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116 Cards in this Set
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- Back
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Mining waste:
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Mining Waste includes waste material that is left on the surface, milling tailing that are dumped on the land or stored in ponds and waste or tailing drainage that often contains hazardous materials. In volume of waste produced, mining is at the top of the list.
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Agricultural waste:
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includes waste from raising animals as well as crop and tree harvesting. 90% of agricultural waste is used as fertilizer or other forms of soil enhancement.
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industrial solid waste:
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consists of solid waste other than mining. It is estimated to be between 200-600 million metric tons annually. Demolition waste, sludge, and combustion ash are classified as industrial waste.
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municipal solid waste:
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Consists of all the materials people in a region no longer want. 250 million metric tons indicator of it is accumulated annually.
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What kinds of materials are in municipal solid waste?
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Many products are discarded when they are broken or worn out, while others only have a temporary use. Those that have only temporary uses make up the majority of solid waste.
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Where does all of the municipal solid waste go? About how much of it goes into landfills and how much is recycled?
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Municipal solid waste is everything we throw in the trash to be taken to a landfill. 54% of our trash goes into a landfill and 26% is recycled. |
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What is leachate from landfills and how does it affect groundwater?
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A liquid that passes through a landfill and has extracted, dissolved, and suspended matter from it. leachate is therefore any liquid material that drains from land or stockpiled material and contains significantly elevated concentrations of undesirable material derived from the material that it has passed through.
It may leak and pollute the water |
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What can be done about leachate?
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By recycling one can keep more harmful garbage out of the landfill which creates less harmful leachate. Landfill must have a impenetrable lining with clay and pumping wells to pump it out. |
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What emission can be collected from landfills and used to generate electricity?
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Methane |
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What are the environmental issues associated with exporting trash and what types of trash are exported?
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the shipped waste consists of hazardous materials that are not properly disposed of in the other countries.
About 80% of electronic waste (e-waste) is shipped abroad. |
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Describe source reduction as a way to decrease the amount of trash we generate. Specifically, review the design changes in plastic bottles and the ideas of reduced packaging using items.
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Source reduction is the practice of designing, manufacturing, purchasing, using and reusing materials so that the amount of waste or its toxicity is reduced. Design changes have been made which has reduced its weight by 25%.
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What is composting and what kinds of materials can be composted?
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Composting uses natural decomposition to transform organic material into compost, a humus-like product with many environmental benefits. Small-scale composting can be accomplished in the backyard, mixing green materials (grass clippings, vegetable scraps, etc.) and brown materials (dry leaves, twigs, soiled paper towels).
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What are some of the benefits of recycling?
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Resource conservation, Pollution reduction, Energy savings, Job creation, Less need for landfills and incinerators.
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What are “container laws” or “bottle bills”?
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The refund value of the container (usually 5 or 10 cents) provides a monetary incentive to return the container for recycling.
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What happens in a single-stream recycling center?
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Single-stream recycling: Garbage is all mixed and its separated at the recycling center. No need for the public to separate.
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Why are toilet paper, tissues and paper towels made of recycled paper more expensive than non-recycled paper products?
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It's because government subsidies artificially lower the cost of virgin forest materials compared to recycled materials!
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Where is trash actually a commodity, or resource?
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In developing countries trash may be a resource. In developed countries trash is a commodity. |
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What do people do with trash in places like India and the Philippines?
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Collect and sell it? |
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What are the gases that make up the air we breathe?
