1. Topic 5 Topic 6 Not in my Backyard
Getting Away From it All
Topic 6
Not in my Backyard

2. Some Definitions to Know
Biological Indicator - An organism we study to detect changes to the environment
Macroinvertebrates - Organisms visible to the naked eye that do not have a backbone
Point Sources - specific, easy to monitor and control, locations that spread pollutants (drainpipes, smokestacks)
Non Point Sources - general locations, which are difficult to control, spreading pollution (fields, golf courses, construction lots)
Persistent - Waste that doesn’t break down easily
Non Persistent - Waste that breaks down easily and naturally
Substrate - the natural environment in which an organism lives, or the surface or medium on which an organism grows or is attached.

3. HOORAY YOU DID TOPIC 5

4. Topic 6 Pollution used to be thought of as a localized problem
Due to wind patterns, ocean currents and the water cycle pollution is able to spread globally without being detected
Chloroflurocarbons (CFCs) are a man made pollutant that was used in coolants and propellants
CFCs were found to break down in ultraviolet light and bond with ozone molecules (O3 ) creating oxygen gas (O2)

5. Controlling Water Pollution
Ground water is water that filters through the soil
This ground water is usually free from bacterial contamination and filters into large areas known as aquifers
If a pollutant is not filtered out before the water reaches an aquifer, the entire supply can become contaminated

6. Disposing of Wastes
Some materials are biodegradable and be broken down by bacteria
Hazardous wastes must be disposed of properly according to their WHMIS markings
Many hazardous substances are solvents which can dissolve other substances
These hazardous solvents can be very dangerous to humans and to the ecoysystem

7. Landfills
Much of the waste that we create is dumped in landfills around the world
Sanitary landfills cover the top layer of material every day to stop windblown litter and scavengers
Many sanitary landfills have a clay liner (or plastic liner) that stops liquids from leaching into the ground water
The liquid that is collected by the liners (leachate) is then transported and treated