1. Mrs. Page
ESS 2015
1.5 Humans & Pollution

2. Significant Ideas
Pollution is a highly diverse phenomenon of human disturbances in ecosystems.
Management strategies can be applied at different levels.

3. Application & Skills
Construct systems diagrams to show the impact of pollutants.
Evaluate the effectiveness of each of the three different levels of intervention, with reference to figure 1.5.6
Evaluate the use of DDT.

4. Knowledge & Understandings
Pollution is the addition of a substance or an agent to an environment by human activity, at a rate greater than that at which it can be rendered harmless by the environment, and which has an appreciable effect on the organisms in the environment.

5. Major Sources of Pollutants
See figure p 49
Combustion of Fossil Fuels
Domestic Waste
Industrial Waste
Agricultural Waste

6. Knowledge & Understandings
Pollutants may be in the form of organic/inorganic substances, light, sound or heat energy, or biological agents/invasive species, and derived from a wide range of human activities including the combustion of fossil fuels.

7. Classifications of Pollutants
Matter (solids, liquids, or gases)
Organic (containing carbon) – ex; sewage, soil erosion in rivers
Non-organic – ex; plastics, heavy metals

8. Classifications of Pollutants
Energy
Light Pollution
Sound/Noise Pollution
Heat Pollution

9. Classification of Pollutants
Living Organisms
Invasive Species: an organisms that is not native to a specific habitat that is brought in and takes over the ecological role of other organisms, damaging the environment.
CASE STUDY:
Kudzu; native to Japan, brought in to US for decorative plant. Takes over everything with no natural consumers to control it.

10. Invasive Species Case Studies
Burmese Python: imported into the US as pets, once they outgrew their tanks got released into the wild, taking over in Everglades. Disrupting the balance of the ecosystem
Cane Toad: native to central America, brought in to Australia to kill the cane beetle population on sugar plantations. Eat everything. Poisonous so no predators in Australia.

11. Knowledge & Understandings
Pollution may be non-point or point source, persistent or biodegradable, acute or chronic.

12. Point Source or Non-Point Source
Point Source (PS) Pollution
Released from single, identifiable source
Easy to determine where pollution is coming from
Easier to manage since you know what is causing the pollution

13. Point Source or Non-Point Source
Non-Point Source (NPS) Pollution
Pollutants are coming from multiple sources
Pollutants may be transported over distances (runoff from fields, blown by wind)
Difficult to determine where pollutants are coming from making management challenging

14. Persistent or Biodegradable
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
Toxic chemicals that affect human health and the environment
Transported by wind and water and do not break down easily
Bioaccumulate (build up) as passed through a food chain
Many POPs were made as pesticides

15. Examples of POPs
PCBs used in electrical transformers and capacitors as well as in paints and lubricants
DDT used as a pesticide to kill mosquitos (more to come on DDT)
Dioxins are a biproduct of herbicide production and bleaching of paper
All of these have high molecular weights, are not soluble in water and are soluble in fats (stored in animals)

16. Persistent or Biodegradable
Biodegradable Pollutants
Break down quickly in the environment by decomposers, light and heat
Examples: sewage, compost, starches, soap

17. Acute or Chronic Pollution
Large amounts of pollutant released at one time
Results in a lot of harm to humans & environment
Ex: Bhopal Disaster 1984
Chronic
Long-term release of small amounts of pollutant
Often goes undetected
Difficult to clean up
Spreads widely
Ex: Air pollution

18. Knowledge & Understandings
Pollutants may be primary (active on emission) or secondary (arising from primary pollutants undergoing physical or chemical change.)

19. Primary Pollutants Released directly into the environment
Examples include:
Carbon monoxide (CO): released from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, poisonous gas
Nitrogen oxides (NOx): released by industry and automobiles
Sulfur oxides (SOx): emitted from burning coal
Particulate matter: dust, ash

20. Secondary Pollutants
Occurs when an original pollutant undergoes a physical or chemical change
Examples include:
Formation of acid rain; sulfur or nitric oxides dissolve in water
Formation of smog; Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
Formation of Ozone (O3) with UV light

21. Knowledge & Understandings
Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) exemplifies a conflict between the utility of a “pollutant” and its effect on the environment.

22. DDT Debate
Pre 1970’s DDT was used widely as an insecticide (very effective against mosquitos carrying malaria)
Rachel Carson – Silent Spring outlines environmental effects of DDT on birds
Human health effects include: cancers, infertility, & low birth weights
1970 banned by the World Health Organization (WHO)
Malaria kills 2.7 million people a year, infects million
Recently DDT was exempted from ban
In LEDC DDT is being used to spray walls and furniture

23. Significant Ideas
Management strategies can be applied at different levels.

24. Detecting & Monitoring Pollution
Direct Measurements of Pollution can be made using different tools.
Acidity of rainwater (pH probe)
Amount of gases in atmosphere (CO2 probe)
Particulates emitted by engines (light or turbidity sensor)
Soil nitrate and phosphate levels

25. Detecting & Monitoring Pollution
Indirect Measurements of Pollution involve measuring changes in the abiotic or biotic factors as a result of exposure to a pollutant
Examples include:
Measuring the amount of dissolved oxygen in a water source (abiotic)
Measuring population of indicator species (organisms that are only found if conditions are polluted (sludgeworm) or unpolluted (lichens)

26. Managing Pollution Level 1 – Preventing Pollution before it happens
Change human activity that creates pollution
Give alternatives (electric cars, solar power, mass transit)
Educate
Legislation (charge more for more electricity/gas)
Economic Incentives ($ off electric bill if storm windows)

27. Managing Pollution Level 2 – Control Release of Pollutant
Legislation and regulation (emissions standards for cars)
Develop technology for extracting pollutants (filters)

28. Managing Pollution Level 3 – Clean up and Restoration
Last resort, there is already an impact
Removing pollutant from ecosystem (think trash in Gulshan)
Replanting/restocking lost or depleted populations (pump oxygen into Gulshan lake to restore oxygen levels, then restock fish after eutrophication)

29. Homework
Read pp 48-54
Answer 4 Big Questions p. 54 and be ready to discuss next class