Week 25

Question 1

What is pollution and what are its primary sources?

Answer 1

Pollution is contamination produced by human activities such as waste management, industrial activities, agriculture, mining, and electronic waste disposal.

Question 2

What are the three main types of pollution?

Answer 2

The three main types of pollution are air, water, and land pollution.

Question 3

What is the difference between primary and secondary pollutants?

Answer 3

Primary pollutants are directly released by human activities, while secondary pollutants form through chemical reactions between primary pollutants.

Question 4

What processes produce secondary pollutants in landfills?

Answer 4

Secondary pollutants in landfills result from physical (seepage, evaporation), chemical (oxidation, photooxidation), and biological (nitrification, methanogenesis) processes.

Question 5

What is plasticulture and what are its benefits?

Answer 5

Plasticulture involves using plastic products in agriculture to increase productivity and improve food security. Benefits include improved water efficiency, crop storage, and extended growing seasons.

Question 6

What are the disadvantages of plasticulture?

Answer 6

Disadvantages include pollutant absorption, microplastic pollution from film mulches, and limited disposal options like burning or landfilling.

Question 7

What is fly-tipping and how prevalent is it in England?

Answer 7

Fly-tipping is illegal disposal of waste. In England, 3,000 instances occur daily, costing £13.2 million in 2022–23, with nearly half of adults admitting to contributing.

Question 8

How does noise pollution affect wildlife?

Answer 8

Noise pollution can interfere with communication, food detection, and mating in wildlife, especially due to frequency masking sounds. Examples include bats and robins adapting to noise levels.

Question 9

What are the effects of light pollution on wildlife?

Answer 9

Light pollution affects birds, moths, reptiles, and mammals. Some bat species may benefit, but most species experience disrupted natural behaviors.

Question 10

What are bioplastics and are they better for the environment?

Answer 10

Bioplastics are made from plant-based materials or are biodegradable. However, they often require industrial composting and may not degrade like organic matter.

Question 11

What are the long-term health effects of air pollution?

Answer 11

Air pollution can cause heart disease, lung cancer, respiratory diseases, and damage to organs and nervous systems. Some pollutants may lead to birth defects.

Question 12

What are key greenhouse gases and their impact?

Answer 12

Key greenhouse gases include CO2, CH4, N2O, and water vapor. They contribute to global warming, measured by Global Warming Potential (GWP).

Question 13

What pollutants are produced by vehicle emissions?

Answer 13

Pollutants include CO2, CO, NOx, SO2, hydrocarbons, benzene, and particulate matter. These contribute to smog, toxicity, and climate change.

Question 14

What are the environmental risks of nuclear waste?

Answer 14

Nuclear waste poses environmental risks due to radioactivity and requires long-term, safe disposal strategies to prevent contamination.

Question 15

What are the three main sources of water pollution mentioned?

Answer 15

• Sewage
• Agricultural Waste
• Chemical Pollution

Question 16

What does the “Sewage” slide depict?

Answer 16

It includes a cartoon image representing sewage pollution.

Question 17

What does the “Sea – sewage alert” slide convey?

Answer 17

It shows an image and a news alert about raw sewage discharged into the sea.

Question 18

What does the “Sewage in rivers” slide illustrate?

Answer 18

An image showing pollution from sewage in a river.

Question 19

What does the “The reality” slide depict?

Answer 19

It shows a raw sewage outfall, suggesting environmental pollution.

Question 20

What does the slide about sewage spills into rivers indicate?

Answer 20

An infographic shows sewage spills by water companies across UK rivers.

Question 21

What does the Environment Agency report about English rivers?

Answer 21

None of England’s rivers are in good overall health.
Only 14% meet “good” ecological status.
Only one river met the required chemical standard.

Question 22

Which species are indicators of clean water?

Answer 22

• Mayfly
• Freshwater shrimp
• Stonefly
• Caddisfly

Question 23

According to the 2024 report, what factors caused most rivers to fail the WFD health check?

Answer 23

• Agriculture (land run-off from farming)
• Water companies (sewage discharge)

Question 24

What is shown in the agricultural waste slide?

Answer 24

Visual showing animal waste and runoff as pollution sources.

Question 25

What pollutants are associated with agriculture?

Answer 25

- Fertilisers - Pesticides - Manure

Question 26

What is nutrient pollution and what causes it?

Answer 26

Nutrient pollution is caused by excess fertilisers (nitrates and phosphates) washing into rivers. It causes eutrophication and oxygen depletion in water.

Question 27

What are examples of chemical pollutants in water?

Answer 27

- Pesticides - Pharmaceuticals (e.g., oestrogens) - Industrial chemicals

Question 28

What are artificial oestradiols and how do they enter water systems?

Answer 28

Oestradiol is a synthetic hormone in birth control pills. It enters water systems through human waste and inadequate water treatment.

Question 29

What is the concern about oestrogens in water?

Answer 29

They mimic female hormones and cause endocrine disruption in wildlife. Detected in rivers and affect fish reproduction.

Question 30

What health concern is raised regarding oestrogens in water?

Answer 30

Hormone pollution may affect human health, but the primary concern is wildlife.

Question 31

How do oestrogens affect male fish?

Answer 31

They cause feminisation—development of female organs in male fish. Reduce fertility and survival of fish populations.

