Podcast
Questions and Answers
What best defines pollution?
What best defines pollution?
- The natural changes occurring within habitats
- An increase in biodiversity within ecosystems
- A condition that enhances the environment
- Any alteration to the environment producing a condition that is harmful to living things (correct)
Which of these factors contributes to the concentration of pollution?
Which of these factors contributes to the concentration of pollution?
- Widespread use of natural fertilizers
- Natural decomposition processes
- Low water flow rates in streams (correct)
- Increased rainfall diluting contaminants
Which category of pollution source is characterized by a specific, defined area?
Which category of pollution source is characterized by a specific, defined area?
- Non-point source
- Natural source
- Point source (correct)
- Diffuse source
How does increasing pH levels affect organism diversity in aquatic environments?
How does increasing pH levels affect organism diversity in aquatic environments?
What is true about pure water (H2O)?
What is true about pure water (H2O)?
Which organisms are considered biological indicators of water quality?
Which organisms are considered biological indicators of water quality?
What is the significance of dissolved oxygen in water quality?
What is the significance of dissolved oxygen in water quality?
What does a higher occurrence of organisms requiring lots of oxygen indicate about water quality?
What does a higher occurrence of organisms requiring lots of oxygen indicate about water quality?
What is indicated by the concentration of pollutants reported in parts per million (ppm)?
What is indicated by the concentration of pollutants reported in parts per million (ppm)?
What can negatively affect the levels of dissolved oxygen in water?
What can negatively affect the levels of dissolved oxygen in water?
What type of microorganisms are most often monitored to assess potential health issues in water?
What type of microorganisms are most often monitored to assess potential health issues in water?
What is meant by a ‘parts per billion’ (ppb) concentration in water quality testing?
What is meant by a ‘parts per billion’ (ppb) concentration in water quality testing?
Which factor does NOT affect dissolved oxygen levels in water?
Which factor does NOT affect dissolved oxygen levels in water?
What is the maximum dosage of arsenic that can be given to a 1.75 kg duck to reach its LD50?
What is the maximum dosage of arsenic that can be given to a 1.75 kg duck to reach its LD50?
Which population percentage does the LD50 represent?
Which population percentage does the LD50 represent?
How much caffeine would a 55 kg person need to consume to reach the LD50 of approximately 175 mg/kg?
How much caffeine would a 55 kg person need to consume to reach the LD50 of approximately 175 mg/kg?
If one can of Monster Energy Drink contains 300 mg of caffeine, how many cans would it take to reach the lethal dose for a 55 kg person?
If one can of Monster Energy Drink contains 300 mg of caffeine, how many cans would it take to reach the lethal dose for a 55 kg person?
What can be a consequence of consuming more than 400 mg of caffeine daily?
What can be a consequence of consuming more than 400 mg of caffeine daily?
Which statement about LD50 is true?
Which statement about LD50 is true?
What is potential risk associated with animal testing for substances?
What is potential risk associated with animal testing for substances?
What is the LD50 of caffeine for humans stated in the content?
What is the LD50 of caffeine for humans stated in the content?
What is one key method for reducing sulfur dioxide emissions?
What is one key method for reducing sulfur dioxide emissions?
Which gas is primarily produced by motor vehicles and is known as the 'silent killer'?
Which gas is primarily produced by motor vehicles and is known as the 'silent killer'?
What contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone?
What contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone?
How can air quality be measured?
How can air quality be measured?
What is the primary concern with increasing carbon dioxide levels in the environment?
What is the primary concern with increasing carbon dioxide levels in the environment?
Which of the following statements about circumpolar winds is true?
Which of the following statements about circumpolar winds is true?
Which type of pollution is primarily associated with industrial processes and the burning of fuels containing sulfur?
Which type of pollution is primarily associated with industrial processes and the burning of fuels containing sulfur?
What role do catalytic converters play in reducing air pollution?
What role do catalytic converters play in reducing air pollution?
What is one of the primary causes of the Greenhouse Effect?
