APES Unit 8

Point Source

Pollution that enters the environment from a single source and is clearly identified, such as wastewater treatment plants or oil refineries.

Non-Point Source

Pollution that cannot be traced back to a single point, coming from multiple sources over a wide area, like excess chemicals from agricultural and residential areas.

Endocrine Disruptors

Chemicals that interfere with hormone production or function in the endocrine system, leading to reproductive abnormalities or birth defects.

Wetlands

Ecosystems with water covering or near the soil, providing filtration, flood control, and habitat, impacted by human activities like overfishing and development.

Eutrophication

Excess nutrient influx into waterways leading to algal blooms, low oxygen levels, and dead zones, affecting aquatic organisms and ecosystems.

Thermal Pollution

Heating water discharged into bodies of water, impacting dissolved oxygen levels, feeding habits, and habitats of aquatic organisms.

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

Synthetic, nonpolar chemicals like DDT and PCBs that accumulate in fatty tissues, contaminate water and soil, and are regulated by various environmental acts.

Bioaccumulation

Gradual accumulation of substances in organisms' fatty tissues, such as DDT or PCBs, leading to health issues and impacts on food chains.

Biomagnification

Increase in contaminated substances up the food chain, affecting apex predators like birds and humans, causing health issues and developmental deformities.

Leachate

Liquid that forms as water trickles through contaminated areas, picking up pollutants along the way

Methane (CH4)

Gas produced during anaerobic decomposition of organic matter, such as in landfills

Incineration

Process of burning solid waste at high temperatures

Clean Air Act

Legislation aimed at reducing air pollution and improving air quality

Landfill

Site for the disposal of waste materials by burying them

Bioaccumulation

Accumulation of substances, such as toxins, in living organisms

E-Waste

Electronic waste containing hazardous materials like lead and mercury

Recycling

Process of converting waste materials into reusable objects to reduce waste

Composting

Decomposition of organic waste to produce nutrient-rich soil

Waste to Energy Plant

Facility that converts waste into energy through incineration

LD50 (Lethal Dose 50%)

Amount of a substance that is lethal to 50% of a population of animals

Dose Response Curve

Graph showing the effects of a toxin or drug on a population

Pathogens

Microorganisms that can cause disease in humans and animals

Vector

Organism that can transmit diseases between humans, animals, and the environment

Pathogen Spillover

Transmission of a disease from animals to humans