Chapter 15 Reading Guide, Chapter 14 Reading Quiz
What types of health problems develop from exposure to these types of indoor air pollutants?
- acute respiratory infections -pneumonia -bronchitis -cancer.
Of the 139 streams tested across the United States by the US Geological Survey (USGS) from 1999-2000, what percent contained antibiotics and reproductive hormones?
-50% of the streams contained antibodies and reproductive hormones
Of the 139 streams tested across the United States by the US Geological Survey (USGS) from 1999-2000, what percent contained non-prescription drugs?
-80% contained nonprescription drugs
Of the 139 streams tested across the United States by the US Geological Survey (USGS) from 1999-2000, what percent contained steroids?
-90% contained steroids
What types of human activities lead to sedimentation?
-Construction of buildings (digs up soil) -plowing agricultural fields -sediments can enter streams and rivers when natural vegetation is removed from the edge of a waterbody and replaced with animals that disturb the soil when they eat or drink.
How does lead negatively affect human health?
-Impairs central nervous system -At low concentrations, can have measurable effects on learning and ability to concentrate
Which specific health problems does UV-B radiation cause in humans and plants?
-In plants, increased exposure can be harmful to cells and reduce photosynthetic activity. -In humans, particularly those with light skin, increased exposure leads to skin cancer, cataracts, other eye problems, and a suppressed immune system.
List some human-derived sources of CO air pollution.
-Incomplete combustion of any kind - malfunctioning exhaust systems and poorly ventilated cooking fires
How does mercury negatively affect human health?
-Is toxic to the central nervous system of humans and other organisms -bioaccumulates in the food chain
What are the biggest drawbacks of using pollution control these devices?
-They use additional energy that generates additional pollution -increase resitance to air flow in the factory -require the use of more fuel -increased CO2 emissions
Have the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act been successful in their missions?
-Yes, according to the most recent EPA data, 56% of all streams, 35% of lakes and ponds, and 70% of bays and estuaries in the US now fully support their designated uses which is an improvement from past years.
Describe the new programs that were started during the Chattanooga clean-up effort
-a comprehensive recycling program- chosen as an alternative to a waste incinerator that would have added particles to the air -creating a fleet of electric buses
What harmful health effects do PCBs cause?
-can be lethal -cancer-causing -carcinogenic
How does formaldehyde negatively affect human health?
-can cause a burning sensation in the eyes or throat -breathing difficulties -asthma -causes cancer
What are the focuses of the Clean Water Act?
-chemical properties of surface water -ensuring the abundance and diversity of species -limits various pollutants in US waterways.
Harmful effects of tropospheric ozone include:
-damages respiratory systems in animals -damages structures in plants
How do pesticides get into the bay?
-direct application over water -running off the surface of the land when it rains -or by being carried by the wind immediately after application.
What caused the major air pollution problem in Chattanooga, TN?
-foundries, textile mills, and other industrial plants. - Chattanooga's geography also didn't help, as Chattanooga is located in a bowl formed by surrounding mountains which traps pollutants that hover above the city.
List three secondary pollutants:
-ozone . -Sulfate -Nitrate
What are the main causes of indoor air pollution in developed nations?
-people in the developed world spend more and more time indoors -an increased number of materials in the home and office are made from plastics and other petroleum-based materials that can give off chemical vapors -fireplaces and wood stoves: particulate matter
What are some of the biggest challenges associated with developing safe, effective pesticides?
-pesticides generally kill a large variety of related organisms rather than a specific organism -pesticides are often lethal to unrelated species
What are some strategies to reduce photochemical smog?
-reducing VOCs- with fewer VOCs in the air there are fewer compounds to interact with nitrogen oxides, and thus more nitrogen oxide will be available to recombine with ozone. -reducing nitrogen oxide emissions
From which human-derived sources does PM originate?
-the combustion of wood, animal manure, and other biofuels, coal, oil, and gasoline -agriculture, road construction
What is the cause of much of the politics surrounding MCLs?
-the cost, many communities may have a hard time affording the regulation of reduced levels of many chemicals (like arsenic).
What are the pros and cons of using chemicals to break up and disperse oil floating on the ocean surface?
-the dispersants are effective -the dispersants can be toxic to marine life
What negative consequences arise from increased sedimentation in water?
-waterways become brown and cloudy - reduce the infiltration of sunlight (which reduces the productivity of aquatic plants and algae) -sediments can clog fish gills.
List the EPAs four reasons (causes) of sick building syndrome
1. Inadequate ventilation 2. Chemical containment from an indoor source such as glues, carpenting, furniture, cleaning agents, and copy machines 3. Chemical containment from outdoor sources such as vehicle exhaust 4. Biological contamination (molds or pollen)
What are the two most common pathogens worldwide?
1. cholera 2. hepatitis
what are the three types of pollution control devices?
1. fabric filters 2. electrostatic precipitation 3. scrubber
three ways that synthetic organic compounds are harmful include:
1. genetic defects 2. interfere with growth and sexual development 3. are toxic
what are two ways that particulate matter (PM) is removed from exhaust air before it is emitted by power plants or factories into the atmosphere?
1. gravitational settling 2. pollution control devices
What are three risks to storing manure in manure lagoons?
1. the possibility of developing a leak in the liner that would allow the waste to seep into and contaminate the underlying groundwater 2. possible overflow of animal waste into rivers which can lead to disease outbreaks in humans and wildlife 3. the application of manure as fertilizer can create runoff that moves into nearby waterbodies
What are the two main causes of eutrophication in Chesapeake Bay?
1. wastewater decomposition 2. nutrients leached from fertilized agricultural lands during precipitation.
Why are environmental scientists concerned with pollutants in waste water?
