Environmental Science Flashcards

Flashcards of key vocabulary terms from the lecture notes.

Pre-industrial Stage

High CBR & CDR. Population stable.

Transitional Stage

High CBR but decreasing CDR. Rapid rise in human population. Most rapid rate of population increase.

Industrial Stage

Low CDR and decreasing CBR. Population still growing but the growth is slower, heading toward stabilization.

Post-industrial Stage

Low CBR & CDR. Population stabilized or in a decline.

Primary Pollutant

Pollutants being discharged into the troposphere (e.g.: CO₂, NO, SO₂).

Secondary Pollutant

Pollutant formed from the reaction between a primary pollutant and other chemicals (e.g. SO3, H2SO4, 03).

Thermal Inversion

Air polluntants becoem trapped over cities because they are not able to rise into the atmosphere. Warm air sandwiched between cooler air and cold air.

Nitrogen oxide (NOx)

Includes nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

Ozone

Stratospheric ozone is good. It helps block harmful UVA and UVB from the Sun. Tropospheric ozone is bad. It's an irritant.

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Colorless & odorless. A Primary Outdoor Air Pollutant from Fossil Fuel

Carbon monoxide (CO)

HIGHLY TOXIC, colorless & odorless. A Primary Outdoor Air Pollutant from Fossil Fuel

Nitric oxide (NO)

Colorless & odorless, precursor of tropospheric ozone. A Primary Outdoor Air Pollutant from Fossil Fuel

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)

Brown fume. A Primary Outdoor Air Pollutant from Fossil Fuel

Sulfur dioxide (SO2)

Precursor of sulfuric acid (acid rain). A Primary Outdoor Air Pollutant from Fossil Fuel

Particulate matter (PM)

Two major classes: PM2.5 & PM10; fine particles. A Primary Outdoor Air Pollutant from Fossil Fuel

Aerosols

Chemical similar to PM in size; e.g. ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3). A Primary Outdoor Air Pollutant from Fossil Fuel

Mercury (Hg)

Discharged from coal burning; exists in the form of CH₂Hg. A Primary Outdoor Air Pollutant from Fossil Fuel

Lead (Pb)

Formerly a major pollutant from gasoline combustion. A Primary Outdoor Air Pollutant from Fossil Fuel

NAAQS Set 6 criteria air pollutants

CO, NO2, SO2, particulates, Ozone, Lead

Formaldehyde

"New" smell from furnitures and calls. A Primary Indoor Air Pollutant

Radon-222

Decay product from uranium-238. A Primary Indoor Air Pollutant

Asbestos

Formerly used for insulation and fire prevention; fine and abrasive particles. A Primary Indoor Air Pollutant

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Including methane, benzene, formaldehyde. A Primary Pollutant. Trees are a natural source of VOCs.

HAP

Hazardous air pollutant enlisted by EPA, 187 total.

Estuaries and wetlands

Have the highest average NPP.

Open ocean

Has the highest net NPP overall.

Cultural eutrophication

Excessive supply of nutrients by humans leading to toxic algal bloom; Usually from inorganic fertilizers.

Bioaccumulation

The accumulation of fat soluble toxins in an individual's body.

Biomagnification

The amplification of toxic concentration from one trophic level to a higher trophic level.

Dissolved oxygen (DO)

Important criterion for aquatic species survival. Pollution and toxic bloom will drastically decrease DO.

Phytoplankton

Microscopic plant species (producers) dwelling at the top of the water surface; major contributor of DO in water.

Zooplankton

Microscopic herbivores or omnivores.

Aquifer

Ground water storage; confined & unconfined; Largest: Ogallala Aquifer.

Nektons

Stronger swimmers (whales, sharks, etc).

Benthos

Bottom dwellers (clams).

Littoral zone

Near coast of a lake.

Limnetic zone

Top & middle of a lake.

Profundal zone

Deep water, no sunlight penetration in a lake.

Benthic zone

Bottom of a lake.

