Water Pollution Flashcards

Flashcards about Water Pollution

What are the three types of aquatic pollutants?

Organic material, Inorganic nutrients (nitrates and phosphates), and Industrial effluent

What is the effect of excessive organic matter from untreated human sewage, animal waste, or decaying plant material on water bodies?

Leads to oxygen depletion, harmful algal blooms and eutrophication

What are the effects of excess nitrates and phosphates from agricultural runoff, sewage, and fertilizers?

Causes nutrient enrichment, leading to algal overgrowth and water quality degradation

What are the potential effects of industrial effluent discharged by industrial facilities on aquatic life and ecosystems?

Can be toxic to aquatic life, disrupt ecosystems, and contaminate drinking water

How can high concentrations of suspended solids impact aquatic ecosystems?

Impair water clarity, clog fish gills, smother benthic habitats, and impact aquatic organisms

What are the potential impacts of releasing heated water into aquatic systems?

Disrupts aquatic ecosystems, reduces oxygen levels, and negatively impacts fish and other organisms

What are the effects of oil spills, leaks, or discharges on marine and freshwater ecosystems?

Oil coats the water surface, affecting marine and freshwater ecosystems, harming aquatic life such as seabirds and leading to long-term environmental damage

What are the impacts of urban runoff on water quality and aquatic life?

Degrades water quality, harming aquatic life, promoting algae blooms, and contaminating drinking water sources

How does solid waste disposal contaminate water sources and harm aquatic life?

Rain falling on land fills leaches contaminants into soil and groundwater, whilst litter can end up in waterways, entangling wildlife and releasing harmful chemicals into the water

What are the potential effects of heavy metals, such as mercury, lead, and arsenic, on aquatic organisms and human health?

Metals accumulate in aquatic organisms, leading to toxic effects and posing risks to human health

What are the potential impacts of synthetic compounds, including pesticides, herbicides, pharmaceuticals, and industrial pollutants, on aquatic life and human health?

Potentially harming aquatic life and human health

How can disruptions caused by noise from human activities affect marine species?

Disrupt communication, feeding, and migration patterns of marine species

What are the potential consequences of radioactive pollution on ecological and human health?

Severe ecological and human health impacts, with prolonged exposure potentially leading to genetic mutations and cancer

What are the ecological imbalances caused by the introduction of invasive species into aquatic ecosystems?

Outcompete native species, alter habitat structure, disrupt food webs and cause severe ecological imbalances

What are the impacts from pathogens on water sources?

Contaminate water sources, leading to waterborne diseases and posing risks to human and animal health

What is the impact of excessive artificial lighting, particularly in coastal areas, on marine organisms?

Disrupts natural light cycles, affecting nocturnal marine species and disrupting reproduction, navigation and feeding patterns of marine organisms

Define plastic pollution.

The accumulation of plastic products in the environment, negatively affecting wildlife, habitat, and humans.

Why is plastic debris a significant issue in marine environments?

It accumulates and causes various problems, harming wildlife and degrading water quality.

How does ingestion of plastic affect marine animals?

It can lead to starvation, malnutrition, and death as animals mistake plastic for food.

What is the impact of animals becoming entangled in plastic waste?

It causes injury or death, such as seals getting caught in discarded fishing gear.

How can plastics contribute to the spread of invasive species?

Plastics can transport invasive species to new areas, disrupting local ecosystems as barnacles and other small crustaceans can hitch rides on floating plastic debris.

What is the result of plastics releasing toxic additives like bisphenol A (BPA) into the water?

BPA can leach into water and has been shown to interfere with the reproductive systems of some aquatic species.

What are the human and economic impacts of plastic pollution?

Degrades water quality, affects tourism, and interferes with recreational activities.

How do oceanic gyres contribute to plastic pollution?

Ocean currents transport plastics, which then become trapped in the rotating currents of gyres, forming large patches of debris.

How do microplastics enter the food chain?

Microplastics are ingested by small marine organisms, which are then eaten by larger predators, leading to bioaccumulation and biomagnification.

How can plastics contribute to the transport of toxins in marine environments?

Plastics can absorb harmful chemicals from the environment, and when ingested by marine life, these toxins can enter the food chain, posing health risks to animals and humans.

What are some management strategies for plastic pollution?

Reduction strategies, cleanup efforts, and recycling and waste management.

Give an example of a reduction strategy to manage plastic pollution.

Implementing policies to reduce plastic production and usage and promoting alternatives to plastic, such as biodegradable materials.

Give an example of a cleanup effort to manage plastic pollution.

Organising beach cleanups and developing technologies for ocean cleanups to remove existing plastic pollution.

Define water quality.