1. wastewater dumped into bodies of water naturally undergoes decomposition by bacteria, which creates a large demand for oxygen in the water 2. the nutrients that are released from wastewater decomposition can make the water more fertile 3. wastewater can carry a wide variety of disease-causing organisms.
From where does all of the nitrogen and phosphorus that flows into the Chesapeake Bay come?
1. water discharged from sewage treatment facilities (carries high amounts of nutrients from human waste) 2. animal waste (produced by concentrated feeding operations) 3. fertilizer that is spread on both agricultural fields and suburban lawns (leaches out of the soil into local streams)
How many people in the world lack access to safe drinking water?
1.1 billion
How far is the Stratosphere from the earth?
10-31 miles
When was the Clean Water Act signed into practice?
1972
When did the US ban the use of DDT?
1972.
When was the manufacture of PCBs outlawed in the US?
1979
When biomass is used for cooking, how much higher can indoor PM concentrations be than the EPA's recommended limits?
200x higher
What percent of annual lung cancer deaths does the EPA attribute to radon?
21,000
What percent of the sediments in waterways are natural?
30%
Approximately how many annual deaths worldwide are caused by these types of indoor air pollutants?
4 million
What percent of the land in the continental United States runs off into the Mississippi River?
41%
What percent of the world's population lacks access to proper sanitation (ie. toilets and sinks with clean water for washing hands)
42%
Of all of the oil that seeps into marine waters, how much of it is seeping from natural vents under the ocean worldwide?
45%
How many offshore drilling platforms exist in North America?
5,000
What is considered the "normal" BOD range?
5-20mg of oxygen
What is the typical pH of a body of freshwater?
6.5 - 8
Of all of the oil that seeps into marine waters, how much of it is seeping from natural vents under the ocean in North America?
60%
What percent of the sediments in waterways are human-caused?
70%
How many years ago was WW2?
75 years ago
How many offshore drilling platforms exist worldwide?
8,000
What percent of the deaths attributable to indoor air pollution each year occur in developing nations?
90%
sick building syndrome
A buildup of toxic pollutants in an airtight space, seen in newer buildings
What is a catalytic converter
A catalytic converter is an exhaust emission control device that converts toxic gases and pollutants in exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine into less-toxic pollutants by catalyzing a redox reaction.
photochemical oxidants
A class of air pollutants formed as a result of sunlight acting on compounds such as nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxides.
leach field
A component of a septic system, made up of underground pipes laid out below the surface of the ground.
Scrubber
A device that removes pollutants or changes them chemically before they leave factory smokestacks. Uses a combination of water and air that actually separates and removes the particles.
thermal shock
A dramatic change in water temperature that can kill organisms
fecal coliform bacteria.
A group of generally harmless microorganisms in human intestines that can serve as an indicator species for potentially harmful microorganisms associated with contaminated sewage
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
A group of industrial compounds used to manufacture plastics and insulate electrical transformers, and are responsible for many environmental problems.
septic tank
A large container that receives wastewater from a house as a part of a septic system.
Why aren't many mining companies that cause environmental degradation held accountable for their damages?
A large portion of mining companies that are responsible for environmental degradation are no longer in business.
septage
A layer of fairly clear water found in the middle of a septic tank
Asbestos
A long, thin, fibrous silicate mineral with insulating properties, which can cause cancer when inhaled.
eutrophication
A phenomenon in which a body of water becomes rich in nutrients
primary pollutants
A polluting compound that comes directly out of a smokestack, exhaust pipe, or natural emission source
secondary pollutants
A primary pollutant that has undergone transformation in the presence of sunlight, water, oxygen, or other compounds.
septic system
A relatively small and simple sewage treatment system, made up of a septic tank and a leach field, often used for homes in rural areas.
Ozone (O3)
A secondary pollutant made up of three oxygen atoms bound together
thermal inversion
A situation in which a relatively warm layer of air at mid-altitude covers a layer of cold, dense air below.
indicator species
A species that indicates whether or not disease-causing pathogens are likely to be present
smog
A type of air pollution that is a mixture of oxidants and particulate matter.
How much oil is thought to leak from just the North American oil platforms each year?
About 322,000 pounds per year
How does acid deposition affect buildings and statues?
Acid deposition reacts with building materials and can diminish ancient buildings. When the hydrogen ion in acid deposition interacts with limestone or marble, the calcium carbonate reacts with H+ and gives of Ca2+. In this process, the calcium carbonate material is partially dissolved.
How are acid rain and toxic metals related?
Acid rain causes lower pH and a lower pH can lead to mobilization of metals. Both a lower pH and an increase in toxic metals can impair the physical functioning of aquatic organisms and can lead to species loss.
acid deposition
Acids deposited on Earth as rain and snow or as gases and particles that attach to the surfaces of plants, soil, and water.
Sources of impairment for streams and rivers include:
Agriculture, water diversions, dam construction
Montreal Protocol (1987)
An agreement on protection of the ozone layer in which states pledged to reduce and then eliminate use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). It is the most successful environmental treaty to date.
cultural eutrophication
An increase in fertility in a body of water, is the result of anthropogenic inputs of nutrients.
volatile organic compound (VOC)
An organic compound that evaporates at typical atmospheric temperatures. They are compounds that have a high vapor pressure and low water solubility. Many VOCs are human-made chemicals that are used and produced in the manufacture of paints, pharmaceuticals, and refrigerants
In which ecosystems does acid deposition (aka. acid rain) have the most detrimental effect?
Aquatic ecosystems.
From what source(s) does arsenic come?
Arsenic naturally occurs in Earth's crust and can dissolve into groundwater.
