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Environmental Science 1222
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NOTES FROM THE DAILY DISCUSSIONS.
Environmental Science is a process of satisfying curiosities about why thing are
the way they are and about how things happen the way they do. Your challenge is to
learn to think for yourself and become Environmentally Literate. We will learn about the
complex issues facing our environment, explore different points of view and be exposed
to differing opinions. As your knowledge grows so will your ability to draw your own
conclusions.
SECTION 1
Chapter 1
Environmental Science a Global Perspective
Environmental Problems (intro overheads of local animals)
1.
Classification of Problems - all issues surrounding the environment fall into one
of three categories:
a.
Resource Depletion
i.
Non-renewable resource like minerals, ores, and fossil fuels
from the earth that once used cannot be replaced.
ii.
Renewable resources such as food crops and trees that can
continually replace themselves.
1.When does or can a renewable resource
become non-renewable?
b.
Pollution – which is the poisoning of our air, water and soil. Examples
are carbon monoxides from car exhaust, pesticides; sulfur dioxide
released from coal fired generating plants and other large industries.
c.
Extinction – which occurs when the last individual member of a species
has died and the species, is gone forever. (Overheads)
2.How does one problem / issue affect
another?
3.How do you explain or describe a
Biosphere?
1
2.
Sources of theses Environmental Problems – will generally fall into two
categories:
a.
Population Crisis – is occurring because the number of people is
growing too quickly for the natural resources on earth to support. (Is
most severe in developing countries)
b.
Consumption Crisis – is occurring because people are using, wasting or
polluting the earth’s natural resources faster than they can be replaced
or cleaned up. (Most severe in developed countries)
3.
Solutions???
4.What do you think are some solutions to the problems and issues as presented to
date?
a.
Sustainability – is a world in which human populations can continue to
exist indefinitely with a high standard of living, shelter nutrition and
health.
5.How can this be achieved?
Achieving Sustainability

Support Local Environmental groups

Preservation of Habitats

Change Waste Management Strategies, reduce, reuse and recycle

Efficient use of non-renewable resources

Renewable resources used at conservational rates

New technologies
Chapter 2
1.
2.
Definitions / Vocabulary
A.
Biosphere
B.
Ecosystem
C.
Biotic / Abiotic
D.
Habitat / Niche
Notes:
Levels of Organization in a Bioshpere
2
1.Organism /Species
2.Population
3.Community
4.Ecosystem
5.Biome / Biosphere
How Species Interact With Each Other
Predation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSYOKPUIIqY
Competition
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=7730341199662689386&q=animal+competition
Parasitism
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZAZ20tOdX8
Mutalism
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=1188610441663749549&q=mutualism+relation
ship
Commensalism
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x-31E9CxMo
Work:
1.
Guess what I am, Three clues for each relationship
2.
Discuss and explain each interaction
Adapting To The Environment
1.
Evolution by Natural selection:
Natural selection is the unequal survival and reproduction that results
from the presence or absence of particular traits, ‘survival of the
fittest’.
It is based on the studies of Charles Darwin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin
Five steps:
1.
Individuals produce more off-springs than can survive.
2.
Individuals compete for limited resources like food and shelter.
3.
Individuals have different inherited characteristics.
4.
Some characteristics increase an individual’s chances for survival.
5.
Individuals with helpful inherited characteristics pass these on to their
offspring.
3
MRSA (resistant bacteria)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRSA
http://www.metrowestcleangear.com/MRSA.htm
Work:
Handout with questions
Chapter 2- article and questions
Levels of Organization in a Bioshpere & How Species Interact With Each Other
Note: These are very detailed notes which include a high level of understanding, read them,
highlight your answers to the questions and try your best. We will re-cover the information
over the next few weeks breaking it down and making it easier to understand. Scientist
believe that life first appeared on the Earth about 3.5 billion years ago. At first, life was
biologically simple and consisted of one celled organ's that are similar to bacteria. However,
as time went on life become more complex and diversified because of evolution. Species are
being continually modified genetically as spontaneous mutations create new adaptations to
the environment. Some of these new adaptations replace old adaptations through natural
selection. Scientists estimate that about 10 to 40 million different organisms inhabit the
Earth's surface, sky, and waters. Scientists classify organisms using a hierarchical system
first developed several centuries ago by the biologist Linnaeus.Biologists recognize four
general types of life: Archaea; Bacteria; Eukaryota; and Viruses. Scientists have developed a
hierarchical system for the classification of these organisms into groups of similar individuals.
