Reading...
Play button
Play button
Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
69 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
What percent of the earth's water is freshwater?
|
3%
|
|
|
How do we define freshwater (vs. saltwater)?
|
Freshwater contains less than 100 ppm salt.
|
|
|
What are some of the major impacts of a water shortage?
|
Water shortages increase: conflicts, public health problems, reduce food production, endanger the environment.
**in dryer regions of the world, demands for freshwater creates conflict between human and natural ecosystems |
|
|
Describe the hydrologic cycle.
|
Water rises into the atmosphere by evaporation & transpiration and is purified...Water leaves the atmosphere by condensation & precipitation.
|
|
|
Which is more likely to be polluted, surface water or ground water?
|
Surface water
|
|
|
What is the mountain effect?
|
When winds hit mountain ranges,air picks up humidity and loses moisture as it cools going up the mountain...This causes deserts to form on the leeward side of the mountain.
|
|
|
What is meant by water infiltration?
|
As the water percolates through the soil, debris, and bacteria are filtered out
|
|
|
What are two types of water discharge, and how does this relate to surface water?
|
1) Seep- water flows out over a wide area.
2) Spring- Water exits in a significant flow from a relatively small opening. *Seeps and springs feed streams, lakes, and rivers. **Ground water eventually becomes surface water and begins to evaporate again |
|
|
What are 3 major human impacts on water?
|
changes the earth's surface, pollution, withdrawls for use.
|
|
|
Describe some of the ways that pollution of the water cycle occurs.
|
-Water cycle permeates the entire biosphere.
-Wastes are inevitably introduced into the water cycle. -Smokes & fumes -fertilizers and pesticides |
|
|
What are the major categories of users of freshwater, and how much water is used by each type of user?
|
-Irrigation and agricultural uses, 700 gal. per day per person.
-Electrical power production, 600 gal. per day per person -Industrial use, 370 gal. per day per person. -Residential use, 100 gal. per day per person |
|
|
What is the number one use of water world-wide?
|
agriculture
|
|
|
What is the maximum percentage of the average flow of a river that can be taken without facing future shortages and other problems?
|
30% annually
|
|
|
What are the four environmental effects of overdrawing groundwater?
|
-falling water tables and depletion due to overuse for crop production
-diminishing surface waters -land subsidence and sinkholes -salt water intrusion |
|
|
Approximately what percent of water comes from groundwater sources?
|
50%
|
|
|
Describe the four steps in water purification.
|
-Alum is added to water to coagulate suspended particles
-These particles settle out and are removed -Water is then filtered & treated before it is piped for use -Treatment usually consists of chlorination. |
|
|
What is the primary consideration in determining the amount of water purification?
|
Quality of the source
|
|
|
What are 3 problems in water treatment?
*Of the 3, which is most likely to be a problem? |
-Failure to kill microbes (fecal coliform test to monitor)
-Chemical overdoses (High fluoride or high chlorine) -Chemical residuals (Disinfection by-products) *bacteria |
|
|
What is used to determine if sewage contamination is present in drinking water?
|
fecal coliform test
|
|
|
What are some of the concerns regarding drinking water in the 3rd world?
|
-access to safe drinking water is limited.
-less than 50% have safe supplies -this can lead to diseases such as cholera. |
|
|
Discuss the needs and prospects for obtaining more water.
|
growing populations create an increasing demand for irrigation & industrial/municipal use.
|
|
|
List 3 ways of reducing water demands.
|
-Drip irrigation systems
-improvements in municipal systems: retrofitting plumbing devices, xeriscaping (landscape with desert plants & rocks), use gray water on plants, treat sewer water. -Desalting water (not practical) -reusing water in industry (requires them to treat the water to improve impurities) |
|
|
What is water pollution and what are 2 types of water pollution?
|
Water pollution is any chemical, biological, or physical change in water quality that has a harmful effect.
-point source: factories, sewage treatment plants, oil tankers. -nonpoint source: cannot be traced to a single source. |
|
|
Describe the different zones when pollution is added to a river.
|
* clean zone
*decomposition zone *septic zone *recovery zone If no additional pollution sources are present, the river will revert to a clean zone |
|
|
Describe the effect of pollution on lakes:
What is oligotrophic? What is eutrophic? |
Lakes cannot dilute pollutants as quickly as a flowing stream or river
As a result, lakes become high in nutrients and algae *Oligotrophic: non nutrient water “the perfect lake” *Eutrophic: clean water to an algae filled water |
|
|
What is the clean water act of 1972?
|
Aimed at controlling the discharge of pollutants into: navigable waters, rivers, lakes, streams, & wetlands.