Question 32

What broader effects do oestrogens have on wildlife?

Answer 32

They disrupt the endocrine system of multiple species, leading to changes in behaviour, reproduction, and population decline.

Question 33

What solution is suggested for oestradiol pollution in water?

Answer 33

3D-printed polymer beads that absorb oestradiol. They are reusable and environmentally friendly.

Question 34

What are key facts about plastic pollution?

Answer 34

Plastic is not biodegradable and breaks down into microplastics. Found in rivers and oceans, harming wildlife.

Question 35

What statistics are presented about plastic waste?

Answer 35

- 8 million tonnes of plastic enter oceans each year. - 90% of seabirds have plastic in their stomachs. - Plastic can take hundreds of years to decompose.

Question 36

What is a “garbage island” and where are they found?

Answer 36

Large patches of floating plastic waste. The biggest is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Question 37

What is notable about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?

Answer 37

Covers an area twice the size of Texas. Contains 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic.

Question 38

Why is recycling plastic important?

Answer 38

Reduces waste in oceans. Lowers demand for new plastic production. Protects wildlife and ecosystems.

Question 39

What issue is associated with wet wipes?

Answer 39

Contain plastic fibres. Break down into microplastics in water. Not biodegradable.

Question 40

What other everyday items contribute to plastic pollution?

Answer 40

- Cotton buds - Straws - Bottles - Food packaging

Question 41

How does fast fashion contribute to ocean pollution?

Answer 41

Synthetic fibres from cheap clothing (e.g., polyester) shed microplastics. These microfibres enter water during washing and affect marine life.

Question 42

What is Urbanisation?

Answer 42

The increase in the proportion of people living in urban areas.

Question 43

What was the trend of urbanisation in Pre-industrial times?

Answer 43

- Most people lived in rural areas. - Life expectancy was low. - No significant large urban centres.

Question 44

How did Agriculture influence urbanisation?

Answer 44

- Allowed for food surpluses. - Led to population growth. - Enabled the development of permanent settlements.

Question 45

What role did Industrialisation play in urbanisation?

Answer 45

- Major driver of urban growth. - People moved to cities for factory jobs. - Urban populations increased rapidly.

Question 46

What are the current trends of Globalisation?

Answer 46

- Increasing interconnectedness of the world. - Movement of people, goods, and ideas. - Growth of global cities.

Question 47

What are the causes of Urbanisation?

Answer 47

- Rural to urban migration. - Natural population growth. - Economic opportunities in cities.

Question 48

What are the effects of Urbanisation on humans?

Answer 48

- Overcrowding. - Pressure on housing and services. - Health issues.

Question 49

What are Urban Heat Islands?

Answer 49

- Urban areas are warmer than rural areas. - Caused by buildings and roads absorbing heat.

Question 50

How does Urbanisation affect Water Quality and cause Stress?

Answer 50

- Pollution from sewage and industry. - Increased demand for clean water. - Risk of waterborne diseases.

Question 51

What does the Case Study on Lost Rivers of London show?

Answer 51

- Rivers were built over during urbanisation. - Some still flow underground. - Illustrates impact of city growth.

Question 52

How does Urbanisation cause Habitat Destruction?

Answer 52

- Clearing of land for buildings and roads. - Loss of biodiversity. - Fragmentation of ecosystems.

Question 53

What does the Tokyo Growth (1972–2011) slide illustrate?

Answer 53

- Massive urban expansion. - Increase in built-up area. - Urban sprawl.

Question 54

What is Urban Sprawl?

Answer 54

- Spread of cities into rural areas. - Low-density housing. - Increased car dependency.

Question 55

What does the Greater Los Angeles Area slide show?

Answer 55

- Example of extreme urban sprawl. - Large area covered by low-density development.

Question 56

What are Slums?

Answer 56

- Poorly built housing. - Lack of access to clean water and sanitation. - High population density.

Question 57

What does the slide on Slums behind La Paz, Bolivia show?

Answer 57

- Visual of dense informal settlements. - Located on hillsides. - Illustrates challenges of rapid urbanisation.

Question 58

What does the Air Pollution slide on Cairo show?

Answer 58

- High levels of air pollution. - Caused by traffic and industry. - Major health risk.

Question 59

What is a Megalopolis?

Answer 59

- A very large, heavily populated urban complex. - Formed by merging of several cities.

Question 60

What is shown in the Global Scale of Urbanisation slide?

Answer 60

- Rapid urban growth worldwide. - Especially in Asia and Africa.

Question 61

What are African/Asian Non-Urbanisation Belts?

Answer 61

- Regions with low levels of urbanisation. - Often due to conflict, geography, or policy.

Question 62

What are the key points in Future of Urbanisation (Slide 1)?

Answer 62

- Urban populations will continue to grow. - 68% of world’s population projected to live in cities by 2050.

Question 63

What are the key points in Future of Urbanisation (Slide 2)?

Answer 63

- Need for sustainable planning. - Importance of infrastructure and services.

Question 64

What are the key points in Future of Urbanisation (Slide 3)?

Answer 64

- Potential for smart cities. - Use of technology to improve urban living.

Question 65

What does the Tokyo Metropolitan Area & North-Eastern Corridor slide show?

Answer 65

- Example of continuous urban development. - Massive population concentration.