Pollution SJCHS

Pollution Pollution/Pollutants: Additions to environment that threatens the health of organisms

Pollution Sources Point : Pollutants come from a single identifiable source (power plant, factory) Non-Point/Diffuse: Pollutants from many sources (runoff, cars)

Pollution Costs Direct Costs: The cost of cleaning a pollutant Indirect costs/ Repercussion Costs: Lost revenue from tourism or loss of public confidence

Seattle Rain Gardens

Water Water Pollution Sources Sediments: soil clogs/destroys aquatic ecosystems Thermal (heated water): Lack of Oxygen, harm organisms Fertilizers: dead zones/lack of Oxygen Synthetic compounds (PCBs/DDT): biomagnification

Water Measurements of water quality Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD): Mass of oxygen per unit volume of water Nitrogen, Phosphorus, pH levels Indicator species: Organisms that survive in specific conditions

Aftermath of Haiti Earthquake

Radioactivity Radioactive Materials: Spontaneously decay, giving off radiation; causes cancer Alpha Particles: Dangerous if inhaled Radon- Radioactive material found in soil that causes lung cancer when inhaled Beta Particles: Dangerous Radioactive iodine- After nuclear reactor accident can get into food chain Gamma/UV/X Rays: Very dangerous

Results of the Fukushima Disaster on Food

Air Primary pollutants: Emitted directly from a source Sources: Cars, Industry,Volcanoes, Fires Types Carbon monoxide (CO), Sulfur and Nitrogen Oxides, Dust, Smoke, Lead

Air Secondary Pollutants: Form when primary pollutants react with chemicals in atmosphere Examples Photochemical smog: Sunlight, combined with air pollutants, form ozone, nitric acid, formaldehyde Acid Rain

Acid Rain: Primary pollutants mix with water vapor and forms an acid which dissolve in rain/snow Cons: Wears down structures, lakes are acidic, causes deaths of aquatic organisms, stunts tree growth

Noise Causes: Machines, Traffic, Wind Turbines, Airplanes Sound is measured in decibels(dB) Exposure above 85 dB can cause hearing loss

Noise Sonar/ Ships can interfere with whale communication

Light Light Pollution: Excessive artificial light Can disrupt behaviors of organisms (including humans) Waste of energy

Hong Kong Light Pollution C244-4E5F-983A- E7A9F1E3E99E.html#!17C C244-4E5F-983A-E7A9F1E3E99E

Wastes Waste management Traditional: Landfills/dumps Cons: Can contaminate soil/groundwater, waste of space

Wastes Modern: Incinerate (burn) Pro: Less space, can use furnace to heat water Con: Must separate waste to avoid air pollution

Wastes Modern: Recycle: Certain materials (paper, glass, plastics) can be broken down and made into new products Reuse: Use product again Reduce: Use less of a product Composting: Turn food remnants into fertilizer

Zero Waste Cities

Sewage Sewage: Human waste, household water waste Can contaminate groundwater/soil if not treated - can result in human diseases

Sewage Sewage treatment Septic tank: Tank collects sewage; must be pumped out Waste water plant: Sewage from sewer system is treated

Sewage Types of treatments Mechanical: Physically filtered/separated Biological: Bacteria is used to breakdown wastes Chemical: Chemicals (Chlorine) used to disinfect waste

Sewage Primary Treatment: Sewage reaches plant; is mechanically separated Secondary Treatment: Solid waste is biologically treated, dried, and brought to a landfill Tertiary Treatment: Separated water waste is chemically treated and released

Aging Sewer Systems