Water, Air, & Soil Pollution
Coliform bacteria
(E. coli) Presume if coliform bacteria are present, infectious pathogens are also present
PCB's
A group of synthetic organic compounds - contain hydrogen, oxygen, and chlorine Used in electrical equipment, inks, adhesives, paints Stable in the environment Accumulate in the fatty tissues Cause reproductive problems, immune systems damage, cancer
Cation exchange
A process that allows plants to gain nutrients Negatively charged soils hold positive ions - calcium, magnesium, and potassium
Cation exchange capacity
A soil's ability to hold cations, preventing them from leaching back into the environment A useful measure of soil fertility Many pollutants are positively charged - notably heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, and mercury These cations are attracted to negatively charged clay particles in soil Cations are retained in the soil - difficult to remediate soil
Municipal Sewage Treatment - Secondary Treatment
Aeration tank, biodegradation
Biggest Source of Water Pollution
Agriculture
DDT
An insecticide used to control the spread of malaria, typhus, and other insect-borne diseases Rachel Carson (Silent Spring) demonstrated the danger of this synthetic organic chemical Persistent in the environment Can travel long distances, unintentional pathways DDT is not easily metabolized by animals; it is stored in the fatty tissues --> biomagnification
Water Pollution
Any physical, chemical, biological change in water quality that has an adverse affect on living organisms or makes the water unsuitable for life/consumption
The Clean Air Act
Authorizes EPA to set limits on the amount of air pollutants Focuses on 6 air pollutants Act has led to decreases!
Photochemical Smog
Brownish-orange haze formed by chemical reactions involving sunlight, nitrogen oxide, and hydrocarbon Sources: trucks/buses/vehicles, industries, aircrafts/ships/trains, consumer products/homes
Carbon Oxides (Co and CO2)
Carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) Primarily produced by combustion processes CO - mainly from road traffic, CO2 - from electricity, transportation, & buildings and industry
Superfund Program (1980)
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) Clean up uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste site
Human Health Concerns of DDT
Decreased mental function, male infertility, cancer
Non-point Source
Discharge of pollutants from a diffuse, unknown source Examples: lawns, mines, farm fields, cities, roads
Point Source
Discharge of pollutants from a single, known source Example: Sewage treatment plant, oil wells, power plants
Infectious Agents
Disease-forming organisms
Municipal Sewage Treatment - Tertiary Treatment
Disinfect and remove phosphates/nitrates
Criteria Air Pollutants
EPA uses six "criteria pollutants" as indicators of air quality Particulate material, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, carbon oxides, ozone, lead
Soil Pollution: Human-Caused Contamination
Fertilizers, pesticides/insecticides, industrial solvents, petroleum terminals, abandoned gas stations, junkyards, landfills
Sediment from erosion and runoff
Fills lakes, obstructs shipping channels, clogs hydroelectric turbines, purification is very costly
PCB's & General Electric
General Electric dumped an estimated 1.3 million pounds of PCBs into the Hudson River EPA classified the 200-mile stretch of the Hudson River as a Superfund site
Sulfur Oxides Problems
Greenhouse gas, causes acid precipitation
Nitrogen Oxides Problems
Greenhouse gases, cause difficulty breathing
Sulfur Oxides (SO2)
Group of highly reactive gases Primarily produced by burning of fossil fuels (electric utilities)
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
Group of highly reactive gasses Formed primarily by automobile emissions (vehicles)
Water Pollution Sources
Industrial waste, surface runoff - industry, agriculture, home, leaking underground storage tanks (gas stations), leaking septic tank, injection wells for secondary oil/gas recovery
Types of water pollutants
Infectious Agents (Biological), Oxygen-Demanding Wastes, Inorganic Pollutants, Organic Chemicals (POP's), Sediment (Particulates)
Eutrophication
Is a natural process by which waters become excessively enriched with nutrients Human activities enhance this process (i.e. Farming) Nutrient enrichment often results in a explosion of algae and other aquatic plant populations
Lead Problems
