Apes

Point source pollution

A singular, identifiable source of a pollutant, such as a smokestack or waste discharge pipe.

Nonpoint source pollution

Pollution that comes from multiple, diffused sources, making it difficult to identify, such as urban runoff or pesticide spraying.

LD50 (Lethal Dose 50%)

The dose of a chemical that is lethal to 50% of the population of a particular species.

Photochemical smog

Air pollution formed by the reaction of sunlight with nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, often found in urban areas.

Endocrine disruptors

Chemicals that can interfere with the endocrine system, potentially leading to birth defects and developmental disorders.

Eutrophication

An increase in nutrients in aquatic ecosystems, often leading to algal blooms and oxygen depletion.

Biomagnification

The increasing concentration of toxic substances in organisms as one moves up the food chain.

Thermal inversion

A meteorological phenomenon where a layer of warmer air traps pollutants close to the ground, worsening air quality.

Acid deposition

Deposited acidic substances, such as acid rain, resulting from nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides emissions.

Greenhouse gases

Gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide that trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to global warming.

Ocean acidification

The decrease in pH of ocean waters due to increased carbon dioxide absorption, negatively impacting marine life.

Great Pacific Garbage Patch

A vast area of the North Pacific Ocean where a large concentration of plastic and other debris accumulates.

Kilowatt Hour (kWh)

A unit of energy equivalent to one kilowatt of power used for one hour.

Noise pollution

Harmful or annoying levels of noise that can cause physiological stress or hearing loss.

Coral bleaching

The loss of color in corals due to the expulsion of symbiotic algae, often caused by stress factors such as ocean warming.

Minamata disease

A neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning, highlighted by the pollution of Minamata Bay.

Three Gorges Dam

The world's largest dam, built on the Yangtze River in China, for hydroelectric power and flood control.

Sanitary landfill

A site for the disposal of waste where contamination of the air, water, and soil is minimized.

Geothermal energy

Energy generated from the heat stored beneath the Earth's surface, utilized for electricity and heating.