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78.1% Nitrogen, 20.9% Oxygen, and about 1% of other gases such as argon, carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor. |
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Which atmospheric layer is closest to the earth’s surface? |
Troposphere |
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Which atmospheric layer contains the ozone layer? |
Stratosphere |
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What is the protective function of the ozone layer? |
reflects ultraviolet radiation back out into space. |
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Describe why air pollution is a global issue rather than a local issue. |
Air doesn't stay still, it moves around the earth. Each city that throws pollutant out unto the atmosphere gets picked up by the air and it moves to the next area. |
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What are the sources of particulate matter nitrogen oxides |
Solid materials and liquid droplets dispersed into the atmosphere from Roads Farms Smoke Transportation Power plants Non-road Industry |
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What are the sources of the air pollutants sulfur dioxide |
Burning sulfur-containing fossil fuels; 70% from coal burning power plants. |
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What are the sources of the air pollutants: nitrogen oxides |
Burning fossil fuels in cars and power plants. |
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What are the sources of the air pollutant, lead? |
Leaded gasoline, lead paint Transportation Smelting and Processing waste |
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What are the sources of ground level ozone air pollutants? |
Forms from nitrogen oxides and oxygen in presence of light, so its source is burning fossil fuels. |
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What are the sources of the air pollutant, photo-chemical smog? |
Mixture of pollutants that results from nitrogen oxides and VOCs + sunlight in warm weather. (Photochemical smog is the chemical reaction of sunlight, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere, which leaves airborne particles and ground-level ozone. This noxious mixture of air pollutants may include the following: Aldehydes. Nitrogen oxides, particularly nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide.) |
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Which of the pollutants from the has been decreased the most? |
Lead |
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What national law has helped control air pollution? When was it enacted? |
Clean Air Act of 1970 |
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Has this law had any impact? |
Yes. It has reduced all types and forms of pollutants that go out unto the air by regulating them. |
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When and where do we see photo-chemical smog and high levels of ground level ozone? |
During warm weather in cities adjacent to mountains or valleys, tend to have trouble with photo-chemical smog because pollutants are trapped by thermal inversions (Occur when warm air cannot rise, causing smog accumulation). |
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What causes acid rain (oracid precipitation)? Be specific about the chemicals involved. |
Acid rain is caused by the emission of chemicals that, when mixed with water, form an acid. These chemicals are sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX). The acids formed are sulfuric acid and nitric acid. |
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What are the sources of the chemicals that make rain more acidic? |
Vehicles and coal-burning power plants release sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. These chemicals were in coal and gasoline. |
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What are the effects of acid rain on plants? |
Acid rain increases soil acidity which removes nutrients from the soil and kills trees. acidic water dissolves the nutrients and helpful minerals in the soil and then washes them away before trees and other plants can use them to grow. At the same time, acid rain causes the release of substances that are toxic to trees and plants, such as aluminum, into the soil. |
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What is the ozone layer made of? |
Ozone in the outer layers of the atmosphere shields the Earth from the harmful effects of ultraviolet light radiation. Ozone is formed in the stratosphere when oxygen molecules dissociate after absorbing an ultraviolet photon. This converts a single O 2 into two oxygen atoms. The oxygen atoms then combine with other O 2 molecules to create O 3 molecules. Ozone is O3. |
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What causes the hole in the ozone layer over the Antarctic? |
chemicals that we have used in refrigerants called CFCs are released into the atmosphere and when they react (in very cold temperatures and in the presence of sunlight) with ozone, they can destroy the ozone. |
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What is the danger presented by the depletion of the ozone layer? |
The ozone layer protects us from the UV rays of sunlight. UV rays are the cause of skin cancer. One of the causes of DNA mutation in all kinds of organismsis ultraviolet radiation. |
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What is the solution and is it working? |
Due to the outlaw of CFCs, the hole on the ozone layer has and continues to decrease. |
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Why is ground-level ozone a pollutant while the ozone layer of the stratosphere is essential? |
The ozone in the stratosphere is formed there and it protects us from ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Ground level ozone is produced by the reaction of nitrogen oxides emitted from cars plus oxygen in the presence of sunlight. Ozone near the ground is a lung irritant. There is no natural source of ground level ozone and living organisms are not adapted to it. |
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What is the cause of global warming and climate change? |
Most climate scientists agree the main cause of the current global warming trend is human expansion of the "greenhouse effect"— warming that results when the atmosphere traps heat radiating from Earth toward space. Certain gases in the atmosphere block heat from escaping. |
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What is the greenhouse effect? Be able to draw this effect in a labeled diagram. |
Earth is constantly bombarded with enormous amounts of radiation, primarily from the sun. This solar radiation strikes the Earth's atmosphere. The radiation striking Earth's atmosphere is immediately reflected back out to space by clouds, ice, snow, sand, and other reflective surfaces. The remaining radiation is absorbed by the oceans, the land and the atmosphere. As they heat up, the oceans, land and atmosphere release heat in the form of IR thermal radiation, which passes out of the atmosphere and into space. It's this equilibrium of incoming and outgoing radiation that makes the Earth habitable. |
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What are greenhouse gases? |
Gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor, and ozone in the atmosphere are involved in the greenhouse effect.