What happens during the primary treatment of sewage at a sewage treatment plant?
As sewage enters a plant for treatment, it flows through a screen, which removes large floating objects such as rags and sticks that might clog pipes or damage equipment. After sewage has been screened, it passes into a grit chamber, where cinders, sand, and small stones settle to the bottom.
How does asbestos harm health?
Asbestos isn't particularly dangerous in its manufactured form but it is dangerous if it is damaged. -respiratory diseases such as asbestosis and lung cancer have been found in those who have mined asbestos.
From where in the world does the vast majority of the mercury produced by human activities arise?
Asia (52%), Africa (17%), South America (13%)
Where in the world is this type of smog most frequently seen?
Atmospheric brown clouds have been seen in cities and in Asia.
Sources of impairment for lakes, ponds, and reservoirs include:
Atmospheric deposition, agriculture
Sources of impairment for bays and estuaries include:
Atmospheric deposition, municipal discharges including sewage
Causes of impairment for streams and rivers include:
Bacterial pathogens, habitat alteration, oxygen depletion
Causes of impairment for bays and estuaries include:
Bacterial pathogens, oxygen depletion, mercury
Why are PM2.5 and smaller the most dangerous?
Because they deposit deeply within the respiratory tract and they tend to be composed of more toxic substances than particles in larger size ranges.
Third step of the formation of stratospheric ozone
Both UV-B radiation and UV-B and UV-C radiation can break a bond in this new ozone molecule (O3 + UV-B or UV-C ----> O2 + O).
How do CFCs breakdown the ozone layer?
CFCs introduce chlorine (Cl) into the stratosphere. When chlorine is present, it can attach to an oxygen atom in an ozone molecule, thereby breaking the bond (O3 + Cl ---> ClO + O2) Subsequently, the chlorine monoxide molecule reacts with a free oxygen atom, which pulls the oxygen from the ClO to produce free chlorine again. (ClO + O ---->Cl + O2). In the process of this, the ozone molecules are no longer available to absorb the incoming UV-B radiation.
What are the largest sources of CO?
CO - On-road vehicles
What color is CO and what does it smell like?
CO is colorless and odorless
What are the main "primary pollutants"
CO, CO2, SO2, NOx, and most suspended particulate matter
What can the by-product of fluidized bed combustion be used for?
Calcium sulfate can be used but sheetrock (for walls in housing)
Why is CO dangerous?
Carbon monoxide is dangerous indoors when exhaust systems on natural gas malfunction. CO can cause headaches and death, and it bonds with hemoglobin, thereby interfering with oxygen transport in the bloodstream.
What measures can governments put into practice to encourage people to stop using their cars solo?
Carpool lanes, improving the quality and accessibility of public transportation, and charging additional user fees for the use of roads at certain times of day or within certain parts of a city.
Which countries are known to have the worst air pollution in the world?
China and India
How is Cl a catalyst in the ozone breakdown reaction?
Cl breaks the bond of ozone molecules. A single chlorine atom can catalye the breakdown of as many as 10,000 ozone molecules
How have the managers of factories and power plants responded to this EPA regulation of thermal pollution?
Compliance is difficult in the summer when the demand for electricity is high because this causes an increased demand for cooling water. Some industries have built closed systems in which they cool the hot water in a cooling tower and then recycle the water to be heated again.
synthetic organic compound
Compounds of carbon produced synthetically by human industrial processes, as for example pesticides and herbicides.
Why are developing nations so far behind in terms of water protection legislation?
Developing countries are still in the process of industrializing, so they are less able to afford water-quality improvements such as wastewater treatment plans or the costs associated with restrictive legislation. Political instability nd corruption can also play a role in this. Most importantly, contaminated industries often move from developed countries to developing countries.
How is UV-B radiation harmful to health?
Exposure to UV-B radiation increases the risk of skin cancer and cataracts, and supresses the immune system in humans.
True or False: 25 nations signed the Montreal Protocol
False, 24 nations signed it. Later on, more than 180 countries signed a series of amendments to the elimination of CFC production.
True or False: warm water contains more dissolved oxygen
False, Cold water contains more dissolved oxygen
True or False: The agreed method to clean up underwater plumes of spilt oil is to vacuum it up
False, There is no agreed-upon method to clean up underwater plumes of spilled oil
True or False: A Cl atom eventually stops wreaking havoc on the ozone layer after it breaks down a certain amount of ozone molecules
False, When one chlorine atom find another the process stops
True or False: It is illegal to dump raw sewage into bodies of water
False, during periods of heavy rain the combined volume of storm water and wastewater overwhelms plants and so when this happens treatment plants are allowed to pump vast amounts of water directly into bodies of water.
True or False: lead, arsenic, and molybdenum are of particular concern to the health of humans and other organisms
False, lead, arsenic, and mercury are of particular concern to the health of humans and other organisms
What happened to the Cuyahoga River in Ohio? Why did this happen
For more than 100 years, industrious along the Cuyahoga River dumped industrial waste into the river and it formed a slick of pollution along the surface. This not only killed virtually all animal life but the river actually caught on fire (1969) and burned several times!
What would be a natural source of carbon monoxide (CO)?
Forest fires; carbon monoxide is formed during the incomplete combustion of most matter
Manure lagoon
Human-made pond lined with rubber built to handle large quantities of manure produced by livestock.
Are humans affected by acid rain?
Humans are not directly harmed by acid rain, though human health is more affected to the precursors to acid deposition such as SO2 an
What happens if too much PM gets into the atmosphere worldwide?
If the atmospheric concentration of PM is high enough, incoming solar radiation in the region will be reduced enough to affect photosynthesis.