-Serious attempt through federal regulations to control: polluting discharges that enter waterways, interstate waters, waters that are associated with commerce in the U.S. |
|
|
What substance was controlled in the Water Quality Act of 1987?
|
Sludge
|
|
|
What is the most important purpose of municipal sewage treatment?
|
Protect our health
|
|
|
What are the four steps in wastewater purification/treatment?
|
-Preliminary treatment (for debris/grit)
-Primary treatment (for particles) -Secondary treatment (for colloidal & dissolved) -tertiary treatment (cleansing of specific chemicals) |
|
|
What are four categories of pollutants in raw sewage?
|
*debris and grit (everything from pebbles to needles ands syringes)
*particulate organic materials *colloidal and dissolved organic chemicals (smaller than #2) *dissolved inorganic chemicals (nail polish remover) (most difficult to remove) |
|
|
What are the different levels of sewage treatment?
|
*Preliminary treatment removes: debris/grit
*Primary treatment: particles *Secondary treatment (includes biological nutrient removal and disinfections) -colloidal and dissolved *Tertiary treatment (this is cleansing of specific chemicals) |
|
|
What is the level that most municipal systems reach?
|
*Tertiary treatment (this is cleansing of specific chemicals)
(Most municipal treatment plans in the US do not provide this type of treatment) |
|
|
What are 4 sludge treatment options?
|
*Anaerobic digestion- air tight tank
*Composting- mix with woodchips- sit on field-cook *Pasteurization and Drying- cook it raw *lime stabilization- lime mix with sludge- high pH, good to treat acid rain |
|
|
What are examples of 5 alternative treatment systems?
|
*using effluents for irrigation
*reconstructed wetlands systems *artificial wetland systems *greenhouse wetland systems *overland flow systems |
|
|
Describe a typical septic treatment system.
|
-Onsite wastewater treatment system.
-used for disposal of wastewater from bathrooms, kitchens, & laundries. -system set up: septic tank, soil absorbtion field or sand filter, disinfection |
|
|
What kinds of toxic materials get into wastewater treatment system that cannot be removed using secondary treatment?
|
Synthetic organic pollutants (pesticides, cleaning fluids, solvents)
-Lead |
|
|
What was the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974?
|
EPA sets max contaminant levels for specified pollutants found in drinking water.
Prescribed schedule for monitoring and testing treated water Report water quality results to appropriate state agencies |
|
|
What is storm water and why is it a problem?
|
Water that runs off of roofs, streets when it rains.
fertilizers, pesticides, oil get into storm water. |
|
|
When and where is industrial pretreatment required?
|
Industrial wastewater usually must be detoxified before entering the sewage system
Begin by identifying sources and types of pollutants that can be harmful |
|
|
What was the purpose of the Safe Drinking Water Act?
|
EPA sets max contaminant levels for specified pollutants found in drinking water.
Prescribed schedule for monitoring and testing treated water Report water quality results to appropriate state agencies |
|
|
What is a brownfield?
|
polluted land that is often abandoned and is difficult to sell or use.
|
|
|
Describe the process of total product life cycle.
|
Raw materials are minded, transported, refined, transported, manufactured into a product, transported, used, and disposed of
Accidents may occur |
|
|
What are bioaccumulation and biomagnification?
|
*bioaccumulation
-the accumulation of higher and higher concentrations of potentially toxic chemicals in organisms *Biomagnifications- occurs through several levels of the food chain -this is why trace amounts of contaminants can concentrate in our bodies |
|
|
What is groundwater remediation and what is the problem with it?
|
Program that involves cleaning up contaminated groundwater sources
|
|
|
What was the Superfund and what is one of the problems with it?
|
EPA's largest ongoing program
-provides funds for identification and cleanup of toxic sites throughout US. -Unfortunately, many sites have not been cleaned...much money is spent on legal costs. |
|
|
What was the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976?
