action to conserve and use ecosystems sustainably In summary, the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment reports evaluated: The current condition of the planet’s ecosystems and the services they provide The importance of these ecosystems to human wellbeing How we can restore, conserve and enhance the sustainable use of these ecosystems

Question 69

The main findings of the MA included

Answer 69

In the last 50 years, humans have changed ecosystems at a faster rate than at any other time in history, which has led to substantial and largely irreversible losses of global biodiversity These changes have led to substantial overall gains in wellbeing and economic development for many human societies, but at the cost of degrading many ecosystems and the services they provide These changes have substantially increased the poverty experienced by some human societies If not addressed, ecosystem degradation and the problems it causes will substantially reduce the benefits that future generations will be able to obtain from ecosystems It is possible to restore ecosystems but this requires substantial changes in policies and practices

Question 70

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Answer 70

is a systematic process for evaluating the potential environmental impacts of a proposed development project The purpose of an EIA is to identify and evaluate the potential impacts of the project on the environment, and to develop strategies to mitigate or avoid those impacts EIAs are used to inform decision-making by government agencies, developers, and other stakeholders, and to ensure that proposed projects are environmentally sustainable

Question 71

steps of an environmental impact asessement

Answer 71

1. Scoping 2. Baseline Studies 3. Impact Assessment 4. Mitigation mesures 5. Public consultation 6. Review and approval

Question 72

projects requiring an EIA

Answer 72

Many development projects may require an EIA, depending on their potential environmental impacts Examples of projects that may require an EIA include: Mining and mineral extraction Infrastructure development, such as highways and airports Energy projects, such as wind farms and hydroelectric dams Industrial facilities, such as chemical plants and oil refineries Land use changes, such as deforestation or wetland reclamation

Question 73

strengths of an EIA

Answer 73

- provide a systematic process for evaluating direct environmental impacts and can help to identify and mitigate or avoid those impacts using adaptive management strategies, leading to more sustainable development - assess the indirect impacts of a proposed project, including cumulative effects, indirect effects, and secondary effects, which can help ensure that the project is evaluated from a holistic perspective - promote public consultation and engagement, which can help to ensure that stakeholder perspectives are considered in decision-making, as well as increase community involvement and awareness of environmental issues

Question 74

limitations of an EIA

Answer 74

Not always effective in identifying or mitigating all environmental impacts, particularly when they are not conducted properly Only assess the potential impacts of proposed projects and not the underlying social, economic, or political systems that may contribute to these impacts, which can limit their effectiveness in addressing systemic issues that may cause or exacerbate environmental problems Can be expensive and time-consuming - there may be limited technical or institutional capacity to conduct EIAs in some areas, particularly in developing countries or in areas where there is limited access to data or scientific expertise

Question 75

ecological footprint (EFs)

Answer 75

measure the impact of human activities on the environment They do this by calculating the area of land and water needed to sustain a particular human population An EF is measured in global hectares (gha) per capita (i.e. hectares per person)

Question 76

what do EFs take into account

Answer 76

factors such as food consumption, transportation, and energy use EFs can be used to compare the sustainability of different lifestyles, businesses, and even whole countries If the EF of a lifestyle, business or country exceeds the area available to the population (also known as the biocapacity - the amount of resources that the planet can provide sustainably), it means that it is not sustainable in the long term

Question 77

how to reduce an EF

Answer 77

it is important to adopt more sustainable practices such as reducing meat consumption, using renewable energy sources, and using public transport or walking instead of driving

Question 78

in what way are EFs a useful tool

Answer 78

for promoting sustainable development and for raising awareness about the impact of human activities on the environment

Question 79

pollution

Answer 79

refers to the introduction of harmful substances or agents into the environment These substances cannot be rendered harmless by the environment at a rate that is greater than the rate of their release Pollution is harmful to organisms and can adversely affect normal environmental processes It is a major source of contamination of the Earth and atmosphere, making ecosystems and habitats toxic and unpleasant

Question 80

two different origins of pollution

Answer 80

Natural (e.g. ash from volcanic eruptions) or human in origin (e.g. microplastics) Intentional (e.g. industrial waste discharged into rivers) or unintentional (e.g. accidental oil spills from oil tankers)

Question 81

what is pollution a result of

Answer 81

from the release of substances that degrade the sustainable quality of air, water, and soil, negatively impacting human quality of life

Question 82

what are the main forms of pollution

Answer 82

Organic or inorganic substances Light, sound, or heat energy Biological agents Invasive species

Question 83

what is the major source of pollution

Answer 83

Human activities, including the combustion of fossil fuels

Question 84

energy production as a source of pollution

Answer 84

type: Sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates activity: burning fossil fuels effects: Acid rain, photochemical smog, respiratory problems