What legislative changes were made to allowable levels of arsenic in water in 1990 in the US?
In 1990, the EPA lowered the upper limit of arsenic in water to 10ppb (parts per billion) from the previous 50ppb
What does CO do inside of the body?
In the body, carbon monoxide binds with hemoglobin more efficiently than it does oxygen, thereby interfering with oxygen transport in the blood. Extended exposure to high concentrations of CO leads to oxygen deprivation in the brain, and death.
First step of the formation of stratospheric ozone
In the first step, U-VC radiation breaks the molecular bond holding an oxygen molecule together ( O2 + UV-C ---> O + O). This happens to only a few oxygen molecules at a time, most remain O2.
What happens when SO2 or NOx come into contact with photochemical oxidants?
In the presence of sulfur and nitrogen oxides, photochemical oxidants can enhance the formation of certain particulate matter which contributes to scattering light.
Second step of the formation of stratospheric ozone
In the second step, a free oxygen atom (O) produced in the first step encounters an oxygen molecule (O2) and they form ozone (O3).
How is ozone in the stratosphere critically important to life on Earth?
In the stratosphere, ozone forms a necessary, protective shield against radiation from the Sun; it absorbs ultraviolet light and prevents harmful ultraviolet radiation from reaching Earth.
Which causes more deaths each year, indoor or outdoor air pollution?
Indoor
Industrial compound
Industrial compounds are chemicals used in manufacturing
What is the problem with the current legislation governing the inert ingredients in pesticides?
Inert ingredients are not highly regulated nor are they required to be tested
Where does methylmercury comes from (how is it made)?
Inorganic mercury is converted to methylmercury by bacteria that reside in lakes and other water bodies. The inorganic mercury normally gets into the water after it is dumped at drilling sites and runs off into nearby waterways or it infiltrates the soil.
When effluent is released from a sewage treatment plant, where does it go?
Into nearby lakes and rivers
How does lead typically get into water?
It contaminates water that has passed through lead-lined pipes and other materials that contain lead (like brass fittings and solders) that fasten pipes together.
What does the presence of E. coli in water indicate?
It indicates that human waste has entered the water because E. coli is commonly found in human intestines.
If radon is detected in your home, how do you get it out and stop more from getting in?
It is important to increase ventilation in your house and seal cracks in the insulation of the basement.
What harm does acidic water cause?
It is lethal to many aquatic organisms
Safe Water Drinking Act
Legislation that sets the national standards for safe drinking water
Clean Water Act
Legislation that supports the "protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and recreation in and on the water" by maintaining and, when necessary, restoring the chemical, physical, and biological properties of surface waters.
Why are the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee called the Smoky Mountain?
Long before anthropogenic pollution was common, the natural VOCs from plants gave rise to smog and photochemical oxidant pollution, which produced the name "Smoky Mountains"
Specifically what is affected by acid deposition in aquatic ecosystems?
Lower pH of lakes and streams in areas of northern North America, Scandinavia, and the UK has caused decreased species diversity of aquatic organisms.
Where is Chesapeake Bay?
Maryland and Virginia
Causes of impairment for lakes, ponds, and reservoirs include:
Mercury, PCBs, nutrients
What negative health effects does methyl-mercury cause in humans?
Methylmercury damages the central nervous system -The result impairs coordination, and the senses of touch, taste, and sight.
How is acid mine drainage caused?
Mine drainage is formed when pyrite (an iron sulfide) is exposed and reacts with air and water to form sulfuric acid and dissolved iron. Some or all of this iron can precipitate to form the red, orange, or yellow sediments in the bottom of streams containing mine drainage.
What kinds of human activity increase arsenic levels in groundwater and drinking water?
Mining: breaks up rocks deep underground and can release arsenic Industrial uses: such as wood preservatives can add to the amount of arsenic found in drinking water
What are the sources of NOx?
NOx -On-road vehicles
Where do nitric acid and sulfuric acid in the atmosphere come from?
Nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide are released into the atmosphere by natural and anthropogenic combustion processes. Through a series of reactions with oxygen and water, these primary pollutants are transformed into nitric acid and sulfuric acid.
To what does the term NOx refer?
Nitrogen oxides, the X indicates that there may be either one or two oxygen atoms per nitrogen atom: nitrogen oxides (colorless, odorless gas) or nitrogen dioxide (a pungent, reddish-brown gas)
Is DDT banned worldwide?
No, DDT is still manufactured in developed nations and sprayed in developing countries as a preferred way to control the mosquitos that carry the malaria parasite.
Is coal ash classified as hazardous waste in the US?
No, coal ash is considered "special waste" that is exempt from federal regulations for the disposal of hazardous waste.
Did the $40 million paid to clean up the air negatively affect the economy in Chattanooga?
No, inversely, the $40 million paid helped create new opportunities related to the cleanup effort like the establishment of a local manufacturer of smokestack scrubbers.
thermal pollution
Nonchemical water pollution that occurs when human activities cause a substantial change in the temperature of water
What is a PBDE
PBDEs are most commonly known as flame retardants added to a wide variety of items that include construction materials, furniture, electrical components, and clothing. They make buildings and their contents considerably less flammable than they would be otherwise.
What are the sources of PM?
PM- Road dust
What size PM is dangerous to human health? Why?
Particles smaller than 10 micrometers are of concern because they would not be filtered out by the human nose and throat and can be deposited deep within the respiratory tract.
What are the largest causes of indoor air pollution in developing countries?
People in developing countries are more likely to use biomass (manure, wood) and coal to heat their homes and cook. Usually, there is little ventilation and no exhaust system and so carbon monoxide and particulate matter can build up inside.
How do pharmaceuticals get into the bay?
