APES Unit 8

point source

Pollutant that is easily identified and in a confined place

You can point to it

nonpoint source

Pollutants entering the environment from many places at once

Difficult to “point” to one individual source

point source examples

• Animal waste runoff from a CAFO

• Emissions from smokestack

• Oil Spill

nonpoint source examples

• Urban runoff (motor oil, nitrate fertilizer, road salt, sediment)

• Pesticides sprayed on fields; carried by wind and washed off large agricultural regions into bodies of water

range of tolerance components and physiological effects

abiotic conditions:

• pH

• temperature

• salinity (saltiness)

• sunlight

• nutrient levels (ammonia, phosphate)

physiological stress that pollutants cause

• Limited growth

• Limited reproductive function

• Difficulty respiring → potentially asphyxiation (suffocation)

• Hormonal disruption

• Death

environmental effects of acid rain

pH tolerance

• As pH decreases (more acidic) outside optimal range for a species, pop. declines

indicator species

can be surveyed and used to determine conditions of an ecosystem

coral reef and photosynthetic algae relationship

mutualistic

what does algae supply

sugar and pigment

what does coral reef supply

CO₂ and organic matter

what happens to coral reef and algae when temperatures rise? what are the effects for the coral? what is something else that forces algae away from coal?

algae has a narrow temperature tolerance and leaves the coral when temp rises, so coral loses color and looks bleached → stressed and vulnerable to disease w/out algae (main food source)

pollutants from runoff (sediment, pesticides, sunscreen) can force algae away from coral

Human impacts on coral reef

• greenhouse gas emissions

  • bleaching coral

• overfishing

  • decrease fish populations

• bottom trawling

  • break reef structure

  • stir up sediments

• sediment pollution

  • reduces sunlight

• toxicants

  • oil from roadways

  • pesticides from ag. runoff

• nutrients

  • ammonia from animal waste

  • nitrates/phosphates from fertilizers

oil spill effects

• toxic to marine organisms, especially if they eat/absorb oil

  • decreased visibility

  • decreased photosynthesis

  • oil sticking to bird feathers

  • oil sinking to bottom and killing bottom-dwellers

    • direct toxicity or suffocation

• decrease fish revenue

  • hurt restaurants that serve fish

• decrease tourism revenue

  • isn’t aesthetically pleasing

oil spill clean up

• try to contain oil spill

• vacuum

• physical removal of oil from beach sand and rocks with towels, soaps, shovels

• get it to sink to the bottom

• burn oil off the surface

Describe two effects that an oil spill can have on marine organisms

Sinks to bottom and kills bottom-dwellers (toxicity or suffocation)

Decreases photosynthesis due to less sunlight

Identify specific pollutants that disrupts coral reef ecosystems

Phosphate and nitrogen from agricultural or land fertilizers can damage coral reef system

Endocrine Disruptors

Chemicals that interfere with the endocrine (hormonal) systems of animals by blocking or mimicking the hormone via cellular receptors

• can amplify or block hormone’s effects

Atrazine (endocrine disruptor)

herbicide used to control weeds & prevent crop loss

• Applied to ag. fields → runs off into local surface or groundwater or carried by wind

• Can contaminate human well-water

DDT (endocrine disruptor)

insecticide (phased out → still persists in env.)

• Applied to ag. fields, runs off into local surface or groundwater or is carried by wind

Phthalates (endocrine disruptor)

compounds used in plastic and cosmetic manufacturing → skin absorbs chemicals

what are 3 endocrine disruptors that are heavy metals?

lead, arsenic, and mercury

Lead source, effects, and mitigation

source: old paint in homes, old water pipes, soil contaminated by PM from vehicle gas

effects: neurotoxicant, endocrine disruptor

mitigation: water filters

Coal ash

source of mercury, lead, and arsenic

• carried by wind and deposited in ecosystems far away w/ PM

• can leach into groundwater and nearby surface waters

• can be caused by ash left behind from campfire

what are non lethal effects that endocrine disruptors can have

altered reproductive development and reduced fertility

toxic form of mercury

methylmercury → fat-soluble

teratogen

any substance, agent, or process that harms a pregnant woman’s baby

• birth defects

wetlands

an area with soil submerged in water, but shallow enough for emergent plants

they’re adapted to living with roots submerged in standing water

ecosystem services to wetlands

• provisioning → habitat for animals

• regulating → CO2 sequestration

• supporting → habitat for pollinators

• cultural → tourism revenue

threats to wetlands (5)

1. pollutants

2. development (can’t be filled in)

3. overfishing

4. dam construction

5. water diversion

solutions to wetland pollutants

• stop nutrients from flowing off land into water

• cover crops

• animal manure management

mangroves

salt-tolerant trees and shrubs that thrive in coastal intertidal zones, meaning they can survive in the salty, wet conditions of areas regularly flooded by tides.

benefits to mangroves

• source of wood

• climate regulation

• water filtration

• tourism

• fisheries

Eutrophication

build up of nutrients in a body of water naturally over time → fuels algae growth