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What changes have occurred in the earth’s average temperature and in sea level? |
Hotter temperatures Rising sea level Beach and coastal wetland erosion Substantial loss of coastal area |
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What are the effects of global climate change on Tropical diseases |
Tropical diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, and encephalitis will spread to temperate parts of the world. We don't see them now because the freezing temperatures in the winter inhibit their insect vectors. |
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What are the effects of global climate change on the Distribution of organisms |
Not only will disease organisms move outward from the tropics, but the geographic distribution of other organisms will also be altered. Equatorial organisms will move toward the poles, and the tundra biomes area will alter significantly due to the thawing of permafrost. (species unable to adapt to the changing conditions would face extinction.) |
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What are the effects of global climate change on Coral reefs |
- Ocean acidification--which occurs when oceans absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere--is also a threat to coral. As the oceans become more acidic, the corals' ability to form skeletons through calcification is inhibited, causing their growth to slow. - Higher sea temperatures from global warming have already caused major coral bleaching events. Bleaching occurs when corals respond to the stress of warmer temperatures by expelling the colorful algae that live within them. |
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What are the effects of global climate change on Low-lying areas near the sea |
They will most likely be submerged. |
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What solutions have been proposed for the effects of global climate change? |
- The first is to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases, and this is the only way to solve the problem at its source. - The second is to prepare for the consequences such as sea level rise and the encroachment of tropical diseases north and south of the tropics. - Improving fuel efficiency and reducing pollution can be offset by lower health care costs and higher worker productivity. - Alternative energy sources such as wind and solar energy can replace some of our dependence on fossil fuels. |
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What are the health effects of indoor air pollution? |
The effects of indoor air pollutants range from short-term effects – eye and throat irritation – to long-term effects – respiratory disease and cancer |
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What are the dangers of second-hand smoke? |
Causes lung cancer There’s also some evidence suggesting it might be linked in to cancers of: Larynx (voice box) Pharynx (throat) Nasal sinuses Brain Bladder Rectum Stomach Breast |
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How is water allocated on Earth? How much is available to us? |
70% of Earth's surface is covered by water in the form of oceans and all that ocean water makes up 97% of the Earth's water. Earth's freshwater (3% of total), is available for our use. |
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What are the general flows and storages in the water cycle? |
Through the hydrologic cycle water return to earth and goes back up. Groundwater is where water is store along with glaciers,plants, rivers, and lakes. |
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How do humans influence the hydrologic cycle? |
- Withdrawals:We take water out of the system to irrigate crops, to provide us with drinking water and to carry out many of our industrial processes. - Discharges:We add substances to the water – intentionally or not. As precipitation falls on the ground and moves into rivers and creeks, it picks up a whole range of pollutants. In rural areas these pollutants may include farm pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers as well as wastes from faulty septic systems and improperly handled manure. In urban areas, the pollutants may include gas, oil, pet waste, fertilizers, pesticides, salt and treated human waste from sewage treatment plants. -Deforestation/removal of plants |
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Say in general, what these different types of water use mean: domestic, agricultural, industrial and in-stream. |
Domestic is what and how we use water at home. Agricultural is water that is used to grow fresh produce and sustain livestock. Industrial that produce metals, wood and paper products, chemicals, gasoline and oils. Instream Major in-stream uses are hydroelectric power, recreation, transport and navigation. |
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What are the various ways we use water in our homes? |
Domestic use: About 69% of that is used as a solvent to carry wastes away (bathing, laundry, toilets, and washing dishes). About 29% is used for lawns and gardens. Just 2% is used for drinking or cooking. |
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Does the price of water influence the amount of water used? In general, what is the relationship between price and use of water? |
As long as water is a considered to be a limitless, inexpensive resource, few conservation measures will be taken. When the price of water is low, use is high. |
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How is water used in agriculture? |