The measurement of chemical, physical and biological characteristics of water

List three chemical characteristics of water quality.

Levels of dissolved substances like minerals, pollutants and nutrients

List three physical characteristics of water quality.

Water clarity, temperature and turbidity (cloudiness)

What do the biological characteristics of water quality often include?

The presence of microorganisms (e.g. bacteria) and invasive species

What does a high WQI indicate?

Good water quality

Why are sufficient oxygen levels important for aquatic organisms?

For their survival, low dissolved oxygen can lead to hypoxia, which can sufficate or kill aquatic life

Why is pH important for aquatic ecosystems?

pH impacts the survival, growth and reproduction of aquatic organisms, unusual pH levels can indicate pollution, acidification, or other environmental changes

How does temperature affect aquatic organisms?

Affects the metabolic rates, behaviour and distribution of aquatic organisms

What do nitrates and phosphates assess in water?

Nutrient pollution

What does TSS stand for?

Total Suspended Solids

How can high levels of TSS decrease water quality?

By blocking sunlight, this reduces photosynthesis in aquatic plants and disrupts aquatic food chains

What does turbidity measure?

The clarity or cloudiness of water

How are nitrate and phosphate concentrations measured?

Using test kits, specific to each nutrient involving colorimetric tests

How is TSS measured?

Filtering a known volume of water through a pre-weighed filter paper, then drying and weighing the paper again

How is turbidity measured?

Using a Secchi disc lowered into the water

Define Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD).

A measure of the amount of dissolved oxygen required to break down the organic material in a given volume of water through aerobic biological activity

How is BOD infulenced?

The quantity of aerobic organisms present in the water and the rate at which these organisms respire

List a tolerant species to organic pollution.

Bloodworms and Tubifex worms

List a species found in clean-water environments.

Mayfly nymphs and stonefly larvae

How are BOD values expressed?

In milligrams of oxygen consumed per litre of water (mg/L) or as a percentage of the initial dissolved oxygen level

Define eutrophication.

Occurs when water bodies receive large amounts of mineral nutrients, mainly nitrates and phosphates

What are the main nutrients involved in eutrophication?

Nitrates and phosphates

What are two impacts of eutrophication?

Fish kills and reduced fish stocks

Define hypoxia.

Low oxygen levels in water

Define anoxia.

Severe or complete depletion of oxygen in water

List the three strategies for managing the impacts of pollution?

Changing human activity, Regulating and reducing quantities of pollutants released at the point of emission, and Cleaning up the pollutants and restoring the ecosystem after pollution has occurred

Give an example of management strategies for eutrophication.

Alternatives to fertilizers, phosphate-free detergents, or Crop rotation

Give an example of management strategies to reduce pollution release into the environment.

Wastewater treatment, Regulation and monitoring, Agricultural practices

Give an example of management strategies for removal of pollutants and restoration of ecosystems.

Restock/replant species and extract pollutant

Define thermal pollution.

Occurs when industrial plants or power stations release warm water into rivers or oceans

What are HABs?

Harmful Algal Blooms

What are the main contributors to HABs in freshwater environments?

Cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae)

What are the main contributors to HABs in marine environments?

Dinoflagellates (a type of protist)

What are some causes of hypoxia and anoxia?

Global warming, Sewage disposal, Eutrophication

Why is sewage treatment important?

It prevents pollution, protects public health, and helps conserve water by recycling treated water

What is the purpose of primary treatment in sewage treatment?

Removes large solid materials and some suspended solids

What is the purpose of secondary treatment in sewage treatment?

Breaks down organic matter using biological processes

What is the purpose of tertiary treatment in sewage treatment?

Removes remaining nutrients, chemicals, and pathogens for maximum water quality

Why do low-income countries have limited access to proper sanitation?

Costly; many LICs lack the financial resources to develop this infrastructure

What are indicator species?

Organisms that are used to: Assess the quality of an environment and Indicate the presence of specific environmental conditions, including pollution

Give an example of an invertebrate indicator for unpolluted water.

Stonefly nymphs and Mayfly nymphs

Give an example of a plant indicator for unpolluted water.

Water Crowfoot

Give an example of a plant indicator for polluted water.

The Common Reed and Duckweed

Give an example of an algae indicator for polluted water.

Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)

Define Biotic indices.

Tools used to assess the overall health and pollution levels of an aquatic ecosystem based on the presence, abundance, and diversity of indicator species within a community

Define Water Quality Index (WQI).

A single number representing the overall quality of water in a particular area

What do drinking water standards aim to ensure?

Drinking water is safe, clean, and free from harmful contaminants

List three actions individuals can take to reduce water pollution.

Conserving water, disposing of waste properly, and minimizing use of harsh chemicals