Unit 3 - Topic 6 Flashcards

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1
Q

N.I.M.B.Y.

A

Not In My Backyard

Summarizes ppls growing awareness of waste production and storage

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2
Q

Pollution used to be

A

Local problem

Now global -ll-

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3
Q

Human beings produce

A

1000 billion kg of solid waste/yr

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4
Q

Acid precipitation results from

A

Pollutants entering atmosphere
Travelling great distances
Creating environmental problems when falling to ground

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5
Q

Forest fires and volcanic eruptions

A

Introduced majority of pollutants into atmosphere

Still tru for Southern Hemisphere

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6
Q

Human activities

A

Biggest source of airborne pollutants in northern hemisphere

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7
Q

Most common pollutant particles

A

Carbon, surfer, nitrogen oxides
Soot from combustion of fossil fuels
Dust from wind erosion accelerated by agriculture
Heavy metals

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8
Q

Heavy metals

A

Lead
Nickel
Copper

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9
Q

Heavy metals result from

A

Industry or combustion processes

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10
Q

1970s

A

Concentration of airborne lead in northern hemisphere about 1000x higher than normal

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11
Q

Wind patterns in northern hemisphere result in

A

Airborne particles and gas pollutants concentrating at higher latitudes and eventually washing out by rain and snow

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12
Q

Inuit ppl on Broughton Island in high Arctic

A

Higher concentrations of PCBs in blood than any other pop

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13
Q

PCBs

A

Polychlorinated biphenyls
Highly toxic organic chemicals
Result form industrial fires
Bioaccumulate in food chain

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14
Q

Air pollution from industrialized regions in Europe and America travel to Arctic by

A

Circumpolar winds

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15
Q

Arctic/smog

A

High levels accumulate

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16
Q

Average transit from Russia to Canada

A

3 days

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17
Q

CFCs

A

Chlorofluorocarbons
Human made pollutant
Cheap, not-toxic,stable

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18
Q

CFCs used as

A

Agent in forming Styrofoam
Propellants in aerosol cans
Coolants in air conditioners and refrigerators

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19
Q

1985

A

Discovery of hole in ozone layer over Antarctic

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20
Q

Hole over Arctic result of

A

Ultraviolet breakdown of CFCs

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21
Q

Ozone at Earths surface

A

Irritating toxin

Biological organisms receive damage to brain cells

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22
Q

Ozone location

A

Stratosphere

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23
Q

Ozone in stratosphere benefit cuz

A

Prevents uv radiation from reaching earths surface

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24
Q

What happens in stratosphere

A

Ur lights reacts w/ CFC molecules producing chloride ions

Chloride ions act as catalyst for breakdown of ozone gas to normal oxygen gas

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25
Q

Ozone equation

A

O^3(g)

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26
Q

1997/ozone hole

A

Bigger than area of continental U.S.
ozone levels over Antarctic 40% lower
10% all stratospheric ozone worldwide destroyed

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27
Q

81-country agreement

A

Stop production and use of CFCs

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28
Q

Problem with CFCs

A

Stability

Persist in atmosphere for many yrs

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29
Q

Targeting point sources

A

Controls greatly reduced amount of pollutants entering surface waters

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30
Q

Surface water pollution due to

A

Everyday activities
Washing laundry
Watering lawns

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31
Q

Waste from everyday activities is

A

Channeled through storm sewers/surface runoff

Channeled through sanitary sewers/sewage

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32
Q

Law requires/nitrates and phosphates

A

They be removed from household detergents and other cleaning agents before water returned to watercourse

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33
Q

Sewage treated to

A

Reduce amount of organic waste and destroy disease-causing bacteria and viruses

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34
Q

Method of choice for destroying bacteria and viruses

A

Chlorinating water

Using high-intensity uv light

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35
Q

Runoff includes

A

Fertilizers
Pesticides
Oils
Chemicals

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36
Q

Chlorinating water risk

A

May result in formation of cancer-causing agents

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37
Q

Primary treatment

A

Physically separates large solids and suspended sediments

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38
Q

Secondary treatment

A

Removes much organic compounds by bacterial decomposition
Resulting sludge removed
Remaining liquid effluent treated by chlorinating/ur light exposure to kill any disease organisms that survived

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39
Q

Tertiary treatment

A

Percolation through soil into ground water and passage through trickling water bed evaporator and/or lagoon or marsh removes nitrates and phosphates remaining

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40
Q

Percent of ppl. in dif countries served by waste water treatment plants

A

57%/Canada
74%/Americans
86.5%/Germans
99%/Swedes

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41
Q

Water hyacinth plant

A

Removes pollutants from water

Can be used at waste water treatment facilities to clean water before flows back into streams and aquifers