Irrigation is the major consumptive use of water in most parts of the world. |
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What are two irrigation methods that keep water near plant roots and decrease evaporation? |
Trickle: strategically placed openings deliver water directly to the roots of plants. Sub-Irrigation: underground pipes supply water to plants and can be used for drainage as well. |
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What are the features and sources of disease-causing organisms water pollutant? |
- Untreated or inadequately treated human or domestic animal waste |
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What are the features and sources of Nutrients that causes water pollutant? |
- We add a huge amount of nitrogen to the nitrogen cycle via our production of fertilizers. Some of that nitrogen ends up in living things, including us, but some of it runs off into waterways. Eutrophication is excessive growth of algae and aquatic plants due to added nutrients. |
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What are the features and sources of dissolved organic matter as a water pollutant? |
A significant water pollution problem because it decays in the water. |
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What are the features and sources of particulate matter as a water pollutant? |
Can affect water quality. Particles alter the clarity of the water. They can cover spawning sites in rivers and act as abrasives that injure organisms. Toxic materials and nutrients can adhere to particulates. |
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What is BOD or ( Biochemical oxygen demand)? |
If too much organic matter is added, all available oxygen will be used up. This reduces the amount of oxygen available for fish and other organisms. Sometimes, if there is a high BOD, and once the oxygen has been depleted, anaerobic bacteria break down waste, which produces a foul odor. |
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What are the features and sources of toxins chemicals as a water pollutant? |
come from urban and agricultural runoff, from landfill leachate and mines. Some of the chemicals we use to treat our lawns are toxic to aquatic organisms. |
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What are the differences between point sources and non-point sources of water pollution? What are some examples of each kind? |
A point source is the source of pollution readily located and identified, such as municipal and industrial waste discharge pipes. Non-point sources are more difficult to identify and control. Diffuse pollutants from agricultural land and urban paved surfaces come from nonpoint sources. |
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What kinds of waste are in municipal water pollution? |
- Waste from homes consists primarily of organic matter from garbage, food preparation, cleaning of clothes and dishes, and human waste. - Runoff from our streets and parking lots, which includes oils, solids, debris and pesticides. - Municipal wastewater also contains industrial runoff or outflow. |
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What are some solutions to agricultural runoff that causes pollution of waterways? |
- Leave conservation buffer. These are grassed or forested strips of uncultivated land between fertilized farm fields and streams. They take up much of the excess nitrogen and phosphorus before it can reach the stream. - Keep soil covered with crop.Control amount and timing of fertilizer application. |
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What is the Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico and what causes it? |
We put fertilizer on our crops, rains pick upfertilizer and run it into our rivers and what happens is that that water ends up in the Gulf of Mexico. It’sgot a lot of fertilizer in it, and the algae respond. They love it. They grow like crazy. That might seem like a good thing, but when they die, the bacteria that break apartthe algae when they’re dead consume oxygen, and so they leave this area in the water that has little orno oxygen. That means that larger animals, and even small ones like plankton, that require oxygen can’tlive there. |
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What is thermal pollution? What are the causes? |
Thermal pollution occurs when industry withdraws water from a source, uses it for cooling purposes, and returns heated water to its original source. For example, steam from steam turbines must be condensed into water after leaving the turbine for maximum efficiency. The water is released into a nearby stream. |
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What are some sources of groundwater pollution? |
The major sources of groundwater pollution include agricultural products, pesticides, underground storage tanks and leachate from landfills. |
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Describe what happens in a wastewater treatment plant. |
22 |
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What is removed in primary and secondary treatment? |
Primary sewage treatment removes large particles via filtration and then pumps remaining water into settling ponds and lakes. Secondary sewage treatment is a biological process that usually follows primary treatment. Such facilities are designed to promote bacterial and other microorganism growth, which will degrade the organic matter. |
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Which one of these processes is physical and which one is biological? |
