Last Enviro Quiz!!

Endocrine Distruptors

** transported by wind and water, persistent and can be accumulative, widely used in industrial production after WW2 and for pest control (DDT), crop production ,and industry

NON CHEMICAL POLLUTANTS: Solid Waste

A River of garbage. Environmental regulations have greatly reduced the amount of solid waste that is dumped in US waters, but other parts of the world such as Citarum River in Indonesia still face a major environmental challenge.

Describe the movement of contaminants in groundwater and how those pollutants are located for remediation

A contaminant release moves within an aquifer the same way ground water moves creating a concentrated area called a "Plume." Flow is in the direction of the topography Groundwater flows Down-gradient from high to low hydraulic head. From a higher water table elevation to a lower one. Soils that are porous and permeable allows water and certain types of contaminants to infiltrate an aquifer below. Consultants are hired to drill wells and test the water in order to determine the direction and extent of the leak. Samples are taken from each well and tested (TPH test) to determine its contamination and whether or not that specific area is polluted. Through this process, consultants are able to map out the area the leak has gone to and come up with a plan to properly clean up the area.

Organic Chemical Pollutants: Petroleum

A lot of attention to spills and potential spills, but most of the oil in our oceans is from natural seeps along with other sources Top 3 releases 1. Gulf War 1991→ purposeful of releasing to slow troops 300 million gallons oil. 2. BP Deepwater Horizon 2010 Offshore drilling platform in the gulf of Mexico. Well in the seafloor exploded. Released 175 million gallons of oil. 3. Ixtoc 1979 Tanker Offshore drilling platform in Bay of Campeche Mexico Released 140 million gallons of oil Compared to the Torrey Canyon 1967 and Exon Valdez 1989 These were super tankers → ships carrying oil Lit the oil on fire to get rid of it. Released 35 million Exon resulted in the death of a lot of animals. Oil. Most oil is from natural seeps. Resourveirs of oil and oil can seep out of courses.

Wastewater Treatment

A typical water treatment process includes several steps to remove unwanted substances from water. First Filtration: Water is filtered through screens that removes fish, leaves and trash Coagulation: Alum is added to form sticky flocs. Mud, bacteria, and other pesticides stick to the flocs. The water then passes into settling basins, where the flocs sink. Second Filtration: the water trickles down through sand or gravel, which filters out algae, bacteria, and some chemicals Chlorination: Chlorine is added to kill remaining organisms Aeration: Forcing air through the water releases gases, reducing unpleasant odors and taste. Additional Treatment: Sodium or lime may be used to soften hard water. Some communities add Fluoride, which helps prevent tooth decay.

INORGANIC CHEMICAL POLLUTANTS: Acids

Acid mine drainage: the low pH of water emerging from abandoned mines mixes with stream water, causing iron to precipitate out of solution and form a rusty red oxidized iron. Acid Precipitation: Can also become water pollution; but as a secondary pollutant, resulting from the reaction of primary pollutants. SOx or NOx + H2O→ H2SO4 or HNO3 No carbon or hydrogen bonds. Acid is created when we are mining for coal, coal has sulfur in it, when water is mixed w sulfur, it makes sulfuric acid. We are going to end up making h2SO4 and we have acid draining from the mine. Usually in coal mines. Sulfuric acid is bad in water because it is strong and dangerous. If rocks are rich in iron, it can pull iron out of rocks. Never good for heavy metals in water. Acid rain or precipitation: Burning fossil fuels: biproducts of coal and oil, nox and sox. Sitrogen oxide and sulfur oxide. They go in atmosphere w clouds and water and when these gases combine w water, it makes sulfuric and nitric acid. They fall as precipitation. It won't burn your skin, but it is harmful to ecosystems.

SECONDARY TREATMENT: A BIOLOGICAL PROCESS

Aeration tank: Wastewater flows into an aeration tank and is mixed with oxygen and aerobic bacteria to break down organic waste. Settling Tank: Wastewater moves into a large tank where bacteria and other solids "settle out" and are removed as sludge. Sometimes called "clarification tanks" Disinfection: chlorine, UV, or Ozone is added to disinfect water before being release to surface water.

