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APES > Water Pollution > Flashcards

Water Pollution Flashcards

1
Q

Measurements of the level of pollutants in water.

A

Water Quality

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2
Q

Measurements of the amount of water.

A

Water Quantity

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3
Q

Pollution that is released from a widespread area, making it more challenging to control.

A

Non-point Source Pollution

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4
Q

Pollution that is released from a specific location, such as a pipe or a smokestack.

A

Point Source Pollution

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5
Q

Acid Deposition

A

AKA, acid rain (or acid snow): Precipitation with a low pH.

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6
Q

Sources of Acid Deposition

A

Power plants, cars, and factories that release nitrous oxides and / or sulfur oxides into the air. These combine with water vapor to form nitric acid or sulfuric acid.

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7
Q

Impacts of Acid Deposition

A

Small aquatic organisms and fish eggs can be killed directly by the low pH. Larger organisms may slowly starve as the food web collapses below them. Trees may have damaged leaves. Statues and buildings made of limestone or marble slowly break down by the chemical reaction with acid.

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8
Q

Algae Bloom

A

The overgrowth of phytoplankton in a body of water.

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9
Q

Sources of algae blooms.

A

Eutrophication - adding nutrients to the water. These nutrients include nitrates and phosphates, which can come from fertilizers (from agricultural fields, golf courses, and lawns), animal waste (from feedlots or pets), and human sewage. Treated sewage often still contains nutrients, which are left behind when the wastes are broken down.

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10
Q

Impacts of algae blooms.

A

The water can become murky and smelly. As the algae overpopulate, many cells complete their short life cycles, resulting in a build-up of dead algae in the water. Decomposing bacteria use up oxygen from the water, as well as releasing foul odors. The low levels of dissolved oxygen can harm fish and other organisms.

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11
Q

A process where an animal ingests toxic molecules, and the toxins are stored in the animal’s fatty tissues.

A

Bioaccumulation

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12
Q

A process where the concentration of a toxin increases at higher levels of the food chain. As predators consume many prey organisms, the toxins in the prey reach higher dosages in the predator. As a result, predators may be more harmed by the toxin than their prey.

A

Biomagnification

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13
Q

D.O.

A
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14
Q

The amount of oxygen used by decomposing bacteria to break down organic materials. As this value increases, the oxygen levels drop, which can harm fish and other organisms.

A

Biological Oxygen Demand (or biochemical oxygen demand): B.O.D.

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15
Q

A graph of the oxygen content of a river as it flows past a point source of pollution. The graph shows a rapid drop in D.O. at the point source, followed by a slow recovery.

A

Oxygen Sag Curve - the D.O. graph “sags” at the point source, then bounces back downstream.

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16
Q

Describe the changes in B.O.D. across an oxygen sag curve.

A

Upstream from the point source of pollution, BOD is low. When the river reaches the source of pollution, BOD jumps. As the river flows away from the pollutants, BOD gradually drops back to its normal low levels.

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17
Q

Describe the changes in aquatic organisms across an oxygen sag curve.

A

Trout, mayflies, and other sensitive organisms that need high D.O. thrive upstream from the point source of pollution. These organisms either die off or swim away from the pollution due to the low oxygen levels. Instead, tolerant species like carp and leeches dominate the zone of low oxygen. If the oxygen drops far enough, no fish survive. Further downstream, where the river has recovered, trout and mayflies can be found again.

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18
Q

A synthetic pesticide that was banned in the US due to its impact on the reproductive system. It is known to have caused eggshell-thinning in birds that prey on fish.

A

DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)

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19
Q

Sources and History of DDT

A

DDT was invented in the late 1800s and was commonly used to kill insects after WWII. It was primarily used in agriculture, along with mosquito control. It’s use was banned in the US in 1972. Today it is still used in some countries, mostly to control mosquitos that spread malaria.

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20
Q

Impacts of DDT

A

DDT interferes with the reproductive system. In piscivorous birds (fish eaters), it bioaccumulates and biomagnifies. This results in egg-shell thinning, which kills the chicks before they hatch.

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21
Q

A location in the ocean where very few organisms live. It is usually near the mouth of a river that drops off a variety of pollutants, and oxygen levels are often low.

A

Dead Zone

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22
Q

A toxic molecule released by several industrial processes, such as bleaching. It can cause cancer.

A

Dioxin

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23
Q

Molecules that can either mimic or block the action of hormones.

A

Endocrine Disruptors

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24
Q

Sources of endocrine disruptors.

A

Medications and pharmaceuticals that people dispose of improperly.

25
Q

Impacts of endocrine disruptors.

A

They may cause feminization of males, or cancer in females.

26
Q

The process where nutrients build up in a body of water, causing an increase in algae and a loss of clarity. This is a natural process, but it can be accelerated by human activities.

A

Eutrophication

27
Q

Humans adding nutrients to water by using fertilizers, dumping sewage, and more.

