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Water Pollution
Background Sources Types Eutrophication Sewage Management and Treatment
Pollution =
The presence of a substance in the environment that prevents the functioning of natural processes and produces undesirable environmental and health effects
Pollutant =
Any material that causes pollution
Sources of Pollution
Point sources = Source of pollution with specific points of discharge Examples Factories Sewage systems Power plants Coal mines Oil wells Nonpoint sources = Sources of pollution that are harder to identify Examples Agricultural runoff Stormwater drainage Acid rain
Types of Pollution
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Chemical Pollutants Pathogens Organic Wastes Sediments Nutrients
1. Chemical Pollutants
Inorganic chemicals
Heavy metals Acids from mine drainage Acid precipitation Road salts
Organic chemicals
Petroleum products Pesticides Detergents
Biomagnification = Pollutants become more concentrated by passing through several levels of the food web
2. Pathogens
Pathogens =
Disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and other parasitic organisms If wastes from carriers contaminate water, pathogens can infect others
3. Organic Wastes
Detritus =
Dead organic matter, such as fallen leaves, twigs, and other plant/animal wastes
As bacteria break down detritus, they use oxygen that is dissolved in water (DO) Lots of detritus = lots of oxygen getting used up This limits animal life
4. Sediments
Erosion leads to more sediment in the water which disrupts the ecosystem 1. Muddy water reduces amount of light penetration and photosynthesis 2. Extra silt and sand removes attached aquatic organisms from rocks 3. Hiding and resting places get buried in sediment
5. Nutrients
Agricultural runoff is a primary source of nutrients
Phosphorus Nitrogen
Result:
Excessive plant growth
Eutrophication
Different Kinds of Aquatic Plants
Phytoplankton = Plants that live suspended in water Found wherever light and nutrients are available Emergent vegetation = Plants that are rooted in sediment, grow with lower parts in water, but upper parts stick out of water Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV)= Plants that grow totally underwater so they need clear water that lets light through Get nutrients from sediment Not limited by water low in nutrients
Eutrophic = Body of water that is nutrient rich Supports growth of lots of phytoplankton Has little or no dissolved oxygen Organisms end up dying! Oligotrophic = Body of water that is nutrient poor Unable to support much phytoplankton Light penetrates deeply HEALTHY body of water! Note: Natural eutrophication is a normal process but can become a problem when humans add too many nutrients too quickly (pollution!)
Combating Eutrophication Attack symptoms Herbicides Aeration Harvesting aquatic weeds Drawing water down Cut down on nitrogen and phosphorus in water Ban sale of phosphate detergents Issue and monitor permits for discharging pollutants Best management practices = Farm management practices that serve best to reduce soil and nutrient runoff
Removing Pollutants from Sewage 1. Preliminary Treatment = Removal of debris and grit from wastewater using a course screen and grit-settling chamber 2. Primary Treatment = Water passes very slowly through large tank so that clumps of organic material can settle out 3. Secondary or biological treatment = Removes most of remaining organic matter Organisms feed on it and oxidize it through respiration *Oxygen must be added to water*
4. Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) = Removes nitrogen and phosphorus 5. Final Cleansing and Disinfection Usually using chlorine gas Note: Discharging this treated wastewater may improve water quality of the receiving body of water
3 Ways to Treat Sludge 1. Anaerobic Digestion = Breakdown of organic material by microorganisms in the absence of oxygen 2. Composting = Letting organic wastes decompose in the presence of air Product = nutrient rich humus 3. Pasteurization = Heating organic material to kill pathogens
Air Pollution
Background Types of Pollutants Smog Acid Precipitation Impact of Air Pollutants Climate Change Ozone Destruction Control Strategies
Background
Air pollutants = Substances in the atmosphere that have harmful effects 3 factors determine level of air pollution 1. Amount of pollutants entering the air 2. Amount of space into which the pollutants can spread out 3. Mechanisms that remove pollutants from the air
Nature cant remove all of the pollution humans are creating fast enough
Types of Pollutants
Primary pollutants = Secondary pollutants = Pollutants released Pollutants resulting from directly into atmosphere reactions of primary air mainly as a result of pollutants in the burning fuels and wastes atmosphere Examples Examples Carbon monoxide (CO) Ozone (O3) Nitrogen oxides (NOx) Sulfuric acids Sulfur oxides (SOx) Nitric acids Lead (Pb) Radon (Rn)
Smog
Industrial smog =
Grayish mixture of moisture, soot, and sulfurous compounds Occurs in industrial areas and where coal is a primary energy source
Photochemical smog =
Brownish haze that typically forms over large cities with lots of automobile traffic
Impacts of smog
Pollutants can build up to dangerous levels Can cause headaches, nausea, eye and throat irritation Affects trees and other vegetation also
Acid Precipitation
Acid = Has a pH less than 7 Base = Has a pH greater than 7 pH scale
0 (highly acidic ) 7 (neutral) 14 (highly basic)
In the absence of pollution, rainfall is normally slightly acidic, with pH of 5.6 Acid precipitation =
Acid rain, acid fog, acid snow, and other forms of precipitation that is more acidic than normal pH less than 5.6
Climate Change
Since 1855, global average temperature has increased 0.6C Proxies = Measurable records that provide data on factors such as temperature, ice cover, and precipitation Used to observe climate changes Examples
Tree rings, ice cores
Heinrich events = Melting icebergs from polar ice cap supply huge amounts of fresh water as they melt Result of global warming Effects: Lowers density of water Interrupts conveyor system Blocks northward movement of warmer, saltier water Changes climate
More about Carbon dioxide Natural sources When there is more respiration (late fall through spring) CO2 levels rise When there is more photosynthesis (late spring through early fall) CO2 levels fall Other sources Burning of fossil fuels Burning of forest trees Recent years, steady rise in CO2 levels Results in thicker insulating blanket We need to be careful that pollution doesnt make it too warm!
Ozone Destruction
Importance of the Ozone Layer Ozone in the stratosphere (higher layer of the atmosphere) absorbs over 99% of UV radiation UV radiation damages protein and DNA Causes sunburn and skin cancer
Note:
Ozone in the stratosphere protects us from harmful UV rays Ozone in the troposphere is a greenhouse gas Too much is considered pollution! Think: Good up high! Bad near by!
Control Strategies
1978 EPA banned use of CFCs in aerosol cans in US Limiting pollutants from motor vehicles
Catalytic converter = Reduces amount of CO and hydrocarbons in a cars exhaust
Legislation
Clean Air Act of 1970 (CAA) Calls for identifying and controlling most wide-spread pollutants Setting ambient standards = Determine certain levels of pollutants that should not be exceeded in order to maintain environmental and human health Title IV of Clean Air Act Amendments 1st law in US history to address acidprecipitation problem