APES study guide unit 8

What is point pollution vs non-point pollution

point pollution- pollution that comes from a single, identifiable source, such as a factory or wastewater treatment plant. (you can point to the source)

Non-point pollution- originates from multiple diffuse sources, like agricultural runoff and urban stormwater.

what is an endocrine disruptor

anything that messes with an animals/ humans hormones

what are the benefits of wetlands

water purification, flood control, carbon storage, and habitat for diverse wildlife.

benefits of margrove forests

coastal protection, habitat for biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and shoreline stabilization.

what two main elements cause eutrophication

nitrogen and phosphorus

What is eutrophication

water becomes enriched with nutrients, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus, leading to excessive growth of algae and decreased oxygen levels.

what happens to oxygen levels in warm water

Oxygen decreases

what happens to water near power plants

Water temperatures may rise due to heated discharges, leading to thermal pollution which affects aquatic ecosystems.

What are persistent organic pollutants (POPs)

Chemicals that persist in the environment, accumulate in living organisms, and can cause harmful effects on health.

Why are we concerned with eating to much tuna and swordfish

These fish can accumulate high levels of mercury and other heavy metals due to their position in the food chain

what is biomagnification

The process by which the concentration of toxic substances increases in organisms at each successive level of the food chain.

why do landfills need methane recovery systems

to capture methane released from anaerobic decomposition (no O2 is present)

What is the biggest concern with landfills

Making sure the bottom liner is secure so that pollutants don’t leak into the ground

What is the downfall of burning waste

increases air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

what are the 3 Rs in order of most efficient

Reduce, reuse, recycle.

What can a government do to encourage recycling

Implement incentives like tax breaks, provide public education campaigns, and establish convenient recycling programs.

What are the steps of sewage treatment and their description

Primary treatment (filter out solids)

Secondary treatment (breakdown of feces by bacteria and oxygen)

Tertiary treatment (add chemicals to kill other pollutants)

Disinfectant (UV or chlorine to kill bacteria or other pathogens)  

the lower the LD50 is…

the more toxic something is

What is LD50

A measure of a substance's toxicity, specifically the lethal dose required to kill 50% of a test population.

how to find LD50 on a graph

find 50% mortality mark on the y-axis and find the corresponding does on the x-axis

what happens to humans if they are exposed to sewage water that hasn’t been treated

E. coli and other pathogens can cause serious illnesses.

What happens if we breathe in Ozone

Ozone can cause respiratory problems, aggravate asthma, and decrease lung function.

what pathogen is spread through contaminated food/water

A pathogen such as Salmonella or Cholera.

What pathogen is transmitted by mosquitoes and is an issue for sub-Saharan Africa

Malaria

What pathogen is spread through coughing, talking, sneezing, and is highly contagious

common cold, flu, and COVID-19