What is one of the primary causes of the Greenhouse Effect?
Which of the following is NOT a process that contributes to the transport of airborne chemicals?
Which of the following is NOT a process that contributes to the transport of airborne chemicals?
How does dilution reduce pollution concentration?
How does dilution reduce pollution concentration?
What role do volcanoes and forest fires play in global warming?
What role do volcanoes and forest fires play in global warming?
Which factor does NOT influence the distance that airborne chemicals travel?
Which factor does NOT influence the distance that airborne chemicals travel?
What is the water table?
What is the water table?
What is dispersion in the context of pollution?
What is dispersion in the context of pollution?
Which of the following best describes how pollutants are concentrated in the environment?
Which of the following best describes how pollutants are concentrated in the environment?
What is the top of the groundwater zone referred to as?
What is the top of the groundwater zone referred to as?
Which of the following does NOT describe heavy metals?
Which of the following does NOT describe heavy metals?
What is the role of micro-organisms in the biodegradation process?
What is the role of micro-organisms in the biodegradation process?
Phytoremediation is primarily used to?
Phytoremediation is primarily used to?
How do hydrocarbons generally affect soil?
How do hydrocarbons generally affect soil?
What environmental conditions slow down biodegradation during winter?
What environmental conditions slow down biodegradation during winter?
Which heavy metal is specifically identified as hazardous to health?
Which heavy metal is specifically identified as hazardous to health?
What characteristic do all hydrocarbons share?
What characteristic do all hydrocarbons share?
Flashcards
What is pollution?
What is pollution?
Any change to the environment that harms living things.
Point Source Pollution
Point Source Pollution
A specific location where pollution is released, like a factory.
Non-point Source Pollution
Non-point Source Pollution
Pollution from a wide area, hard to pinpoint the exact source, like runoff from farms.
Chemical Factor Affecting Organisms
Chemical Factor Affecting Organisms
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pH in Aquatic Environments
pH in Aquatic Environments
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What are Biological Indicators?
What are Biological Indicators?
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What are Microbiological Indicators?
What are Microbiological Indicators?
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What are Macroinvertebrates?
What are Macroinvertebrates?
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What is Dissolved Oxygen?
What is Dissolved Oxygen?
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How are pollutants measured?
How are pollutants measured?
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What is a Solute?
What is a Solute?
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What is a Solvent?
What is a Solvent?
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What is Parts Per Million (ppm)?
What is Parts Per Million (ppm)?
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LD50 - Lethal Dose
LD50 - Lethal Dose
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Calculating Maximum Dosage
Calculating Maximum Dosage
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Caffeine LD50
Caffeine LD50
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Limitations of Animal Testing
Limitations of Animal Testing
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Risk Management
Risk Management
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Chemical Harm depends on type, duration, and quantity
Chemical Harm depends on type, duration, and quantity
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Importance of Awareness and Precautions
Importance of Awareness and Precautions
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Species-Specific Effects
Species-Specific Effects
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Air pollution is not stationary
Air pollution is not stationary
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What is Sulfur Dioxide?
What is Sulfur Dioxide?
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Types of Air Pollution
Types of Air Pollution
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How is air quality measured?
How is air quality measured?
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What are Circumpolar Winds?
What are Circumpolar Winds?
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What is Carbon Monoxide?
What is Carbon Monoxide?
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What are Catalytic Converters?
What are Catalytic Converters?
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What is Ground-Level Ozone?
What is Ground-Level Ozone?
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Greenhouse Effect
Greenhouse Effect
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Global Warming
Global Warming
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Dispersion
Dispersion
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Dilution
Dilution
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Transport In Air And Water
Transport In Air And Water
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Transport In Air
Transport In Air
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Groundwater Zone
Groundwater Zone
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Water Table
Water Table
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What is the water table?
What is the water table?
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What are heavy metals?
What are heavy metals?
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Why do some contaminants stay in groundwater?
Why do some contaminants stay in groundwater?