Cultural eutrophication

speeds up eutrophication process by anthropogenic sources

• nutrient pollution

oligotrophic

low nutrients, clear water, stable algae pop, high dissolved oxygen

eutrophic

true food, lots of nutrients, lots of life (plants/animals)

dead zones

no life can live here

dissolved oxygen

causes a dead zone

• required for respiration

• as it decreases, fewer species survive

Solubility

the ability of a solid/liquid/gas to dissolve into a liquid

ex: oxygen dissolving in water

water temp and oxygen solubility has an ___ relationship

inverse

as water temp goes up, oxygen is less soluble

as water temp goes down, oxygen is more soluble

thermal pollution and effects

when heat released into water has negative effects on organisms living in the water

• increased respiration rate of aquatic organisms (thermal shock)

• Hot water = less O2

Sources of thermal pollution

• power plants

• manufacturing plants

• urban stormwater runoff

• nuclear power plants

cooling towers

used to cool steam back into water & to hold warm water before returning to local surface water

POPS

persistent organic pollutants

organic = carbon-based

• can travel long distances through wind & water and impact ecosystems far away

• long-term

• fat-soluble → don’t pass through the body

• Can be slowly released from fatty tissue into blood stream and impact brain & other organs

examples of POPs

• DDT (outdated insecticide)

• PCBs (plastic/paint additive)

• PBDEs (fire-proofing)

• BPA (plastic additive)

• Dioxins (fertilizer production & combustion of waste and biomass)

• Phthalates (Plastics)

• Perchlorates

DDT

insecticide that eliminated mosquitos

• persists in soils & sediments in aq. ecosystems and builds up in food webs

• harms organisms

• can last for decades

bioaccumulation

Absorption of POPs (fat-soluble compounds) in the cells & fat tissues of organisms

• don’t dissolve easily in water

• the more time, the more bioaccumulation

• long term effect on organism

Biomagnification

Increasing concentrations of fat-soluble compounds in each level up the trophic pyramid

• starts off in small concentrations, then increases from there

• long term effect on organism

biomagnification timeline

Primary consumers eat POPs by eating producers →

Secondary consumers eat primary consumers and take in the POPs in their tissues →

10% rule: organisms at top trophics level need to eat more biomass to receive enough energy, →

leads to higher and higher POP levels over their lifetimes

• top of the food chain has highest POP/methylmercury levels

mercury source and effects

source: burning coal and volcano emissions →

• carried by wind and deposited into water where it converts to methylmercury

effects:

• neurotoxicant (especially to large predators)

• disrupts reproductive system

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)

Solid waste from cities (households, businesses, schools, etc.)

ex: trash, litter, garbage, refuse

E-waste

old computers, TVs, phones, tablets

hazardous waste due to metals like cadmium, lead, mercury, and PBDEs (fireproof chemicals)

leaches endocrine disrupting chemicals & toxic metals in landfills and contaminate groundwater

can be recycled to make new electronics or sold to developing countries

sanitary landfills and layers of materials

area where trash is dumped

clay/plastic bottom liner prevents pollutants from leaking out into groundwater

Leachate Collection System (tubes/pipes) at the bottom to collect leachate for treatment & disposal

Methane Recovery System (tubes/pipes) collect methane produced by anaerobic decomposition in the landfill

Clay Cap (clay-soil mixture) used to cover the landfill once it’s full; keeps out animals, keeps in smell, and allows vegetation to regrow

leachate

water draining through waste & carrying pollutants

Landfill decomposition

Landfills have low rates of decomposition due to low O2, moisture, and organic material combination

things that can’t be put into landfill

• Hazardous waste (antifreeze, motor oil, cleaners, electronics, car batteries)

• Metals (copper & aluminum) → recycle

• Old tires

things that should be put in landfill

• Cardboard/food wrappers that have too much food residue & can’t be recycled

• Rubber, plastic films/wraps

• Styrofoam

  Food, yard waste, and paper can but should be recycled or composted

landfill issues

• environmental impacts

  • groundwater can be contaminated

  • GHGs are released from decomposition → global warming & climate change

• not in my backyard

  • sight, smell

  • attracts animals

  • landfills end up being placed in low-income communities

waste incineration

waste can be burned to reduce landfill’s volume and generate electricity

• can release pollutants

• can include toxic metals and hazardous waste that people weren’t supposed to throw away

ocean dumping

• Plastic collects into large floating garbage patches in the ocean

• Can suffocate/starve animals if they eat it or entangle them so they can’t fly or swim

reduce

Reducing consumption is the most sustainable because it decreases natural resources harvesting and the energy inputs to creating, packaging, and shipping goods

reuse

next most sustainable b/c it doesn’t require additional energy to create a product

ex: washing takeout box and reusing it

recycle

processing and converting solid waste material into new products

• least sustainable

• needs energy to process and convert land material

pros and cons of recycling

• Reduces demand for new materials

• Reduces energy required to ship raw materials and produce new products → less FF comb and CC

• Reduces landfill volume & need for more landfills

• costly

• requires energy

• need to process, sort, and sell collected materials; prices change rapidly → recycled materials often being thrown away

composting and it’s pros and cons

Organic matter (food scraps, paper, yard waste) being decomposed under controlled conditions

