Chapter 1 Basic Concepts
Briefly discuss the environmental aspects of noninfectious disease with reference to some specific illnesses. (page 7)
Environmental aspects of noninfectious disease with reference to some specific illnesses would include heavy metals such as lead or mercury.
A soil sample is determined to contain 25 percent sand, 20 percent silt, and 55 percent clay. Using the triangular classification chart in Figure 1-13, how would you classify this soil? Do you think its permeability will be high or low? (page 17)
Low permeability.
What information does an NRCS soil survey map convey, and what other information is given in NRCS publications? (page 18)
NCRS map convey the location of different soil series in an area. Other information that is given in NCRS publications is that NCRS soil survey maps are useful for good land planning and development.
What are plankton, and what role do they play in the aquatic food web? (page 12)
Plankton are tiny floating animals or plants that live in freshwater or saltwater. The role that they play in the aquatic food web is that plankton because they are the foundation to most marine food webs.
What is the difference between the terms "porosity" and "permeability"? What is the difference between infiltration and percolation? (page 15-16)
Porosity refers to the percentage of total rock volume that is occupied by pore spaces while permeability refers to the characteristic of rock that enables water to flow through the pore spaces. infiltration deals with the penetration of water trough the ground surface layer of soil and rock and percolation deals with the continuing movement or flow of water through the pore spaces under the force of gravity.
The first major challenge for environmental technology was the control of communicable disease. Has this challenge been met? How? What would you say is the present-day challenge in this field? (page 20)
The challenge has been met by establishing regulations for environmental quality of air, land, and water. The present day challenge in this field would be that implementing and enforcing these laws would be very expensive.
What is the difference between a heterotrophic and an autotrophic organism? (pages 9,10)
The difference is that autotrophic organisms are self nourishing while heterotrophic organisms cannot manufacture their own food and they have to use a process called respiration.
What is meant by soil gradation? What is meant by the effective size and uniformity coefficient of soil? Why is soil gradation important in environmental technology? (pages 16,17)
Soil Gradation is the distribution and percentage of different particle sizes in the soil. The effective size is the consistent relationship between the size and soil permeability. The uniformity coefficient is the ratio of two particle size. Soil gradation is important in environmental technology because you can know the particle sizes and the amount of particles in the soil.
What is soil? List four basic types of soil and compare their permeability characteristics. (page 16)
Soil is the unconsolidated rock fragments formed from weathering. Four basic types of soil are clay, gravel, sand, and silt. Gravity and sand are generally porous and highly permeable. Silt is less permeable. Clay is impermeable.
Why is species diversity important for an ecosystem? (pages unknown)
Species diversity is important for an ecosystem because diversity is important because each species play an important part such as animals, plants, etc.
Briefly discuss the modes of transmission of communicable disease. (page 6)
The transmission of communicable diseases include airborne, vectorborne, and vehicleborne. Airborne transmission involves the spread of microbes from carrier to contact in contaminated mists suspended in air. Vectorborne transmission involves animals, insects, rodents, etc that can transport pathogens to susceptible human contacts. Vehicleborne transission involves any nonliving organisms or substance that is contaminated with pathogens such as food, milk, or water.
Briefly describe two fundamental metabolic processes of living organisms. (pages 9, 10)
The two fundamental metabolic processes of living organisms include photosynthesis and respiration. Photosynthesis is a natural process by which green plants convert carbon dioxide, nutrients, sunlight, and water into basic food substances. Respiration is the process by which organic material is oxidized inside the cells of living organisms, providing energy for growth and reproduction.
Briefly describe three types of rock and give one example of each type. Briefly compare their permeability. What role do structural features such as layering, joints, and faults play in permeability? (pages 15)
Three types of rocks are igneous (Granite), metamorphic (Marble), and sedimentary rocks (Sandstone). Igneous and metamorphic rock are impermeable while sedimentary rocks are generally porous and relatively permeable. Roles that they play is that these rocks can bend or fold because of environmental changes and the permeability is fractured.
Describe the two basic principles of ecology. (page 9)
Two basic principles ecology include abiotic and biotic components. Abiotic components deals with the air, minerals, soil, and water that constitute the environment. Biotic components deals with the living animals and plants.
What is the difference between a well-graded soil and a poorly graded soil? If a soil sample had a uniformity coefficient of 50, would it be considered well graded or poorly graded? (page 16-17)
Well-graded soil have low porosity and permeable and poorly graded soil have high porosity and is highly permeable. Well-Graded soil.
What constitutes an ecosystem? Give examples of five different types and sizes of ecosystems. (page 8)
What constitutes an ecosystem is a community of living organisms that live and interact with each other. Five different types and sizes of ecosystems include estuaries, forests, jungles, streams, and rivers.
What is meant by natural succession of an ecosystem? (page 12)
What is meant by natural succession of an ecosystem is that it is a process by which healthy ecosystems gradually age and change form as time passes.
Give a brief definition of environmental technology, including mention of basic activities and objectives. (page 1)
Environmental technology involves the application of construction, design, operation, and planning of different systems such as drinking water treatment and distribution, stormwater runoff control, air and noise pollution control, etc. Objectives of environmental technology includes public health protection and environmental health protection.
What is the difference between aerobic and anaerobic decay? (page 10)
Aerobic decay are able to decompose organic material in the absence of free oxygen while anaerobic decay occurs in the presence of free oxygen.
Define the term "pathogen." (page 6)
An pathogen is a type of microorganism that can cause disease.
During what period of history did people first begin to recognize the connection between contaminated drinking water and disease? About when was the germ theory of disease proved? (page 19)
During the mid 1800's that people began to recognize the connection between contaminated drinking water and disease. The germ theory of disease was proved in the late 1800's.
Describe a biogeochemical cycle for two different macronutrients. (page 11)
A biogeochemical cycle for two different macronutrients include protoplasm and micronutrients.
What is the difference between putrefaction and fermentation? (page 10)
Fermentation is the decomposition of carbohydrates by microbes without free oxygen while putrefaction is anaerobic decay of protein compounds.
Approximately when were filtration and chlorination applied to drinking water supplies in the United States? What was the effect on public health? (page 19)
Filtration and chlorination applied to drinking water happened in the beginning of the 20th century. The effect on public health was that waterborne disease outbreaks decreased significantly and public health authorities felt that the best way to protect the public is by purifying the drinking water.
List five common intestinal diseases. What is the most common mode of transmission of these diseases? (page 6)
Five common intestinal diseases include cholera, dysentery, gastroenteritis, infectious hepatitis, and typhoid fever. The most common mode of transmission of these diseases are by contamination of food and milk products.