Dioxins

A result of combustion processes such as waste incineration or burning fuels; HIGHLY TOXIC! IT CAN CAUSE CANCER, IMMUNE SYS DISEASES, ETC.

LD50 (Lethal dose-50)

The dosage of a toxin it takes to kill 50% of the population.

Threshold level

Dosage level that begins to show negative effects.

Threshold toxin

A toxin that shows a negative affect only after a certain (threshold) dosage; e.g. oxygen, water.

Non-threshold toxin

A toxin that shows a linear direct response to toxin with dosage exposure; e.g. Lead (Pb), benzene.

Carcinogens

Chemicals that can cause cancer; e.g. Nicotine, asbestos, formaldehyde, radon-222.

Mutagens

Chemicals that leads to DNA mutations; e.g. Bromine, benzene.

Teratogens

Chemicals that cause birth defects; e.g. Mercury (Hg).

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS)

Synthetic, carbon-based molecules that are known to bioaccumulate and biomagnify; e.g. DDT, PCBs.

Acute effect

Physiological effect from short exposure to high levels of toxin.

Chronic effect

Physiological effect from long-term exposure to low levels of toxin.

Toxicological synergy

Combination of toxins may greatly amplify or reduce the harmful effects. e.g. Cadmium + copper = extremely lethal!

Sanitary landfill

Covered by clay and soil daily to prevent odor emission and lined with multiple layers of synthetic liner to prevent leachate contamination to surrounding environment. Built with methane & leachate collection.

Fractions

Different products that crude oil can be refined into, such as fuel, plastic, vaseline, using the fractional distillation method.

U-235

NOT a fossil fuel. It is considered nonrenewable because there is a finite amount of uranium-235 on earth. It does not emit CO2 during the electricity generation process but it requires extensive energy for mining.

Albedo

Reflectivity of object.

Keeling Curve

CO2 graph at Mauna Loa, Hawaii.

IPCC

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

CFCS

Chlorofluorocarbons; led to ozone depletion.

HCFCs

Hydrochlorofluorocarbons; replaced CFCs.

Clean Air Act

Designed to control air pollution nationally. Amended many times to set standards for controlling automobile emissions, address acid rain etc. Through it the EPA regulated the use of lead, particularly in fuels, which dramatically decreased the amount of lead in the atmosphere.

Photochemical Smog

Formed when nitrogen oxides and VOCs react with heat and sunlight to produce a variety of pollutants. Causes respiratory problems and eye irritation. Often forms in urban areas due to the large number of motor vehicles there.

Radon Gas

Can infiltrate homes as it moves up through the soil and enters homes via the basement or cracks in the walls or foundation. It is also dissolved in groundwater that enters homes through a well. Exposure can cause lung cancer.

Vapor Recovery Nozzle

An air pollution control device on a gasoline pump that prevents fumes from escaping into the atmosphere when fueling a motor vehicle.

Catalytic Converter

An air pollution control device for internal combustion engines that converts pollutants (CO, NOx, and hydrocarbons) in exhaust into less harmful molecules (CO2, N2, O2, and H2O).

Wet and Dry Scrubbers

Air pollution control devices that remove particulates and/or gases from industrial exhaust streams.

Methods to reduce air pollution from coal burning power plants

• Scrubbers

• Electrostatic Precipitators

Acid Rain and Deposition

Is due to nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides from anthropogenic and natural sources in the atmosphere. Nitric oxides that cause acid deposition come from motor vehicles and coal-burning power plants. Sulfur dioxides that cause acid deposition come from coal-burning power plants.

Impacts of Acid Rain and Deposition

Acid deposition mainly affects communities that are downwind from coal-burning power plants. Acid rain and deposition can lead to the acidification of soils and bodies of water and corrosion of human-made structures.

