Water pollution Flashcards
Define Water Pollution
Caused by any type of pollutant that contaminates seas, rivers, or lakes.
Oil
Enter the environment by spills from tankers, pipes and rigs
Effects of Oil
Effects
May prevent oxygen and light from entering the water column and may kill marine life indirectly
Kill life indirectly through preventing flying, thermoregulation, feeding and breathing.
The toxins may enter the body and cause health issues and may clog the respiratory system of fish.
How to control Oil
Control
Care must be taken during operations. Issues must be dealt with urgency.
Legislation must exist to reduce causes of spills and to introduce consequences.
Spills should be localized with the best available technology e.g. booms, sometimes chemical detergents.
Hot water
The discharge from power stations and factories may be released into the surrounding water while still hot.
Effects of hot water
Death of Sensitive Organisms: Temperature fluctuations can lead to the death of sensitive animals, such as coral, that are highly susceptible to changes in their environment.
Migration of Species: Some organisms may choose to migrate in response to temperature changes. They move to more suitable habitats that offer favorable conditions for survival.
Breakdown of Food Chain: Temperature changes can disrupt the balance of ecosystems and result in the breakdown of the food chain. Some organisms may die off while others flourish, leading to imbalances in predator-prey relationships.
Impact on Coral Reefs: Coral reefs, which are sensitive to temperature changes, can suffer bleaching and death due to increased water temperatures. This can have cascading effects on the entire coral reef ecosystem.
Altered Species Interactions: Changes in temperature can influence the behavior and interactions between species. For example, shifts in temperature may affect predator-prey relationships, as predators may struggle to adapt to changing prey distributions.
Control of hot water
Water should be cooled before being released into the environment
Heat can be used to heat homes or power homes
Organic Waste
This results from untreated sewage from ships, houses and farms being released into the water way.
Define Mineral salts
found in detergents, fertilisers in sewage and water from domestic and agricultural sources.
Effects of Mineral of Salts
Effect
Eutrophication leading to death of organisms and poor habitat.
How to control mineral salts
Control:
Use detergents which contain minimal amount of these substances.
Use fertilisers in controlled amounts to reduce leaching
