Environmental Science: Types of Pollution

Study Notes

Air Pollution: release of pollutants into the atmosphere, harming human health and the environment
- Sources: industrial activities, vehicle emissions, fossil fuel combustion
- Effects: respiratory problems, acid rain, climate change
Water Pollution: contamination of water bodies, affecting aquatic life and human health
- Sources: industrial waste, agricultural runoff, sewage
- Effects: harm to aquatic life, human illness, eutrophication
Soil Pollution: contamination of soil, affecting plant growth and human health
- Sources: industrial waste, agricultural chemicals, mining activities
- Effects: reduced fertility, plant toxicity, human health risks
Noise Pollution: excessive noise levels, disrupting human health and wildlife
- Sources: industrial activities, transportation, construction
- Effects: hearing loss, stress, disrupted wildlife habitats

Mutagenesis: genetic mutations caused by pollutants, leading to birth defects and cancer
Teratogenesis: pollutants causing developmental abnormalities in embryos
Bioaccumulation: buildup of pollutants in organisms, leading to toxicity and biomagnification
Biomagnification: increase in pollutant concentrations as they move up the food chain

Population Decline: reduced population sizes due to pollution-induced mortality
Changes in Species Composition: shifts in community structure due to pollution tolerance
Disruption of Food Webs: impacts on predator-prey relationships and ecosystem stability
Loss of Biodiversity: reduction in species diversity and ecosystem resilience

Adaptation: evolutionary changes in response to pollution pressure
Tolerance: physiological changes allowing organisms to survive in polluted environments
Bioindication: using organisms as indicators of pollution levels and ecosystem health
Bioremediation: using organisms to remove pollutants from the environment

Air pollution is caused by industrial activities, vehicle emissions, and fossil fuel combustion, leading to respiratory problems, acid rain, and climate change.
Water pollution is caused by industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and sewage, affecting aquatic life and human health, and leading to harm to aquatic life, human illness, and eutrophication.
Soil pollution is caused by industrial waste, agricultural chemicals, and mining activities, affecting plant growth and human health, and leading to reduced fertility, plant toxicity, and human health risks.
Noise pollution is caused by industrial activities, transportation, and construction, disrupting human health and wildlife, and leading to hearing loss, stress, and disrupted wildlife habitats.

Mutagenesis occurs when pollutants cause genetic mutations, leading to birth defects and cancer.
Teratogenesis occurs when pollutants cause developmental abnormalities in embryos.
Bioaccumulation is the buildup of pollutants in organisms, leading to toxicity and biomagnification.
Biomagnification is the increase in pollutant concentrations as they move up the food chain.

Pollution can lead to population decline due to pollution-induced mortality.
Changes in species composition occur when pollution tolerant species replace sensitive species.
Disruption of food webs occurs when pollutants affect predator-prey relationships and ecosystem stability.
Pollution leads to loss of biodiversity, reducing species diversity and ecosystem resilience.

Adaptation is an evolutionary change in response to pollution pressure.
Tolerance is a physiological change allowing organisms to survive in polluted environments.
Bioindication is using organisms as indicators of pollution levels and ecosystem health.
Bioremediation is the use of organisms to remove pollutants from the environment.