Final Exam (Ch. 13-16, 18) Flashcards
(242 cards)
1
Q
Pollution
A
refers to excess outputs by society into the environment
2
Q
T/F: Pollution is matter cycling and energy flow
A
true
3
Q
T/F: Pollution is a decelerated natural process
A
false, it’s an accelerated natural process (e.g. volcanoes)
4
Q
T/F: Pollution is a step-wise process
A
true, think of “cradle to grave”
e.g. a car… each process to create a car and use a car produces pollution
5
Q
T/F: human-cased pollution was greater in the Greek, Egyptians, and Roman periods
A
false; the scale of human-caused pollution is now much greater than it has ever been
6
Q
what are the 2 approaches for pollution
A
- Rights-based
- Technology-based
7
Q
Rights-based approach
A
assumes everyone has the right to the highest pollution control possible and sets standards accordingly
8
Q
Technology-based approach
A
sets standards according to the “best available” technology
9
Q
Benefit-Cost Analysis relationship between benefits and costs
A
- as pollution is removed, the relative benefits of further pollution control decrease, and the economic costs of control increase
- The intersection of the line is where the benefit-cost ratio is optimized
10
Q
who is the leading polluter in the world
A
the US
11
Q
What is the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI)
A
An annual review of toxic-pollution in the US
12
Q
what does toxicology study
A
toxicology studies the effects of chemicals that are harmful or fatal in relatively small amounts
13
Q
carcinogen
A
a toxin that causes cancer
14
Q
mutagen
A
a substance that cause genetic mutations in sperm or egg cells
15
Q
5 steps to trace the path of a poison through the body
A
- Absorption
- Distribution
- Metabolism
- Storage, and
- Excretion
16
Q
Acute toxicity
A
when harm occurs shortly after exposure
17
Q
pesticides
A
chemicals made to kill orgnaisms people consider undesirable
18
Q
what are pesticides named after
A
the targeted pest
- herbicides for herbs
- insecticides for insects
- rodenticides for rodents
- fungicides for fungi
19
Q
types of pesticides
A
- inorganic pesticides
- synthetic organic pesticides
20
Q
inorganic pesticides
A
like sulfur, lead, arsenic, copper…
generally banned bc of their high persistence and non-specific toxicity
21
Q
synthetic organic pesticides
A
vary in persistence and toxicity and include:
- Chlorinated hydrocarbons (DDT, chlordane)
- Organophosphates (parathion, malathion)
- Carbamates (commonly used in home gardens)
22
Q
what does Integrated Pest Management (IPM) do
A
seeks to reduce the use of chemical pesticides by relying on other methods of pest control, such as natural predators, and breeding pest resistant plants
23
Q
The Precautionary Principle is…
A
treat the issue as if it is in its worst state to be on the safe side
24
Q
difference between polluted water and contaminated water
A
polluted water is unusable for its intended purpose, whereas contaminated water is unusable for any purpose
(intended vs any purpose)
25
what causes ~1/3 of the world's people to have inadequate sanitation
no widespread modern water treatment plants
26
In ths US, approx. how of of surface waters = polluted
~10%
27
how much groundwater is contaminated in the US
about 25% (one-quarter)
28
What are the 2 ways the water cycles purifies water
1. Physical Processes (like gravity)
2. Chemical processes
29
what are the physical processes that can purify water
- dilution (reduction of the concentration)
- sedimentation
- filtration
- aeration
30
what are the chemical processes that can purify water
- microbes in water that purify and inorganic (P, Fe)
31
what are the 3 ways water pollution can be classified by:
1. its composition
2. its source
3. its fate
32
organic matter is...
the substances of living or dead organisms and their byproducts
33
when does aerobic decomposition occur?
