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biological oxygen demand (BOD)
the amount of oxygen needed by microorganisms to decompose biological wastes into carbon dioxide, water, and minerals
composting
partially decomposing organic plant and animal matter to be used as a soil conditioner or fertilizer
dead zones
a location within a body of water that does not have enough dissolved oxygen to sustain life
dose responsive curve
plot of data showing the effects of various doses of a toxic agent on a group of test organisms
effluent
treated waste water, flowing from a lagoon, tank, treatment process, or treatment plant
endemic
term used to describe a species that is found in only one area; usually vulnerable to extinction
endocrine disruptors
man-made or naturally occurring chemicals that affect the hormones within an organism
dissolved oxygen
the amount of oxygen that is present in water
eutrophication
physical, chemical, and biological changes that take place after a lake, estuary, or slow-flowing stream receives inputs of plant nutrients (nitrates + phosphates) from natural erosion and runoff from the surrounding land basin
industrial solid waste
solid waster produced by mines, factories, refineries, food growers, and businesses that supply people with goods and services
methylmercury
any various toxic compounds of mercury containing the complex CH3Hg
municipal solid waste
solid materials discarded by homes and businesses in or near urban areas
non-point sources
broad and diffuse areas, rather than points, from which pollutants enter bodies of surface water or air (runoff from cropland, CAFOs, or parking lots)
oligotrophic
lake with a low supply of plant nutrients
oxygen sag curve
graphically represents the changes in dissolved oxygen levels in a body of water, typically a river or stream, following the addition of organic pollutants
pathogens
living organisms that can cause disease in other organisms (bacteria, virus, parasites)
persistent organic pollutants
a group of toxic chemicals that can remain in the environment for long periods of time and travel long distances through the air and water
point sources
single identifiable sources that discharge pollutants into the environment (smokestack, drainpipe, chimney, car)
primary sewage treatment
mechanical sewage treatment in which larger solids are filtered out by screens and suspended solids settle out as sludge in a sedimentation tank
range of tolerance
range of chemical and physical conditions that must be maintained for populations of a particular species to stay alive and grow, develop, and function normally
refuse
to refrain from buying or using a good or service in order to reduce one’s ecological impact and to save money
sanitary landfill
waste disposal site on land in which waste is spread in thin layers, compacted, and covered with a fresh layer of clay or plastic foam each day
secondary sewage treatment
second step in most waste treatment systems in which aerobic bacteria decompose as much as 90% of degradable, oxygen-demanding organic wastes in wastewater
septic tank
underground tank for treating wastewater from a home in rural and suburban areas. bacteria in the tank decompose organic wastes, and the sludge settles to the bottom of the tank. the effluent flows out of the tank into the ground through a field of drainpipes
tertiary sewage treatment
the final step in the sewage treatment process. involves the use of physical, chemical, or biological processes to remove remaining pollutants and pathogens from the wastewater (filtration, disinfection, nutrient removal)
thermal pollution
the increase in the temperature of a body of water, which can have a variety of negative effects on the ecosystem
toxic waste
form of hazardous waste that causes death or serious injury (burns, respiratory diseases, cancer, mutation)
waste management
managing wastes to reduce their environmental harm without seriously trying to reduce the amount of waste produced
waste to energy incineration
process of burning waste materials to reduce their volume and mass and sometimes to generate electricity or heat