pollution and waste disposal

pollution happens when ___

a harmful substance introduced into the air and water

true or false: pollution is both natural and unnatural

true

what is the name of human induced pollution?

anthropogenic pollution

what is an example of natural pollution?

volcanic eruptions

true or false: pollution is not correlative of human population size

false; it is correlative

what is the superfund?

a trust created by the US with the purpose of cleanup costs for toxic waste sites that had been abandoned

define pollution:

substance that has been introduced into the air or the water and has reached concentrations that are harmful to living organisms

define contamination:

the concentration of a substance is above natural levels, but is not harmful

define maximum contaminant levels (MCLs):

the maximum allowable concentration for water supply systems for drinking water

what are the two ways pollutants enter water:

1. point source

2. nonpoint source

define point source:

a pollution source that releases pollutants into the environment at a physically discrete point, such as a pipe discharging wastewater from a factory (easier to pinpoint/generally address)

define nonpoint source:

a pollution source that releases pollutants into the environment over a broad area, commonly consisting of multiple input sites. for example, agricultural fields, parking lots, golf courses, and lawns (harder to pinpoint/generally address)

what is solid waste:

its more plastics, cardboard, bottles/caps. it is also the industrial waste produced when it comes to the production of consumer goods

what is municipal solid waste:

the household garbage and trash that is collected by local govts.

only accounts for 5% of solid waste

most solid waste is produced by ___

agriculture and mining with 55% and 33% respectively

what is a lechate:

the liquid that forms when rainwater percolates into a landfill and interacts wt the trash incorporating bacteria, viruses, and various chemical compounds in the water

what is a secured landfill:

where hazardous, solid waste is kept

what is electronic waste:

accounts for 2% of municipal solid waste

electronics are toxic for two key reasons: 1. electronics contain precious metals 2. dry-cell batteries contain toxic heavy metals

in terms of liquid waste, what is wastewater:

water that has ben contaminated during some human related process (e.g. sewage)