Pollution

What is the definition of pollulution?

Any effect of human activities on the enviroment.

What is the definition of a pollutant?

Any product of human activity that has a harmful effect on the enviorment

What are the main pollutants impacting our planet?

Non-biodegradable Plastics, Excess and untreated sewage and fertiliser (causing Eutrophication) and Greenhouse gases (Carbon Dioxide and Methane)

What impacts can non-biodegradable plastics have on aquatic enviroments?

→ Animals in the ocean can mistake them for food, ingesting the food which blocks their airways and possibly resulting in death by suffocation.

→ Animals can get trapped and tangled in loose plastics which can lead to starvation.

→ The plastics absorb the toxins of the ocean and when ingested can release toxins into the animal’s digestive system to be carried through the food chain and even end up on our own plates.

What impacts can non-biodegradable plastics have on terrestrial enviroments?

→ Loose plastics can become an eye sore

→ The plastics in landfills can block the flow of oxygen, creating anaerobic conditions in the dumpsites making the process of decomposition slower and causes denitrification to occur as the bacteria are forced to feed on nitrates in the soil to respire.

→ They can block water flowing through pipes on farming land. Creating water logged soil and a limiting the supply of oxygen in the soil. Causing denitrification to occur as the bacteria switch to respiring on nitrates, leaving behind less minerals for the plants to absorb.

Define non-biodegrable plastics

Hydrocarbons that cannot be decomposed by natrual methods and therefore can last for a very long time.

Outline the process of Eutrophication

1) Excess fertiliser and sewage enter a body of water.

2) This sudden presence of nutrients in the water (nitrates and phosphates) cause an algae growth across the surface of the water.

3) This blocks light from reaching the plants below, meaning the plants are unable to photosynthesis. Eventually dying from the lack of nutrients available to them.

4) Their bodies are decomposed by decomposing bacteria. Their numbers grow as their food sources grow.

5) The increased number of bacteria cause a BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand) leaving less oxygen for other organisms.

6) Other organisms in the water will eventually die or migrate elsewhere due to the lack of oxygen available.

7) Their decomposing bodies leave more food for for the decomposing bacteria and excess nutrients for the algae bloom cycle.

What are Sewage and Fetiliser?

Fertiliser = added to crops that give them immediate nutrients (nitrates and phosphates) allowing them to grow faster and reach a higher yield.

Sewage = Undigested organic food matter that are an excellent sources of nutrients for bacteria

How can we reduce the impact of non-biodegradable plastics as a pollutant?

→ Use alternative plastics that can decompose

→ Pay people to recycle

→ Reuse old containers and bags (Reuse)

→ Educate people on the harms of plastic waste

→ Dispose of rubbish and waste properly/fine people for dumping trash on ground

How can we reduce the impact of Eutrophication?

→ Treat sewage properly

→ Don’t apply fertiliser before rainfall

→ Don’t use excess fertliser

What are greenhouse gases? And how are they made?

Greenhouse gases are gases that collect in the Earth’s atmosphere that absorb the reflected solar energy from sun rays:

• Carbon Dioxide (Combustion of fossil fuels)

• Methane (Guts of ruminants such as cows)

What is the Enhanced Greenhouse Effect?

The enhanced greenhouse effect is a process that occurs due to the excessive accumilation of greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere over time.

1) Solar Rays are projected from the Sun providing solar energy that is reflected as it hits the Earth’s Surface.

2) The Greenhouse Gases surrounding the Earth’s atmosphere trap some of the heat while the rest is reflected into space

3) As more Greenhouse gases are emitted into the atmosphere, more heat is being trapped and less if escaping. Causing the Earth to overheat.

What are the consequnces of the Enhanced Greenhouse Effect?

→ Extreme weather conditions (storms, heat weaves, typhoons)

→ Unseasonal weather

→ Desertification of land (water dries up)

→ Melting of polar ice caps

How can we prevent the effects of the Enhanced Greenhouse effect?

→Reduce burning of fossil fuels

→ Planting more trees (more carbon sinks)

→ reduce deforestation