Pharmaceuticals pass through the human body and enter sewage treatment plants that eventually discharge and reach the bay.
acid mine drainage
Pollution caused when sulfuric acid and dangerous dissolved materials such as lead, arsenic, and cadmium wash from coal and metal mines into nearby lakes and streams.
Besides causing health problems, how else does smog negatively affect the economy?
Poor visibility in popular vacation destinations can reduce tourism revenues for recreation areas, such as lower incomes for hotels and restaurants in these areas.
Describe Procter & Gamble's Children's Safe Drinking Water Program
Proctor and Gamble developed a powder with two components that would purify water. The two components are flocculant (attaches to soil sediments, heavy metals, and pesticides that are in the water and forces them to settle out of the water) and chlorine (kills bacteria and viruses). After mixing with water and waiting, a person can create 10 L of safe drinking water in just 30 minutes. The powder is supplied to people who can't afford it through the non profit organization that Proctor and Gamble created, "Children's Safe Drinking Water Program". The initiative has partnered with more than 100 governments and humanitarian groups that helps to distribute the packets.
Haze
Reduced visibility
What do governments do to reduce photochemical smog?
Reducing the precursors to ozone. Some strategies include: reducing VOCs- with fewer VOCs in the air there are fewer compounds to interact with nitrogen oxides, and thus more nitrogen oxide will be available to recombine with ozone. reducing nitrogen oxide emissions
What are some negative effects caused by NOx pollution?
Respiratory irritant, plays a role in forming ozone and other components of smog, converts to nitric acid in the atmosphere (which is harmful to some aquatic life and vegetation), and contributes to overfertilizing
What are the sources of SO2?
SO2 -- Electricity generation
Which negative effects does SO2 cause?
SO2 is a respiratory irritant, can exacerbate asthma and other respiratory ailments, and adversely affect plant tissue
What happens during the secondary treatment of sewage at a sewage treatment plant?
Secondary treatment is a step in wastewater treatment that involves the use of biological processes in order to capture all the dissolved organic materials that were not caught during the initial treatment. Microbes take these organic substances as food, transforming them to water, energy and carbon dioxide.
What is a sediment and from where do they come?
Sediments are soils washed away from fields and forests as well as soils washed away from the banks of streams and the ocean shoreline.
How does radon get into our houses?
Seeps in through cracks in the foundation, or from underlying rock, soil, or groundwater.
How can bacteria be used to clean up oil spills?
Several years ago scientists discovered a naturally occurring bacterium that obtained its energy by consuming oil emerging from natural seeps. Scientists soon realized that these bacteria are relatively rare so they are trying to genetically engineer the bacteria's genes and place them into more bacteria.
How often must septic tanks be pumped out? And what do the companies that remove the sludge do with it?
Sludge from the septic tank must be pumped out ever 5 to 10 years and taken to a sewage treatment plant.
sulfurous smog
Smog dominated by sulfur dioxide and sulfate compounds and is sometimes called London-type smog, gray smog, or industrial smog.
photochemical smog
Smog that is dominated by oxidants such as ozone. AKA Los Angeles-type Smog; brown smog
solid waste
Solid waste consists of discarded materials that do not pose a toxic hazard to humans and other organisms. (garbage)
sludge
Solid waste material from wastewater
Where is the "Black Triangle" and how did it get its name?
The Black Triangle is in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic. It got its name from the great deal of 'brown coal' or lignite that provides fuel for nearby coal-fired power plants and other industries. Emissions from this have caused the Black Triangle.
How much bigger was the Deepwater Horizon spill compared to the Exxon Valdez spill?
The Deepwater Horizon spill was about 20 times larger than the Exxon Valdez spill
By how much more does the EPA believe the level mercury will increase by 2050?
The EPA estimates that those concentrations will increase by another 50% by 2050
How did the Exxon Valdez oil spill change the requirements for oil tanker design?
The Exxon Valdez had a single-hull design, but now tankers must have a double-hull design with two steel walls to contain leaking oil.
Great Pacific Garbage Patch
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is located in the North Pacific and it appears to collect much of the solid waste that is dumped into waters and concentrates it in the middle of rotating currents. It is equivalent to the size of Texas.
Is it legal to dump solid waste into the ocean in the US?
The Ocean Dumping Ban Act of 1988 amended the MPRSA and now prohibits the ocean dumping of municipal sewage sludge and industrial wastes, such as wastes from plastics and pharmaceutical manufacturing plants and from petrochemical refineries.
How has the US government protected US citizens from lead-contaminated water?
The US government has implemented several federal guidelines for building construction that requires the installation of lead-free pipes, pipe fittings, and pipe solders.
What unintended consequence resulted from the use of DDT?
The chemical moved up the aquatic food chain from fish to the eagles that consume the fish. This resulted in the thinning of bird egg shells. These egg shells regularly broke in incubation which caused eagle populations to die off.
water pollution
The contamination of streams, rivers, lakes, oceans, or groundwater with substances produced through human activities
Why don't the harmful pathogens in the septic system and those that leach out into the leach field harm people and the environment?
The harmful pathogens is slowly filtered out and absorbed by the surrounding soil. This causes the harmful pathogens to be outcompeted by other microorganisms.
air pollution
The introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or microorganisms into the atmosphere at concentrations high enough to harm plants, animals, and materials such as buildings, or to alter ecosystems.
inversion layer
The layer of warm air that traps emissions in a thermal inversion.
Where does the ozone hole exist?
The ozone hole exists seasonally in Antarctica.
fluidized bed combustion
The purpose is to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions from coal exhaust. In this process, coal is burned in close proximity to calcium carbonate. The heated calcium carbonate absorbs SO2 and produces calcium sulfate.