when ample oxygen is available
34
in time organic matter broken down by microscopic organisms (bacteria)... if oxygen is depleted then then _________ decomposition occurs
anaerobic decomposition
35
What is the oxygen sag curve
a graph of dissolved oxygen content as a function of distance from a waste source
36
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
how much oxygen is required to break things down aerobically
37
what is the relationship between organic matter and the BOD
the more the organic matter, the higher the BOD
38
Eutrophication
the complex breakdown of excess organic matter that enriches water with plant nutrients; plants such as algae thrive on these nutrients and can produce algal blooms
39
what are the 3 major sources of water pollution
1. industry
2. agriculture
3. domestic wastes / cities
40
what does indistrial pollution include
- manufacturing
- power generating
- mining, logging, and construction
- food-processing industries
41
agricultural pollution
is usually from a nonpoint source while industrial and domestic pollutants are point source discharges
42
most common causes for water pollution
storm water and snowmelt (rain that runs off from pavement or rooftops)
43
what are the 2 types of pollution sources
point and nonpoint sources
44
point source pollution
pollution enters the system from one identifiable spot
45
nonpoint source pollution
pollution enters a system from multiple and more diffuse sources
46
Industrial Pollution
1. inorganic pollutants (metals)
2. thermal
47
Agricultural Pollution uses and causes
1. sedimentation pollution
2. herbicides and pesticides
48
sediment pollution
- farmland exposed to wind and rain that carries soil into local waterways
- these sedimental reduce sunlight penetration in said water sources
49
solutions for sediment solution
1. contour plowing
2. terracing
3. settling ponds
4. installing windbreaks
50
herbicides and pesticides
- farmers are using these chemical additives at all time high rates
- inappropriate use and expose humans and animals to toxic levels of pollution
- often when more chemical is applied than what is needed, the remainder runs off into streams
51
T/F: most pollutants evaporate and disappear
false; they often find their way to natural waters
52
what are the 3 reasons lakes are polluted more easily
1. slow circulation
2. pollutant accumulation
3. lower volume for dilution than flowing rivers
53
what year was the Clean Water Act passed
1972
54
what is still threatening water sources
although point pollution is improving,
1. nonpoint pollution remains a threat
2. physical alterations also remain a threat
55
how do physical alterations threaten water sources
- the building of dams, canals, and land development disrupt the ecosystems and community there
- physical alterations increase sediment pollution and vary water temperature
56
How can we reverse the Damage of Surface Water
1. Dredging
2. physical isolation of chemical treatment of sediments
3. decontamination
4. aeration
57
dredging...
removing the fine sediments that are laden with toxic compounds that are attached to the sediments in lakes or ponds
58
physical isolation
barriers can be created to isolate polluted sediments in a pod or portion of a stream
59
decontamination
toxic spills often require treatment to decontaminate water, animals, and sediments
60
aeration
oxygen levels in a lake that is oxygen-depleted can be restored by aeration
61
why is groundwater pollution difficult to detect
since it is not visible
62
major contaminants of US groundwater
nitrates (from fertilizers) and pesticides, so basically the agricultural industry contaminates US groundwater the most
63
Residence Time formula
RT = capacity/ rate of influx
64
Residence Time
how quickly a substance cycles through a reservoir
65
Capacity (in terms of concentration)
max concentration of a substance a reservoir can reach before saturation occurs
66
rate of influx
how much substance a stream or groundwater system brings into a reservoir
67
T/F: humans do not affect any part of the RT = capacity/ rate of influx equation
false; humans can alter any part of this equation by our activity
68
ways to treat groundwater pollution (4)
1. Natural processes
2. decontamination after extraction
3. air stripping
4. activated charcoal
69
most effective and economical way to treat groundwater pollution
allow natural processes to remove/ destroy pollutants
70
decontamination after extraction is useful for...
aka "pump-&-treat" is useful is groundwater is needed before residence time has elapsed
71
how does air stripping work
it pumps air into an extracted water laden with volatile organic pollution, transfers the pollution to the air rather than leaving it in the water
72
how does activated charcoal work
filters and absorbs many organic compounds from water
73
What are some ways marine waters can get polluted
1. runoff and other land-based activities
2. atmospheric pollution
3. maritime transportation
4. dumping of wastes
5. offshore oil productions
74
3 major ways to reduce water pollution
1. source reduction of waste (input reduction)
- waste water treatment before discharge into natural waters
- remediation (clean-up) natural waters after they have been polluted
75
what does input reduction of water polluting waste include?
1. increased efficiency
2. recycling
3. substitution
76
what is the conventional wastewater treatment process look like
1. remove pollutants physically
2. use tools like microbes to more smaller pollutant matters/ waste
3. uses a variety of physical and chemical processes to perform more complex treatment
77
how do septic tanks work
they permit the sewage to settle and then disperse into an absorption field of soil where bacteria digest it
78
T/F: biological resources provide a large percentage of the raw materials we use like wood, rubber, leather, etc.)
True!
