Unit 8 Flashcards

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1
Q

Wastewater

A

water contaminated with human or animal wastes

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2
Q

Point source

A

a distinct location where pollution is directly produced

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3
Q

Non point source

A

a general location where pollution is produced. Is harder to control because there is no direct area we can cut off pollution

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4
Q

Example of non point source

A

farming area, neighborhoods that have connected septic systems

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5
Q

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

A

the amount of oxygen a quantity of water uses over certain amounts of time

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6
Q

What does a higher BOD indicate?

A

more pollution from wastewater because microbial decomposition requires a lot of oxygen and comes from leaching waste or fertilizers

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7
Q

Dead zone

A

areas that do not have enough oxygen to support wildlife often because algae blooms cause algae to rapidly die and use too much oxygen in decomposition process

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8
Q

(Cultural) Eutrophication

A

when a body of water is rich in nutrients often because of leaching of fertilizer into the water

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9
Q

Algal blooms

A

caused from eutrophication and is when a lot of algae thrives because of the nutrient rich conditions

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10
Q

Indicator species

A

a species that indicates whether or not disease causing organisms are present

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11
Q

Example of indicator species

A

E-coli is found in our intestines that process poop. When E-coli is found in water, it means that the water is contaminated with our poop

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12
Q

Septic systems

A

a sewage treatment system that is made of a septic tank and a leach field. The septic tank lets waste separate into scum, septage, and sluge, and then releases the septage into our lawn through pipes. The existing bacteria in our lawn outcompete the harmful bacteria in the septage and cause them to die. No use of electricity and seen more in rural areas because these systems take up so much space

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13
Q

Scum

A

the lightest layer of sewage, floats at the top and is made of oil, fats, or small particles

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14
Q

Septage

A

the water that is the middle layer of the sewage that has a lot of bacteria, nitrogen, and phosphorous

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15
Q

Sludge

A

the heaviest layer that is made out of poop, bacteria, pathogens, and things heavier than water

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16
Q

Sewage treatment plants

A

collect sewage from a group of homes and treat it through primary and secondary treatment

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17
Q

Primary treatment

A

sifts throguh the sewage to separate large chunks of waste. Allows the sewage to sit and separate into sludge and water. Skims the scum off of the top of the sewage

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18
Q

Secondary treatment

A

bacteria is introduced to break down organic material and leave behind nitrogen, oxygen, and phosphorous. Oxygen is introduced, which allows aerobic bacteria to take over and reduce the bad smells. Water is also treated with disinfectants like UV, ozone, and chlorine. Is then released into nature

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19
Q

Where does sludge end up?

A

fertilizer, burned, or landfill

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20
Q

Manure lagoon

A

human made ponds that are enclosed by rubber and contain water and poop. Is covered so anaerobic respiration takes place and releases methane

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21
Q

When is sewage dumping legal?

A

when wastewater from storm drains overwhelms the capacity of the sewage plants. Causes sewage plants to dump in nearby bodies of water

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22
Q

Neurotoxins

A

chemicals that harm the nervous system

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23
Q

Teratogens

A

chemicals that harm fetuses or embryos by impacting their development

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24
Q

Lead

A

a neurotoxin that can come from pipes that transport water

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25
Q

Federal regulations for lead

A

forbid lead from being used in pipes and paint and enforced water filtration systems

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26
Q

Arsenic

A

is a carcinogen that occurs in the Earth’s crust and dissolves in groundwater

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27
Q

Mercury

A

is a neurotoxin that comes from the impurities released when burning fossil fuels. Also comes from cement making sites

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28
Q

Acid deposition

A

the release of acid particles into the atmosphere and biosphere. Can reduce the pH of water and turn it red or brown. Comes from smokestacks or mining and can cause ions to be more soluble in water

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29
Q

Pesticides

A

Is a hormone disruptor and teratogen that can cause delays in development, birth defects, and hormonal problems

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30
Q

Inert ingredients

A

additives that make a pesticide more effective. Are considered trade secrets so they do not need to be disclosed but have the potential to harm organisms

31
Q

Perchlorates

A

Is a group of chemicals used in rocket fuels that are hormone disruptors and spreads through leaching

32
Q

Pharmeceuticals

A

Are medical items like pills that stay in the water because no sewage tank or septic system can eliminate its presence. Has hormones that can mimic estrogen and alter how fish develop

33
Q

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PBCs)

A

industrial compounds that were used to make plastic and insulate. Are carcinogenic, persistent in the environment, but no longer used

34
Q

How does oil leak?