|
*cornerstone legislation designed to prevent unsafe or illegal disposal of wastes on land
*EPA must identify hazardous waste *sets standards for hazardous waste *permits required for hazardous waste generators |
|
|
What was the Underground Storage Tank (UST) standard?
|
Requires strict monitoring of fuel supplies, tanks, and piping so that leaks maybe are detect early- dig up and clean out
|
|
|
What are the Worker Right to Know and the Community Right to Know standards?
|
OSHA regulations require business and industries to make information regarding hazardous materials and suitable protective equipment available to all employees
|
|
|
What are three approaches to hazardous waste prevention?
|
Pollution avoidance
Responsible care Green products |
|
|
What is Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)?
|
Total of all materials thrown away from homes and commercial establishments
Also known as (trash, refuse, garbage) |
|
|
How do we dispose of MSW?
|
Landfill and Combustion
|
|
|
The amount of waste has grown steadily due to what?
|
increase of population
*changing lifestyles *use of disposable materials *excessive packaging |
|
|
What are the most common types of MSW?
|
Paper accounts for- 34.2%
Yard waste is at 13.1% Plastic accounts for 11.9% Metal accounts for 7.6% The rest is made up of glass, wood, etc (5.2%, 5.7%, and 3.4%) |
|
|
What are 4 problems with landfills?
|
Lechate generation and groundwater contamination
Methane production- toxic soup- bad if in groundwater (ground contamination) Incomplete decomposition- plastic takes a long time to breakdown Settling- things break down, ground beneath is not strong |
|
|
What are the advantages and disadvantages of incineration?
|
ADVANTAGES:
*weight of trash is reduced by 70% and volume is reduced by 90% *toxic and hazardous substances are easier to handle *no change in collection is needed *combustion facilities generate electricity *left with ash and melted metals DISADVANTAGES *trash does not burn cleanly- have to burn natural gas *left with ash and melted metals *combustion facilities are expensive *combustion ash is loaded with metals and other hazardous substances- pay extra *wastes both energy and materials- better to recycle *community solid waste options are limited Ex. Trash people not getting enough trash cause environmental group doing good in recycling |
|
|
What percentage of waste could be recycled?
|
75%
|
|
|
What are the two kinds of recycling?
|
*pre-consumer waste- scraps and cuttings from paper and printing plants
*post-consumer waste- true recycling of materials to make the same material |
|
|
How do we encourage recycling?
|
simplified system of collection
Pay as you throw |
|
|
What is composting?
|
Natural biological decomposition of organic matter in the presence of air
|
|
|
What is Integrated Waste Management?
|
Waste reduction (best)
Reuse (2nd best) Recycling (3rd best) Waste disposal (worst option) |
|
|
Explain the difference between a hazard and a risk.
|
Hazard: is the potential of something to do harm- it may be chemical, biological, physical, or cultural
Risk- is the probability of some harmful event occurring |
|
|
Hazards fall into which 4 categories?
|
Burn explode, radioactive, toxic
|
|
|
Can all hazards be avoided?
|
No
|
|
|
What is the difference between a toxic and a hazardous substance?
|
Hazardous chemicals: cause harm by being flammable, damaging skin or lungs, interfering with oxygen uptake (carbon monoxide) and allergic reactions
Toxins: Is one type of hazardous chemical |
|
|
What is an LD 50?
|
A measure of how much of the chemical will kill one half of the test animals. The smaller the LD50 the more toxic is the chemical (lethal dose- 50%)
|
|
|
What are mutagens, teratogens, or carcinogens?
|
Mutagens: are substances that cause mutations or changes in the DNA
Teratogens: are substances that cause birth defects Carcinogens: are substances that cause cancer |
|
|
What are biological hazards?
|
pathogenic bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozons, worms
*can be nontrasmissible or transmissible |
|
|
What is malaria, and how is malaria spread?
|
vectors (like flies and mosquitoes) are non human transmitters of disease
Spread from sick person to another by mosquitoes |
|
|
How do we prevent biological hazards?
|
reduce overcrowding, unsafe drinking water, poor sanitation, inadequate health care systems, malnutrition and poverty
Increase funding for disease monitoring: sharply reduce antibiotic use to prevent evolution of resistant organisms Protect biodiversity as a means of reducing disease spread Increase research |