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What are hydrocarbons?
What are hydrocarbons?
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What is Biodegradation?
What is Biodegradation?
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What is Phytoremediation?
What is Phytoremediation?
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What affects biodegradation?
What affects biodegradation?
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What can phytoremediation clean up?
What can phytoremediation clean up?
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Study Notes
Pollution Overview
- Pollution is any alteration to the environment that creates a harmful condition for living things.
- Pollution sources can be categorized as point sources (small, defined areas) or non-point sources (wide areas, hard to pinpoint).
- Examples of point sources include city streets, industrial plants, and specific farm operations.
- Examples of non-point sources include rural homes, agriculture, and animal feedlots.
Dilution and Concentration
- Dilution means pollution becomes less concentrated.
- Factors that can dilute pollution in a stream or the air include increased water or air volume.
- Factors that can concentrate pollution include weather patterns, physical barriers, and industrial processes.
Water Quality
- Water quality in Canadian rivers varies across different land use categories.
- Data from 2016-2018 shows percentages of different water quality levels (excellent, good, fair, marginal, poor) for various land categories (agricultural, forestry, mining, populated, mixed pressures, undeveloped). Percentage values varied widely by land category.
Aquatic Environments and Chemical Factors
- The pH of the water affects aquatic life. Increasing pH decreases diversity
- Pure water is made up of solely water molecules.
- Impurities such as dissolved oxygen, pH, heavy metals, plant nutrients (nitrogen/phosphorus), pesticides, salts (sodium chloride/magnesium sulfate), can negatively affect aquatic organisms.
Water Quality Categories
- Water quality is assessed by provincial and federal governments in five categories: human drinking water, recreation (swimming), livestock drinking water, irrigation, and protection of aquatic life.
Biological and Microbiological Indicators
- Scientists use living organisms in water to assess water quality (biological indicators).
- Examples of biological indicators include fish, plants, worms, insects, plankton, and protozoa.
- Microorganisms like bacteria in water provide information on the level of harmful bacteria.
- Macroinvertebrates (e.g., mayfly, caddisfly, beetle, stonefly) are used to assess quality. Good quality water has a high variety of organisms, especially those requiring higher oxygen levels.
Dissolved Oxygen
- Dissolved oxygen is vital for aquatic life and microorganisms.
- Factors influencing dissolved oxygen include temperature, wind speed, photosynthesis rates in aquatic plants, and the number of organisms using the oxygen
Quantifying Pollution
- Pollution concentrations are often reported as parts per million (ppm) or parts per billion (ppb). One part of a substance per one million/billion parts of solution.
Measuring Chemicals
- Parts per million (ppm) is a measurement of the concentration of something in a larger amount of something else. For instance, one ppm equals one unit of something per one million units of something else.
- Different units of measurement (ppm, ppb, ppt) determine the concentration at increasing small quantities.
Toxicity
- Toxicity measures how harmful a substance is. LD50 (Lethal Dose 50%) is the amount of substance that kills half of tested animals at a given dose.
- Different substances have differing LD50 values, impacting their toxicity.
- Mixing different pesticides creates a more dangerous chemical combination.
Risk Management
- Substances can have different effects on animals versus humans.
- Animal testing for toxicity can be misleading.
- Exposure quantity, type, and duration all determine the risk of harmful chemicals.
Other Topics
- There are various methods of dealing with pollutants (e.g., dispersal, dilution, biodegradation, phytoremediation)
- Different pollutants (e.g., hydrocarbons, heavy metals, carbon monoxide) have different sources, effects, and methods of measurement.
- Pollution is not limited to one area; it can travel long distances via air and water.
- Important concepts such as the polar vortex, atmospheric pollutants (like sulfur and carbon dioxide), and their impact on the environment/humans is covered.
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Description
Test your knowledge on water quality and pollution sources with this comprehensive quiz. Explore the factors affecting pollution, the significance of dissolved oxygen, and the role of biological indicators. Ideal for students of environmental science and biology.
