Unit 8: Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution

Vocabulary connected to AP Environmental Science Unit 8 Topics

Landfill

A designated area for disposing of waste materials by burying them in the ground; engineered and regulated facilities designed to minimize environmental and public health impacts, unlike dumps.

Leachate

Contaminated liquid generated from water percolating through a solid waste disposal site, accumulating contaminants, and moving into subsurface areas.

Lethal Dose 50% (LD50)

The amount of an ingested substance that kills 50 percent of a test sample, expressed in mg/kg.

Litter

Solid waste discarded improperly in public spaces or the environment.

Malaria

A parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes, causing fever, chills, and sweating.

Mangrove Forests

Coastal forests and critical habitats that act as nurseries and protect coasts from erosion.

Methane

A potent greenhouse gas produced by decomposing organic matter and other sources.

Methylmercury

A highly toxic organic form of mercury that bioaccumulates in food chains, especially in aquatic environments.

Mesothelioma

A cancer of the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart, often caused by asbestos exposure.

Mesotrophic

Moderate nutrient concentrations in a body of water.

Microplastics

Tiny plastic particles that are a growing concern in aquatic environments, as they can be ingested by organisms and potentially release harmful chemicals.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)

A viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus.

Municipal Solid Waste

Common household waste, as well as office and retail wastes, but excludes industrial, hazardous, and construction wastes.

Nonpoint Source Pollutant

Pollutants from diffuse sources over a large area, making it difficult to pinpoint a single origin.

Nutrients (Nitrates & Phosphates)

Essential elements for plant growth; excessive amounts from fertilizers and sewage can lead to eutrophication.

Ocean Acidification

A reduction in the pH of the ocean over an extended period of time, caused primarily by absorbing carbon dioxide.

Oligotrophic

Low nutrient concentrations in a body of water.

Oxygen Sag Curve

Depicts the initial decline, followed by a gradual recovery of dissolved oxygen concentration downstream from the point of pollution.

Pathogens

Disease-causing microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites.

Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs)

Chemicals from medications, cosmetics, and other personal care items that enter water systems through sewage and runoff.

PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls)

Industrial chemicals that are persistent environmental pollutants and toxic.

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

A set of persistent toxic chemicals in the environment that can last for years before breaking down.

Phytoremediation

The use of plants to remove pollutants from soil or water.

Plague

A highly contagious and often fatal disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, often transmitted by fleas.

Plastic Pollution

Accumulation in the environment of synthetic plastic products that create problems for wildlife, their habitats, and human populations.

Point Source Pollutant

Pollution from a single, identifiable location like a pipe or channel.

Primary Wastewater Treatment

The physical removal of solids from wastewater through screening and sedimentation.

Range of Tolerance

The spectrum of environmental conditions that an organism can survive and function within.

RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act)

Gives EPA the authority to control hazardous waste from cradle to grave, including generating, transporting, treating, storing, and disposing of hazardous waste; sets framework for non-hazardous solid wastes.

Recycle

The process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new ones. The third priority of the 3 Rs due to the energy used in the process.

Reduce

Cut back on the amount of solid waste produced. The highest priority of the 3 Rs.

Repair

To fix or mend something broken or damaged, reducing the need for new materials.

Reuse

Find new ways to use materials and products. 2nd highest priority of the 3 Rs.

Runoff

Water that flows over the land surface rather than soaking into the ground, carrying pollutants.

Safe Drinking Water Act

Established in 1974 and administered by the EPA, it sets national standards for drinking water quality and oversees their implementation.

Secondary Wastewater Treatment

The biological breakdown of organic matter in wastewater by microorganisms.

Sediment Pollution

Sediment that exceeds natural levels and disrupts the delicate balance of the aquatic ecosystem.

Septic Tank

A tank, typically underground, where sewage is collected and allowed to decompose through bacterial activity.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

A viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus.

Solid Waste

Discarded materials, including household garbage, industrial waste, and construction debris.

Superfund Sites

Polluted locations in the United States that require a long-term response to clean up hazardous material contaminations.

Tertiary Wastewater Treatment

Advanced treatment to remove specific pollutants (e.g., nutrients, heavy metals) from wastewater.

Thermal Pollution

A rapid change in temperature in a natural body of water, often caused by heated discharge from an industrial facility or another human activity.

Toxic

A chemical that can cause harm at small amounts.

Tuberculosis

An infectious disease that typically affects the lungs, caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Turbidity

The cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by large numbers of individual particles that are generally invisible to the naked eye.

Ultraviolet Light

Electromagnetic radiation used to disinfect water and air by killing microorganisms.

Vector

An organism that transmits disease-causing pathogens from one host to another (e.g., mosquitoes, ticks).

Wastewater Treatment

Utilizes physical, chemical, and biological processes to remove contaminants and harmful substances from wastewater.

Watershed

An area of land that drains into a specific body of water, such as a river, lake, or ocean.

Wetlands

Areas where water covers the soil or is present at or near the soil's surface throughout the year, providing essential ecosystem services.

West Nile Virus

A viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, which can cause flu-like symptoms or serious neurological damage.

Zika

A viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, which can cause birth defects if a pregnant woman is infected.

Cholera

An infectious disease causing severe diarrhea, spread through contaminated water and food.