It is based on the taxonomic (classification based on physiology) and phylogenic
(classification based on genetics) characteristics of the organism. At the finest scale,
organisms that share similar characteristics are called a species. At the second level of the
classification similar organisms belong to a particular Genus. For example, trees that are red
maples are classified as Acer rubrum.Evolution is the process by which organisms come to
possess genetic adaptations to their environment by way of natural selection. Adaptations
are the various biological characteristics of a species. Adaptations are always changing in a
population of organisms because of mutations. Mutations result in an alteration of an
organism’s genetic code and therefore can create new traits. However, most mutations are
fatal. The few that are not fatal may provide an individual with an adaptation that gives them
a competitive advantage in terms of survival. Over time reproduction can spread this
adaptation to numerous offspring resulting in evolution.Scientists have recognized that
organisms can be organized according to several different functional levels. The functional
level known as species refers to a group of organisms that are similar in morphology and
physiology and have the ability to interbreed. All of the different organisms of a single
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species occupying a specific area on the Earth represents a population. A community is
defined as all of the populations of different species inhabiting a particular region of the
Earth. The most complex functional level of organization is the ecosystem. An ecosystem
consists of the community and its relationship to abiotic factors found in the
environment.Most organisms have the ability to move. Through movement species have the
ability to colonize new habitats and expand their geographic range. Evolutionary adaptations
that allow a species to expand their geographic range may also make a species more
resilient to environmental change. Once dispersed, a species can colonize a habitat if a
vacant site for colonization is available and on if the abiotic conditions are right. Finally,
colonization leads to establishment. The establishment phase can end for species because of
temporal changes in the site's abiotic or biotic characteristics. A geographic range describes
the distribution of a species across space. Geographic ranges are never fixed over time.
Instead we find that the geographic range of a species can shift, expand and contact because
of changes in a abiotic and biotic factors that influence fitness. Many species are limited in
some part of their range by abiotic factors. For each of these abiotic factors, species exhibits
variations in its ability tolerate the variable when its quantity in the environment changes.
When the abiotic variable is too available or too scarce the species may not be able to
survive. In this situation, the species is said to have met its limits of tolerance to this
variable. In most situations, the individuals of a species in a particular area are limited by a
single abiotic factor that controls the fitness and growth of species. Species can interact with
other species in a variety of different ways. Interactions where neither species directly
influences the fitness of the other are called neutralism. Competition occurs when both
interacting species are negatively effected in terms of fitness. Competition usually occurs
when two or more species are using the same common limiting resource for survival. In an
amensalism, one species suffers while the other is not influenced in a positive or negative
fashion. Mutualism is an interspecific association where the fitness of the interacting species
is positively effected. In many cases mutualisms are necessary for the survival of both
interacting species. The final common interaction in nature is one where one species gains
while the species suffers. Ecologists call these interactions either parasitism, predation or
pathogenic disease.The ecological niche concept extends the tolerance idea described above.
