Vocab #3

Composition of Water on Earth

97.5% seawater and 2.5% freshwater.

Gray Water

Any wastewater from a house except toilet water, such as dishwater and shower water, which can be reused for irrigation.

Aquaculture

The farming of aquatic species, including salmon, shrimp, tilapia, and oysters.

Point Source Pollution

Pollution that comes from a specific location such as a pipe or smokestack.

Nonpoint Source Pollution

Pollution that is spread over an area, such as runoff from agricultural sources or urban areas.

Primary Sewage Treatment

The first step of sewage treatment that eliminates most particulate material from raw sewage using grates, screens, and gravity.

Secondary Sewage Treatment

The second step of sewage treatment where bacteria break down organic waste with the help of aeration.

BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand)

The amount of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic decomposers to break down organic materials.

Eutrophication

Rapid algal growth caused by excess nitrogen and phosphorus in water, leading to reduced oxygen and aquatic plant death.

Hypoxia

Water with very low dissolved oxygen levels, often resulting from eutrophication.

Fecal Coliform (Enterococcus bacteria)

Indicator bacteria that signal sewage contamination; they are round-shaped (coccus) bacteria.

Chlorine

A chemical used for disinfection of water, but can form carcinogenic trihalomethanes as byproducts.

Minamata Disease

Mental impairments caused by methylmercury poisoning in Japan (1932-1968).

CAFÉ Standards

Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards enacted in 1975 for fuel efficiency of passenger cars and light trucks.

Primary Air Pollutants

Pollutants produced by human activity and nature such as CO, CO2, Sox, NOx, hydrocarbons, and particulates.

Secondary Pollutants

Pollutants formed by the reactions of primary pollutants.

Particulate Matter

A pollutant resulting from burning fossil fuels, known to reduce visibility and cause respiratory irritation.

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)

Pollutants that contribute to acidification of lakes and respiratory irritation, primarily sourced from auto exhaust.

Sulfur Oxides (SOx)

Pollutants from coal burning that cause acid deposition, respiratory irritation, and damage to plants.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

A greenhouse gas produced by the combustion of fossil fuels that contributes to global warming.

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

A pollutant from incomplete combustion that binds to hemoglobin, reducing oxygen transport in blood.

Ozone (O3)

A secondary pollutant formed by sunlight and other chemicals, known for its respiratory irritant effects.

Radon (Rn)

A naturally occurring, colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that can seep into buildings and is a lung cancer risk.

Photochemical Smog

A type of smog formed by chemical reactions in the presence of sunlight, particularly involving NO and VOCs.

Acid Deposition

Precipitation that is acidic due to sulfuric and nitric acids, causing lower pH in surface waters.

Greenhouse Gases

Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, including water vapor, CO2, methane, and CFCs.

Effects of Global Warming

Consequences such as rising sea levels, extreme weather, drought, famine, and extinctions.

Greenhouse Effect

A natural process that warms the Earth, but can lead to negative consequences when accelerated.

Ozone Depletion

The reduction of stratospheric ozone caused by chemicals like CFCs and halons, leading to increased UV exposure.

Effects of Ozone Depletion

Increased UV radiation leading to skin cancer, cataracts, and reduced plant growth.

Love Canal, NY

A site of environmental disaster where buried chemicals caused health issues such as birth defects and cancer.

Main Components of Municipal Solid Waste

Primarily paper, with much of it being sent to landfills.

Sanitary Landfill Problems and Solutions

Common issues include leachate, methane gas, and the volume of garbage; solutions include collection systems and gas management.

Incineration Advantages

Reduces waste volume by 90% and allows for waste heat to be used in energy generation.

Incineration Disadvantages

Potential toxic emissions and the need for pollution control systems.

Best Way to Solve Waste Problems

Reduce waste at the source before it is created.

True Cost/External Cost

Harmful environmental impacts that are not included in the price of a product.

Brownfield

An abandoned industrial site that may be contaminated.

Keystone Species

A species whose role in an ecosystem is disproportionately important, such as sea otters and prairie dogs.

Indicator Species

Species that signal the health of an ecosystem, examples include trout.