Water Pollution W6

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Description and Tags

Non-marine + marine sewage consequences, biomonitoring

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23 Terms

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Types of coastal pollution

  • microorganisms

  • oxygen-depleting substances

  • metals (boats, industrial sources)

  • hydrocarbons

  • nutrients

  • thermal

  • alien invasive species

  • litter + rubbish

  • noise

  • light

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point source nutrient pollution

  • domestic sewage effluent

  • industrial discharges incl. detergents

  • shipping discharges of sewage + wastewater

  • fish farms (faecal waste from fish + uneaten fish feed)

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diffuse source nutrient pollution

  • agricultural runoff

  • natural background inputs (rocks weathering, soil leaching, decaying OM)

  • atmospheric nitrogen oxides

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Algal Blooms (HABs)

  • increased nutrient concentrations

  • blooms of phytoplankton + other algae produce oxygen in surface waters, then phytoplankton die + sink to seabed

  • decomposition of phytoplankton uses up more oxygen

  • anoxia in bottom layers

—> makes shellfish unfit for human consumption

—> cause losses in stock through anoxia/asphyxiation

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Antarctica

  • coliform distributions around research station

  • sources: local vertebrate populations, human sewage

  • highlighted persistence of sewage pollution + dispersal motoring needs around sewage outflow

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E.coli in Devon (2000)

4 cases of poisoning in resort on same day

girl of 8 yrs died

caused by CSO discharges 2km from beach

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benefits of recycling sludge to land

  • fertiliser - agronomically useful quantities of nutrients

  • increases soil quality

  • cheaper than mineral fertiliser

  • most environmentally sustainable method of disposal

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drawbacks of recycling sludge to land

  • unsure how much microplastics could be transferred to soil

  • diffuse nutrient pollution (fertiliser can lead to excess phosphorus)

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Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO)

Transport domestic, industrial, + surface runoff wastewater.

Happens when heavy, prolonged rainfall causes exceedence of system capacity + act as emergency relief system to prevent flooding + backlogs.

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CSO regulations

  • discharge consents required

  • consent regards excess rainfall/snowmelt

  • operation + performance monitored as part of EIP

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sewage fungus

mass of filamentous bacteria growing in response to organic inputs (sewage), causes oxygen concentrations in water to drop rapidly

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General Quality Assessment (GQA)

Old method of measuring water quality by looking at chemistry, biology, and nutrients. Samples of water taken on monthly basis at intervals 5-8km.

chemical: DO, BOD, ammonia

biological: macro invertebrates

nutrient: nitrates, phosphates, Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ)

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Metals properties

  • good conductors of heat + electricity

  • malleable + ductile

  • 16 metals occur in nature in elemental form e.g., gold, silver

  • non-biodegradable

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slightly elevated metals in natural waters cause:

  • histological or morphological changes in tissue

  • changes in physiology

  • changes in circulation

  • changes in biochemistry

  • changes in behaviour

  • changes in reproduction

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tradition water quality indicators

  • dissolved oxygen

  • pH

  • temperature

  • salinity

  • nutrients e.g., nitrogen, phosphorous

  • toxicants, insecticides, herbicides, + metals

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habitat indicators

riparian :

  • width,

  • continuity

  • extent of shading

  • species composition

in stream:

  • measures extent of scouring + bank erosion

  • presence of woody debris e,g., fallen trees

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biological indicators

freshwater

  • macro invertebrates

  • benthic algae growth

  • fish diversity

estuaries

  • less developed

  • chlorophyll

coastal embayments

  • seagrass condition

  • condition of fringing coral reefs

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indicator species

May delineate an ecoregion or indicate an env condition.

can be among most sensitive species in a region + act as early warning.

<p>May delineate an ecoregion or indicate an env condition. </p><p>can be among most sensitive species in a region + act as early warning.</p>
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Biomonitors

contain relevant info on the quantitative aspects of the quality of an environment

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active bio monitoring

when biomonitors bred in labs are exposed in a standardised form in the field for a define period of time

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passive bio monitoring

when organisms already occurring naturally in ecosystem are examined for their actions

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advantages of bio monitoring

  • indicator organisms act as sensitive early warning system

  • provide direct method of studying effects of pollutants in living organisms

  • possible to study relationship between concentration of pollutants + effects when both measured at same rate

  • can determine species and temporal trends in occurrence and intensity of effects of several pollutants in natural env

  • doesn’t depend on electricity for operation

  • no expensive equipment

  • can be done in remote areas

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disadvantages of bio monitoring

  • not useful for assessing exposure to substances that exhibit toxic effects at site of first contact where substances are poorly absorbed

  • only useful where relationship between waterborne concentrations, internal does and adverse effects is known for specific chemicals

  • major limitation is lack of detailed info on fate of industrial chemicals

  • most toxicokinetic data available of animal studies extrapolated to humans

  • indicator organisms spread over a wide geographical area can cause data interpretation complexities + problems