HTH Chapter 21 VOCAB

preserving and protecting your environment

fertility rate

average number of births a female in a certain population has during her reproductive years.

ecological footprint

a measure of the biologically productive land and water area an individual, a population, or an activity occupies and utilizes.

carrying capacity of earth

the largest population that can be supported indefinitely given the resources available in the environment. 

ecosystem

collection of physical nonliving and biological living components of an environment and the relationships between them. 

ocean acidification

a significant decrease in the pH levels of ocean water, caused by increased carbon dioxide absorption from the atmosphere, leading to harmful effects on marine life.

sixth mass extinction

the ongoing extinction event caused by human activities, resulting in a rapid loss of biodiversity and species across the planet.

fossil fuels

carbon-based material used for energy: includes oil, coal, and natural gas. 

pollutant

substance that contaminates some aspect of the environment and causes potential harm to living organisms. 

air pollution

the presence of harmful substances in the air, primarily from human activities like industrial emissions and vehicle exhaust, which adversely affect health and the environment.

anthropagenic

referring to human activities that contribute to environmental change or pollution. include stationary sources, mobile sources, on-road vehicles, and off-road sources. 

smog

brownish haze that is a form of pollution produced by the photochemical reaction of sunlight with hydrocarbons, nitrogen compounds, and other gasses in vehicle exhaust. 

hydrocarbons

organic compounds of hydrogen and carbon.

temperature inversion

whether condition that occurs when a layer of cool air is trapped under a layer of warmer air, preventing the air from circulating.

air quality index (AQI)

a measure of how clean or polluted the air is on a given day and if there are any health concerns related to air quality. 

acid deposition

acidification process that occurs when pollutants are deposited by precipitation, clouds, or directly on the land. 

leach

to dissolve and filter through soil.

asbestos

mineral compound that separates into stringy fibers and lodges in the lungs, where it can cause disease. 

formaldehyde

colorless, strong-smelling gas released through outgassing; causes respiratory and other health problems. 

radon

naturally occurring radioactive gas resulting from the decay of certain radioactive elements. 

environmental tobacco smoke

mixture of smoke from burning tobacco products and exhaled smoke that causes health risks to non-smokers, also commonly known as secondhand smoke. 

mesothelioma

a rare and aggressive cancer primarily caused by asbestos exposure, affecting the lining of the lungs and other organs.

asbestosis

a chronic lung disease caused by inhalation of asbestos fibers, leading to scarring of lung tissue.

lead

highly toxic metal found in emissions from lead smelters and processing plants, also sometimes found in pipes or paint in older buildings. 

sick building syndrome (SBS)

describes a situation in which occupants of a building experience acute health effects linked to time spent there, but no specific illness of cause can be identified. 

molds

fungi that can grow indoors and outdoors, contributing to allergic reactions and respiratory issues in sensitive individuals.

chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

chemicals that contribute to the depletion of the atmospheric ozone layer. 

climate change

a shift in typical weather patterns that includes fluctuations in seasonal temperatures, rain or snowfall amounts, and the occurrence of catastrophic storms. 

global warming

a type of climate change in which average temperatures increase. 

greenhouse gases

gases that accumulate in the atmosphere, where they contribute to global warming by trapping heat near the earth’s surface. 

ozone layer

a region of Earth's stratosphere that contains a high concentration of ozone (O3) and protects the planet from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

montreal protocol

1987 international agreement whereby the US and many other nations agreed to end production of and ban ozone-depleting chemicals like freon and aerosol sprays.

enhanced greenhouse effect

warming of the earth’s surface due to increases in greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere, which traps more of the sun’s radiation than is normal. 

sustainable development

development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs)

goals that individual countries said they would achieve in order to do their part in the Paris Agreement and reduce global emissions. 

carbon tax

the price a government charges for the carbon content in fuels.

cap and trade

policies designed to set limits, or caps, on how much carbon large industrial polluters can emit. 

carbon footprint

amount of greenhouse gases produced, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide emissions. 

the paris agreement

an international treaty aimed at addressing climate change and limiting global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius.

point source pollutant

pollutant that enters waterways at a specific location

nonpoint source pollutant

pollutant that runs off or seeps into waterways from broad areas of land.

polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

toxic chemicals that were once used as insulating materials in high-voltage electrical equipment. 

dioxins

highly toxic chlorinated hydrocarbons contained in herbicides and produced during certain industrail processes.

fracking

a method of extracting natural gas or oil by injecting high-pressure fluid into subterranean rocks.

pesticides

chemicals that kill pests such as insects or rodents

municipal solid waste (MSW)

solid waste such as durable and nondurable goods, containers and packaging, food waste, yard waste, and miscellaneous waste from residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial sources. 

source reduction

waste prevention involving altering the design, manufacture, or use of products and materials to reduce the amount and toxicity of waste.

recycling

the process of collecting, processing, and reusing materials to reduce waste and conserve resources.

composting

collecting organic waste, such as food scraps and yard trimmings, and allowing it to decompose with the help of microorganisms producing a nutrient-rich substance used for soil enhancement

combustion with energy recovery

the use of boilers and industrial furnaces to incinerate waste and use the burning process to generate energy.

hazardous waste

toxic waste that poses a hazed to humans or to the environment.

superfund

fund established under the comprehensive environmental response, compensation, and liability act to be used for cleaning up toxic waste dumps.

nonionizing radiation

electromagnetic waves having relatively long wavelengths and enough energy to move atoms around or cause them to vibrate. 

ionizing radiation

electromagnetic waves and particles having short wavelengths and energy high enough to ionize atoms.

radiation-absorbed dose (rad)

unit of measure of radiation exposure.

nuclear meltdown

accident that results when the temperature in the core of a nuclear reactor increases enough to melt the nuclear fuel and breach the containment vessel.