Unit 7: Sources of Pollutants

Question 1

Point source

Answer 1

A pollutant from an easily identified point.

Question 2

Point source examples

Answer 2

Animal waste runoff from a CAFO (ammonia, fecal coliform bacteria), emissions from smokestack of a coal power plant, BP oil spill (hydrocarbons, benzene).

Question 3

Non-point source

Answer 3

Pollutants entering the environment from many places, no one individual source.

Question 4

Non-point source examples

Answer 4

Urban runoff (motor oil, nitrate fertilizer, road salt, sediment), pesticides sprayed on agricultural fields.