Why is all rain a little bit acidic? And, what is the pH of normal rain?
The reaction between water and atmospheric CO2 lowers the pH of precipitation from neutral 7.0 to 5.6
In the 2009 EPA report by how much did the concentration of mercury in North Pacific tuna increase from 1990 to 2009?
The report found that the concentration of mercury in tuna of the North Pacific Ocean had increased by 30% since 1990
What happens to the sludge that remains after sewage treatment?
The sludge is exposed to bacteria which removes the mass and then it is placed into a landfill, burned, or converted into fertilizer.
maximum contaminant level (MCL)
The standard for safe drinking water established by the EPA under the Safe Drinking Water Act
How do high levels of sediment negatively affect the bay?
The tiniest soil particles stay suspended in the water, making the water cloudy, and prevent the sunlight from reaching the grasses that serve as a habitat for fish and blue crabs.
How does the outside temperature (aka. atmospheric temperature/ambient temperature) affect the formation of smog? Explain in detail
The warmer air in a temperature inversion acts as a lid, trapping pollutants near the ground and making them unable to disperse until the weather changes.
Where does the Chesapeake Bay watershed start and finish?
The watershed extends from northern Virginia into central New York state
Why are thermal inversions so dangerous?
Thermal inversions can trap harmful gases like carbon monoxide in a small city area. This can cause deaths, illness, and poisoning.
Where do PCBs come from?
They are manufactured as oily liquids or solids.
How do livestock contaminate streams?
They may contaminate the waters near farms if they defecate in the streams/rivers when they are allowed to go in them.
What is the result of these types of sewage management practices?
This contributes to contamination of drinking water, beaches, fish, and shellfish. This also causes disease and illmesses.
True or False: CFCs were thought to be safe
True, they are non-toxic and non-flammable
True or False: PCBs are still present in the environment after being outlawed
True, they have a long-term persistence
Explain what happened (including the clean-up measures) with General Electric (GE) in regard to PCBs in New York.
Two General Electric manufacturing plants dumped 1.3 million pounds of PCBs into the Hudson River from 1947 to 1977. In 2002, the EPA ruled that GE must pay for the dredging and removal of approximately 2.03 million cubic meters of PCB-contaminated sediment from a stretch of the river. After an argument against this, the dredging was completed by 2015.
How can entire ecosystems be affected by UV-B light?
UV-B is harmful to plant cells, and it reduces their ability to photosynthesize. Therefor, UV-B exposure can harm entire ecosystems because if a food chain loses the base of their food chain then the whole ecosystem will collapse.
coal scrubbers
Used to prevent acid deposition. Coal scrubbers pass the hot gases produced during combustion through a limestone slurry. The limestone reacts with the acid gases and removes them before the acid gases leave the smokestack.
What are some natural sources of VOCs
VOCs are hydrocarbons--compounds that contain carbon-hydrogen bonds, forest fires, cattle farms
How are VOCs harmful?
VOCs are not harmful outright, but they can lead to the formation of photochemical oxidants (precursor to ozone)
How can arsenic be removed from water?
Via fine membrane filtration, distillation, and reverse osmosis
When were synthetic organic compounds first developed?
WW2
How is stratospheric ozone formed?
When solar radiation strikes O2 in the stratosphere, ozone is produced after a series of chemical reactions.
Pathogen
a bacterium, virus, or other microorganism that can cause disease.
How is oil spilled in the ocean and floating on the surface cleaned up?
a common approach is to contain the oil within an area and then suck it off the surface of the water.
point source
a distinct location from which pollution is directly produced
perchlorate
a group of harmful chemicals used for rocket fuel
What is radon-222?
a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is produced by the decay of uranium found in some rocks and soils
an example of a point source includes
a particular factory that pumps its waste directly into a nearby stream
What is an oxide?
a reactive compound that removes electrons from other substances.
fabric filters (baghouse filters)
a type of filtration device that allows gases to pass through but removes PM; certain filters can remove almost 100% of PM emissions
nonpoint source
a widely spread source of pollution that is difficult to link to a specific point of origin
What are the three layers found inside a septic tank? List them from top to bottom:
a. scum layer ( anything that floats) b. septage layer (contains bacteria but otherwise clear) c. sludge layer (solid waste)
what would the typical BOD of wastewater be?
about 200mg of oxygen
What causes some of the acidic rainfall (acid rain) on the West Coast of the US?
air pollution in Asia
How large was the below-surface oil plume that scientists found after BP's Deepwater Horizon oil drilling platform leaked into the Gulf of Mexico?
approximately 3,000 ft below the surface of the Ocean, 15-20 miles long, 5 miles wide, and hundreds of meters thick.
For what purpose was asbestos used?
as an insulator on steam and hot water pipes and in shingles for the siding of buildings.
What is the best way to decrease air pollution?
avoid pollutants in the first place - use fuels that contain fewer impurities
How low does the pH drop as a result of acid mine drainage?
below 4
How low does pH drop as a result of acid deposition?
below 5
When was lead phased out of gasoline in the US?
between 1975 and 1996
What harmful health effects do PBDEs cause?
brain damage
Which indoor materials are known to contain and off-gas VOC fumes?
building materials, furniture, paint
Other than by reducing how much fuel we burn, how can the amount of NOx produced when burning fuel be reduced?
burn temperatures must be reduced and the amount of oxygen must be controlled
What health problems arise from drinking water contaminated with arsenic?
cancers of the skin, lungs, kidneys, and bladders
Which other air pollutant (other than the six criteria air pollutants) is wreaking havoc on organisms worldwide?
carbon dioxide
From which sources does mercury originate?
coal, oil
List some human-derived sources of SO2 air pollution
combustion of fuels that contain sulfur, including coal, oil, and gasoline.