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42
Q

Surface waters

A

Oceans
Lakes
Rivers
Glaciers

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43
Q

Canadian ppl relying on ground water for domestic water supplies

A

26% or 8 million

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44
Q

Ground water

A

Water that filters down through soil and fills spaces between particles of rock and soil, and the cracks and fractured in underlying rock/or spaces in the ground

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45
Q

Ground water tends to flow towards

A

Lakes
Rivers
Sea

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46
Q

Rate ground water moves depends on

A

Permeability of rock and soil formations

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47
Q

Typical ground water rate

A

15 m/yr

Sometimes couple cm a century

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48
Q

Aquifers

A

Underwater reserves of water

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49
Q

Common feature of aquifers

A

Water naturally filtered as moving through and usually free of bacterial contamination

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50
Q

Aquifer con

A

Contaminants dissolve in water

Can become concentrated in aquifers

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51
Q

Problems w/ contamination multiplying cause of

A

Pesticides -
l -> Toxic
Herbicides -
Solvents in industry and agriculture

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52
Q

Ground water contamination difficult cuz

A

Difficult if not impossible to clean up

Best option to avoid producing contaminants in first place

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53
Q

“Green”

A

Used to indicate product is biodegradable

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54
Q

Biodegradable

A

Able to broken down by bacteria, fungi, and other organisms into carbon dioxide and water

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55
Q

Problem w/ green label

A

Says active ingredients biodegradable but not others which may not be

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56
Q

Biodegradability time problem

A

Compound may be biodegradable but not under all conditions or in reasonable period of time

57
Q

Cultural anthropologists/newspapers

A

Found some after 20 yrs that are still readable

58
Q

Landfills problem

A

Retards decay

Kept dry which causes lack of proper mix of water, oxygen and soil microbes preventing decomposition from occurring

59
Q

Why retarding decay is seen as bad

A

Production of gases resulting from decay sometimes seen as problem by public

60
Q

Bacteria and other microbes/oil/synthetic rubber tire

A

May decompose oil but in tire may never decompose
Cuz organisms normally responsible for decomposition cannot produce chemical reactions or high temps. necessary to break down tire

61
Q

Oil and plastic

A

Obtain almost exactly same atoms

Molecular structure differs so different rates of decomposition

62
Q

Cotton fabric biodegradability

A

1-5 months

63
Q

Pare biodegradability

A

2-5 months

64
Q

Orange peels biodegradability

A

6 months

65
Q

Wool fabric biodegradability

A

1-5 yrs

66
Q

Cigarette butts biodegradability

A

1-12 yrs

67
Q

Mil cartons biodegradability

A

5 yrs

68
Q

Plastic shopping bags biodegradability

A

10-20 yrs

69
Q

Leather biodegradability

A

25-40 yrs

70
Q

Nylon fabric biodegradability

A

30-40 yrs

71
Q

Tin cans biodegradability

A

50-100 yrs

72
Q

Aluminum cans biodegradability

A

80-100 yrs

73
Q

Plastic 6-pack holder rings

A

450+ yrs

74
Q

Dr. Roger Saint-Fort

A

Kitchen wastes worse than plastic cuz they decompose and create harmful gases and leachate unlike plastic not biodegrading
Leachate more serious than plastic to him
Large scale city effort
Sustainable effort to minimize waste
Calgary dude

75
Q

Degrade

A

Latin word gradus

76
Q

Gradus

A

Step

77
Q

De in degrade

A

Used to indicate removal or separation

78
Q

Hazardous

A

Containing substances that are toxic, corrosive, flammable, or explosive

79
Q

average Canadian household amount of hazardous waste

A

12-40 L

80
Q

Hazardous products required to indicate

A

Hazardous nature w/ clear highly visible sign

81
Q

DANGER, POISON

A

Indicate substance highly hazardous

82
Q

WARNING, CAUTION

A

Indicate moderate or slight toxicity

83
Q

All hazardous substances must have

A

appropriate WHMIS symbols clearly displayed

84
Q

Kitchen area hazardous substances

A

Sink, drain, oven, floor wax/cleaners

Silver, furniture polish

85
Q

Bathroom area hazardous substances

A
Tub and tile cleaners
Disinfectant sprays
Nail polish and removers
Prescription medicines 
Hair dyes and cosmetics
Toilet cleaner
86
Q

Garage/storeroom hazardous substances

A
Paints, thinners, glues
Lawn and garden herbicides
Ant traps or powders
Degreasers
Antifreeze and gasoline
Moro oil and brake fluid
87
Q