The ecological niche models the effect of all abiotic variables and biotic interactions on the
distribution of species. Ecologists often refer to two types of niche: the realized and
fundamental niche. Scientists estimate that between 2 to 100 million species currently
inhabit the Earth. Most of these species are found in the tropics. All species will eventually go
extinct. In most cases, the extinction of a species is caused by a change in the environment
5
or by the presence of new evolved species. Over the Earth's long history, there have been
about 5 or 6 period of time where more than 35% of the species existing become extinct
over a relatively short period of time. We call these events mass extinctions. Because of the
actions of humans, a large number of this species may become extinct in the immediate
future. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, about 700 biologically classified
species have gone extinct. Biodiversity is a term used to describe the diversity of life. This
term has a much broader definition than the species concept. Biodiversity describes the
diversity of life at the genetic, species, and ecosystem levels. Many scientists like to use the
biodiversity concept to describe the abundance of forms of life found on the our planet
because of definitional problems that exist with the species concept.Plant succession is a
repeatable, directional change in the types of plant species that occupy a habitat through
time after a disturbance. Scientists have classified many different types of succession. In the
majority of these successions types, the initial plant community is dominated by small,short
lived weed species that have the ability to produce many seeds. The species found the late
stages of succession tend to huge, long lived species that produce only a few large well
developed seeds. A number of mechanisms have been identified as the causal mechanisms
responsible for succession. The mechanisms involved in succession include: facilitation,
abiotic modification and resource competition; differential competition of resources by the
plant species; and differential competition of space by the plant species. Ecosystems are
dynamic entities composed of a mosaic of biotic and abiotic components that interact in
some fashion. Some of the more important components include soil, atmosphere, solar
radiation, water, and living organisms. Soil provides the living organisms found in an
ecosystem with nutrients, water, a home, and a structural medium for the roots of many
types of plants. The atmosphere is an important sink for oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water.
These substance cycle from the atmosphere to life and back to the atmosphere mainly
through the processes of photosynthesis, respiration, evapotranspiration, and precipitation.
The Sun provides ecosystems with energy in the form of radiation which is used to generate
heat and power photosynthesis. Water also plays and important role in the functioning of an
ecosystem. Water is incorporated into the bodies of organisms, is a medium fro nutrient
exchange between soil and life, and is used in photosynthesis.Ecosystem can also be
modeled in terms of energy and matter flow. Plants are the only organisms found in
ecosystems that can chemically fix energy. Using the Sun's light and nutrients and water
from the environment, plants can create a variety of organic materials. Organic matter is
then passed on to heterotrophic forms of life through consumption. A special group of
heterotrophs, know as the decomposers, play an important ecosystem function by converting
6
organic matter back into its inorganic constituents. This process also provides the
decomposers with energy to run their metabolism. Energy and matter can also move from
one ecosystem to another. This movement is done through processes like seed dispersal,
animal migration, leaching, and erosion.A biome is a major ecosystem type that can be
found in different regions of the planet where similar environmental conditions exist. The
types of species found in a single biome type are often genetically distinct from each other
from region to region. However, these species are similar in terms of the morphological and
physiological adaptations that they possess indicating similar natural selection processes.
The major biomes found on the Earth's surface are: tundra, boreal forest, temperate
deciduous forest, grassland, chaparral, desert, tropical savanna, and tropical rainforest. Each
of these biomes is described generally in terms of environmental characteristics and the
types of plants and animals that dominate these ecosystems. A portion of the solar energy
that enters ecosystems is used by plants to create organic chemical energy. Through
photosynthesis, carbon dioxide, water and sunlight are converted into glucose (form of
organic chemical energy) and oxygen. Glucose can then be altered, through the addition of
other chemicals, into pigments, lipids, sugars, proteins and nucleic acids. This organic energy
can then be passed on to other organisms, the heterotrophs, through consumption and
assimilation. Energy is freed for use by life through respiration which operates both in plants
and animals. The amount of energy fixed by organisms in ecosystems is usually less than
3% of energy received as sunlight. Some ecosystems that are photosynthetically limited
because of scarce water or cold temperatures fix less than 1% of the energy available for
photosynthesis. The grazing food chain models the movement of energy in producers and
consumers at the trophic level. It begins with the photosynthetic fixing of energy by plants.
