APES Terrestrial and Aquatic Pollution

what is point source pollution?

a single identifiable source of pollution (being able to point to it). ex. cars or a pipe

what is non-point pollution?

comes from multiple and maybe different sources that add together. ex. agriculture

causes of low dissolved oxygen in bodies of water

decomposition of organic matter, excessive algal blooms, temperature increases

effects of low dissolved oxygen in bodies of water

 It can cause fish and other organisms to die, reduce overall biodiversity, and lead to the formation of "dead zones," areas where life cannot be sustained

causes of dead zones

an excess of nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, which can come from various sources like agricultural runoff, industrial discharge, and wastewater

effect of dead zone

harming marine life, disrupting ecosystems, and impacting human activities like fishing and tourism

clean up methods of oil spills

 applying chemicals designed to remove oil from the water surface by breaking the oil into small droplets

how does mercury enter the food chain?

it gets in our atmosphere from burning coal then it gets in the water and the fish get it and then we eat the fish etc.

what is bioaccumulation?

the process where an organism accumulates substances, especially harmful chemicals, in its tissues over time

what is biomagnification

he concentration of toxins in an organism as a result of its ingesting other plants or animals in which the toxins are more widely disbursed

what is the difference between bioaccumulation and biomagnification

Bioaccumulation refers to the buildup of toxins within a single organism over time, while biomagnification is the increasing concentration of those toxins as they move up the food chain

causes of endocrine disruptors

synthetic chemicals in products, pesticides, industrial by-products, and even some natural substances. Exposure can occur through food, water, air, and even through direct contact with certain products

effects of endocrine disruptors

 interfere with the body's natural hormone system, leading to various health problems, including developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune disorders

what makes us lose wetlands?

agricultural expansion, urbanization, and development, along with climate change and natural processes like sea level rise and erosion

effects of losing wetlands

decline in essential ecosystem services, impacting water quality, flood control, biodiversity, and climate change resilience

what was DDT used for?

killing mosquitos

Effects of DDT

it hurt carnivores like us and the bald eagle by making their shells get thinner.

why was DDT so wide spread?

It bioaccumulated in soils and waters

advantages of recycling

we don’t have to mine for new materials and it helps with waste management

disadvantages of recycling

it takes a lot of energy

how can energy be generated from waste?

we burn it which then steams water to spin a turbine

advantages in reducing waste

because if we use less we will generate less waste and use less energy in general

advantages in reusing things

 if we reuse our things we wont have to make more so it gets another “life

what is primary treatment?

remove solid waste with grit chambers

what is secondary treatment?

 break down fecal matter using bacteria

what is step 3 in the water treatment process?

chemical treatment to get rid of the bacteria

alternatives to using chlorine in water sanitation

ozone because it can effectively kills bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms, and also breaks down organic matter, removing color, taste, and odor issues.

methods for disposing of e waste

drop off zones and reusing it

where does our e waste go?

poorer countries because it is one of the cheapest methods