A

Natural volanoes at the sea floor releases oil
Transportation leaks
Drilling leaks

35
Q

Effects of oil on animals

A

Can stick to their fur and feathers and make them too heavy to move
Can clog gills
Is toxic to animals if consumed

36
Q

Oil booms

A

are floating barriers to oil that prevent it from spreading and can absorb excess oil. Can skim or vaccuum it off after

37
Q

Chemical dispersants

A

synthetic chemicals that can break down oil but can smother animals living on the sea floor and harm them

38
Q

Oil eating bacteria

A

specific bacteria can be naturally found or created that consume oil for energy but can release a lot of CO2 when they die

39
Q

Burning

A

you can burn the oil off of the surface of the water. Combusts fossil fuels

40
Q

Coal ash and coal tailings

A

can leach and contaminate water and contain harmful elements like lead, arsenic, and mercury

41
Q

Waste from burning coal is considered what by the EPA?

A

Federally exempt because it is special, is unregulated

42
Q

Sediment pollution

A

soil particles that are carried by water. Can cause water to be cloudy and prevent the sun from reaching organisms in the water or clog their gills and increases nutrients in the water, causing eutrophicaiton

43
Q

How is sediment pollution created

A

Construction of buildings - digs up soil and leaves behind a bare ground
Plowed agricultural fields

44
Q

Thermal pollution

A

human activities that change the temperature of the water

45
Q

How is thermal pollution created?

A

When an industry removes cold water, heats it up to make energy, and returns it warmer than usual

46
Q

Effects of thermal pollution

A

causes more respiration because warm water has less oxygen than cold water
Can also cause a thermal shock that kills many animals

47
Q

Planned obsolescence

A

an object loses its function

48
Q

Perceived obsolescence

A

an object loses its aesthetic appeal

49
Q

Municipal solid waste (MSW)

A

landfill that comes from a lot of places like buildings, working areas, and homes. The most waste comes from homes. Developing countries produce the least waste

50
Q

Waste stream

A

the flow of waste to a landfill, burning, or recycling

51
Q

E waste

A

has a lot of neurotoxin metals that can leach into groundwater

52
Q

Reduce

A

completely prevents trash from the source, cutting back on the amount of products made

53
Q

Reuse

A

using something more than once or for a different purpose

54
Q

Recycle

A

turning materials into new objects

55
Q

Landfill

A

is mostly made up of yard trimmings and food/other organic materials

56
Q

Source reduction

A

cutting back on the amount of material used to make a product

57
Q

Closed loop recycling

A

recycling something and making it into the same product as previously. is indefinite

58
Q

Open loop recycling

A

recycling something and making it into a new product. Is worse because demand for the product is still there

59
Q

Composting

A

decomposing organic materials underneath controlled circumstances; the right amount of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, water, etc is needed. Needs to be frequently agitated and have a right green to brown matter ratio. kills bacteria because cellular respiration creates a lot of heat

60
Q

Incineration

A

burns waste. Is expensive and releases ash and a lot of CO from incomplete combustion of plastics and metals. Is not good because it is very hard to be profitable

61
Q

Bottom ash

A

ash that settles to the bottom of the combustion chamber

62
Q

Fly ash

A

ash that is collected in a chimney or exhaust pipe or anything besides the bottom of the combustion chamber

63
Q

Ash

A

nonorganic material that cannot be combusted

64
Q

Tipping fees

A

charge money to compost, sanitarily bury landfill, or burn landfill. incentivizes people to not burn their trash

65
Q

Leachate

A

water that has leached through a lot of trash and contains toxic and hazardous pollutants and chemicals

66
Q

Sanitary landfills

A

are engineered to hold MSW without letting leachate escape and without stinking up the place. Has clay or plastic lining to prevent leachate from leaving, a cap to prevent water from entering, and pipes to collect leaking leachate. Recreational activities often built over sanitary landfills. Is usually isolated from large groups of people and can explode. Releases methane from no access to oxygen. Methane can be collected to create heat

67
Q

What goes inside a sanitary landfill?

A

Anything that is hard to recycle and is not organic to prevent methane and anaerobic respiration from taking place

68
Q

Hazardous waste

A

waste that is toxic to life. Can include pesticides, cleaners, batteries. Is hard and expensive to dispose

69
Q

Ignitability

A

how easy hazardous waste can catch on fire

70
Q

Toxicity

A

how fatal the chemical components are

71
Q

Reactivity

A

the stableness of the waste, whether it reacts or not easily and can explode

72
Q

Corrosivity

A

causing objects to degrade

73
Q

Superfund Act

A

provides funds to clean sites where there is the most hazardous waste

74
Q

National Priorities List

A

list of superfund cleanup sites that are eligible for funds