Primary sewage is physical and Secondary is biological. |
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What is done with the solid sludge? |
Activated-sludge sewage treatment plants hold wastewater in settling tanks with air continuously bubbled through it, and water and sludge eventually separate out. Sludge is usually carted away in trucks to be spread on land. |
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What is tertiary treatment and what does it remove? |
An additional stage used to remove inorganic nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen left after primary and secondary treatments. |
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What are wetlands and why are they important to water quality? |
- Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil, or is present either at or near the surface of the soil Wetlands provide: Wildlife spawning and breeding habitats Natural water filtration systems Slow floodwaters permitting nutrient settling and removal Floodwater control |
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What are some water issues in the developing world? |
How to supply clean drinking water to everyone. |
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How are water-related diseases transmitted? |
Through lack of clean water related water diseases are transmitted. |
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Describe two fecal-oral transmission diseases: dysentery and cholera |
Dysentery is a general term for the same kinds of symptoms caused by a number of different bacterial, viral and protozoan species found in contaminated water. People who have it suffer from bloody diarrhea and vomiting. Due to the loss of fluids, it can be fatal. Cholera is caused by the bacterial species, Vibrio cholerae. The bacteria may be in contaminated water or food. It has been known to spread from an infected person's unwashed hands onto food and then to the next person. It causes diarrhea and vomiting. If left untreated it can be fatal about half of the time. |
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How could these diseases be decreased? |
With improved sewage treatment and access to clean water for hand washing. |
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How is the parasitic disease, schistosomiasis, transmitted to humans? |
- A person with the disease defecates or urinates in a water source and releases the parasite's eggs in the feces or urine. - The eggs hatch when they enter fresh water.The hatched flukes then infect fresh water snails. They mature in the snail and produce more of themselves by asexual means. - They are released from the snail in a fork-tailed, swimming form. - These burrow into the skin of people wading, swimming or bathing in infested water. - They move from the skin into the liver and from there into either the intestines or the bladder.The parasites mature in about 6 to 8 weeks and then they mate and produce fertilized eggs, which are shed in feces or urine. |
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Why is it a water-related disease? |
Because it needs water to hatch and it also needs that fresh water snail which is found in water in order to grow.It is water related because larvae is released in water and it is also in water that its host is found. |
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How are guinea worms transmitted to humans? Why are they a water-related condition? |
People are infected when they drink water that contains the copepod(water flea) host.The copepod is digested, but its nematode passenger survives the digestion process.About a year later, a painful, burning blister appears on the person, usually on the leg or foot.The worm begins to emerge from the blister within a couple of days.The person seeks comfort by putting his foot in the water.The worm releases hundreds of thousands of guinea worm larvae into the water.These seek out their copepod hosts. It is water related because larvae is released in water and it is also in water that its host is found. |
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How is malaria transmitted to humans? Why is it water-related? |
A protozoan called Plasmodium that has two hosts (humans and mosquitoes) causes malaria. It is a water-related disease rather than waterborne. This is because one of the hosts, the mosquito, is not affected by the cleanliness of water. It just needs a water source in which to breed. Malaria can cause severe flu-like symptoms in some people, but it can also kill. |
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What is in soil? |
Soil is a mixture of minerals, organic material, living organisms, air, and water that together support growth of plant life. |
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How is soil formed and what influences its formation? |
- Soil formation begins with fragmentation of parent material. Parent material consists of ancient layers of rock, or more recent deposits from lava flows or glacial activity. - Other factors influencing soil formation include:Plant rootsBacteria and fungi (decomposers)Position on slopeClimateTimeRainfallSoil pH |
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What makes up the O and A layers of the soil? |
O horizon: Litter, un-decomposed or partially decomposed organic material. A horizon: Topsoil, uppermost layer of soil. Contains most of the soil nutrients and living organisms. |
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What could cause an area to have less organic matter on the top of the soil? |
