Water Pollution Flashcards
What is Pollution?
Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials called pollutants into the environment.
Give an example of a natural pollutant
Volcanic ash
Give an example of a pollutant created by human activity.
Garbage
What are some of the damaging effects of pollutants
Pollutants damage the quality of the air, water, and land.
How does water pollution occur?
Water pollution occurs when harmful substances—often chemicals or microorganisms—contaminate bodies of water, degrading water quality and making it toxic to humans or the environment.
How does wastewater run off cause pollution?
Wastewater from anthropogenic flow back into the environment without being treated.
What is marine dumping?
Household garbage is still collected and dumped into oceans by many countries across the world.
How long does it take to decompose?
Most of these items can take anywhere from two to 200 years to decompose completely.
Give an example of a major cause of accidental water pollution.
Large oil spills and oil leaks, while often accidental, are a major cause of water pollution.
How does this accidental water pollution occur?
Leaks and spills often are caused by oil drilling operations in the ocean or ships that transport oil.
Farmers use chemicals and pesticides which can seep into the groundwater.
Additionally, when it rains, the chemicals mix with rainwater, and flows into rivers and streams that filter into the ocean, causing further water pollution.
How is waste water run off caused?
Farmers use chemicals and pesticides which can seep into the groundwater.
Additionally, when it rains, the chemicals mix with rainwater, and flows into rivers and streams that filter into the ocean, causing further water pollution.