79
T/F: Since humans are different than other animals, we do not rely on other organisms as a source of nutrition
false, we are totally dependent on other organisms for nutrition and almost all the food we eat is derived from other organisms
80
what are human's most direct dependence for nutrition
agriculture
81
what are the 3 main kinds of plants that constitute more than half of our food supply
1. rice
2. wheat
3. maize (corn)
82
what animals provide most of the meat production (top 5)
1. poultry
2. sheep
3. goats
4. pigs
5. cattle
83
where do most of the undernourished people live
in developing countries
84
why is hunger and malnutrition difficult to define
because it is difficult to quantify the requirements for someone to be considered either or as it depends on things like the individual's age, gender, and activity levels
85
what is the ideal diet for everyone to be on to feed the world's population
to be able to feed everyone in the world, the best diet would be if everyone was vegetarian
86
what are some factors affecting the inequality of food distribution and food prices
1. global warming (causing weather pattern changes, more droughts, local floods)
2. political problems
3. social problems
87
what is the issue between population growth and grain production
the population is growing faster than grain can be produced
88
2 ways world food production could be increased
1. increase the amount of land under cultivation
2. increase the yield per unit of land under cultivation
89
what is topsoil
a mixture of mineral matter and humus, alive with microscopic and macroscopic organisms
90
what forms the backbone of the world's food supply (the more general term)
grain
91
T/F: all the grain grown is for human consumption
false, a lot of it is used to feed livestock and poultry
92
what kinds of organisms form the base of the food web
plants/ producers
93
why are there more producers in the universe than consumers
this can be explained by the rule of 10s
94
rule of 10s states that
out of all the energy going into a plant from the sun, 90% of that photosynthesis energy is lost to the universe to heat and 10% stays in the plant as stored energy. Then when an organism eats the plant, they gain that plant's stored energy of 10%, which is equal to 1% of the energy from the sun.
This goes for each trophic level, so when the next consumer eats that organism, it gains 10% of that organism's energy and loses the other 90% to the universe.
95
what can be used as an indicator of global food security
the size of the world's grain carryover stock
(if the stocks drop too low, grain prices may fluctuate widely and makes it that much harder for poorly fed people to get food)
96
problems with free market/ free trade solution to world hunger
if countries specialized in making/ producing some crop, there are other issues such as debts, trade imbalances, and restrictions on free market policies that would make it difficult to have a free market globally
97
what did the Green Revolution do for the wheat production
caused it to nearly triple
98
although, new lands are being put to cultivation, why does the total amount of cultivated lands remain steady
because the amount of new cultivated land is being equal to land removed from cultivation from soil exhaustion, degradation, and the building of roads/structures
99
how has world grain production increased
through the use of
1. special varieties of crops
2. herbicides and pesticides
3. artificial fertilizer
4. irrigation
100
how does ecological succession work
successive groups of plants and animals will colonize a clear patch of land.
1st group to come in are usually smaller, but fast-growing and are known as pioneer plants. Then successive groups that replace these pioneer plants are larger and slower-growing thus making them longer lasting plants
101
what is the final stage of ecological succession
climax community - large trees + smaller/ younger trees and other plants and animals
102
ecological succession for agriculture (pioneer stage of succession)
- land is cleared and artificially maintained
- farmer does not allow it to get to the climax community stage
- pioneer species include: rice, wheat, corn
- when crop is mature, it is harvested
- then cycle repeats
103
what is ecological succession for agriculture aka
pioneer stage of succession
104
effects of pioneer stage of succession
- monoculture
- nutrient depletion
- increase in erosion (since there is nothing there to hold the soil once crops are harvested)
105
how does monoculture effect an area of land
planting one variety of plant per field at a time is a problem as it reduces biodiversity and increases the chances for the crop sot get attacks from diseases and pests
106
negative effects of irrigation
1. salinization
2. waterlogging
107
what does salinization do
ruins the agricultural soil ecology
108
what does waterlogging do
is a problem with poorly drained soils and causes the water table to rise making the groundwater and soils increasingly saltier
109
why is the sea salty
because it is where salts from land surfaces accumulate
110
what happens when an area of land is too salinized
the land can no longer support most crops or other plants
111
List of the solutions to the effects of agriculture
1. Slash and burn
2. Fallowing
3. Crop rotation
4. Promoting diversity
112
slash and burn
clearing the land and burning the vegetation to add nutrients to the soil
113
relationship between monoculture and fertilizer use
as more monoculture is used, the more heavily fertilizers are also used
114
what is a solution to prevent crops from being targeted by diseases and predators in a monoculture
pesticides and herbicides
115
what is fallowing
a "two-field system" planting a crop in a field, then letting it rest for a year (allowing for native plants and animals to grow and fertilize it)
116
what is crop rotation and why is it considered a solution
rotating crops from field to field and season to season. By rotating the crops, it allows the plant to restore certain nutrients back to the soil. For instance, planting legumes restores nitrogen to soil.