How the sulfur emissions credit program under the Clean Air Act works
created an allowance trading market
What is the most common way that humans ingest methylmercury?
eating fish and shellfish
anthropogenic
environmental change, caused or influenced by humans, either directly or indirectly
Who fought against this new legislation and why?
environmental groups argued for 5ppb while water, mining, and wood preservative industries argues that 10ppb would be too expensive to implement.
What chemical in the Chesapeake Bay water is thought to be negatively impacting the reproductive cycle of largemouth bass living in the bay?
estrogen
How does the sulfur emission credit program ensure that overall sulfur emissions will be reduced over time?
every year the number of allowances given is gradually reduced
How does lead impact these people (ie. what specific, negative health effects occur)?
exposure can damage the brain, nervous system, and kidneys.
True or False: The Clean Water Act protects the cleanliness of groundwater aquifers
false
True or False: small amounts of E. coli are considered safe in drinking water
false, no amounts of E. coli are considered safe for drinking water
Which demographic(s) of people are most affected by lead?
fetuses and infants
What are some natural sources of NOx in the atmosphere?
forest fires, lightning, microbial action in soils
Which is thought to be the most toxic gas given off in homes?
formalehyde
List some human-derived sources of NOx air pollution.
fossil fuel combustion, wood, and other biomass burning
What else is exempted from the Safe Drinking Water Act?
fracking for natural gas
When does the ozone hole exist?
from roughly August through November. Basically, extremely cold weather conditions during the polar winter causes a buildup of ice crystals mixed with nitrogen oxide. This creates the perfect surface for the formation of Cl2. When the Sun reappears in the spring, UV radiation breaks down this molecule into Cl again which catalyzes the destruction of ozone.
From where do human caused VOCs originate?
gasoline, lighter fluid, dry-cleaning fluid, oil-based paints, and perfumes
From what sources does Radon-222 originate?
granitic and some other rocks and soils
What chemicals are found in animal manure?
hormones and antibodies
Why are point sources of water pollution particularly important to identify?
identifying where the point source of pollution is could help control pollutant inputs to waterways.
How is ozone formed?
is formed in the atmosphere as a result of the emission of the primary pollutants NOx and VOCs in the presence of sunlight
What is the ultimate goal of wastewater treatment plants?
is to remove as much of the suspended solids as possible before the remaining water, called effluent, is discharged back to the environment.
How is the Biolite stove safer than cooking on an open flame fire
it gives off less harmful gases
What needs to be contemplated when trying to control the levels of secondary pollutants?
it is necessary to consider the primary pollutants that create them, as well as factors that may lead to the breakdown or reduction in the secondary pollutants themselves.
Which materials in homes typically contain formaldehyde?
it is used in the manufacture of building products like particle board and carpeting glue
What changes to environmental policy resulted from the travesty of the Cuyahoga River?
it led to a movement to clean up America's waterways. It also led to legislation that substantially reduced the amount of industrial and other waste that can legally be dumped into waterways.
Where does indoor carbon monoxide most often come from?
it occurs as a result of malfunctioning exhaust systems on household heaters, most typically natural gas heaters.
How does the Biolite stove work?
it physically separates the solid fuel from the gases that form when the fuel is burned and allows the stove to burn the excess gases. In addition, a small electric fan, located inside the stove, harnesses energy from the heat of the fire and moves aur through the stove at a rate that ensures complete combustion.
Which species have not rebounded since the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill?
killer whales and sea otters
inert
lacking the ability or strength to move
Where is coal ash solid waste dumped and stored?
landfills, ponds, or abandoned mines where they can contaminate groundwater.
What kinds of things are found in the septage layer?
large quantities of bacteria, pathogens, and inorganic nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus
How much E. coli is considered safe in recreation water, like pools, rivers, and beaches?
less than 500 to 10,000 colonies per 100 megaliters of water
effluent
liquid waste or sewage discharged into a river or the sea.
Which other two air pollutants are causing harm to the health of organisms and/or the environment?
mercury and volatile organic compounds
What kinds of harmful chemicals are found in coal ash?
mercury, lead, and arsenic
What happens when BOD is high?
microbes are forced to use high amounts of oxygen to act as decomposers and then the oxygen remaining for other organisms is relatively low. This can be lethal.
What happens when high levels of organic matter and/or fertilizers enter a body of water?
microbes that are decomposers feed on it. These microbes require oxygen to decompose the waste, so the more waste that enters the water , the more microbes grow and the more oxygen they demand.
How long do scientists estimate it will take the remaining oil from the Exxon Valdez spill to breakdown?
more than 100 years
How many dead zones are there thought to be worldwide?
more than 400
What does wastewater release when it decomposes?
nitrogen and phosphorus
Which two air pollutants are the largest contributors of smog formation?
nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide
How do humans end up consuming perchlorates?
perchlorates sometimes contaminate the soil in regions of the world where military rockets are manufactured, tested or dismantled. Perchlorates easily leach from contaminated soil into the groundwater where they can persist for many years. Human exposure comes through consumption of contaminated food or water.
What harmful health effects do perchlorates cause?
perchorlates can affect the thyroid gland and reduce the production of hormones necessary for proper functioning of the human body.
Which industries produce synthetic organic compounds?
pesticides, pharmeuceuticals, military compounds, and industrial compounds.