trees produce a much smaller root mass per acre than grass plants, andtrees do not die back and decompose every year. Instead, much of the organic material in a forest is tied up in the tree instead of being returned to the soil. When soil erodes, organic matter goes with it. Saving soil and soil organic matter go hand in hand. |
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Describe the soil in the tropics |
Soil is made of red clay. This soil has a very shallow A horizon, which quickly washes away after deforestation. It is also highly acidic. |
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What are the effects of erosion? |
The most visually noticeable effect is soil erosion. The flow of wind or water can displace both topsoil and deeper dirt, which leads to shifting nutrients and resources. Topsoil is the most valuable, because it is nutrient-rich and feeds both seeds and plants. Erosion can remove this nutrient source. |
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Name some soil conservation practices that can prevent erosion. |
Enhance organic matter. Avoid excessive tillage. Manage pests and nutrients efficiently. Prevent soil compaction. Keep the ground covered. Diversify cropping systems. |
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A dust bowl like the one that occurred in the plains states in the 1930s is much less likely to happen now. Why? What changes have been made? |
Conservation efforts and the changes in farming techniques |
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When and where did agriculture start? |
People first started to cultivate crops about 10,000 years ago. They planted seeds in the Middle East's Fertile Crescent. |
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Differentiate between these three types of agriculture: shifting What are some of the pros and cons of each type? Where is each type used? |
Shifting agriculture is the practice of moving the cultivated field from one location to another every few years. It involves cutting down and burning the trees and other vegetation in a small area of the forest. PROS: Shifting agriculture often employs polyculture, or the planting of a mixture of plants. When you mix the crops, you get an increased resistance to insect pests. CONS: This kind of farming is not suitable for large, densely populated areas because it requires a long recovery time before the land can be used again for agriculture. |
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Differentiate between these three types of agriculture: labor-intensive What are some of the pros and cons of each type? Where is each type used? |
Labor-intensive agriculture is practiced in much of the world. Three situations favor this type of agriculture:The growing site does not allow mechanization (such as on hills).The crop does not allow mechanization (examples are rice and some fruits and vegetables) The economic conditions do not allow purchase of mechanized equipment. |
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Differentiate between these three types of agriculture: mechanized. What are some of the pros and cons of each type? Where is each type used? |
Mechanized agriculture is typical of industrialized countries. In mechanized agriculture, fossil fuel replaces human or animal muscle power. This method requires large amounts of energy and flat land. It also involves planting monocultures, which promote more efficient planting, cultivating, and harvesting. PROS:In a monoculture, the more uniform the crop, the easier it is to treat with chemicals, harvest and sell. CONS: Large tracts of bare land increase soil erosion.Little genetic differentiation often leads to increased pesticide use.No crop rotation depletes soil nutrients, increasing fertilizer use.Fossil fuel energy use has replaced human muscle power. |
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What was the Green Revolution? When did it happen and what were the results? |
The Green Revolution of the 1950's through 70's greatly increased worldwide food production. The revolution increased and spread mechanized agriculture. |
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What are some of the biggest current challenges for agriculture? |
The biggest challenge is feeding everyone on a planet that currently has 7 billion people and will have 9 billion within another generation. Governmental Policies: Governments protect their own farmers by giving them subsidies and providing trade barriers to the import of food from other countries. This helps the farmer within a country, but farming is hindered in poorer nations where there are no subsidies. Oil Markets and Production: High fuel costs increase food costs. Bio-fuel Production: In some areas, farmers are switching to crops that are used for bio-fuels. This may help with our energy needs but it diverts crop land from food production. Growing Demand For Meat: As countries such as China and India develop their economies, more of their people have the money to demand higher quality food and meat. However, the higher people eat on the food chain, the fewer of them can be fed. Scroll over the figure for more on this topic! |
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Describe the increased use of fossil fuels to produce food. |
Machines powered by fossil fuels have largely replaced human farm labor. What took 135 hours to farm by human labor, now takes 15 through machinery. |
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How is nitrogen fertilizer produced? What are the effects of its production (both positive and negative)? |