Learning disabilities, toxic to liver and kidney, neurological effects, immune system function
Effects of Air Pollution
Low level exposure: irritates eyes, causes inflammation of respiratory tract Can develop into chronic respiratory diseases
Tropospheric Ozone (Bad Ozone)
Man-made pollutant in the lower atmosphere Component of photochemical smog Reaction of volatile organic compounds (VOC) + NOx in presence of sun light
Particulate Material Problems
May contain toxic or carcinogenic materials - particles may become lodged in lungs
Inorganic fertilizers
Mined or synthetically manufactured mineral supplements - nitrates, sulfates, phosphates
Inorganic Pollutants
Naturally occurring elements Often released by human activities (coal burning, smelting, ore processing, etc.) May increase the salinity, alkalinity, and acidity of natural waters Heavy metals
Oxygen-Demanding Wastes
Oxygen dissolved in water is an indicator of water quality - 6 ppm O2 or more supports desirable aquatic life
Municipal Sewage Treatment - Primary Treatment
Physical separation of solids
Dioxin
Produced as a by-product of industrial processes - burning coal, oil, household trash, chlorine bleaching Stable in the environment Accumulate in the fatty tissues Cause reproductive problems, immune systems damage, cancer
Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act (RCA) (1977)
Provides the Dept. of Agriculture the authority for the conservation, protection, and enhancement of soil, water, and related natural resources
BOD and Eutrophication
Rapid succession in a body of water because of an increase in biological productivity
Safe Drinking Water Act (1974)
Regulates water quality in commercial and municipal systems Protects public drinking water supplies
Clean Water Act (CWA) (1972)
Restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters Unlawful to discharge any pollutant into navigable waters
Stratospheric Ozone (Good Ozone)
Screens out UV radiation in the upper atmosphere Man-made pollutants (ex: CFCs) can destroy it - "hole in the Ozone"
Controlling Air Pollution in US
Smokestacks with electrostatic precipitator: particles are attracted to the induced electrical charges --> removes particles Smokestacks with scrubbers Catalytic converters on cars
Particulate Material
Solid or liquid particles suspended in air Includes: soil particles, soot, lead, asbestos, sea salt, and sulfuric acid droplets
Fertilizer
Substances that contain essential nutrients for the growth of plants
Health Effects of Air Pollution
Sulfur Dioxide and Particulate material: irritate respiratory tract and impair ability of lungs to exchange gases Nitrogen Dioxides: causes airway restriction Carbon monoxide: binds with iron in blood hemoglobin, causes headache, fatigue, drowsiness, death Ozone: causes burning eyes, coughing, and chest discomfort
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP's)
Synthetic organic chemicals that persist in the environment and have adverse effects on human health Primarily synthesized after World War II Produced for agricultural purposes, disease control, manufacturing, and industrial processes Typically bioaccumulate through the food web Common examples include: Dioxin, PCBs, DDT
Lead (Pb)
Tetraethyl Lead - used in gasoline Mining of Pb and smelting processes Industrial waste - incineration
Soil Pollution
The build-up of persistent toxic compounds, chemicals, salts, radioactive materials, or disease causing agents, which have adverse effects on plant growth and animal health Sources: seepage from landfills, discharge of contaminated water into soils, rupture of underground storage tanks, applications of pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers, solid waste seepage
Organic fertilizers
The remains or wastes of organisms - manure, crop residues, fresh vegetation Compost = produced when decomposers break down organic matter
Two Main Sources of Air Pollution
Transportation, industry
Water-borne diseases from infectious agents
Typhoid, cholera, bacterial and amoebic dysentery, polio, hepatitis
Eutrophic lake
high nutrient levels, poor light penetration, low dissolved oxygen, shallow waters, high algal growth, carp, bullhead, & catfish
Oligotrophic lake
low nutrient levels, good light penetration, high dissolved oxygen, deep waters, low algal growth, small mouth bass, pike, lake trout, sturgeon, white fish
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
the amount of dissolved oxygen present in the water necessary for microorganisms to decompose the organic matter