Topic 5 – Pollution Management Topic 5.1 – Nature of Pollution

Pollution The contamination of the Earth and atmosphere to such an extent that normal environmental processes are adversely affected. Can be natural/human caused Can be deliberate/accidental

Pollution Can be matter (solid, liquid, gas) or energy (noise, light, heat)

Major Pollution Sources: Combustion of Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Greenhouse gas Sulfur Dioxide Acid deposition (tree/fish death) Photochemical Smog Respiratory problems Carbon Monoxide Binds hemoglobin, can cause death

Major Pollution Sources: Domestic Waste Organic Waste (food/sewage) Eutrophication Fills landfills Waste Paper/Plastics/Glass/Me tals Fills landfills Reduces natural resources Energy used to produce causes pollution

Major Pollution Sources: Industrial Waste Heavy Metals Poisoning Fluorides Poisoning Heat Reduces dissolved oxygen Lead Disabilities in children Acids Corrosive

Major Pollution Sources: Agricultural Waste Nitrates Eutrophication Organic Waste Eutrophication Pesticides Accumulate up food chains

Point Source Pollution Pollution released from a single, identifiable source. Examples: A factory smokestack or exhaust pipe A sewage pipe A specific incident A very bright light

Non-point Source Pollution Release of pollutants from dispersed origins Examples: Agricultural runoff Vehicle exhaust Urban runoff

Topic 5 – Pollution Management Topic 5.2 – Detection and Monitoring of Pollution

Pollution Monitoring Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) A measure of the amount of oxygen required by micro- organisms to break down the organic material in water Source of PollutantBOD (mg DO) Unpolluted River0-5 Treated Sewage20-60 Raw Sewage350 Cattle Manure10,000 Paper Pulp Mill25,000

Pollution Monitoring Indicator Species Organisms that show something about the environment by their presence, absence, or abundance.

Topic 5 – Pollution Management Topic 5.3 – Approaches to Pollution Management

Pollution Management Srategies Replace-Regulate-Restore

Pollution Management Strategies Replace Develop alternate technologies Adopt alternate lifestyles

Pollution Management Strategies Regulate Setting and imposing standards Introducing measures for extracting the pollutant from waste

Pollution Management Strategies Restore Extracting and removing pollutant from ecosystem Replanting and restocking with plant/animal populations

Topic 5 – Pollution Management Topic Eutrophication

Eutrophication The addition of excess nutrients to a water ecosystem, causing algae to bloom Usually nitrates and phosphates Detergents Fertilizers Livestock drainage Sewage

Eutrophication Process 1. Fertilizers wash into lake 2. Algae bloom, light to plants decreases, plants die 3. More algae=more zooplankton=more small fish 4. Algae die and are decomposed by bacteria, oxygen level goes down, everything dies 5. Turbidity increases

Eutrophication Management Replace Stop/change fertilizers/waste Plant buffer zones Regulate Limit pollutants Restore Pump air through lake Dredge lake bottom Remove algae physically or by algicides Reintroduce species

Topic 5 – Pollution Management Topic 5.5 – Solid Domestic Waste

Types of Solid Domestic Waste Garden Waste/Kitchen Waste Glass, wood, metal, plastics Paper Textiles Diapers

Solutions to Waste Landfill Compost Recycle (or Reuse) Incineration

Topic 5 – Pollution Management Topic 5.6 – Depletion of Stratospheric Ozone

Atmosphere Structure Main Components: Nitrogen (78%) Oxygen (20%) Argon (1%) CO 2 (.038%) Temperature and pressure vary with altitude

Ozone Layer Ozone (O 3 ) is more concentrated in the low stratosphere (12-20mi) O 3 absorbs UV radiation in a process that converts O 2 to O 3 and back

UV Radiation (UV-B) Causes eye damage, cataracts, sunburn, and skin cancer in humans (and some animals) Can damage plants and phytoplankton

Ozone Depleting Substances CFCs Refrigerants 1987 Montreal Protocol called for a sharp reduction in CFCs and other Ozone Depleting Substances