Organic Chemical Pollutants: Pharmaceuticals and Hormones

Aquatic systems contain a wide variety of chemicals including pharmaceutical drugs and hormones From a combination of wastewater inputs: human wastewater, CAFO discharge, and industry Issues w/ actual pharma/hormones in [high] and presence of hormone mimics Of particular concern are reproductive endocrine disruptors. Hormones are given to livestock and poultry and cows. Through their waste, the hormones and antibiotics can go into the water. Using pharmacuetical drugs can get in the water too. Cities or towns have a drop off for medicine bc waste water plants arent equipped to treat these drugs so dont flush in toilet. Bc of the precense of drugs, for females, frogs could turn from male to female and frogs werent able to reproduce.

Inorganic Chemical Pollutants: Hg

Asia > ½ global emissions ~⅔ Global Hg emissions from FF combustion, especially coal Other sources: incineration of trash containing metal and dental supplies, impurity of limestone released in cement production Inorganic Hg not really the problem... Mercury: Can come from burning fossil fuels. Issue comes from when it goes through methalation and turns into methyl mercury. When mercury dust gets in water, bacteria in water help it go through methalation. Can hurt biomagnification.

Inorganic Chemical Pollutants: Pb

Atmospheric lead: used to be a major issue due to leaded gasoline; "fallout" in soil and water → taken up by plants and animals & still a problem Plumbing: lead pipes common up to the 1950s; in solder up to mid 1980s; hot water and soft water can carry lead leached out of pipes and solder. Paint: Added for durability and appearance; older home sand infrastructure; dust can be inhaled and/or ingested. Pb: Lead. Lead is a neuro toxin and affects nervous system. Lead used to be in gasoline and it was going in the atmosphere. Now we have unleaded gas. Lead in atmosphere can get into soil and water. Issue: lead in plumbing: usually coming from lead pipes until 1950s and then in soldering until 1980s. Drinking water runs over it and then you consume lead and children suffered w mental issues. Lead in paint: older homes have lead based paint. Do routine testing in schools.

Pathogens/ Infectious Agents

Bacteria and viruses that are found in sewage. All can cause serious diseases when later consumed if the water is not properly decontaminated. Pathogens: bacteria. If you are consuming water w raw sewage, you culd have bacteria and all these gross stuff. Stomach issues. Tape WormsThat's why we saynot to drink other countries water bc they dont treat it the same.

Increased concentration of contaminants within one trophic level.

Bioaccumulation

Increased concentration of contaminants due to feeding at lower trophic levels.

Biomagnification

TERTIARY TREATMENT: CHEMICAL PROCESS

Chemical treatments to remove nutrients, pathogens and odor. Rare and expensive Only done in areas where the water will be discharged into a very sensitive ecological system where they don't want any excess nutrients possibly going into the environment and causing ecological change (such as eutrophication)

Similarities to the water treatments

Coagulation Filtration: separates out sand, gravel, leaves, etc. A stage in which chlorine or disinfectant is used to treat the water.

Drinking Water Treatment

Coagulation: removes dirt and other particles suspended in water. Alum and other chemicals are added to the water to form tiny stick particles called "Floc" which attract the dirt particles. The combined weight of the dirt and alum (floc) become heavy enough to sink to the bottom during sedimentation. Sedimentation: The heavy particles (floc) settle to the bottom and clear water moves to filtration Filtration: the water passes through filters, some made of layers of sand, gravel, charcoal that help remove even smaller particles. Disinfection: A small amount of chlorine is added or some other disinfectant method is used to kill any bacteria or microorganisms that may be in the water Storage: water is placed in a closed tank or reservoir for disinfection to take place. The water then flows through pipes to homes and businesses in the community.

Non chemical Pollutants: Noise

Commercial shipping Seismic airgun→ to check if there are fluids under the seafloor. Equivalent to a space shuttle taking off. → ear deafening. Military sonar → affect marine, aquatic ecosystems. Can disrupt feeding, communication, and living ways for animals. Noise can also be a pollutant especially from a military sonar.

Non chemical pollutants: Thermal

Discharged from power plants Indian Point Nuclear Plant on the Hudson River. Thermal pollution: Temp increased. Not hot spring, just increased from normal. Result of power production like nuclear power. As temp goes up, Dissolved oxygen decreases. Organisms need DO and if they dont they wil die and they are the start of the food chain. Shaded bodies of water are cooler and have more DO.