These plants are then consumed by the herbivores, and the herbivores are consumer by
carnivores. Note that you can have several levels of carnivores. The number of levels in the
grazing food chain is determined by the productivity of the habitat. More productive habitats
have more trophic levels. The detritus food chain models the consumption of waste or dead
organisms by the decomposers. The organisms found in this food chain gain their energy
either through respiration or fermentation. Consumption of organic matter by decomposers
also converts this material into its original inorganic components.Trophic pyramids are used
by scientists to model the flow of energy and organic matter through ecosystems. In most
ecosystems, the amount of energy and matter found in each successive trophic level
decreases in quantity. This observation is related to assimilation efficiencies and the fact that
many organisms have defense mechanisms to reduce the chance of being consumed. A food
web is a model that describes who eats who in an ecosystem.Within an ecosystem nutrients
7
can cycle between the biosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and atmosphere. For each
element, the exact pattern of cycling is quite unique and may involve a number of abiotic
and biotic processes. About 20 to 30 nutrients are required for the metabolic processes in
the various types of life. The most frequently used nutrients are referred to as
macronutrients. Carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and phosphorus are the most common
macronutrients and they ordinarily constitute more than 1% of the dry weight of an
organism. Elements required in very small amounts are called micronutrients. Nutrients can
enter or leave the nutrient store of an ecosystem through a variety of processes. In a stable
ecosystem, losses of nutrients are normally small in amount. Disturbance can increase the
quantity of nutrients removed from an ecosystem substantially. The main processes that add
nutrients to ecosystems are weathering, atmospheric input, and biological fixation. Losses of
nutrients to ecosystems can occur by way of erosion, leaching, gaseous emission, and the
emigration and harvesting of biomass. The magnitude of nutrient loss to ecosystems can
often be greater than inputs. The most active interface of nutrient cycling within an
ecosystem is the uppermost layers of the soil. In the soil layer, numerous types of organisms
are found whose primary function in the ecosystem is to decompose organic matter.
Decomposition breaks down complex organic molecules into much smaller inorganic
molecules and atoms. This inorganic matter can then reenter the ecosystem when absorbed
by plant roots for metabolism and growth. The soil also receives inputs of nutrients through
biological fixation, atmospheric input, and weathering. The carbon cycle models the
movement and storage of carbon in the biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and
atmosphere. Carbon is stored in the biosphere as living organisms; in the atmosphere as
carbon dioxide gas; in the lithosphere as soil organic matter, as fossil fuel deposits, and as
sedimentary rock deposits; and in the oceans as dissolved carbon dioxide gas and as calcium
carbonate shells in marine organisms. Processes the move carbon from one store to another
include photosynthesis, respiration, oceanic diffusion, biomass combustion, fossil fuel
burning, fossil fuel creation, and sedimentary rock formation. Humans have altered the
carbon cycle through fossil fuel burning, deforestation, and land-use change. The net result
of these processes is an increasing concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The
nitrogen cycle is one of the most important nutrient cycles in relation to terrestrial
ecosystems. Most plants are limited in their growth by the availability of nitrogen despite the
fact that the atmosphere is 78% nitrogen gas. Only a few organisms have the ability to use
atmospheric nitrogen. Most organisms prefer nitrogen in the solid nitrate form. Besides the
atmosphere, the other important stores of nitrogen are the soil and the organic molecules of
life. Nitrogen is added to ecosystems in solid form primarily through biochemical fixation by
8
specialized microorganisms like bacteria, actinomycetes, and cyanobacteria. The conversion
of organic nitrogen to inorganic nitrogen within the soil is a complex process that involves a
number of organisms and chemical processes. Humans have also severely altered the nature
of this nutrient cycle by generally making solid forms nitrogen more available.
Section 3
Chapter 3
How Ecosystems Work
3.1
Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Main Topics:
Photosynthesis <-> Cellular Respiration
Transfer of energy in Trophic Levels
Bioaccumulation
Notes:
A.
Energy flows through an ecosystem with the help of Plants and Sunlight. All
chemical energy (food) comes to us from the suns radiation
Plants are the great converter of sunlight to food through the process of
Photosynthesis.
6CO2 + 6H2O + Sunlight--> C6H12O6 + 6O2
Carbon Dioxide + water + sunlight = glucose + oxygen
All plants are therefore called producers. Producers are capable of making their own
food while consumers are not.
