Waste From Human Activity

Question 1

Waste may pollute:

Answer 1

Water, with sewage, fertiliser or toxic chemicals
Air, with smoke and gases such as sulphur dioxide, which contributes to acid rain
Land, with toxic chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides, which may be washed from the land into waterways

Question 2

What do humans reduce land for and how do they do this?

Answer 2

Reduce it for: animals and plants

By: building, quarrying, farming and dumping waste

Question 3

What does a rapid growth in human population and an increase in the standard of living mean?

Answer 3

It means that increasingly more waste is produced. Unless waste is properly handled, more pollution will be caused

Question 4

Advantages of biofuels

Answer 4

Renewable - fast- growing crops, so could replace fossils fuels which are running out
Carbon neutral - as any CO2 given off when burnt was removed from the atmosphere by the plants grown to produce them through photosynthesis
Do not give of harmful gases - such as CO, SO2 and NO2

Question 5

Disadvantages of biofuels

Answer 5

Lots of plants are needed - so lot of articulate all and is required
Plants used for fuel could have been used to feed hungry people (unless we can use waste plant material)

Question 6

Advantages of biogas

Answer 6

Removes the need to burn fossil fuels as a heat source
Can produce a slurry as a byproduct that can be used as a fertiliser
Could be scaled-up to produce electricity for a whole country
The reaction is exothermic, so once started, can work all temps (providing adequate insulation)
Removes waste that could cause pollution

Question 7

Disadvantages of biogas

Answer 7

Currently only used on small- scale for individual home or villages
Could temporarily stop the fermentation procedure without adequate insulation

Question 8

Advantages of farming animals in condition which minimise their energy loss

Answer 8

A large quantity of mean can be provided to meet growing demans
A reduced cost of production, maximises profit

Question 9

Disadvantages of farming animals in condition which minimise their energy loss

Answer 9

Conditions must be monitored constantly to prevent the sprees of diseases in cramped conditions
‘Factory farming’ is becoming less ethically accepted due to the unnatural and restricted living conditions of the animals

Question 10

What are the advantages of mycoprotien production?

Answer 10

Can be grown cheaply using waste sugar syrup from other processes
Doubles in mass every 5hrs so can produce a large, sustainable food source
Very high in protein (similar to beef) and low fat
Suitable for vegetarians