Exam #3 chapt. 14 Water pollution cause and effects

cholera

an acute intestinal infection caused by ingestion of contaminated water or food

cultural eutrophication

an increase in fertility in a body of water, the result of anthropogenic inputs of nutrients

heavy metals

metallic elements with a high density that are toxic to organisms at low concentrations

Eutrophication

A process by which nutrients, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, become highly concentrated in a body of water, leading to increased growth of organisms such as algae or cyanobacteria.

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

leach field

a component of a septic system, made up of underground pipes laid out below the surface of the ground

thermal shock

a dramatic change in water temperature that can kill organisms. many animals will die

sewage treatment plant

a facility that cleans the waste materials found in water that comes from sewers or drains

Lead

a heavy metal that contaminates water when it passes through lined pipes, solder, brass fittings and paint. It damages the nervous system

thermal pollution

a temperature increase in a body of water that is caused by human activity and that has a harmful effect on water quality and on the ability of that body of water to support life

Biomagnification

accumulation of pollutants at successive levels of the food chain. ex: tuna can be very strict because its large and high up on the food chain

Clean Water Act

(CWA, 1972) set maximum permissible amounts of water pollutants that can be discharged into waterways; aims to make surface waters swimmable and fishable

Bioaccumulation

(how your body handles the chemicals) The accumulation of a substance, such as a toxic chemical, in various tissues of a living organism. (store in fat)

fecial coliform bacteria

-Best indicators for potentially harmful water. -group of harmless microorganisms that live in the intestines of human beings

ways to remediate oil pollution

-Containment using booms to keep the floating oil from spreading. -Chemicals that help break up the oil, making it disperse before it hits the shoreline. -Bacteria that are genetically engineered to consume oil

Mercury

-Naturally occurring heavy metal found in increased concentrations of water as a result of human activities. -comes from the burning of fossil fuels, especially coal -human exposure mostly comes from eating fish

BP Oil Spill 2010

-explosion on the deep water horizon platform caused a pipe to break on the ocean floor -the broken pipe released 780 million liters of crude oil into the gulf of Mexico

sanitation (worlds access to clean water)

15% of the world's population has no access to clean water 40% has no access to proper sanitation

12. All of the following are non chemical forms of water pollution except (a) industrial waste. (b) solid waste or garbage. (c) sediments. (d) noise. (e) thermal pollution.

A

Acid mine drainage results from acidic water formed below ground that makes its way to the surface; the acidic water is formed as a result of the flooding of abandoned mines where the underground water (a) reacts with a type of rock, pyrite, which releases iron and hydrogen ions. (b) reacts with sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide to form sulfuric and nitric acids. (c) flushes out the chemicals used in the mining process. (d) permeates a limestone layer that lowers the pH. (e) reacts with copper and aluminum to form pyrite rock and hydrogen ions.

A

Both septic systems and sewage treatment plants utilize bacteria to break down organic matter. Where in each system does this process occur? (a) Septic tank and leach field; primary treatment and secondary treatment (b) Septic tank only; primary treatment and chlorination (c) Leach field only; secondary treatment only (d) Septic tank and leach field; secondary treatment only (e) Leach field only; secondary treatment and chlorination

A

septic tank

A large container that receives wastewater from a house as part of a septic system

septage

A layer of fairly clear water found in the middle of a septic tank

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

Amount of oxygen required by aquatic bacteria to decompose given load of organic waste; a measure of water pollution.

All of the following are problems that result from the use of pesticides except (a) most pesticides are not target-specific and kill other related and nonrelated species. (b) pesticide runoff enters surface waters and increases the solubility of heavy metals. (c) pesticides affect nontarget organisms by changing community relationships. (d) pesticides target specific physiological functions, but also disrupt other functions. (e) most inert ingredients are not tested for safety and may pose unacceptable risks.

B

The passage of water-pollution legislation is most likely to occur when (a) a developing country is still in the process of industrialization and rapid population growth. (b) a developed country has experienced industrialization and can afford the control measures demanded by its citizens. (c) a developing country has not yet industrialized and water quality is still good. (d) contaminating industries relocate in a developing country and begin to abuse the less-restrictive environmental laws. (e) nonpoint sources of water pollution outnumber point sources.

