Pollutants & Human Health LR 3.1, pg. 79, #1-7

1. What is effluent, & what risks does it pose to humans & the environment? effluent = wastewater from factories and refineries that is released directly into urban water supplies Effluent often contains harmful by- products of manufacturing processes. Effluents can contain sewage.

2. List 5 water pollutants & the effects each has on human health. 1.lead = brain damage 2.iron = changes in skin pigmentation, diabetes, enlargement of the spleen and liver, heart failure, and general weakness, stroke 3.manganese = mental and emotional disturbances, body movements may become slow and clumsy 4.hydrogen sulfide = convulsions, trembling, respiratory disturbances 5.radioactive substances & their decay products = cancers

3. Describe 4 gases that pollute the air & the effects of each on human health. 1.ozone = upper & lower respiratory tract illness, eye irritation, coughing, shortness of breath, nausea, wheezing, & headaches 2.carbon monoxide = headache, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, death 3.sulfur dioxide = difficulty breathing, respiratory illness, decreased lung functions, aggravation of existing heart disease 4.nitrogen dioxide = eye irritation, stuffy nose, coughing, sore throat, lung inflammation, respiratory illness.

4. How do some farming practices pollute the soil? Agriculture contributes a large percentage of soil pollutants in the form of sediment, pesticides, animal wastes, & fertilizers. irrigating crops in poorly drained areas results in standing water, which eventually evaporates & leaves the soil polluted with salts.

5. Compare & contrast high-level & low-level radioactive wastes. HLW = highly radioactive, poses health risks for thousands of years. Fed. govt. LLW = low radiation levels, decay to a safe level in about 100 yrs. State govt.

6. What are some of the principles of PA’s environmental policy? Every person is part of the total ecosystem & should be recognized as a trustee of Earth’s resources. The dependency of people on air, water, & land resources should be acknowledged for the long-term survival of society. The complex interrelationships of the natural environment are to be recognized & respected. Resources are to be managed according to the natural capabilities of the total environment. Human activities can create adverse impacts on human health & the natural environment & are to be minimized.

7. Name 5 PA acts or laws & the impact of each on the environment. Purity of Waters Act (1905) Safe Drinking Water Act (1974) Surface Mining Conservation & Reclamation Act (1945) Project 70 Land Acquisition & Borrowing Act (1964) PA Solid Waste Management Act (1968) Solid Waste Management Act (1980) Building Conservation Energy Act (1980) etc.