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
platform exploded, causing history's largest accidental marine oil spill as of mid-2010 in the Gulf of Mexico
gravitational settling
process of removing particulate matter; relies on gravity as the exhaust travels through the smokestack and particles settle out to the bottom; ash residue remaining is disposed of in a landfill
Which types of products contain/use chlorofluorocarbons?
refrigerators, air conditioning, hair sprays
Where in the world is water especially contaminated with arsenic and why?
regions of Bangladesh and India. This is because in the 1980s and 1990s water engineers drilled very deep wells in an attempt to find sources of groundwater that were not contaminated by local pollution. Officials did not know that the deeper water was contaminated by naturally occurring arsenic from the rocks deep underground.
In the US, what is the source of most Hepatitis A contamination?
restaurants that lack adequate sanitation practices
From which sources does lead originate?
rocks, soil, coal, and oil
What often provides the energy for chemical reactions that change primary pollutants into secondary pollutants?
solar radiation
particulate matter (PM)
solid or liquid particles suspended in the air AKA particulates, particles
What is the biggest concern around asbestos removal?
studies have shows that when removal is complete, the concentration of asbestos in the air can be greater in the year after the removal than the year before the removal. So, removal must be done with complete care.
catalyst
substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction but does not get used up itself
What are the six "criteria" air pollutants?
sulfur dioxide nitrogen oxides carbon monoxide particulate matter tropospheric ozone lead
What happens when high amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus reach the bay?
the algae in the bay experiences an explosive population growth (algal bloom)
biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)
the amount of oxygen a quantity of water uses over a period of time at specific temperatures.
atmospheric brown clouds
the combustion of fossil fuels and burning biomass
What strategies did China employ to reduce smog in Beijing prior to the 2008 Olympics?
the government expanded public transportation networks, imposed motor vehicle restrictions, and temporarily shut down a number of industries as a way to reduce photochemical smog and improve visibility.
Why is Round-Up thought to be highly toxic to amphibians?
the inert ingredients inside the herbicide allow for the penetration of tadpole gill cells as well as the penetration of leaves. The gills burst and the tadpoles suffocate.
How/why have very low levels of pharmaceutical drugs in the Chesapeake Bay water affected the growth of male fish?
the low concentrations of pharmaceutical drugs that mimic estrogen are connected to male fish growing eggs in their testes. These have begun to affect the fish because the concentrations of pharmaceuticals are so low that they aren't though to affect human so people don't consider it as big a deal.
How do people in this region plan to deal with this contamination?
the plan is to collect uncontaminated rainwater as a source of drinking water and research inexpensive filters that can remove arsenic from the well water.
Where is all of the increased acidity in forests, streams, and lakes coming from?
the presence of very tall smoke stacks of industrial plats that were burning coal and releasing sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide into the air.
What do some scientists believe is the cause for some whales becoming beached?
the use of sounds emitted by ships and submarines, military sonar, and the use of loud, underwater air guns by energy companies searching for oil deposits under the oceans. (noise pollution)
Wastewater
the water produced from livestock operations and human activities (human sewage from toilets + gray water from bathing and washing of clothes and dishes)
How is estrogen in the Chesapeake Bay affecting the bass?
they are developing into hermaphrodites; their male sex organs are growing eggs. This is concerning to the fish population.
Where do the water and nutrients that seep into a leach field eventually go?
they are eventually taken up by plants or enter a nearby stream or aquifer
How do harmful synthetic organic compounds enter the water supply?
they enter water from either industrial point sources where they were manufactured or from nonpoint sources where they are applied over large areas.
For what purpose was DDT originally designed?
to alter nerve transmissions in insects
What is the function of a catalytic converter?
to reduce nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide emissions.
What type of pollution is called ground-level pollution?
tropospheric pollution (the first 10 miles of the atmosphere above the surface of the Earth).
True or False: Carbon monoxide causes problems both indoors and outside
true
True or False: llnesses caused by drinking water contaminated with arsenic can take 10 years or more after exposure to develop
true
True or False: runoff of fertilizers and pesticides from suburban lawns is not covered under either of these acts
true
True or False: a lower BOD indicates that a waterbody is less polluted by wastewater
true, and inversely, a higher BOD indicates that a water body is more polluted by waste water
Other than by reducing how much fuel we burn, how can air pollution that comes from burning coal or oil be reduced?
use a low-sulfur coal or oil
electrostatic precipitation
use an electrical charge to make particles form together so they can be removed. Polluted air enters the precipitator and the electrically charged particles within are attracted to negative or positive charges on the sides of the precipitator.
List some natural sources of SO2
volcanic eruptions, fossil fuels, and forest fires (much smaller quantities)
From which natural sources does PM originate?
volcanoes, forest fires, and dust storms
What are some natural sources of air pollution, and which specific air pollutant does each natural source release?
volcanoes-release sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides lightning- create nitrogen oxides from atmospheric nitrogen forest fires- release particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide living plants- release a variety of VOCs, including ethylene and terpenes
How does warmer water result in fish die-off?
warmer water does not contain as much dissolved oxygen as cold water so an increase in respiration and a decrease in oxygen will cause many animals to suffocate.
Where does the warmer water that is added to bodies of water come from?
when an industry removes cold water from a natural supply, uses it to absorb heat that is generated in a manufacturing process, and returns the heated water back to the natural supply.
Where in the United States is one of the largest dead zones in the world located?
where the Mississippi River dumps into the Gulf of Mexico
Who is in contact with most of the CO and PM pollution in developing nations?
women and young children
Is it legal to dump solid waste into the ocean worldwide?
yes, in many developing countries there is often no political mechanism to prevent dumping or it is economically difficult to manage proper garbage disposal.
which demographic(s) of humans are the most susceptible?
young children and developing embryos of pregnant women
Which toxic metals leach into water as a result of acid mine drainage?
zinc, copper, aluminum, and manganese