Hazardous substances common

A

Cleaning purposes

Solvents

88
Q

Solvent

A

Any substance that can be used to dissolve another substance

89
Q

100% solvent

A

Paint thinners
Spot removers
Turpentine
Nail polish remover

90
Q

Those donating some solvents

A

Furniture oils
Glues
Paints
Shoe polish

91
Q

Hazardous substances classifies as organic cuz

A

Contain hydrocarbon compounds

92
Q

All organic substances

A

Hazardous

93
Q

Almost all organic substances poisonous if

A

Swallowed or inhaled in large enough amount

Cause rashes after repeated exposure

94
Q

High concentrations most solvents

A
Result in:
Dizziness 
Nausea 
Fatigue
Loss of co-ordination
95
Q

Long term exposer to may solvents result in

A

Brain damage

96
Q

Garbage

A

Any material which we no longer have use

97
Q

Pesticides and cleaning agents

A

No longer considered garbage but hazardous wastes

98
Q

Four principles part of environmental movement

A

Reduce
Reuse
Recycle
Recover

99
Q

Reduce first cuz

A

Most potential to change things

If goods not manufactured, not present to be discarded

100
Q

Reducing pros

A

Saving materials and energy

Lower costs

101
Q

Reuse

A

One person trash is others untapped resources

102
Q

Paper wastes

A

25%/Quarter of mass municipal garbage

Almost all can be recycled

103
Q

Glass and metals

A

8% of municipal wastes

104
Q

Plastics

A

6% municipal wastes

105
Q

Usually biodegradable

A

Yard wastes/20%

Food wastes/9 %

106
Q

Old tires

A

Don’t decay
Almost indestructible
High temps needed to break them down may result in toxic emissions
Dumping in landfills traditional solution

107
Q

Average Canadian waste generated/day

A

2 kg unwanted materials

108
Q

1 kg of trash takes up

A

0.004 m^3

109
Q

Recycling cons

A
Incurs costs for:
Transporting 
Handling
Sorting
Cleaning 
Storing
110
Q

Recycling pros

A
Production of paper:
Requires 58% less water 
Generator 74% less air pollution than when made from trees 
Saves energy 
Conserves resources
111
Q

Edmonton’s waste management facility

A

Enables city to divert 70% residential wastes away from landfill
One of largest of kind in North America
Separates rectangle materials from compostable ones

112
Q

Recyclable materials go to

A

Material recovery facility where sorted mechanically and manually

113
Q

Glass and plastic separation

A
Glass sorted by colour:
Amber
Green
Colourless
Plastic by type
114
Q

Typical landfill associations

A

Increased:
Noise
Traffic
Mess

115
Q

Sanity landfill

A

Short-term solution

Landfill incorporating waterproof liner filled w/ cemented garbage covered w/ Earth

116
Q

Sanitary landfill covered to avoid

A

Wind blown litter

Attracting scavengers

117
Q

Modern sanitary landfills incorporate

A

Clay liner

And maybe plastic liner

118
Q

Liners prevent

A

Fluids from filtering down to ground water supplies

119
Q

Leachate

A

Liquid resulting as wastes decompose and rain water filters down through landfill

120
Q

Sanitary landfills/leachate

A

Sent to waste-water treatment centres

121
Q

Anaerobic conditions created by burying organic waste result in

A

Production of methane and carbon dioxide

Methane filters up to surface causing safety problems due to risk of explosion

122
Q

Methane/many landfills

A

Piped to surface and burned or “flared off” in controlled manner

123
Q

Edmonton’s waste management facility uses methane

A

To produce electricity for residential use

124
Q

Disposable diapers

A

Account for almost 2% total volume of all landfills
Mostly synthetic materials
Not rly biodegradable at all

125
Q

Diaper problems

A

Synthetic non biodegradable
Cloth cotton needs pesticides and chemical fertilizers to grow and washing requires large amounts of energy, disinfectants, detergents, water

126
Q

Secure landfills for

A

Hazardous and toxic wastes

127
Q

Secure landfill

A

Specialized Landfill that safely disposes of hazardous and toxic wastes

128
Q

Secure landfill additions

A

Layer of gravel/Topsoil cover
Grid of perforated drain pipes to collect any seepage
Final plastic liner backed by soft padding
Sand cushioning plastic liner from drums of waste
Thick layers and walls of soil separating drums if sewage occurs

129
Q

When secure landfills full

A

Capped by clay, pIastic, soil

130
Q

Wells drilled outside

A

Secure landfills

To monitor any possible leakage from site

131
Q

Plants/pollutants

A

Tend to take in through roots and concentrate and store or many cases change them to less noxious forms

132
Q

Bioremediation plants

A

Mustard
Fescue grass
Poplar tree

133
Q

Mustard and fescue grass

A

Used to remove selenium metals from contaminated soils left by irrigation

134
Q

Bioremediation

A

Method of using living organisms to break down complex toxic substances into simpler non-toxic ones

135
Q

Bioremediation pros

A

Cheap

Effective

136
Q

Bacterial species/bioremediation

A

Can attack and break down some of more persistent and toxic wastes

137
Q

Bacteria used for bioremediation con

A

Very limited range
Extreme conditions
High temps or pressures
Extremely acidic or anaerobic conditions for some

138
Q

Bioreactors

A

Tanks containing bacteria in appropriate conditions for bioremediation to occur