117
what is slash and burn also known as
swidden techniques
118
how can promoting diversity help for agriculture
it can mimic some of the characteristics of a climax community
119
how does modern agriculture work
it utilizes high-yield crops and massive amounts of fertilizer, herbicides, and pesticides to raise the yield per acre.
120
what has are the negative effects of the Green Revolution
the GR has led to nutrient depletion of trace elements and long-term damage to soils
121
All the negative effects of agriculture through monoculture
1. decreased soil fertility
2. increase in salinization and water logging
3. more pesticides and herbicides needed
4. contamination of groundwater through agrochemicals
5. increased water use (aquifer depletion) from intensely watering crops
122
what are the 4 sustainable agricultural techniques
1. no-till cultivation
2. organic farming
3. drip irrigation
4. integrated pest management (IPM)
123
what does no-till cultivation do
retails soil ecosystem
124
what does drip irrigation do
minimizes loss to evaporation
125
what does integrated pest management (IPM) do
reduces the use of synthetic fertilizers through the biological control of pests
126
what does organic farming focus on
promotes balance and avoids using synthetic chemicals
127
how can a farmer utilize integrated pest management
bringing the pests' predator to the land so the pest get scared/ eaten, or using crop wastes as natural fertilizers
128
what is biotechnology and bioengineering in reference to food production
the artificial use and manipulation of organisms toward human ends, including genetic manipulations that can in effect produce new types of organisms
129
advantages of biotech & bioengineering
- may increase food production by developing crop strains that are disease and pest resistant
- may help grow specialty crops for industrial needs (eg. rapeseed oil which is used for machine lubricant)
130
disadvantages of biotech & bioengineering
- may result in unintended environmental problems like pesticide persistence in soil
- may give less control to farmers and more control to companies who patent those products
- some people are concerned whether or not these modified crops are safe to eat
131
problem with hunting in the water
fishes are now commercially extinct because of overfishing
132
what is commercially extinct
some sea species are not economically viable to harvest due to depleted amounts of them
133
T/F: most of the ocean is "biological desert"
true, which is why overfishing is such a large issue
134
what are the main causes for marine life deaths
- overfishing
- pollution
- climate change
135
what are rid tides
algae bloom on the surface of the ocean that grows due to pollution and marine organisms can suffocate under these ride tides
136
1 way climate change is affecting marine life
killing coral reefs, which are biodiversity hubs for the ocean
137
what is phytoplankton
the producers of the ocean that form the basis of the food chain and also absorb CO2
138
why is too much phytoplankton an issue
can suffocate organisms (red tide)
139
why is too little phytoplankton an issue
ocean stops absorbing as much CO2, which will further intensify global warming (positive feedback loop)
140
what is aquaculture
aquatic organism farming (more general term) or can also refer to freshwater "seafood" farming
141
what is mariculture
saltwater seafood farming
142
Pros of water farming
can be very productive and efficient at producing animal protein (more productive than terrestrial farms)
143
Cons of water farming
- labor intensive
- intricate management of delicate ecosystems
- not suitable for all locations
144
T/F: soil is not that important in out world
false, soil is one of our most precious commodities
145
what is soil made of
weathered, disintegrated, decomposed rocks and minerals + decayed remains of plants and animals
146
function of soil
to hold water and nutrients in place so surface fauna and flora can grow and thrive
147
T/F: soil is alive
true
148
what are the different soil horizons of a well-developed soil
1. O horizon
2. A horizon
3. B horizon
4. C horizon
5. D horizon
149
what is the O horizon and what is in it
litter;
organic matter
150
what is the A horizon and what is in it
litter and topsoil;
dark, rich humus
151
what is the B horizon and characterize it
subsoil;
light colored
152
what is the C horizon and what is in it
transition zone;
varies with light soil and rocks
153
what is the D horizon and what is in it
parent material;
rock or gravel
154
main causes of soil degradation
1. overgrazing
2. deforestation
3. agricultural activities
155