A

Cultural Eutrophication

28
Q

Molecules that people use that help plants grow by giving them nutrients.

A

Fertilizers (which contain nitrates, phosphates, and potassium)

29
Q

Sources of fertilizers

A

Agricultural fields, golf courses, landscaping, athletic fields, lawns, etc. Usually a non-point source pollutant.

30
Q

Impacts of fertilizers

A

Eutrophication, algae blooms, fish die-offs.

31
Q

The accumulation of floating trash (mostly plastic) in locations where currents spin in a gyre. This concentrates the trash in specific locations.

A

Garbage Patch

32
Q

A toxic metal that bioaccumulates and biomagnifies in aquatic food webs.

A

Mercury

33
Q

Sources of mercury in water.

A

Mercury is released in the smoke from power plants, and then it drops into water. It can also leak from old fluorescent lights and batteries in garbage dumps.

34
Q

Impacts of Mercury

A

Mercury can prevent normal brain development in immature organisms. This includes humans, which is one reason that pregnant mothers and infants may be advised to avoid eating predatory fish like tuna and shark.

35
Q

The release of fossil fuels into a body of water, either in large or small amounts.

A

Oil Spill

36
Q

Sources of Oil Spills

A

Leaking pipelines, ships running aground, cars dripping onto parking lots, gas stations, and more.

37
Q

Impacts of Oil Spills

A

Oil is toxic when organisms ingest it. It can also make it hard for creatures to stay warm if the oil fouls their fur and feathers.

38
Q

A body of water that has very low levels of nutrients, algae, and floating particles - so it is crystal clear.

A

Oligotrophic - Keep Taholigo!

39
Q

Stable, synthetic chemicals whose use has been banned due to their harmful effects. However, they are long-lasting molecules, so they are still present in the environment.

A

PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls)

40
Q

Sources of PCBs

A

PCBs have been used in electrical insulators, plasticizers, coolants, and more.

41
Q

Impacts of PCBs

A

Cancer, birth defects, and mutations.

42
Q

An overgrowth of dinoflagellate plankton in the ocean.

A

Red Tide

43
Q

Sources of red tides

A

Like other algae blooms, red tides result from nutrient pollution carried in runoff from farms, sewage treatment plants, and more.

44
Q

Impacts of red tides

A

Dinoflagellates produce a toxin which is concentrated in shellfish and other filter-feeders. When humans eat the shellfish, they can be poisoned.

45
Q

Particles of sand, silt, or clay in water.

A

Sediments

46
Q

Sources of sediments

A

Natural erosion, which can be increased by human activities such as construction, driving, logging, mining, etc.

47
Q

Impacts of sediments

A

Sediments can reduce water clarity, smother fish spawning beds, and carry nutrients that may lead to algae blooms.

48
Q

Very small sediment particles that remain floating in water for long periods.

A

Suspended Solids - measured as TSS (Total Suspended Solids)

49
Q

Human wastes in water.

A

Sewage

50
Q

Sources of sewage.

A

Homes and businesses in developed countries send their wastewater to a sewage treatment plant. The treatment plant is a point source of pollution. Some homes have their own septic tanks or cesspools, which can leak sewage (most often it leaks into groundwater). Less developed countries may not treat sewage before releasing it into a waterway - some places even have open ditches that carry sewage to the nearest river!

51
Q

Impacts of sewage

A

Along with being smelly and unsightly, sewage can carry disease. Isolating sewage from drinking water was one of the main causes of the drop in death rates during the demographic transition. Sewage, including treated sewage, also adds nutrients to waterways that can lead to eutrophication and algae blooms.

52
Q

The addition of heat to a body of water.

A

Thermal Pollution

53
Q

Sources of thermal pollution.

A

Factories and power plants that use water to cool off their equipment, then put the warmed water back into a river, lake, or ocean.

54
Q

Impacts of thermal pollution.

A

Higher temperatures may kill some organisms, their larvae, or their food sources directly. The most common impact is that higher temperatures allow oxygen to escape from the water and return to the air. This lowers the d.o. of the body of water, which may interfere with the survival of some fish and other organisms.

55
Q

A measurement of the clarity of water.

A

Turbidity - high turbidity means the water is not very clear.

56
Q

A flat plate used to measure the clarity of lakes and oceans.

A

Secchi disk - invented by Angelo Secchi of the Vatican.

57
Q

A measurement of how well water conducts electricity, which shows the amount of ions (such as salt) dissolved in the water.

A

Conductivity

58
Q

A type of bacteria that lives in the large intestines of animals. Its presence in water indicates that the water has been polluted by the feces of animals, including humans.

A

Coliform Bacteria (E. coli is the most well-known example).

59
Q

Pollutants picked up from the ground and carried downhill towards water bodies by runoff following precipitation.

A

Stormwater Pollution

APES (6 decks)

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