Detailed Notes on Aquatic & Terrestrial Pollution Unit

Unit 8: Aquatic & Terrestrial Pollution
Lesson 1: Aquatic Point Source Pollution

  • Types of Pollution:

    • Point Source: A single, identifiable source of a pollutant.
    • Non-Point Source: Contributions from many sources accumulating over a wide area, affecting water quality.

  • Case Study: River Ganges, India:

    • Examples of point and non-point pollution.
    • Mention of two diseases caused by pollution.
    • Clean-up strategies proposed.

  • Sewage Discharge:

    • Sources: Wastewater from human activities and animal feed operations.
    • Consequences:
    • A. Nutrients (nitrogen & phosphorus) lead to eutrophication; excessive algae blooms.
    • B. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD): Measures oxygen consumption, high BOD indicates higher pollution and depletes oxygen levels.
    • C. Disease pathogens in wastewater lead to serious health risks (diarrhea, cholera, etc.).

  • Thermal Pollution:

    • Sudden increases in water temperature from industrial processes.
    • Effects: Lowers oxygen levels, disrupts aquatic life.
    • Regulation: Clean Water Act of 1972 regulates thermal discharges.
Noise Pollution
  • Caused by shipping, oil exploration, etc., disrupting aquatic communication and behavior, especially in marine mammals.
Acid Mine Drainage
  • Reaction of water and air with pyrite causing low pH and solubility of heavy metals (e.g., zinc, copper).
Lead Pipes
  • Lead contamination of drinking water; neurotoxic properties; Flint, Michigan case study (lead exposure due to pipe corrosion).
Oil Spills
  • Point Sources: Tanker leaks, examples include BP Deep Water Horizon and Exxon Valdez spills.
    • Effects on Wildlife: Fouling gills, insulation loss in birds, toxicity.
    • Remediation Techniques: Containment booms, dispersants, bioremediation using bacteria.
Lesson 2: Aquatic Pollution: Non-Point Sources
  • Non-Point Sources: Primarily run-off.

  1. Sedimentation:

    • Causes turbidity (cloudiness), affects sunlight infiltration and aquatic life.
    • Anthropogenic Sources: Farming, mining, construction.
    • Solutions: No-till agriculture, planting cover crops, vegetation buffers.

  2. Fertilizers:

    • High nitrogen & phosphorus levels from agricultural runoff; leads to algal blooms and loss of oxygen.

  3. Pollutants:

    • Mercury: From burning fossil fuels;biomagnification and neurotoxic effects.
    • Synthetic Organic Chemicals: Persistent, carcinogenic, endocrine disruptors; include PCBs and pharmaceuticals.
    • Pesticides: Persistent organic pollutants that harm non-target species and human health; examples include broad-spectrum pesticides affecting beneficial insects like bees.
Lesson 3: Water Use, Quality, Regulation, and Treatment
  • Water Challenges:
    • Freshwater only constitutes 2.5% of all water; significant depletion and pollution.
    • Major users of freshwater: irrigation and power plants.
Impacts of Depletion
  • A. Depletion and salinization of aquifers.
  • B. Climate change impacts affecting water cycle and availability.
Solutions to Depletion
  1. Infrastructure projects (e.g., dams).
  2. Conservation (3 R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle).
  3. Desalination: Methods include distillation and reverse osmosis; challenges include high costs and energy use.
Pollution Solutions
  • Legislation: Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act for water quality standards and treatment protocols.
  • Wastewater Treatment Process:
    1. Primary: Physical screening.
    2. Secondary: Biological treatment.
    3. Tertiary: Ecological/chemical treatments to remove pollutants.
Lesson 4: Human Impact on Wetlands and Mangroves
  • Wetlands and Estuaries: Important ecosystems that provide numerous services.
  • Ecosystem Services:
    1. Supporting: High productivity and biodiversity.
    2. Provisioning: Fish and timber resources.
    3. Regulating: Water purification, flood protection, carbon sequestration.
Human Impacts
  1. Habitat loss due to urbanization; wetlands destroyed.
  2. Dams disrupt sediment flow and fish migrations.
  3. Invasive species introduction leading to loss of native biodiversity.
  4. Run-off pollution exacerbating ecosystem health issues.
Lesson 5: Solid Waste

  • Municipal Solid Waste (MSW): Necessitates varied disposal methods based on composition.

  • Trends: US characterized as a throw-away society.

  • Disposal Methods:

    1. Organic waste should be composted.
    2. Emphasize the 3 R's as critical to waste management.
    3. Regulatory frameworks like RCRA guide hazardous waste management.

  • Types of Waste Disposal:

    • Organic: Compost.
    • Municipal: Recycling or landfill.
    • Hazardous: Safely treated and disposed of.
Lesson 6: Pollution & Human Health
  • Pollutant Types: Neurotoxins, carcinogens, teratogens, allergens, endocrine disruptors.
  • Pollutant Persistence & Solubility: Endurance of chemicals in the environment and their bioaccumulation through the food web.
Lesson 7: Pathogens & Infectious Diseases
  • Pathogens cause significant mortality; major disease categories include airborne, waterborne, foodborne, vector-borne, and direct contact diseases.
  • Increased risks associated with climate change, human behavior, and pathogen adaptability.