1. Humans and Pollution What are pollutants?
Matter (organic or inorganic)
Energy (sound, light, heat)
Living Organisms (Invasive Species)

2. Pollutants Primary Pollutants Secondary Pollutants Active on emission
Nitric Oxide from car exhaust
Secondary Pollutants
Formed when primary pollutants undergoes a physical or chemical change
Nitric Oxide reacts with Water vapor in the atmosphere to form Nitric acid

3. Major Sources of Pollution
Combustion of Fossil Fuels
Various oxides from incomplete combustion
smog
Domestic Waste
Food and sewage
Packaging
Industrial Waste
Heavy Metals
Acid
Agricultural Waste
Nitrates
Pesticides

4. Point Source vs non-point Source
Release of pollutants from numerous, widely dispersed origins
Virtually impossible to tell exactly where it is coming from
Point Source
A single, clearly identifiable source
Easy to see who is polluting
Examples (Point or non-point)
chemical dumpsite for a company.
Polluted River running into the Ocean.
CFCs in the stratosphere
A smoke stack from a factory
Your face!

5. POPs vs Biodegradable Persistent Organic Pollutants
Often manufactured as pesticides in the past
Remain active in environment for a long time
Bioaccumulate in individuals, and biomagnify up foo chains
Examples: DDT, PCBs, PVC,
High molecular weight
Not very soluble in water
Soluble in water
Biodegradable Pollutants
Break down quickly
Broken down by decomposers, physical processes, light, heat

6. Pollution Management Acute Pollution Chronic Pollution
Large amount released causing a lot of harm (an event)
Bhopal Disaster
Chronic Pollution
Long term release of pollutant in small amounts
Air Pollution
Serious because…
Often goes undetected for a long time
Usually more difficult to clean up
Spreads Widely
Pollution Management Strategies
Pollution can be managed in 3 ways
Changing the human activity which produces it
Regulating or preventing the release of the pollutant
Working to clean up or restore damaged ecosystems
Which is most desirable?