Consumers get their energy indirectly from the sun by eating producers (plants) or
other animals that can eat producers.
Consumers are organisms that are unable of
producing their own food. Consumer energy is produced through Cellular Respiration.
C6H12O6 + 6O2 ----> 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy
Glucose + oxygen = carbon dioxide + heat energy
Exception: A deep sea bacteria which has developed an adaptation that has evolved and
provides food for deep sea consumers like the tube worm. Fig3-3 new text book
3.2 Geochemical Cycles / Cycling of Materials
Notes:
Materials in an ecosystem are used again and again, otherwise everything would
soon be gone. If an organism is to live, grow, and reproduce, it must take in variable
amounts of different nutrients. These six Macronutrients are the major complex organic
9
compounds found in all living organisms.
1.
Carbon
2.
Oxygen
3.
Hydrogen
4.
Nitrogen
5.
Phosphorus
6.
Sulfur
Nutrient Cycles or Biogeochemical Cycles are the means
by which these organic compounds cycle continually through the Earth’s biosphere
connecting past, present and future life. Unfortunately, toxins also can circulate through
these same cycles. The six main cycles driven directly or indirectly by incoming solar energy
are:
1.
Carbon
2.
Oxygen
3.
Nitrogen
4.
Phosphorus
5.
Hydrologic (water)
6.
Sulfur
Cheat sheet
Environmental Science
Section 3.3
Start
Questions
Imagine that a bulldozer clears everything on school grounds, what will happen 5yrs from
now, 10yrs, 20 yrs, 50 yrs, and 200yrs?
Why is it important to preserve patches of the original habitat when clearing land?
Notes:
Succession is a regular pattern of change in an ecosystem over time that may take hundreds
or thousands of years. Sometimes starting from nothing, each new community that arises
makes it more difficult for the previous one to survive.
Primary Succession: Is the first growth of an ecosystem form the beginning. An ecosystem
develops from bedrock.
Secondary Succession is the first growth or return of life that occurs where an organism has
previously existed. After forest fires, volcano eruptions (Mount St. Helens) or clearing for
farm land or development, Pioneers are the first organisms to colonize an area.
10
Rates of Succession are dependant on a number of factors:
1.
Soil content
2.
Seed availability
3.
Climate conditions
Pioneer species are the first species to inhabit an area of succession.
Climax Community is the final stable community that is formed over time and remains
similar if the land is left undisturbed.
People argue that a climax community never exists because ecosystems are always in a
state of change because of one the different disturbances.
Disturbances cause the process of succession:
1.
Human Interference – fires, developments, clear cutting, agricultural use
2.
Natural disease – Dutch elm disease, long horned beetle
3.
Natural disasters – tsunami, hurricanes, drought, floods, lightning, fires
Work:
-
Video, Mount St. Helens section from Green Spirit, trees are the answer
-
video “seed to product to seed”
-
Case study page 68 – 69
Environmental Science
Section 4
Chapter 4
Kinds of Ecosystems
Will be studying : Biomes
Need to know or know how to find the following information about:
-
where particular biomes are located
-
what types of animals and plant species are unique to it
-
what species adaptations allow these organisms to
survive there
-
what environmental issues are affecting this area
How are biomes different from ecosystems?
similarities:
-
each term is defined by both abiotic and biotic factors
-
each is characterized by the types of interactions among
its component life forms
differences:
-
biosphere ( layer of life on earth ) is
divided into biomes
-
biomes are divided into smaller ecosystems
-
therefore biomes consist of separate but similar
11
ecosystems
Definition of a biome:
-
are areas that have distinctive climates and organisms
-
are named according to their plant life
-
plants that grow in an area determine what other
organisms that can live there
-
climate ( temperature, precipitation, humidity, and wind )
is the main determinant in determining type of plant life
-
“limiting factor principle” indicates that too much or too
little of an abiotic factor can limit or prevent the growth
of a population of species.