B

Which of the following would be an indication that a body of water was contaminated by human waste- water? (a) Low BOD and a fecal coliform bacteria count of zero (b) High levels of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, and high BOD (c) Low BOD and low levels of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus (d) Low levels of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, and a fecal coliform bacteria count of zero (e) A lack of dead zones

B

All of the following are the result of the Exxon Valdez oil tanker running aground off the coast of Alaska in 1989 except (a) millions of gallons of crude oil spread over the ocean and shoreline. (b) thousands of animals were killed; some species have recovered, others have not. (c) the oil that contaminated the shoreline is now completely broken down. (d) Exxon paid $500 million in damages and changed the name of the ship. (e) all oil tankers in North America must have a double-hull design to resist leaking.

C

Based on Figure 14.12, which of the following phar- maceuticals was detected most often in the streams studied by the U.S. Geological Survey? (a) Nonprescription drugs (b) Antibiotics (c) Steroids (d) Reproductive hormones (e) Other prescription drugs

C

Under which of the following circumstances is a sewage treatment plant legally permitted to bypass normal treatment protocol and discharge large amounts of sewage directly into a lake or river? (a) When the receiving surface water is designated for swimming only (b) When the population of the surrounding community surpasses the plant's capacity (c) When combined volumes of storm water and wastewater exceed the capacity of an older plant (d) When a permit to modernize the plant is denied by the Environmental Protection Agency (e) When an extended period of drought restricts water flow in a lake or river

C

industrial compounds

Chemicals used in manufacturing that is dumped directly into bodies of water to dispose of them. -PCBs were used in manufacturing plastics and insulating electrical transformers, they are carcinogenic -PBDEs are used as flame retardants, and have been detected in some organisms and human breast milk, can lead to brain damage.

solid waste pollution

Consists of discarded materials from households and industries that do not pose a toxic hazard to humans and other organisms mostly garbage

Successful remediation of oil spills floating on the surface of the ocean from leaking oil tankers or off- shore platforms includes which of the following? I Containment and vacuuming up the oil II High-pressure hot water III Chemicals that break down oil (a) I only (b) II only (c) III only (d) I and III (e) II and III

D

Which of the following statements about nonpoint source (NPS) pollution is not correct? (a) NPS results from rain or snowmelt moving over or permeating through the ground. (b) NPS is a form of water pollution that is more difficult to control, measure, and regulate. (c) NPS includes sediment from improperly managed construction sites as a pollutant. (d) NPS is water pollution that originates from a distinct source such as a pipe or tank. (e) NPS disperses pollutants over a large area, such as oil and grease in a parking lot.

D

Human wastewater results in which of the following water-pollution problems? I The organic matter decomposes and reduces dissolved oxygen levels. II Decomposition of organic matter releases great quantities of nutrients. III Pathogenic organisms are carried into surface waters. A.) I only B.) II only C.) III only D.) I and III E.) I. II, III

E

Which of the following inorganic substances is naturally occurring in rocks, soluble in groundwater, and toxic at low concentrations? (a) Mercury (b) Lead (c) PCBs (d) Copper (e) Arsenic

E

Which of the following provisions is defined in the Safe Drinking Water Act? (a) Support the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, wildlife, and recreation in and on the water. (b) Maintain and restore the chemical, physical, and biological properties of natural waters. (c) Protect the abundance and diversity of various species in and on the water. (d) Issue permits to control how much pollution industries can discharge into the water. (e) Establish maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for specific substances in both surface water and groundwater.

E

river of garbage

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

sediment pollution

Excessive amounts of soil particles that enter the water as a result of erosion

oil spill containment

Floating plastic walls can contain oil spills while the oil is sucked off the surface of the water.

