Unit 8 - Envi Sci (Water and Water Pollution)

Bioaccumulation

The accumulation of a persistent organic pollutant, in various tissues of a living organism.

Biomagnification

The increase in chemical concentration in animal tissues as the chemical moves up the food chain

Primary Treatment

first step of sewage treatment; eliminates most particulate material from raw sewage using grates, screens, and gravity (settling).

Secondary treatment

Treating wastewater biologically, by using microorganisms to decompose the suspended organic material;

tertiary treatment

Ecological and chemical treatments to reduce waste (advanced)

Disinfectant

UV light, ozone, cholorine that kills harmful bacteria or viruses

effulent

liquid waste or sewage discharged into a river or the sea.

temperature increase in ocean

oxygen decrease

• migration & death From thermal shock

Clean Water Act

make all surface bodys of water fishable, swimmable and drinkable requires a Permit from any entity dumping wastes in surface waters & request disclosures of what is being dumped → only targets Point sources

sanitary landfill

A place to deposit solid waste, where a layer of earth is bulldozed over garbage each day to reduce emissions of gases and odors from the decaying trash, to minimize fires, and to discourage vermin.

waste to energy

A system in which heat generated by incineration is used as an energy source rather than released into the atmosphere

nonpoint sources

pollution that originates from a large, diffuse area (urban runoff)

Dependent Variable (DV)

The variable that is measured by the researcher. Any result/change on the DV should be caused by the change in the IV. the EFFECT

Independent Variable (IV)

The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied. the CAUSE

POPs

Persistent organic pollutants. Chemical compounds that can transported by wind air and water persist in the environment and body for a long time.