Humans and Pollution What are pollutants? Matter (organic or inorganic) Energy (sound, light, heat) Living Organisms (Invasive Species)

Pollutants Primary Pollutants Secondary Pollutants Active on emission Nitric Oxide from car exhaust Secondary Pollutants Formed when primary pollutants undergoes a physical or chemical change Nitric Oxide reacts with Water vapor in the atmosphere to form Nitric acid

Major Sources of Pollution Combustion of Fossil Fuels Various oxides from incomplete combustion smog Domestic Waste Food and sewage Packaging Industrial Waste Heavy Metals Acid Agricultural Waste Nitrates Pesticides

Point Source vs non-point Source Release of pollutants from numerous, widely dispersed origins Virtually impossible to tell exactly where it is coming from Point Source A single, clearly identifiable source Easy to see who is polluting Examples (Point or non-point) chemical dumpsite for a company. Polluted River running into the Ocean. CFCs in the stratosphere A smoke stack from a factory Your face!

POPs vs Biodegradable Persistent Organic Pollutants Often manufactured as pesticides in the past Remain active in environment for a long time Bioaccumulate in individuals, and biomagnify up foo chains Examples: DDT, PCBs, PVC, High molecular weight Not very soluble in water Soluble in water Biodegradable Pollutants Break down quickly Broken down by decomposers, physical processes, light, heat

Pollution Management Acute Pollution Chronic Pollution Large amount released causing a lot of harm (an event) Bhopal Disaster Chronic Pollution Long term release of pollutant in small amounts Air Pollution Serious because… Often goes undetected for a long time Usually more difficult to clean up Spreads Widely Pollution Management Strategies Pollution can be managed in 3 ways Changing the human activity which produces it Regulating or preventing the release of the pollutant Working to clean up or restore damaged ecosystems Which is most desirable?