Organic Chemical Pollutants: Pesticides → Domestic Food Samples

EP registers and licenses pesticides FDA enforces pesticide residue limits of foods per FQPA Food samples → domestic and imported are tested for ~400 pesticides including organochlorines (POPs) Highest domestic commodity violations for Fruits and vegetables. Samples in violation → entire lot is rejected for sale to public. Pesticides are used to keep bugs/rodents/unwanted weeds from crops. Usually sprayed. Residue from pesticides can be on fruits and veggies. Fruit are largest for the residue. EPA knows what pesticides people are using.

Safe Drinking Water Act

Enacted to protect drinking water quality from surface and groundwater sources Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) set for many substances by the EPA All municipal water supplies must be tested and measured against these standards. Requires drinking water treatment to comply with primary standards (health-related) and encourages secondary standards (aesthetic- related) Requires media to be notified of emergency health violations State agencies are responsible for monitoring and enforcing the EPA drinking water standards. To protect drinking water quality. Lead in water and certain limits set for pollutant

Clean Water Act

Enacted to protect surface water quality for aquatic life and human recreation Requires point source pollutants to have a permit by NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) Established water quality standards for surface water- limitations for amounts of specific pollutants Industrial wastewater released to sewers Required secondary treatment of wastewater at WWTPs Water Quality Act (1987) emphasized state programs for the reduction of fertilizers, pesticides, and run-off → became part of the CWA. As result of river on fire, it regulates surface water quality: CWA. Protects surface water quality.

Change in ecosystems over time largely due to runoff from agricultural farms.

Eutrophication

Plant nutrient examples

Ex: Chemical fertilizers, pesticides, storm drain

Oxygen Depleting/Demanding waste examples

Ex: human waste, livestock waste, crop debris, food waste, papermill Effluent (discharge)

Oil spills contribute to most of the oil pollution present in our oceans.

False

The clean water act protects surface waters, groundwater, and the diversity of all aquatic species.

False

True or False: Arsenic is both a natural and anthropogenic inorganic chemical pollutant

False

Wastewater treatment and drinking water treatment plants have aeration and coagulation.

False

PRIMARY TREATMENT: A MECHANICAL PROCESS for residential water treatment

Filtration: Wastewater from your homes is passed through large screen to remove solid objects Settling Tank (sedimentation)- Wastewater is moved into a large tank where solids "settle out" and are removed as sludge.

Storm Drains

For excess water to stop flooding nonpoint source from litter or precipitation system designed to carry rainfall runoff and other drainage The runoff is carried in underground pipes or open ditches and discharges untreated into local streams, rivers and other surface water bodies

Explain why groundwater pollution is difficult to clean up and recommend solutions to water quality problems.

Groundwater is difficult to decontaminate because the water is dispersed throughout large areas of rock and sand. Pollution can cling to the materials that make up the aquifer, so even if all of the water in an aquifer were pumped out and replaced with clean water, the groundwater could still be polluted. Groundwater generally moves slowly, contamination often remains undetected for long periods of time. This makes cleanup of a contaminated water supply difficult, it not impossible. Cleanup can cost thousands to millions of dollars Once the contaminant source has been controlled or removed, the contaminant groundwater can be treated in one of several ways: Containing the contaminant to prevent migration Pumping the water, treating it, and returning it to the aquifer Leaving the ground water in place and treating either the water or the contaminant Allowing the contaminant to attenuate(reduce) naturally (with monitoring), following the implementation of an appropriate source control.

Organic Chemical Pollutants: Pesticides → Imported Food Samples

Highest imported commodity violations for other, than fruits and vegetables, grains Samples in violation → entire lot is rejected for sale to public. Violations by country India → 23% Vietnam→ 12% China → 8.5% → Small, but significant b/c we import A LOT. Guatemala → 7.1 % Mexico → 7% highest is veggies

Mercury, arsenic, and lead are examples of specific pollutants in this category.

Inorganic chemical pollutants

Inorganic Chemical Pollutants: As

No anthropogenic sources In groundwater from surrounding minerals EPA drinking water standards (max allowable) 10 ug/L → 10 ppb Arsenic in US well water: the highest concentration of arsenic are generally found in the upper midwest and the west. Not an issue here in NJ.

