30 Questions
What is environmental pollution?
The introduction of undesirable substances into the environment
What is the main difference between pollution and degradation?
Pollution involves the introduction of substances, while degradation involves the extraction of resources
What is a major cause of environmental degradation?
Overpopulation
What is the outcome of excessive pollution?
Environmental degradation
What is the result of extracting resources at a faster rate than they are replaced?
Environmental degradation
What is the impact of man's activity on the environment?
Pollution and degradation
What is the primary focus of the Service Excellence Week 4 lecture on Man and the Environment?
Environmental pollution and degradation
What is the definition of environmental degradation?
The gradual deterioration of the natural environment
What is the main objective of the BGEC 113 lecture on environmental management?
To explain environmental pollution and degradation
What is one of the learning outcomes of the Service Excellence Week 4 lecture?
To explain environmental pollution and degradation
What is the topic of the Service Excellence Week 4 lecture?
Man and the Environment
Who are the lecturers for the BGEC 113 course?
All the listed lecturers
What is the process of land conversion from a vegetated area to a desert?
Desertification
Which of the following is NOT a greenhouse gas?
Oxygen
What is the term used to describe the rise in the Earth's ambient temperature?
Global warming
What is the definition of biodiversity?
The variety of genes, species, and ecosystems in a particular area
Which of the following activities can contribute to desertification?
Overgrazing
What is the result of the absorption of heat by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?
An increase in the Earth's ambient temperature
What happens to organic matter when it is exposed to the right conditions?
It decays over time
What is local pollution characterized by?
Environmental damage confined to a single community or region
What is an example of local pollution?
Noise pollution
What is characterized by environmental pollution that extends beyond the polluting source?
Regional pollution
What is acid deposition also known as?
Acid rain
What is environmental pollution with global implications?
Global pollution
What type of pollutants are gases from industries' smokestacks?
Point source
Why is it difficult to develop control policies for non-point source pollutants?
They are difficult to measure and monitor
What is an example of a global environmental problem that requires international cooperation?
Ozone depletion
What is a characteristic of point source pollutants?
They are easy to identify
What is the main difference between point source and non-point source pollutants?
One is easy to identify, the other is not
What is the objective of managing non-point source pollutants like agrochemicals and runoffs?
Targeting the substance causing the pollution
Study Notes
Environmental Degradation
- Environmental degradation refers to the gradual deterioration or reduction in the quality of the natural environment, reducing its ability to provide natural resources and important life support services.
- It can be caused by natural or anthropogenic activities.
Environmental Pollution
- Environmental pollution is the introduction of undesirable substances (liquid, solid, or gaseous) into the environment, making it impure and harmful to living things.
- It can also be defined as the introduction of substances whose nature, location, and quantity have undesirable effects on the environment.
Differences between Pollution and Degradation
- Pollution usually involves the introduction of substances into the environment, whereas degradation is mostly due to the extraction of resources at a faster rate than they are replaced.
- Excessive pollution can also lead to degradation of the environment.
Causes of Environmental Degradation
- Anthropogenic causes: Overpopulation, leading to increased demand and utilization of resources, putting pressure on the environment and natural resources.
Impacts of Man's Activity on the Environment
- Desertification: a process by which land covered with vegetation is converted to a desert, caused by overgrazing, over-farming, and deforestation.
- Greenhouse effect: a mechanism by which certain gases in the earth's atmosphere trap heat, leading to an increase in the earth's ambient temperature, also known as global warming.
Greenhouse Gases
- Carbon dioxide
- Chlorofluorocarbons
- Methane
- Nitrous oxides
- Water vapor
Effects of Environmental Degradation
- Biodiversity loss: the extinction or loss of varieties of genes, species, and ecosystems.
- Organic matter decay: becomes a problem when emission exceeds the assimilative capacity of the environment.
Types of Pollutants
- Local pollution: confined to a single community or a restricted localized region, examples include noise, urban smog, and solid waste pollution.
- Regional pollution: extends or poses a risk well beyond the polluting source, examples include acid deposition/rain.
- Global pollution: widespread with global implications, examples include global warming and ozone depletion caused by CFCs.
- Point source pollution: refers to a single specific identifiable source or discharge point from which pollutants may enter the environment, examples include gases from industries smokestack and liquid waste from municipal treatment plants.
- Non-point source pollution: refers to sources that cannot be identified accurately and degrades the environment in a diffuse, indirect way over a relatively broad area, examples include agrochemicals and runoffs.
Test your understanding of environmental pollution and degradation, as well as the similarities and differences between environmental concepts. This quiz is part of the Service Excellence Week 4 and covers the first semester of the BGEC 113 course.
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