Manure lagoon

Human-made pond lined with rubber built to handle large quantities of manure produced by livestock.

dead zones

In a body of water, an area with extremely low oxygen concentration and very little life

Feedlot manure lagoon

Large-scale agriculture operations, such as the one in Georgia, produces great amounts of waste that can be held in lagoons and pumped out and removed

Maximum Containment Levels

Max level of one of 77 substances that can exist in a body of water.

Sources of oil in the ocean

Oil contamination in the ocean natural seems, extraction of oil from underneath the ocean, transport of loyal by Tanker or pipeline, in the consumption of petroleum based products

indicator species

Organism that indicates whether or not disease causing pathogens are likely to be present.

applying pesticides

Pesticides provide benefits to humans, but they also can have unexpected effects on humans and other non-pest organisms that are not fully understood and have not been adequately investigated. These airplanes are spraying insecticides over a lake to help control mosquito populations.

two types of pollution sources

Pollution can enter water bodies either as (a) point sources, as in sewage pipes, or as (b) nonpoint sources, as in rainwater that runs off hundreds of square kilometers of agricultural fields and into streams.

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.

Cuyahoga River

River that in the 1960s carried so much flammable waste that it caught fire.

contaminants in streams

Streams contain a wide variety of chemicals including pharmaceutical drugs and hormones. These come from a combination of wastewater inputs, agriculture, forestry, and industry. [After Pharmaceuticals, hormones, and other organic wastewater contaminants in U.S. streams, 1999-2000: A national reconnaissance, Environmental Science & Technology 36: 1202-1211.]

acid deposition

Sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides, emitted by burning fossil fuels, enter the atmosphere-where they combine with oxygen and water to form sulfuric acid and nitric acid-and return to Earth's surface

garbage patch

___________ is an area in the Pacific Ocean with small scattered pieces of plastic.

Arsenic in U.S well water

The highest concentrations of arsenic are generally found in the upper Midwest and the West

(Figure 14.2) washing clothes in the Tuo River of China

Using water for bathing, washing, and disposing of sewage without contaminating sources of drinking water is a long- standing challenge.

Septic system (figure 14.5)

Wastewater from a house is held in a large septic tank where solids settle to the bottom and bacteria break down the sewage. The liquid moves through a pipe at the top of the tank and passes through perforated pipes that distribute the water through a leach field

(Figure 14.3) dead zones

When raw sewage is dumped directly into bodies of water, subsequent decomposition by microbes can consume nearly all of the oxygen in the water and cause a dead zone to develop. Shown here are (a) oxygen concentrations in Gulf Coast waters and (b) a massive fish die-off as a result of low oxygen conditions in Lake Trafford, Florida.

Arsenic

compound that contaminates water through dissolution a. naturally through ground/drinking water or b. anthropogenically through mining and wood preservatives; causes skin/lung/kidney/bladder cancer; current U.S. MCL is 10 micrograms/L or ppb

EPA standards

drinking water= o colonies swimming water= 0-500 colonies recreational= 500-1,000

Legal Sewage Dumping

during periods of heavy rain, treatment plants are allowed to bypass their normal treatment protocol and pump vast amounts of water directly into an adjacent body of water. contamination can happen during this time

Non-fecal coliforms

found in soil and plant material

thermal pollution part 2

harm to lakes and rivers resulting from the release of excessive waste heat into them

E. coli

one of 6 fecal bacteria species. found in animal waste and human sewage -if it enters a cut that's a problem

oxygen-demanding waste

organic matter that enters a body of water and feeds microbes that are decomposer

military compounds

perchlorates leach from contaminated soil into the groundwater. affect thyroid gland and reduce reproductive hormones if taken in

point source pollution

pollution that comes from a specific site

Safe Drinking Water Act

set maximum contaminant levels for pollutants that may have adverse effects on human health.

oil pollution

spills, leaks runoff and natural seeps

water pollution

the addition of any substance that has a negative effect on water or the living things that depend on the water

sludge

the solids that remain after the secondary treatment of sewage.

non-point source pollution

water pollution that does not have a specific point of origin

human wastewater

water produced by human activities such as human sewage from toilets and gray water from bathing and washing clothes or dishes