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Download Pollution of the Hydrosphere
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Pollution of the Hydrosphere Objectives Describe the negative effects of sediment pollution Trace the effects of nutrient pollution in an aquatic ecosystem ID sources of toxic organic & toxic inorganic pollutants Describe two waterborne illnesses & their sources Differentiate between types of thermal pollution and describe the negative effect of each on aquatic ecosystems Why is Freshwater Important? All organisms require freshwater to live Less than 1% of all Earth’s water is useable freshwater Freshwater is not evenly distributed on Earth What is Pollution? The addition of any substance that has a negative effect on water or on the living things that depend on the water Sediment Pollution # 1 form of water pollution Occurs when eroding soil particles are washed into water by runoff Causes of Sediment Pollution Exposed agricultural fields Clear-cut logging operations Construction sites Effects of Sediment Pollution Reduces amount of sunlight penetrating water Less photosynthesis Clogs gills of fish, amphibians, etc Some species rely on vision for hunting food Negatively affects spawning Can’t get oxygen Reduces vision Reduces food supply Fewer eggs…fewer organisms Make water more shallow Upsets ecosystem Promotes more flooding Nutrient Pollution Increase in the amount of water soluble chemicals such as nitrates & phosphates in water These chemicals act as fertilizers to aquatic plants Sources of Nutrient Pollution Fertilizers applied on lawns, gardens, & farms Leaking septic systems Wastewater treatment plants Detergents Effects of Nutrient Pollution Eutrophication (imbalance in aquatic ecosystem) Algal bloom - More algae More algae dies Decaying algae decomposed by aerobic bacteria Aerobic bacteria – use oxygen Less oxygen in water = hypoxia Other organisms die Decaying organisms build up on bottom, making water more shallow Algal blooms clog pipes Algal blooms clog boat engines Eutrophication Eutrophication Toxic Organic Compounds Contamination containing carbon atoms Includes: oil, gasoline, solvents, pesticides, herbicides Sources of TOCs Oil tanker spills Underground fuel storage tanks Lawn maintenance Agriculture: herbicides, pesticides, manure Effects of TOCs Toxic to living organisms Oil can on bird feathers and animal fur, restricting their movement Can’t hunt, they’ll die Affects tourism Toxic Inorganic Compounds Contaminants that don’t contain carbon Heavy metals: arsenic, mercury, lead Synthetic industrial chemicals Sources of TICs Poor waste disposal practices Leaking landfills Abandoned industrial sites Effects of TICs TICs don’t break down as readily as TOCs Can remain in environment for many years causing: Long term health problems Death Bioaccumulation - increase in concentration of a pollutant from the environment to the first organism in a food chain Biomagnification -increase in concentration of a pollutant from one link in a food chain to another Effects of TICs Disease-causing Agents Viruses Bacteria Amoeba Protozoa Parasitic worms Sources of Disease-causing Agents Human waste Animal waste Waste water Effects of Disease-causing Agents Waterbourne illnesses E.Coli Typhoid Malaria Hepatitis Cholera Dysentery Can cause death Thermal Pollution Temperature change to water Causes change in aquatic environment Can cause change in oxygen level of water Cold water holds more oxygen than warm water Causes of Thermal Pollution Industry uses water. Water is heated in industrial process then returned to river or lake. River or lake environment is now warmer. Dams built on rivers. Water behind dam builds up…gets deeper. Deeper water is colder. Effects of Thermal Pollution Changes in water temperature are changes to the aquatic environment. Some species are not able to tolerate the temperature differences and die off. Whole aquatic ecosystem is affected, changed.