A result of energy production at coal or nuclear power plants.

Nonchemical pollutants, inorganic chemical pollutants

To decrease the likelihood of eutrophication and the loss of unique species and ecosystems, sewage treatment plants should consider:

Providing chemical treatments for nitrates.

Explain the process of eutrophication due to plant nutrient pollution.

Nutrients like phosphorous and nitrates that result from runoff from fertilizers stimulate plant growth. Therefore, when they runoff into nearby bodies of water, the lake or pond experiences and increased growth in algae. This causes a blockade of sun for the plants and living things growing and living on the bottom of the body of water and they start to die off. This then stimulates the decomposers of the lake to consume the available oxygen in the lake in order to properly decompose the organic matter. Now, with the presence of oxygen deficiency in the lake, it becomes a dead zone. This process is similar to that of oxygen demanding waste, but the difference is it is a longer process. In the end however, both leads to decomposers decreasing the available dissolved oxygen and leading to the possible death of aquatic life.

Contains a wide variety of pollutants, many of which are hydrocarbons and some halogenated.

Organic Chemical Pollutants

Requires immediate decomposition to release nutrients.

Oxygen Demanding Waste

What is removed to the greatest extent by secondary wastewater treatment?

Oxygen demanding waste

Results in a reduction in available oxygen in non-flowing water bodies.

Oxygen demanding waste and plant nutrients

Responsible for severe dehydration and death, particularly in less developed nations.

Pathogens

Organic Chemical Pollutants: Perchlorates

Perchlorate: a common contaminant of drinking water from dissolution of perchlorate salts of ammonium, potassium, magnesium, and sodium Sometimes called military compounds Primary ingredient of solid rocket fuels Also used in explosives, fireworks, matches, fertilizers, and as airbag inflators. Can pose serious health risks → interferes with iodine uptake by the thyroid gland, which is critical for normal development of the nervous systems. Chlorine or bromine in it. Halogens. Get in water by dissolving rocks and used in rocket fuel and fireworks. Bad bc they effect our nervous system.

Stimulates the growth of producers, eventually leading to their death.

Plant nutrients

Refers to the movement of contaminants with the flow of groundwater.

Plume

Sewer Drains

Point source- from households system of underground pipes that carries sewage from bathrooms, sinks, kitchens goes to a wastewater treatment plant where it is filtered, treated and discharged.

Organic Chemical Pollutants: Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

Polyhalogenated industrial compounds → DDT and others Teratogens, neurotoxins, carcinogens, endocrine disruptors Hundreds of chlorine or bromine configurations, only a few shown to look at similarities Transported by wind and water → GLOBAL ISSUE Persist long periods of time in the environment and can accumulate and be passed on through feeding. Widely used during the boom in industrial production after WWII for pest control, crop production, and industry Stockholm Convention, 2001, identified 12 key POPs as the "Dirty Dozen", many added since. EXTRA INFO: (Polybrominated diphenyl ethers) PCBs→ 1st generations flame retardant (this is banned) → banned in 1979 (polychlorinated biphenyls) PBDEs→ 2nd generation flame retardant. (this replaces the 1st one) Problem: When manufacturing these products OR the incineration of anything containing CHLORINE→ the "dioxins" are the unintended products. (do not want these because of the issues/toxicity levels) They are halogenated hydrocarbons. Most concerning are the ones that contain chlorines Biggest ones. Persistent: last in nature for a large time nd get carried up the food chain. Have halogen elements like chlorine and bromine. Come from industrial production of plastics or pesticides. Can cause cancer and be transported by wind or water.

Pathogens/Infectious Agent Example

Poop

Bioaccumulation

Process by which certain toxic substances (such as heavy metals) accumulate and keep on accumulating in living organisms, posing a threat to health, life, and to the environment. Refers to how pollutants enter a food chain.