for each inch of topsoil lost, average corn and wheat yield drop by about how much
6%
156
weathering
the breakdown of rock or mineral material
157
erosion
the physical movement of the weathered material
158
what does rain do to soil
breaks it up and softens the soil
159
what picks up soil particles
surface runs and wind
160
T/F: faster moving water picks up and carries off smaller or less particles because its moving too fast
false; faster moving water picks up and carries off larger sized particles and a greater load
161
strategies for reducing erosion
1. protect soil from faster moving wind and water
2. grow plants whose roots will help the stabilize the soil
162
how to protect soil from fast wind
plant wind breaks perpendicular to dominate wind direction
163
how to protect soil from fast moving water
- reduce the slope so runoff is slowed
- plow fields parallel to contours
- terrace fields
164
What are the 2 federal policies aimed at improving water quality
1. Clean Water Act of 1972
2. Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
165
What does Safe Drinking Water Act do
set criteria for drinking water quality
166
What are the primary standard for the SDWA
1. inorganic checms
2. organic chems
3. Radioactive matter
4. Pathogenic microbes
167
what are the secondary standards for the SDWA
they are based on non-health criteria
- taste
- color
- odor
- corrosivity
- hardness
168
problems regarding water quality in the US
1. reauthorization and rising cost of compliance with existing clean water law
2. nonpoint pollution
3. ageing treatment plants
4. pollution of groundwaters, wetlands, and marine waters
5. new toxic substances
169
the world water supply is already inadequate but what are 2 factors that can worsen it
1. growing population
2. climate change
170
T/F: indoor air quality is not much of a threat since we have air conditioning, humidifiers, dehumanizers, etc
false; despite these technologies, we spend most of out time indoors, thus making indoor air quality a big threat to humans
171
In the US, air pollution has cost billions of $$ of damage in
1. health care costs
2. crop and livestock losses
3. weathering of statues and buildings
4. cleaning costs to clothes
172
6 main pollutants of the air (aka criteria pollutants)
they are all particulate matter
1. PM2.5 and PM10
2. sulfur dioxide (SO2)
3. nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
4. ozone (O3)
5. carbon monoxide (CO)
6. lead (Pb)
173
what are the 2 main sources for criteria pollutants
1. burning of fossil fuels
2. industrial processes
174
largest source of air pollution
burning or use fossil fuels (transportation, stationary fuel combustion, industrial processes)
175
how are particulates usually classified
by size
176
what kinds of particulates are associated with direct emissions
coarse particulates
177
what kinds of particulates are associated with secondarily produced particles
finer particles
178
what are the most damaging air pollutant to the lungs
particulates
179
T/F: particulates can absorb toxic chemcals
true, which is one reason why they are so bad
180
how are sulfir oxides produces
by burning sulfur-containing fossil fuels esp coal
181
which particulate is overall most damaging to humans and the environemnt
SO3
182
T/F: SO2 is directly toxic to living things
true, making them part of the most damaging particualte
183
what is the main cause of acid rain
sulfur dioxide
184
characteristics of acid rain
- pH value < 5.6
- damage both physical and biological environment (pain discoloration, corrosion of metals, dissolution of marble and other lime-containing building materials)
185
ways to reduce Sulfur Oxides
1. Input reduction
2. Switching to low-sulfur coal
3. Washing high-sulfur coal prior to combustion
4. Using scrubbers to remove sulfur oxides after fuel combustion
186
what is the most effective and cheapest way to reduce sulfur oxides
input reduction
187
why is using scrubbers to remove sulfur oxides after fuel combustion the worst solution
- cost
- sludge disposal
- high water demand
188
when is photochemical pollution produced
photochemical pollution is produced when sunlight initiates chemical reactions between various nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and other components of air
189
T/F: photochemicals are secondary pollutants
true, they are produced by reactions among other air pollutants
190
what is the most abundant secondary pollutant
ozone (O3)
191
what is the main part of smog
ground-level ozone
192
which layer protects the Earth from ultraviolet radiation
stratospheric ozone layer
193
reducing photochemical pollution
is difficult because nitrogen oxides and VOCs are produced mainly by fossil fuel combustion...
