Properties Of Pollutants (p1)

Question 1

What is the definition of pollution?

Answer 1

Energy or matter released into the environment with the potential to cause adverse changes to an ecosystem.

Question 2

What is the ‘polluter pays principle’?

Answer 2

Whoever causes the pollution is responsible for the problems caused and has an obligation to prevent it.

Question 3

What is the ‘precautionary principle’?

Answer 3

It is assumed that a waste will cause pollution until research confirms it’s unlikely to when release is permitted.

Question 4

What are primary pollutants?

Answer 4

Pollutants released directly by human activities, e.g. CO2 from burning fossil fuels.

Question 5

What are secondary pollutants?

Answer 5

Pollutants produced by the interaction of other materials released by human activities, e.g. tropospheric ozone.

Question 6

What is biomagnification?

Answer 6

Substances become more concentrated as they pass along a food chain.

Question 7

What is bioaccumulation?

Answer 7

The absorption and storage of pollutants in the tissues of organisms over time.

Question 8

What are the three types of degradation?

Answer 8

• Biodegradation
• Photodegradation
• Thermal degradation

Question 9

What is a temperature inversion?

Answer 9

A condition where air near the ground is cooler than air above, causing pollutants to become concentrated.

Question 10

What factors affect the mobility of pollutants?

Answer 10

• State of matter
• Density
• Solubility in water
• Environmental features

Question 11

True or False: Liposoluble pollutants are easily excreted from the body.

Answer 11

False

Question 12

Fill in the blank: The break-even point is when costs of pollution are the same as _______.

Answer 12

[clean up costs]

Question 13

What is synergism in pollution?

Answer 13

The interaction of two or more pollutants to create a greater impact than the sum of their individual impacts.

Question 14

What is teratogenicity?

Answer 14

Non-inherited birth defects caused by the interruption of DNA function.

Question 15

What are the main objectives of general pollution control?

Answer 15

• Distinguish between critical pathway analysis and critical group monitoring
• Understand main emission control strategies
• Describe principles behind pollution control

Question 16

What properties of pollutants determine their impact?

Answer 16

• State of matter
• Density
• Persistence
• Toxicity
• Specificity
• Reactivity

Question 17

What is the significance of adsorption in pollution?

Answer 17

Pollutants attach to surfaces of materials, immobilizing them and preventing pollution problems.

Question 18

What is the effect of pH on pollutant solubility?

Answer 18

Heavy metals are more soluble in acidic conditions.

Question 19

What is critical pathway analysis (CPA)?

Answer 19

A method used to predict the movement of pollutants and to plan monitoring programmes.

Question 20

What environmental features affect pollutant degradation?

Answer 20

• Temperature
• Light levels
• Oxygen
• pH

Question 21

What are diffuse sources of pollution?

Answer 21

Pollutants released from a large number of small sources, making effects difficult to assess.

Question 22

What is the impact of wind and water currents on pollutants?

Answer 22

They affect how far a pollutant is dispersed.

Question 23

What are the two types of pollutant effects?

Answer 23

• Direct effects
• Indirect effects

Question 24

What is the definition of toxicity?

Answer 24

Measure of how poisonous a substrate is, usually caused by enzyme inhibition.

Question 25

What are the factors affecting pollutant dispersal?

Answer 25

* Wind speed and direction * Presence of adsorbent materials * Temperature inversions

Question 26

What is the difference between chronic and acute effects of pollution?

Answer 26

* Chronic effect: Causes effects over long periods of time * Acute effect: Causes rapid death

Question 27

What is the role of environmental monitoring?

Answer 27

To check levels of pollutants in areas where they may pose a threat to humans.

Question 28

What human activities are known to cause pollution?

Answer 28

* Fuel combustion * Fuel extraction * Manufacturing * Domestic and industrial waste * Pesticides and fertilizers

Question 29

What is meant by pollutant interactions?

Answer 29

One pollutant may be affected by another, influencing its behavior and effects.

Question 30

What are carcinogens?

Answer 30

Mutagens that cause cancer, e.g. asbestos, DDT, cadmium.

Question 31

What are the ideal conditions for a temperature inversion?

Answer 31

* Valleys * Clear night skies * Mist or fog * Low wind speeds

Question 32

What is the persistence of organochlorine insecticides like DDT?

Answer 32

High persistence due to chemical stability and slow breakdown ## Footnote Organophosphates and pyrethroids typically have lower persistence compared to organochlorine insecticides.

Question 33

How does density affect pollutant dispersal?

Answer 33

More dense pollutants require more kinetic energy to remain suspended, leading to closer deposition to the source ## Footnote An example is hydrogen cyanide from the Bhopal disaster, which settled close to the ground due to its density.

Question 34

What are the different energy forms of pollutants?

Answer 34

Noise, heat, ionizing radiation, light ## Footnote Each energy form affects how pollutants behave in the environment.

Question 35

How does the state of matter influence pollutant dispersion?

Answer 35

Solids are deposited close to the source; gases are easily dispersed in the atmosphere ## Footnote The state of matter affects the ability of pollutants to be dispersed by water or air.

Question 36

What is Critical Group Monitoring?

Answer 36

A method assessing public exposure risk to pollutants by focusing on at-risk lifestyle/job groups ## Footnote If the risk is low for these groups, it's assumed that the general public faces an even lower risk.

Question 37

What do lapse rate diagrams show?

Answer 37

The relationship between temperature and altitude ## Footnote This can help in understanding atmospheric conditions affecting pollutant dispersion.

Question 38

What is one strategy for controlling emissions based on location?

Answer 38

Discharging emissions in marine areas where water currents dilute and disperse pollutants ## Footnote Other strategies include avoiding discharges downwind of urban areas.

Question 39

How does the timing of emissions affect pollutant dispersion?

Answer 39

Emissions during incoming tides will carry upstream; outgoing tides will disperse them ## Footnote This highlights the importance of tidal cycles in emission management.

Question 40

What happens to atmospheric emissions during a temperature inversion?

Answer 40

They will not disperse ## Footnote This is a critical factor for restricting emissions in cities prone to temperature inversions.