Oxygen-depleting waste

Requires immediate decomposition. High demand of biological oxygen for decomposition which lowers the dissolved oxygen (DO). Can lead to loss of aquatic life (fish death and subsequent dead zones) NOT EUTROPHICATION Ex: human waste, livestock waste, crop debris, food waste, papermill Effluent (discharge)

Oxygen depleting /Demanding wastes

Requires immediate decomposition. High demand of biological oxygen for decomposition which lowers the dissolved oxygen (DO). Can lead to loss of aquatic life (fish death and subsequent dead zones) NOT EUTROPHICATION! This is basically poop and raw sewege.We know that is a bad thing. Sewage doesn't go to the water, it goes to a waste water plant. However, in some cases it can get in bodies of water especially in developing countries. Sewage which includes all the stuff said in the slide, gets in the water. What happens is there is a lenient(?) decomposition. Decomposers need oxygen and that creates loss of aquatic life. This is not eutrophication bc it is missing algae. Eutrophication takes longer bc algae has to grow. Same thing happens where oxygen is lowered and it can lead to the deaths of fish but it is different bc no algae and happens quicker. This raw sewage is bad for humans bc it has pathogens in it: bacteria, viruses. If you consume raw sewage. you can be subject to different sicknesses and stomach issues. Things like tape worms. Ice or water in other countres example.

Non chemical pollutants: Sediments

Sediments carried by rivers Some rivers, such as the Santa Ana River in California, which empties into the Pacific Ocean, carry a large amount of sediment that gets emptied into lakes and oceans to form deltas. Sediments changes temperature in the water. Sediments are human causing. Sediments: they get pciked up in rivers and transported where it empties out and we get large amounts of sediments. Bad bc they can disturb habitats. Turbid water and go in gills of fish.

Results in the production of sludge.

Septic systems Wastewater treatment plants

Transports human wastewater.

Septic systems Wastewater treatment plants Sewer Drains

Biomagnification

The increasing concentrations of a substance, such as a toxic chemical, in the tissues of organisms at successively higher levels in a food chain. Refers to how pollutant concentration increases as they move from one trophic level to the next.

What is true?

Thermal pollution can lower DO and cause fish to suffocate. b. Persistent pollutants like DDT and PCBs can be concentrated by biomagnification. c. Fecal matter found in raw sewage can cause a reduction in DO. d. Inorganic fertilizer run-off can have an effect on stream and lake ecosystems.

True or false. Beef consumption accounts for the highest concentrations of organic pollutants in the human diet.

True

Wastewater treatment and drinking water treatment plants both have disinfection and filtration stages.

True

Water treatment in Rural Areas

Waste and sewage from toilets run to a central line that is stored in a septic tank that is buried in your yard Septic tank → Liquid waste with inorganic waste that was too heavy will flow through to a separate pipe that will be distributed through a series of pipes over a large leech field and allow the natural bacteria to breakdown in soil Sludge removal.

Water treatment in Urban Areas

Waste and sewage taken to a wastewater treatment plant A combination of primary, secondary and tertiary treatment processes

Involves discharge into surface water bodies.

Wastewater treatment plants Storm drains Sewer drains

Most residential water is treated at

a municipal wastewater treatment plant.

Storm Drains and Sewer Drains both

are discharged into a body of water

Teratogens

disrupts the developing embryo (fetus)

Plant Nutrients

nitrates (fertilizer run off) & phosphates (fertilizer run off, detergents in graywater) Excess growth of producers-> more algae "bloom" Initiated by nutrient release- TAKES TIME High populations lead to death of underlying producers Decomposition- lack of DO- death in aquatic life- Eutrophication Change in ecosystem over time by nutrient waste A source of plant nutrients are fertilizers and gray water. Phosphates and nitrates: if get in water untreated→ eutrophication. nutrients stimulate algae growth. Algae doesnt use oxygen. They eventually die and decomposers uses oxygen. Eutrophication is a change in ecosystem over time. Lowers DO. Sometimes you keep sample in the dark because in the dark we are preventing photosynthesis and algae won't grow.

Plant Nutrients

nitrates (fertilizer run off) & phosphates (fertilizer run off, detergents in graywater) Excess growth of producers-> more algae "bloom" Initiated by nutrient release- TAKES TIME High populations lead to death of underlying producers Decomposition- lack of DO- death in aquatic life- Eutrophication Change in ecosystem over time by nutrient waste Ex: Chemical fertilizers, pesticides, storm drain

The BP oil spill is an example of

point source pollution and an anthropogenic pollutant

Neurotoxins

poisonous substance that adversely affects functions of developing and mature nervous tissues; disrupts the nervous system.

Carcinogens

pollutant that causes cancer EX: tobacco smoke