• reduces landfill volume and enhances water-holding capacity and nutrient levels

• reduces the amount of methane released by anaerobic decomposition of organic matter in landfills

• foul smell

• pests can be attracted

waste to energy

waste can be burned to reduce volume and generate electricity

• easily combusts at high temp

• reduces landfill volume

• produces electricity w/out fracking or mining FFs

primary treatment (for water treatment process)

physical removal of large debris (TP, leaves, plastic, sediment) with a screen or grate

1st step in water treatment process

secondary treatment

biological breakdown of organic matter (feces) by bacteria; aerobic process

2nd step in water treatment process

tertiary treatment

ecological or chemical treatments to reduce pollutants left (N, P,  bacteria)

• prevents algae blooms

• uses chemical filters

• expensive, not always used

• cleans up effluent

disinfectant (for water treatment process)

UV light, ozone, or chlorine is used to kill bacteria or other pathogens, like e. coli

• considered part of tertiary treatment

Effluent

liquid waste (sewage) released into surface water

• causes algae blooms

Sludge

inorganic, solid waste that collects at the bottom of tanks in primary and secondary treatment

• Dry, remaining physical waste is collected to be put in landfill, burned, or turned into fertilizer pellets 

sewage treatment issues

• can flood during heavy rains, releasing raw sewage into surface waters

• causes overflow during heavy rain

• treats stormwater runoff

• has elevated N/P levels and endocrine disruptors (medications passed through the body → sewage)

independent variable

concentration of the chemical (added to food, water, or air)

dependent variable

response measured in org. (usually death or impairment)

LD₅₀

the dose or concentration of the chemical that kills (lethal) 50% of the population being studied

dose response curve

The data from a dose-response study, graphed with percent mortality or other effect on the y-axis and dose concentration of chemicals on the x-axis

• S shape

• low mortality at low doses, rapid increase in mortality as dose increases, level off near 100% mortality at high dosage

(toxicity) threshold

The lowest dose where an effect (death, paralysis, cancer) starts to occur

ED₅₀ (effective dose)

the dose concentration of a toxin or chemical that causes a non-lethal effect (infertility, paralysis, cancer, etc.) in 50% of the population being tested

acute studies

studying the short-term effects of dose-response

chronic studies

studying the long-term effects of dose-response

what animals are dose-response studies done on?

mammals other than humans, like rats or mice

routes of exposure for lead

water pipes & paint chips

routes of exposure for mercury

seafood (tuna)

• coal fell into water → absorbed into seafood through food chain

routes of exposure for CO (carbon monoxide)

indoor biomass combustion

routes of exposure of PM

pollen, dust, etc.

routes of exposure for arsenic

rice, groundwater

• found in rocks → leaches into groundwater → flood rice fields with groundwater

Synergism

The interaction of two or more substances to cause an effect greater than each of them individually

• makes it hard to pinpoint the effects of one pollutant

• effect is multiplied

example:

• effects of asthma + covid 19 → lung damage

• asbestos + smoking → lung damage

Dysentery

Bacterial infection caused by food or water being contaminated with feces

• often from sewage released into rivers & streams used for drinking water → need proper wastewater treatment

• results in severe dehydration due to diarrhea

• kills people mainly in developing countries

• can be treated by antibiotics

mitigation: hydration, example: pedialyte

Mesothelioma (asbestos)

a type of cancerous tumor caused by exposure to asbestos

• affects the lining of the respiratory tract, heart, or abdominal cavity

• lung cancer

asbestos exposure and removal

• old insulation materials causes lung cancer

• removal needs to be done by professionals → $

tropospheric ozone (O₃) and source & effects

worsens respiratory conditions in troposphere

• limits lung function

• irritates respiratory tract → restriction of airways & shortness of breath

source: combustion

pathogen

A living organism (virus, bacteria, fungus, protist, worm) that causes an infectious disease

• adapt and evolve to take advantage of humans as hosts for their reproduction and spread

• anything that causes a disease

infectious vs. noninfectious disease

infectious: can be spead or transmitted

noninfectious: cannot be spread or transmitted

vectors

living organism (rat, mosquito) that carry and transmit infectious pathogens to other organisms

• carries the thing that causes diseases

developing nations leading cause of death

infectious disease

• less sanitary waste disposal

• lack of access to healthcare

• lack of treatment to drinking water

developed nations leading cause of death

noninfectious disease

Tuberculosis (TB)

• definition

• how it’s transmitted

• symptoms

Bacterial (pathogen) infection that targets the lungs

• transmitted by breathing bacteria from body fluids

• symptoms: night sweats, fever, coughing blood → powerful antibiotics in developed countries

malaria

parasitic protist (pathogen) infection caused by bite from infected mosquitoes (vector)

• mitigation: bug spray, don’t have standing water, add chemicals to water, quarentine

west nile

Virus (pathogen) infection caused by bite from infected mosquitoes (vector)

• birds are main host, can be transported by mosquitos

• causes brain damage, fatal