Areas to be studied in chapter 4:
4.1 Forests
-
-
Forests
-
Grasslands, Desserts, Tundra
-
Fresh water ecosystems
-
Marine ecosystems
Tropical Rain Forests
-
Temperate Rain Forests
-
Temperate Deciduous Forest
-
Taiga
You will need to know of find the following for each:
A)
where it is located?
B)
Type of climate?
C)
Unique plants and animals?
D)
Types of plant adaptations?
E)
Types of animal adaptations?
F)
Environmental threats or issues?
Example of the information that you should be looking for:
Tropical Rain Forests
A)
belt around the earth near the equator
B)
warm 250 cm of rain a year, strong sunlight, little seasonal variance
C)
most biodiverse area on earth because of the stable seasonal variance
examples
-
on same size 1 acre of land here to there, 10 :
100 different species
-
Arum Lilly, Raffesia keithii worlds
12
largest flower, Golden lion marmoset monkey, Scarlet macaws parrot
D)
1.
Thin and poor soil Why? Rapid decay of plants and animals returns
nutrients to the soil but they are picked up just as quickly by the large number of plants
growing year round. Many have developed above ground roots that grow sideways for
support.
2.
plants grow in layers, each layer adapts to a particular amount of sunlight
examples:
extremely tall trees,
large flat leaves of shorter plants to absorb the lesser amounts of sunlight
seedlings are adapted to grow quickly and aggressively when openings
occur
E)
Has the greatest diversity of animals anywhere on earth, most are considered
specialists meaning that each is adapted to exploit a specific resource in a particular way to
avoid competition
Example:
birds called Antwrens eat insects, but each species catches insects found in
a different layer of vegetation
Elaborate methods of catching prey or escaping predators are present ( camouflage )
F)
areas the size of New Brunswick are cleared or destroyed every year, because there
is little seasonal variance and specific adaptations plants and animals it is an extremely
sensitive area.
Plus further investigation options?
Chapter 4 work
Complete the “cheat sheet” for each Biome
Waterway Presentation Note
Climate
1.
Microclimates found in rivers and ecosystems.
-
Location on the river, top compared to estuary
-
Rain cycles for watersheds. Locally there is a thunderstorm belt created
when the cool mountain air leaves the Appalachian Mountain range and
hits the warm air at the upper section of the St. Croix River. Causes mid
summer rains in August.
Creates a bathtub affect for the watershed.
Animal / Plant Adaptations
2.
Animal / Plant Adaptations
-
Extreme temperatures
-
Inter-tidal zones
-
Shelter on estuaries
13
-
Fiddlehead grows only on fresh water tidal plains and requires flooding at
times.
-
Loons are designed mainly for floating and swimming on water, not for
land because of their short legs. Water level dependant for nests
-
Small mouth bass has developed to survive in fresh water rivers with faster
flows than dead water or lakes. They are also water level dependant for
spawning in the shallow banks or waterways
Events and Issues
3.
Water Grading system – test question
A/B/C
Based on three criteria
4.
a.
Dissolved oxygen
b.
Bacteria counts, example: ecoli bacteria
c.
Bug life, sustainability and type
Granite bedrock has high calcium content that neutralizes Acid rain.
Ph levels
are normal in this area despite heavy acid rain.
5.
Green zones are being developed along the river. The first of their kind in
Canada. Habitat Zoning vs Riparian Rights?
6.
Water clarity is based on water absorption and changes dramatically through
out the river system depending on where the stream or spring originates from
and travels through.
-
Dark tea color comes from Tannin and dead wood products, does not
necessarily mean polluted water.
-
Clear, no debris
Section 5
Chapter 5.1
Notes:
Water facts:
-
earth is called the water planet
-
@71% of the earth’s surface is covered with
water
-
the atmosphere contains an estimated
336million cubic meters of water
-
that’s @ 1 trillion gallons per person
-
@80% of your body is water
-
con live for weeks without food and only a few
14
days without water
Key facts about water distribution:
-
97% of water on earth is salt
-
3% is fresh
-
@76% of this fresh water is frozen and stored in
the polar icecaps
-
@23% is stored as ground water
-
@1% is POTABLE – useable freshwater
** Therefor leaving very little as usable **
Main characteristics of water:
1.