Regional differences in soils and bedrock affect the impact that acid deposition has on the region

Limestone bedrock has the ability to neutralize the effect of acid rain on lakes and ponds

Sources of Noise Pollution in Urban Areas

• Transportation

• Construction

• Domestic and industrial activity

Impacts of Noise Pollution on animals

• Stress

• The masking of sounds used to communicate or hunt

• Damaged hearing

• Causing changes to migratory routes

Impact of Oil Spills

• Organisms in marine waters die from the hydrocarbons in oil

• Oil that floats on the surface of water can coat the feathers of birds and fur of marine mammals

• Some components of oil sink to the ocean floor, killing some bottom-dwelling organisms.

• Oil that washes up on the beach can have economic consequences on the fishing and tourism industries.

Endocrine Disruptors

Chemicals that can interfere with the endocrine system of animals.

Effects of endocrine disruptors

• birth defects

• Developmental disorders

• Gender imbalances in fish and other species.

Wetlands

Areas where water covers the soil, either part or all of the time. Provide a variety of ecological services, including water purification, flood protection, water filtration, and habitat.

Threats to wetlands and mangroves

• Commercial development

• Dam construction

• Overfishing

• Pollutants from agriculture and industrial waste.

Oligotrophic Waterways

Compared to eutrophic waterways, oligotrophic waterways have very low amounts of nutrients, stable algae populations, and high dissolved oxygen.

Thermal Pollution

Occurs when heat released into the water produces negative effects to the organisms in that ecosystem. Affects the concentration of dissolved oxygen because warm water does not contain as much oxygen as cold water.

Impacts of Biomagnification

• Eggshell thinning

• Developmental deformities in top carnivores of the higher trophic levels

• In humans- Issues with the reproductive, nervous, and circulatory systems

Leachate

Decomposed material that percolates to the bottom of the landfill

Recycling

A process by which certain solid waste materials are processed and converted into new products. Recycling is one way to reduce the current global demand on minerals, but this process is energy-intensive and can be costly

Composting

The process of organic matter such as food scraps, paper, and yard waste decomposing. The product of this decomposition can be used as fertilizer. Drawbacks to composting include odor and rodents.

E-waste

Can be reduced by recycling and reuse. E-wastes may contain hazardous chemicals, including heavy metals such as lead and mercury, which can leach from landfills into groundwater if they are not disposed of properly

Waste-to-Energy (WTE) program

The combustion of gases produced from decomposition of organic material in landfills can be used to turn turbines and generate electricity. This process reduces landfill volume.

Primary treatment of sewage

The physical removal of large objects, often through the use of screens and grates, followed by the settling of solid waste in the bottom of a tank.

Secondary Treatment

A biological process in which bacteria break down organic matter into carbon dioxide and inorganic sludge, which settles in the bottom of a tank. The tank is aerated to increase the rate at which the bacteria break down the organic matter.

Tertiary Treatment

The use of ecological or chemical processes to remove any pollutants left in the water after primary and secondary treatment.

Dose Response Curve

Describes the effect on an organism or mortality rate in a population based on the dose of a particular toxin or drug.

Dysentary

Caused by untreated sewage in streams and rivers.

Mesothelioma

A type of cancer caused mainly by exposure to asbestos.

Pathogen Spread

As equatorial-type climate zones spread , pathogens, infectious diseases, and any associated vectors are spreading into these areas where the disease has not previously been known to occur

Spread of Infectious Disease

Poverty-stricken, low-income areas often lack sanitary waste disposal and have contaminated drinking water supplies, leading to havens and opportunities for the spread of infectious diseases

Plague

A disease carried by organisms infected with the plague bacteria. It is transferred to humans via the bite of an infected organism or through contact with contaminated fluids or tissues.

Tuberculosis

A bacterial infection that typically attacks the lungs. It is spread by breathing in the bacteria from the bodily fluids of an infected person.

Malaria

Parasitic disease caused by bites from infected mosquitoes.

West Nile Virus

Transmitted to humans via bites from infected mosquitoes

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

A form of pneumonia. It is transferred by inhaling or touching infected fluids.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)

A viral respiratory illness that is transferred from animals to humans.

Zika

A virus caused by bites from infected mosquitoes. It can be transmitted through sexual contact and from a pregnant mother to a fetus.

Cholera

A bacterial disease that is contracted from infected water.