Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Ch. 6 - Pollution
Pollution Types (Air, Acid Deposition, Noise, Light, Genetic, Water, Sewage Treatment, Solid Waste), Impacts on Environment & Health, Economic Impacts
49
Environmental Studies
12th Grade
03/13/2014

Additional Environmental Studies Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Pollution
Definition
adversely affects the biosphere's land, atmosphere, and water
Term
Point-Source Pollution
Definition
pollution emitted from a specific place; i.e. wastewater from a plant, noise from a plane, or oil from a tank
Term
Non-Point-Source Pollution
Definition
pollution that doesn't come from any specific area; can be hard to identify the main source of the pollution; i.e. vehicle emissions or farm runoff
Term
Parts per million (ppm)
Definition
the concentration of 1 very dilute toxin or substance to 1 million parts another substance; commonly used to express pollutant amounts
Term
Air Pollution
Definition
composed of unwanted gases and particulate matter; can be composed through natural means or through human actions
Term
Criteria Pollutants
Definition
6 common air pollutants monitored by the EPA and measured to gauge air quality - CO, NP2, SO2, O3, Pb. & particulate matter
Term
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Definition
colorless, odorless gas that results from the incomplete combustion of organic matter (esp. fossil fuels)
Term
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
Definition
reddish-brown gas w/ strong odor; created from combustion at high temperatures (most common in vehicles & electric utilities); reacts with sun's heat to form photochemical smog (like in LA)
Term
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
Definition
formed when sulfur is released from burning coal or oil; mostly due to emissions from coal-fired power plants; reacts with UV rays to form industrial smog; can produce aerosols
Term
Aerosol
Definition
solid particles and droplets suspended in the atmosphere
Term
Ozone (O3)
Definition
colorless gas found in the stratosphere and the troposphere; 'good' ___ is in troposphere & protects the Earth from high lvls of the sun's UV radiation; 'bad' ___ is located close to the ground in the troposhere; main component in smog; found in cleaning products
Term
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Definition
a key component in smog, along with Ozone, human-created NOx, sunlight, and heat
Term
Lead (Pb)
Definition
heavy metal used in many processes bc of its availability and ability to be poured into molds where it hardens into a solid; emitted into atmos as a particulate
Term
Particulate Matter (PM)
Definition
solid or liquid particles in the atmos; can be a primary pollutant or a secondary pollutant; i.e. dust, smoke, metals
Term
Primary Pollution
Definition
pollution from direct emissions
Term
Secondary Pollution
Definition
pollution formed from chemical reactions of substances like SO2 or NOx
Term
Smog
Definition
formed from interactions w/ pollutants catalyzed by solar radiation; photochemical type - NO2 + UV; industrial type - SO2 + UV
Term
Acid Deposition
Definition
occurs when chemical reactions occur in atmosphere between pollutant emissions and atmospheric components, which ultimately falls to Earth through precipitation, particulate, or gas; i.e., acid rain (S + O2)
Term
Peroxyacetyl Nitrate (PAN) (CH3CO3NO2)
Definition
produced by the reaction of volatile organic hydrocarbons with oxygen and NO2; combined wht ozone & organic compounds called aldehydes is responsible for many of smog's harmful effects
Term
Heat Islands
Definition
urban areas w/ long-term increased temps from heat released by vehicles, air conditioning, and the pavements/buildings that absorb more heat than a natr'l ecosystem
Term
Indoor Air Pollutants
Definition
found in most buildings & can be an issue w/ poor ventillation; i.e., tobacco smoke, CO, VOCs, wood-burning, asbestos, lead, and mercury
Term
noise pollution
Definition
encompass all human activities that make enough sound to be a nuisance
Term
Light Pollution
Definition
the excessive use of artificial light; can cause glare, sky glow, and decreased night visibility
Term
Genetic Pollution
Definition
refers to the spread of mutated DNA from genetically engineered organisms to natr'l organisms
Term
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)
Definition
organisms that have had their DNA altered by combining their genes w/ another organisms; usually for something commercially desirable - growth, size, disease resistance
Term
Cultural Eutrophication
Definition
nutrients added to an ecosystem through runoff, including xtra N & P; N affects marine ecosystems; P affects freshwater ecostems
Term
Pollutants that Affect Freshwater
Definition
Pesticides, VOCs, Oil products, & heavy metals (poisonous); nutrient runoff from farms (can unbalance ecosystem); Temperature (change affects species + ecosystem balance); sediment (changes aquatic balance); pathogens & waterbourne diseases (can enter drinking water supply)
Term
Turbidity
Definition
the ability for something to reflect light; usually used in water pollution--sediment, particulates increase it
Term
Pollutants of Marine Ecosystems
Definition
Oil pollution (BP rupture); excess nutrients (N); sewage; trash (plastics & fishing equipment)
Term
Municipal Sewer System
Definition
takes waste from septic systems of the local homes/businesses and send it to a central treatment plant to undergo clarification process
Term
Hazardous Waste
Definition
flammable, corrosive, toxic, or reactive
Term
Industrial Waste
Definition
created during industrial processes (mining, agriculture, consumer goods, extraction & refining of petroleum products)
Term
Landfills
Definition
area where solid waste is disposed of by being buried or piled in a mound; must be located away from wetlands & can't be built on an EQ fault; bottoms are lined w/ plastic and clay to prevent leakage
Term
Waste-to-Energy
Definition
heat generated through combustion is captured & used to heat water, which turns turbines & generates energy
Term
Acute Exposure
Definition
someone exposed to a high dose over a brief per of time
Term
Chronic Exposure
Definition
occurs repeatedly over a long period of time in small doses
Term
Precautionary Principle
Definition
when anlyzing substance's effects, a product is assumed harmful unless otherwise stated
Term
Dose-Response Relationship
Definition
the effect of a toxin on an organism/population; describes the effects of certain levels of a toxin & the tipping point where the toxin becomes hazardous
Term
LD50
Definition
the lethal dose for 50% of the test popualation
Term
ED50
Definition
when 50% of the pop is affect (but not killed) by a dose of the toxin
Term
Hypoxic Environment
Definition
lacks oxygen
Term
Toxic
Definition
harmful to human health
Term
Corrosive
Definition
can wear away & break down metals
Term
Reactive
Definition
Easily reacts w/ other substance & can cause a serious reaction (explosions or toxic gases)
Term
Ignitable
Definition
Easily flammable
Term
Economic Impact
Definition
medical costs, loss of income, loss of productivity, lost agriculture profits, potential tourism decrease, cleanup costs
Term
Market Effects
Definition
effects expressed in dollars
Term
Nonmarket Effects
Definition
effects that don't necessarily have a fixed dollar amt, but may be tangible & intangible effects to ecosystem & human well-being
Term
Command-and-control Strategy
Definition
gov't sets and enforces legal limits on pollution; very common but not always the most efficient
Supporting users have an ad free experience!