2.
Only substance to have three states
a.
Liquid
b.
Solid
c.
Vapor / Gas
Necessary for life on earth
Two types of usable / potable water:
Surface Water
1.
surface water - watersheds
2.
groundwater – wells and aquifers
-
is the fresh water that is above
ground in lakes, ponds, rivers and
streams
-
Watersheds are the entire areas of land that is
drained by a river.
-
Controversies exist around surface water and
who shares it, or should use it.
-
This occurs between provinces, states and even
countries
-
Dams built to control flow, produce electricity
and create water reservoirs add to the
problems.
-
Dams themselves poise Hugh environmental
concerns with migratory fish and destruction of
15
ecosystems
Groundwater
-
is the water that seeps down
through the soil and is stored
underground
-
aquifers are the underground rock formations
where large amounts of water can be stored
-
the area of land from which the groundwater
originates is called a recharge zone
-
aquifer water shortages occur when people use
or pump out more water than can be replaced
naturally
Solutions to Water Shortages
1.
Desalting the sea
2.
Towing water
3.
Water conservation
5.2 Freshwater Pollution
Kinds of Pollutions:
1.
Pathogens
2.
Organic Matter
3.
Organic Chemicals
4.
Inorganic Chemicals
5.
Toxic Chemicals
6.
Physical Agents
7.
Radioactive Waste
Sources of Pollution:
1.
Point Pollution – pollution that is discharged from a single source such as a
factory. Easily regulated through emission control or use control. Policies
regulate what goes into or out of a factory or industry.
2.
Non Point Pollution – pollution that comes from many sources rather than from
a single specific site. Non point pollution reaches bodies of water via streets
and storm sewers.
Examples of Point Pollution
1.
Millions of septic tank systems
2.
Thousands of storage lagoons for polluted waste
16
3.
Thousands of municipal landfills
4.
Underground gas and oil storage
5.
Public and private waste water treatment facilities
Examples of Non Point Pollution
1.
Highway construction
2.
Storm Water runoff
3.
Pesticides from crop lands and lawns
4.
Fertilizers from cropland and lawns
5.
Salt on high ways
6.
Oil and other petroleum lubricants from vehicles
Effects of Water Pollution
1.Immediate Damage; Oil spills and Bioaccumulation,
NB Department of Natural Resources 2006
Mercury Contamination of Freshwater Fish
Eating fish caught in New Brunswick's lakes or rivers could increase the level of mercury in
your body. The following guidelines apply to the consumption of brook trout, lake trout,
landlocked salmon, smallmouth bass, perch, fresh water cusk, pickerel, striped bass and
catfish, but exclude Atlantic salmon:
1. Women of child-bearing age and children under eight years of age should limit
consumption of brook trout measuring less than 29 centimetres (12 inches) to one meal
per month. Avoid consumption of all other species, including brook trout measuring 29
centimetres or more. Pregnant women should avoid consumption of all freshwater fish
noted in this advisory.
2. For children eight years of age and older, male adults and women past childbearing age,
there is no restriction on consuming brook trout under 29 centimetres. Consumption of
brook trout measuring 29 centimetres and more should be limited to one meal per week.
Consumption of all other New Brunswick freshwater fish listed above should be limited to
one meal every two weeks.
An occasional meal which exceeds the guidelines should have no adverse health effects.
This advisory applies only to wild fish caught in the province's lakes and rivers. Fish from
commercial trout ponds and aquaculture operations are considered safe to eat.
For information on freshwaer species: Public Health Services - Health and Wellness,
(506) 453-2323.
For information on commerciel fish: Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
2.Eutrophication
17
3.Thermal Pollution
Methods of cleaning up water pollution:
1.
Water quality legislation
2.
Toxic chemicals are now removed from waste water
3.
