Pollution of the Hydrosphere

Objectives Describe the negative effects of sediment pollution Describe the negative effects of sediment pollution Trace the effects of nutrient pollution in an aquatic ecosystem Trace the effects of nutrient pollution in an aquatic ecosystem ID sources of toxic organic & toxic inorganic pollutants ID sources of toxic organic & toxic inorganic pollutants Describe two waterborne illnesses & their sources Describe two waterborne illnesses & their sources Differentiate between types of thermal pollution and describe the negative effect of each on aquatic ecosystems Differentiate between types of thermal pollution and describe the negative effect of each on aquatic ecosystems

Why is Freshwater Important? All organisms require freshwater to live All organisms require freshwater to live Less than 1% of all Earth’s water is useable freshwater Less than 1% of all Earth’s water is useable freshwater Freshwater is not evenly distributed on Earth Freshwater is not evenly distributed on Earth

What is Pollution? The addition of any substance that has a negative effect on water or on the living things that depend on the water The addition of any substance that has a negative effect on water or on the living things that depend on the water

Sediment Pollution # 1 form of water pollution # 1 form of water pollution Occurs when eroding soil particles are washed into water by runoff Occurs when eroding soil particles are washed into water by runoff

Causes of Sediment Pollution Exposed agricultural fields Exposed agricultural fields Clear-cut logging operations Clear-cut logging operations Construction sites Construction sites

Effects of Sediment Pollution Reduces amount of sunlight penetrating water Reduces amount of sunlight penetrating water Less photosynthesis Less photosynthesis Reduces food supply Reduces food supply Clogs gills of fish, amphibians, etc Clogs gills of fish, amphibians, etc Can’t get oxygen Can’t get oxygen Reduces vision Reduces vision Some species rely on vision for hunting food Some species rely on vision for hunting food Negatively affects spawning Negatively affects spawning Fewer eggs…fewer organisms Fewer eggs…fewer organisms Make water more shallow Make water more shallow Upsets ecosystem Upsets ecosystem Promotes more flooding Promotes more flooding

Nutrient Pollution Increase in the amount of water soluble chemicals such as nitrates & phosphates in water Increase in the amount of water soluble chemicals such as nitrates & phosphates in water These chemicals act as fertilizers to aquatic plants These chemicals act as fertilizers to aquatic plants

Sources of Nutrient Pollution Fertilizers applied on lawns, gardens, & farms Fertilizers applied on lawns, gardens, & farms Leaking septic systems Leaking septic systems Wastewater treatment plants Wastewater treatment plants Detergents Detergents

Effects of Nutrient Pollution Eutrophication (imbalance in aquatic ecosystem) Eutrophication (imbalance in aquatic ecosystem) Algal bloom - More algae Algal bloom - More algae More algae dies More algae dies Decaying algae decomposed by aerobic bacteria Decaying algae decomposed by aerobic bacteria Aerobic bacteria – use oxygen Aerobic bacteria – use oxygen Less oxygen in water = hypoxia Less oxygen in water = hypoxia Other organisms die Other organisms die Decaying organisms build up on bottom, making water more shallow Decaying organisms build up on bottom, making water more shallow Algal blooms clog pipes Algal blooms clog pipes Algal blooms clog boat engines Algal blooms clog boat engines

Eutrophication

Eutrophication

Toxic Organic Compounds Contamination containing carbon atoms Contamination containing carbon atoms Includes: oil, gasoline, solvents, pesticides, herbicides Includes: oil, gasoline, solvents, pesticides, herbicides

Sources of TOCs Oil tanker spills Oil tanker spills Underground fuel storage tanks Underground fuel storage tanks Lawn maintenance Lawn maintenance Agriculture: herbicides, pesticides, manure Agriculture: herbicides, pesticides, manure

Effects of TOCs Toxic to living organisms Toxic to living organisms Oil can on bird feathers and animal fur, restricting their movement Oil can on bird feathers and animal fur, restricting their movement Can’t hunt, they’ll die Can’t hunt, they’ll die Affects tourism Affects tourism

Toxic Inorganic Compounds Contaminants that don’t contain carbon Contaminants that don’t contain carbon Heavy metals: arsenic, mercury, lead Heavy metals: arsenic, mercury, lead Synthetic industrial chemicals Synthetic industrial chemicals

Sources of TICs Poor waste disposal practices Poor waste disposal practices Leaking landfills Leaking landfills Abandoned industrial sites Abandoned industrial sites

Effects of TICs TICs don’t break down as readily as TOCs TICs don’t break down as readily as TOCs Can remain in environment for many years causing: Can remain in environment for many years causing: Long term health problems Long term health problems Death Death Bioaccumulation - increase in concentration of a pollutant from the environment to the first organism in a food chain Bioaccumulation - increase in concentration of a pollutant from the environment to the first organism in a food chain Biomagnification -increase in concentration of a pollutant from one link in a food chain to another Biomagnification -increase in concentration of a pollutant from one link in a food chain to another

Effects of TICs

Disease-causing Agents Viruses Viruses Bacteria Bacteria Amoeba Amoeba Protozoa Protozoa Parasitic worms Parasitic worms

Sources of Disease-causing Agents Human waste Human waste Animal waste Animal waste Waste water Waste water

Effects of Disease-causing Agents Waterbourne illnesses Waterbourne illnesses E.Coli E.Coli Typhoid Typhoid Malaria Malaria Hepatitis Hepatitis Cholera Cholera Dysentery Dysentery Can cause death Can cause death

Thermal Pollution Temperature change to water Temperature change to water Causes change in aquatic environment Causes change in aquatic environment Can cause change in oxygen level of water Can cause change in oxygen level of water Cold water holds more oxygen than warm water Cold water holds more oxygen than warm water

Causes of Thermal Pollution Industry uses water. Water is heated in industrial process then returned to river or lake. River or lake environment is now warmer. Industry uses water. Water is heated in industrial process then returned to river or lake. River or lake environment is now warmer. Dams built on rivers. Water behind dam builds up…gets deeper. Deeper water is colder. Dams built on rivers. Water behind dam builds up…gets deeper. Deeper water is colder.

Effects of Thermal Pollution Changes in water temperature are changes to the aquatic environment. Changes in water temperature are changes to the aquatic environment. Some species are not able to tolerate the temperature differences and die off. Some species are not able to tolerate the temperature differences and die off. Whole aquatic ecosystem is affected, changed. Whole aquatic ecosystem is affected, changed.