The Haber-Bosch process makes the chemical production of nitrogen-fertilizers possible. This is an energy-intense process that combines hydrogen from methane (collected as natural gas) and nitrogen from the air to make ammonia (NH3) fertilizers. PROS: Without this process, the world would not be able to sustain the large human population we have today. CONS: all of this added fertilizer in farm runoff has an enormous impact on natural ecosystems. It over-fertilizes waterways and leads to eutrophication and to dead zones like the large one in the Gulf of Mexico. - Chemical fertilizers do not replace soil organic matter. |
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What are Insecticide used for? |
Insecticides control insect populations; keeps insects from eating crops/plants. |
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What are herbicides used for? |
Herbicides control plant pests like weeds. Weeds compete with crops for soil nutrients. Crops do best when weeds are controlled. |
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What are fungicides used for? |
Fungicides control fungal pests. Fungicides are used to protect agricultural crops from spoilage, to prevent the spread of fungal disease, and to protect seeds from rotting in the ground before they can germinate. |
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What are rodenticides used for? |
Rodenticides control mice and rats. |
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What is a persistent pesticide? |
Persistent pesticides are highly toxic pesticides and industrial chemicals that do not decompose. |
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What are the characteristics of an ideal pesticide? |
Inexpensive Only affects target organisms Short period of persistence Breaks down into harmless materials |
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What are some of the environmental and health problems associated with pesticide and herbicide use? |
- Persistent pesticides become attached to small soil particles and are easily moved by wind or water. In this way, they are distributed across the land and in the water. They wind up in unintended locations. - Most pesticides are not species-specific, and kill beneficial species as well as pest species. Many kill predator and parasitic insects that normally control pest insects. In addition, insecticides may change the population structure of the species present so that a species not previously a problem may become a serious pest. - Acute poisoning during application sometimes occurs when farmers cannot read caution labels on packaging or do not have access to protective gear. |
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Describe bioaccumulation and biomagnification. |
Bioaccumulation is the process of accumulating higher and higher amounts of material within an organism's body. Many persistent pesticides are fat soluble and build up in fat tissues. Biomagnification is the process of acquiring increasing levels of a substance in bodies of higher trophic-level organisms. |
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What is pesticide resistance and how does it occur? |
A chemical is used to kill an organism.Within the population, some individuals are resistant to the chemical. Their resistance is due to a variation they already possess! They do not just "get stronger."The insecticide kills only the susceptible individuals. Susceptible ones do not have the natural variation that the resistant ones have.Most of the survivors have characteristics that allow them to tolerate the pesticide.The survivors pass on the genetic characteristics for tolerance.The subsequent pesticide applications become less effective. (natural selection) |
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What was the book, Silent Spring about and what effect did it have? |
Silent Spring, is about the effects of biomagnification on birds. The book was an important impetus leading to the environmental movement in the United States. In fact, as a result of the new movement, the U.S. banned DDT in the early 1970's. The U.S. ban on DDT has led to a resurgence of several bird species, including the bald eagle. |
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What are some ways that soil and water can be protected from farming practices? |
Incorporate crop residue into the soil to build organic matter. Decrease soil erosion by using no-till farming methods indicator in which the last crop is left on the field rather than removed. Carefully select, time, and use pesticides to decrease the chances that these materials will become environmental contaminants. Crop rotation. |
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Describe Integrated Pest Management and its benefits. |
In integrated pest management, farmers may not kill insects outright. Instead, they may interrupt their reproduction or encourage the growth of their natural predators. In this way, fewer pesticides are used. |
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What are genetically modified organisms (GMO’s)? |
Combining genes from different organisms through recombinant DNA technology can produce a genetically modified organism. Inserted genes may come from the same plant species, from other plant species, or even from animals or bacteria. Herbicide and disease resistance, drought tolerance and traits that improve nutritional value |
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What is golden rice and what does it provide that non-GMO rice does not provide? |
Rice has been engineered to produce vitamin A and iron, which is missing for the regular rice. |