1. altering combustion process can reduce nitrogen oxides
2. however, minimizing VOC, tends to maximize nitrogen oxide emissions
194
describe carbon monoxide (CO)
a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that interferes with the ability of red blood cells to transport oxygen
195
how is CO produced
CO is produced by the incomplete combustion of:
- fossil fuels
- wood
- tobacco
196
ways to reduce vehicle emission pollution
1. pre-combustion (reformulated fuels)
2. post-combustion (catalytic converters)
3. alternative engine design
197
pre-combustion
modifying the properties of duels before combustion to reduce the production of harmful pollutants
198
post-combustion
devices installed in vehicle exhaust system the reduce harmful emission by chemically converting pollutants into less harmful substances
199
alternative engine design
developing new engine technologies that minimize or eliminate the production of pollutants
200
thermal inversion refers to the idea that
local conditions can strongly influence the impact of air pollution, but air pollution can affect local weather by creating "heat islands" and providing condensation nuclei
201
what is the major reason most local and regional air pollutants have declined
legal incentives have been the main reason for the decline
202
what was the 1st federal act for air pollution control
the Air Pollution Control Act of 1955
203
economic solutions to reduce air pollution
implementing more "green" taxes like gasoline, coal, BTU taxes will foster input reduction solutions by using less of the polluting resource
204
2 types of indoor air pollution that cause the most harm
1. radon
2. smoking
205
sick building syndrome
a medical term referring to chronic ailments caused by indoor air pollution
206
where do indoor air pollutants come from
1. underground diffusion
2. combustion
3. chemical emissions
207
examples of indoor air pollutants
- cleaning solvents
- air fresheners
- bleach
- stoves
-fireplaces
- heaters
208
what is radon
a radioactive decay product of uranium
209
how to reduce indoor air pollution
increasing building ventilation
210
how is noise loudness measured
decibel scale
211
3 ways to reduce noice
1. at the source
(using this like acoustical materials)
2. as it travels to the person
3. by protecting the person
212
where is majority waste produced
in developed countries
213
what is municipal solid waste
the trash people put outside for garbage collectors to collect
214
waste synonyms (4)
- trash
- garbage
- rubbish
- refuse
215
what strategy was used to dispose waste
dilute and disperse strategy
216
what is waste management focused on
concentration and containment
217
3 ways to deal with waste management
1. Burning the waste
2. Storing the waste in dumps, impounds, or sanitary landfills
3. Disposing by injection or burial deep underground in rock cavities
218
Why use incineration to burn wastes
volume reduction
219
problems with incineration
- ash disposal
- the generation of hazardous material like heavy metals and dioxin
- most costly form of waste disposal
220
where did dumps and landfills used to be located and why
swamp areas and wetlands because they were thought to be useless lands
221
what are sanitary landfills
closed dumps
222
what do sanitary landfills need to control
effluents like leachate and methane
223
what has happen to the size and number of landfills over time
the size of landfills has increased while the number of landfills has decreased
224
how are industrial of hazardous disposed of
by injecting the waste into a deep well that goes into the earth's crust
225
Concerns of deep-well injection (4)
1. potential groundwater contamination
2. earthquake generation
3. loss of future use of some aquifers
4. adequate monitoring
226
why do poorer areas try to "attract" garabage
to create more jobs and more revenue, but this leads to more health risks and long-term costs vs short-term gains
227
what is the waste management hierarchy
- source reduction
- reuse of products
- recovery and recycling
- waste treatment and incineration
- storage and disposal
228
what is the most beneficial of waste management
reducing consumption
229
ways to reduce waste consumption
1. the use of alternative materials or products
2. changes in manufacturing procedures
3. less consumption
230
2 types of recylcling
1. closed-loop
2. open-loop
231
what type of materials are closed-loop recycled
glass and metals
232
what type of materials are open-loop recycled
paper and plastics
233
what is composting
the breakdown of organic waste by soil microorganisms
234
what are hazardous substances
substances that when released to the environment may present a substantial danger to human health, welfare, or the environment
235
what kinds of substances are generally hazardous
those that are chemically reactive, corrosive, flammable, explosive, or toxic to living organisms
236
what are the 3 categories of hazardous wate
1. organic compounds
2. inorganic compounds
3. radioactive waste
237
what is the general way hazardous waste is now being disposed of
destruction or deactivation of damaging components
238
what are the new methods for dealing with hazardous waste
1. "plasma torch" incineration
2. solar radiation processing
3. bioredmediation
239
advantages of solar radiation processing
- renewable
- low operating costs
- environmentally firendly
240
disadvantages of solar radiation processing
- geographical limitations (due to sunlight availability)
- limited waste types
241
what is solar radiation processing best suited for
organic waste treatment
242
what does the flow of electricity through wires produce
an electromagnetic field (EMF)
