Unit 8 AP Envi Sci Flashcards
POPs
Persistent Organic Pollutants, are hazardous chemicals that can persist in the environment for long periods, accumulate in living organisms, and travel long distances.
Resistant to degradation through chemical, biological, & photolytic (broken down by light) process
- DDT, BPA, PCBs
POPS effect on ecosystems
Accumulating in organisms = wildlife diseases & abnormalities, disrupts ecosystem functions
- Reproductive failures, deformities, and behavioral changes in wildlife, with predatory animals like birds of prey & marine mammals being particularly vulnerable.
Bioaccumulation & biomagnification
Bioaccumulation is the process where a pollutant builds up in the tissues of a single organism over time.
Biomagnification is the increasing concentration of a pollutant as it moves up the food chain.
Bioaccumulation & biomagnification effects on humans & ecosystems.
Can disrupt normal biological functions, weaken the immune system, and increase the risk of diseases like cancer and developmental disorders.
Can alter food web dynamics, reduce biodiversity, and negatively impact the health of entire ecosystems.
Point Sources
Discharge from specific locations
- Factories, power plants, drain pipes, channel, tunnel, concentrated animal feeding operation, or vessel or other floating craft
Nonpoint Sources
Scattered or diffused, no specific location of discharge
- Agricultural fields, golf courses, atmosphere, roadways, urban runoff
Impacts of human activities on aquatic ecosystems
(oil spills, litter, sedimemt, thermal, nutrient pollution, heavy metals, & endocrine disruptors)
Oil spills: immediate mortality to long-term health impacts and disruption of natural habitats, toxic through ingestion, disrupt coral reefs ability to function.
Plastics & other litter: entanglement, ingestion, habitat damage,transport invasive species to new areas, toxic chemicals accumulating in the food chain.
Sediment pollution: reduced water clarity, smothering of aquatic life, & the release of pollutants like heavy metals & organic compounds. Eutrophication.
Thermal pollution: reducing dissolved oxygen, stressing or killing organisms, & disrupting natural cycles like breeding and migration.
Heavy metals: Reproductive problems, negative impact on the quality of the water, physiological stress: Metals can disrupt normal physiological functions, leading to reduced growth, developmental abnormalities, and even death.
Endocrine disruptors: Reproductive problems, developmental malformations, & increased cancer risk.
Nutrient pollution (eutrophication): Algal blooms, oxygen depletion, hypoxia can kill fish and other aquatic organisms, disrupt food webs, & degrade habitats.
Solid waste disposal methods
Landfill, recycling, open burning, composting, reuse, incineration.
Solid waste disposal methods: environmental impacts
Landfills: significant impacts, air & water pollution, soil contamination, & greenhouse gas emissions, negative to human health if exposed to pollutants & pathogens.
Incineration:
- Advantages: reduced waste volume
- Disadvantages: air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, toxic ash, health concerns.
E-waste & illegal dumping: can lead to soil & water contamination, air pollution, & damage to ecosystems.
- leachate (contaminated liquid) seeping into the soil, contaminating groundwater & crops. E-waste, with its heavy metals, poses a significant risk in this regard.
Ways to reduce waste (positive & negative effects of them)
Reducing consumption = most sustainable because it decreases natural resources harvesting & the energy inputs to creating, packaging, & shipping goods
Reusing = the next most sustainable b/c it doesn’t require additional energy to create a product
- Repeated use can lead to the release of harmful chemicals, like BPA & phthalates, & the buildup of microplastics
Recycling = processing and converting solid waste material into new products
- Least sustainable of the three Rs due to the amount of energy it requires to process and convert waste materials
Ways to reduce waste (positive & negative effects of them) pt. 2
Composting: make (vegetable matter or manure) into compost.
- reducing landfill waste, improving soil health, and promoting sustainable gardening practices. – potential for odors, attracting pests, and requiring ongoing maintenance.
Waste-to-energy processes convert discarded materials into usable energy sources like electricity, heat, or fuel.
- reducing landfill waste and generating electricity.
- potential air pollution and the generation of ash that requires disposal.
Sewage Treatment
1 = Primary Treatment
Physical removal of large debris (TP, leaves, plastic, sediment) with a screen or grate
2 = Secondary Treatment
Biological breakdown of organic matter (feces) by bacteria; aerobic process that requires O2
3 = Tertiary Treatment
Ecological or chemical treatments to reduce pollutants left after primary & secondary (N, P, bacteria)
4 = Disinfectant
UV light, ozone, or chlorine is used to kill bacteria or other pathogens, such as e. Coli
Explain how poverty-stricken, low-income areas often lack sanitary waste disposal & have contaminated drinking water supplies.
Limited infrastructure, resources, & access to essential services
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)
Caused by the MERS coronavirus, typically presents with fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
The virus can spread from camels to people through direct contact, and limited human-to-human transmission is possible
West Nile virus
Most commonly spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito.
Virus can cause mild symptoms, it can also lead to severe illness, including encephalitis or meningitis
Most people infected with West Nile virus don’t develop symptoms, but some may experience fever, headache, and body aches.
Cholera
A potentially fatal diarrheal illness caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
Typically spread through contaminated water and food, and can cause severe dehydration and vomiting.
Early treatment, including oral rehydration, is crucial for survival.
