Unit 2 - AOS 1 - Transport mechanisms of pollutants

Question 1

Pollutant

Answer 1

a substance, gas, chemical etc that is released into the environment that causes harm or alters the environment in a negative way.

Question 2

what is a Transport mechanism?

Answer 2

To implement successful management strategies, we need to know the types, source and quantities of pollutants being generated.

Question 3

Sources of pollution

Answer 3

Direct - pollution is discharged directly into the effected environment

Indirect - pollution finds its way indirectly into an environment

Question 4

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Question 5

Point source emissions

Answer 5

Any single identifiable source of pollution from which pollutants are discharged, such as a pipe, ditch, ship or factory smokestack.

Question 6

Diffuse Source Emissions

Answer 6

Occur when the emissions enter the environment across a broad area
- More difficult to control

Question 7

Diffuse atmospheric emissions

Answer 7

Fugitive - escape from a variety of points around a building

Mobile - Come from mobile sources

Question 8

Pollution sink

Answer 8

a process or place that removes, stores or absorbs the pollutant

Question 9

Nitrites (NO2) - pollution sink

Answer 9

reacting with water droplet and precipitating from the atmosphere as nitric acid.

Question 10

Nitrates (NO3) - Pollution Sink

Answer 10

dissolving in soil water and being taken up by plants and incorporated into proteins ( accumulated by plant matter is a sink for nitrogen)

Question 11

Carbon dioxide - Pollution sink

Answer 11

Carbon dioxide dissolving in fresh and marine water - the oceans are major carbon sink

Question 12

Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) - Pollution sink

Answer 12

Taken in for photosynthesis for plant growth and stoked as vegetation (plant matter is a carbon sink)

Question 13

Heavy Metals - Pollution Sink

Answer 13

wetlands

Question 14

Pollution Managment

Answer 14

Knowing where the pollution comes from and what sink it is going to

Question 15

Transport mechanisms

Answer 15

Through environments natural processes
- Water cycle
- Air circulation
- Soil

Question 16

Where does Sulfur come from and how is it released

Answer 16

• Sulfur is a natural element found in coal
• when coal is burnt the dulfur reacts with oxygen in atmosphere to form Sulfur dioxide.

Question 17

Effects of surface dioxide

Answer 17

• irritates the respiratory tract and increases risk of tract infections
• Can contribute to acid rain

Question 18

3 forms of mercury

Answer 18

Elemental : metallic mercury (can’t be digested)

Inorganic : mercury with positively charged ions

Methylmercury : it is inorganic mercury that has been transformed by anaerobic bacteria. Now is organic and can be absorbed by anything biotic making it toxic

Question 19

Natural sources of mercury

Answer 19

Rocks, soil, water and air.

Question 20

Unnatural sources of mercury

Answer 20

• Mining site where mercury has been dug up
• Weed killers

Question 21

Health impact of mercury

Answer 21

• Toxic and fatal
• acts as a neurotoxin ( interferes with brain signals)

Question 22

Bioaccumulation

Answer 22

“Organism takes on substances faster than the body can remove it, results in a net increase of that substance over time”

Can be good or bad

Question 23

Bio concentration

Answer 23

“Type of bioaccumulation and is build of a chemical in the body taken directly from the environment”

Question 24

Biomagnification

Answer 24

“Is the increase in concentration of a chemical in organisms as you go up food chain”