Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution Notes - 8.1 to 8.4

Point Source Pollutant

pollutants that enters the environment from an identifiable source

• animal waste runoff from CAFO’s, emissions from smokestack of a coal plant, BP oil spill

Non-Point Source Pollutant

pollutants that enter the environment an cannot be easily identifiable

• Urban runoff and pesticides that are carried by the wind or washed off

What ecosystems are primarily polluted by non-point source pollutants?

Estuaries and bats due to the large watersheds that empty into them

Pollutants vs. Pollution

Pollutants are specific chemicals or groups of chemicals with specific environmental and human health effects

Pollution is a vague, nondescript term for any substance that is harmful to the environment

• ex. Noise, thermal, of sediment pollution

Range of Tolerance

refers to the set of environmental limits, such as temperature, pH, and sunlight, within which they can survive and thrive

Temperature Tolerance of Reef Algae

Algae have narrow temperature tolerance and leave the reef when temperature rises

• pollutants (sediment, pesticides, sunscreen) from runoff and can also force algae from reef

• Coral loses color

• can't repair itself

• becomes stressed and more vulnerable to disease w/o algae (which is its main food source)

Human impacts on coral reefs

Pollutants formed from anthropogenic activities such as cause physiological stress such as

• greenhouse gas emissions (warming ocean temp. & bleaching coral)

• overfishing (decreases fish populations)

• bottom trawling (can break the reef structure and stir up sediment - clogs fish gills and decreases sunlight exposure

• Urban and ag. runoff (sediments, toxicants, etc)

Oil Spill effects

Hydrocarbons in crude oil are toxic to many marine organisms which can kill them, especially if ingested or absorbed through gills/skin

• decreased visibility –> decreased photosynthesis

• oil sticking to bird feathers

• oil sinking to bottom and killing bottom-dwellers due to toxicity or suffocation

Oil can wash ashore and decrease tourism revenue, fishing industry revenue, and restaurants revenue that serve fish

• toxic to salt marsh grass, as it kills and loosens its root structure leading into a coastline erosion

Oil spill cleanup

using booms and skimmers to contain and remove oil from the surface, dispersants to break down the oil, and physical removal of oil from shorelines with towels, soaps, or by burning

Endocrine Disrupters

chemicals or substances that interfere with the normal functioning of the endocrine system, which regulates hormones in the body. These disruptors can mimic or block hormones, leading to various health effects.

• ex, atrazine, DDT, Phthalates, Dioxins, BPA’s, and more

Mercury

a heavy metal that is naturally occurring but can also be released into the environment through human activities such as burning fossil fuels, mining, and waste incineration. It is highly toxic and can accumulate in organisms, leading to serious health effects.

• and endocrine disrupters that inhibits estrogen and insulin, interfering with menstruation and ovulation

• a teratogen; harmful to fetuses and can cause developmental abnormalities or birth defects.

Arsenic and Lead

Arsenic is a toxic chemical element that occurs naturally in the Earth's crust and can contaminate water sources

• formerly in pesticides

• canceriogen

• Endocrine specifically towards the glucocorticoid system (regulates various physiological processes through steroid hormones, primarily cortisol, produced by the adrenal glands)

Lead is a toxic heavy metal found in old paint, contaminated soil, and drinking water pipes. Exposure can lead to serious health issues, particularly in children, including developmental delays and organ damage.

Coal Ash

A source of mercury, lead, and arsenic that can attach to fly ash (PM; fine, powdery material captured by filters in smokestacks) and can be carried by wind and deposited into ecosystems far away

• both fly and bottom ash are are stored in ponds, dug into soil, and lined with plastic

• can leach into groundwater, contaminating it and getting into the fish we consume