Question 85

agriculture as a source of pollution

Answer 85

type of pollution: Pesticides, fertilisers, animal waste activity: Spraying crops with pesticides, spreading fertilisers on fields, runoff from manure and silage effects: Bioaccumulation, biomagnification, eutrophication

Question 86

industry as a source of pollution

Answer 86

type of pollution: toxic spills and leaks activity: Industrial accidents e.g. chemical factories effects: Release of toxic substances into the environment e.g. Minamata, Japan and Bhopal, India

Question 87

domestic waste as a source of pollution

Answer 87

type of pollution: Solid domestic waste, sewage, chemical waste activity: Waste dumped in landfill sites, waste from toilets, household cleaning products effects: Contamination of groundwater, release of methane, eutrophication, disease

Question 88

transport as a source of pollution

Answer 88

type of pollution: Exhaust fumes from vehicles, runoff from roads activity: Driving, fuel and oil leaks channelled into surrounding land and watercourses by road drainage effects: Air pollution, respiratory problems, climate change, contamination of streams and soils

Question 89

natural source of pollution

Answer 89

type of pollution: Volcanic ash, particulate pollution activity: Volcanic eruptions, wildfires, dust storms effect: Respiratory problems, acid rain, habitat destruction

Question 90

types of pollution

Answer 90

Point source pollution vs non-point source pollution Persistent pollution vs biodegradable pollution Acute effects of pollution vs chronic effects of pollution Primary pollution vs secondary pollution

Question 91

Point source pollution vs non-point source pollution

Answer 91

point source: Point source pollution comes from a single identifiable source, such as a factory or a sewage treatment plant non point source: Non-point source pollution comes from dispersed sources, such as runoff from agricultural fields or urban areas

Question 92

Persistent pollution vs biodegradable pollution

Answer 92

persistent: Persistent pollution does not degrade or break down quickly, such as heavy metals or certain pesticides biodegradable: Biodegradable pollution can be broken down by natural processes, such as organic waste

Question 93

Acute effects of pollution vs chronic effects of pollution

Answer 93

acute effects: Acute effects of pollution occur in a high concentration for a short period of time, such as an oil spill chronic effects: Chronic effects of pollution occur over a long period of time in lower concentrations, such as air pollution from vehicle emissions

Question 94

Primary pollution vs secondary pollution

Answer 94

primary: Primary pollutants are directly emitted into the environment, such as carbon monoxide or particulate matter from burning fossil fuels secondary: Secondary pollutants form when primary pollutants undergo physical or chemical reactions in the atmosphere, such as the formation of ozone from nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds

Question 95

origins of DDT

Answer 95

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) was widely used as a pesticide from the 1940s until it was banned in many countries in the 1970s due to its environmental and health impacts It is an example of a conflict between the utility of a 'pollutant' and its effect on the environment

Question 96

what is the discovery regarding DDT

Answer 96

it was discovered that DDT was also causing harm to non-target organisms, such as birds and fish, through biomagnification This means that top predators, such as eagles and falcons, were receiving high doses of DDT, which caused them to lay eggs with thin shells, resulting in reproductive failure

Question 97

what is DDT

Answer 97

a powerful insecticide, so it was effective in controlling insect-borne human diseases, such as malaria (transmitted by mosquitoes) and typhus (transmitted by lice), particularly in tropical regions

Question 98

what did the conflict between the utility of DDT for controlling diseases and its environmental impact lead towards

Answer 98

to a ban on its use in many countries, including the United States Its use has been restricted under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants The use of DDT remains controversial, with some arguing that it should be allowed for use in disease control in areas where it is the most effective option, while others argue that the environmental impacts are too significant to justify its use

Question 99

what does DDT highlight the importance of

Answer 99

considering the potential environmental impacts of any chemical or substance before it is used, particularly when it will be widely distributed into the environment It also shows that sometimes a trade-off must be made between the benefits and the negative impacts of a substance

Question 100

three main stages leading to the impact of pollutants on the environment

Answer 100

Stage 1: Human activity producing the pollutant Stage 2: Releasing of the pollutant into the environment Stage 3: The impact of the pollutant on ecosystems

Question 101

There are three strategies for managing the impacts of pollution

Answer 101

Changing human activity Regulating and reducing quantities of pollutants released at the point of emission Cleaning up the pollutants and restoring the ecosystem after pollution has occurred

Question 102

Modern technology can reduce the impact of pollution by managing these three stages of pollutant impacts, for example:

Answer 102

Stage 1 could be managed by introducing electric and hybrid cars that use less fossil fuel Stage 2 could be managed by fitting catalytic converters to car exhaust systems or adding scrubbers to industrial chimneys to remove toxic chemicals and allow for their reuse Stage 3 could be managed by using synthetic membranes to capture chemical spills (e.g. mats designed to capture and hold hydrocarbons)