Industrial wastes are treated before disposal
4.
Agricultural wastes are collected in lagoon where pollutions are allowed to
decompose before water is released
Issues
1.
Point Pollution is relatively under control and regulated for industry. Public
waste and sewer treat facilities are the main problems to be fixed and the
general public does not want to raise taxes or pay directly for improved water
treatment facilities. There are other priorities.
2.
Debate:
a.
Water scarcity in parts of the world. Will water become a market
commodity worth money?
5.3 Ocean Pollution
Where does Ocean Pollution come from?
1.85% comes from land
2.
3.
4.
a.
Run off from rivers
b.
Waste water treatment
c.
Storm water run off
d.
Garbage
Pollution is dumped directly from ships
a.
Waste water
b.
Bilge water
c.
Oil and gas leaks
d.
Garbage over board
Accidental oil spills and wrecks
a.
1989 Exxon Valdez
b.
Irving Whale
Illegal dumping, who enforces or catches people
How is Ocean pollution prevented?
1.
Laws, Regulations and Policies
a.
MARPOL - International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From
18
Ships
b.
1974 Helsinki Convention prohibits dumping of toxic chemicals, controls
runoff and discharge of raw sewage.
c.
US Marine Protection Act
Final Issues to be considered for Chapter 5
1.
Who owns the ocean
2.
Who enforces and regulates the oceans
3.
Riparian Rights and Habitat zoning for fresh and salt water
4.
How should Oceans be cleaned up
Vocabulary terms P 143, Section Reviews and Chapter Review should be completed.
Section 6
6.1 notes
Major air pollutants
Carbon Monoxide CO
1.
odorless colorless, poisonous gas, produced by incomplete burning of fossil
fuels
2.
Cars, trucks buses, small engines and some industrial processes are the
major sources.
3.
CO interferes with the blood’s ability to carry O2, slowing reflexes and
causing drowsiness. In high concentrations Co can cause death.
Headaches and stress on the heart can result from exposure to cars stuck
in heavy traffic. If inhaled by a pregnant woman, CO may hamper the
growth and development of the fetus.
Nitrogen oxides NOx
1.
When combustion (burning) temperatures exceed 538oC (1000oF) nitrogen
and Oxygen particles in the air combine to form nitrogen oxides
2.
NOx comes from burning fuels in vehicles, power plants and industrial
boilers.
3.
Can make be body vulnerable to respiratory illness, infections, lung
disease, and possible cancer. NOx contribute to the brownish haze often
seen over congested areas and to acid rain. NOx can cause metal
corrosion and the fading and deterioration of fabrics.
Sulfur dioxide SO2
1.
is produced by interactions between sulfur and O2
2.
Comes largely from burning fossil fuels. Released from petroleum refineries,
19
smelters, paper mills, chemical plants and coal burning power plants.
3.
Contributes to acid rain, which damages lakes, forests, metals, and stone.
Some of the secondary pollutants that result from reactions with SO2 can harm
plant life and irritate the respiratory system of animals and humans.
Volatile organic compounds VOCs
1.
Are organic chemicals that vaporize readily (Easily) and produce toxic fumes.
Gasoline, benzene, toluene, and xylene.
2.
Come from burning fuels and from solvents, paints and glues.
3.
Contribute to smog formation, and can cause serious health problems such as
cancer. May also harm plants.
Particulates
1.
consist of smoke, ash, soot, dust lead and other particles from burning fuels
2.
Come from industrial processes and motor vehicles that burn fossil fuel, burning
wood, and dust from construction and agriculture.
3.
Can form dust clouds that reduce visibility and cause a variety of respiratory
problems. Particulates have also been linked to cancer. They also corrode
metals, erode buildings and sculptures and soil fabrics.
Clean Air Acts – attempts to reduce air pollution
-
Kyoto Accord – specific goals set to reach safe environmental targets for
global emissions.
-
Pacific - Asia Agreement – small number of economic and energy power
countries, trading green energy technologies in attempts to reduce
emissions and energy use.
-
Carbon Tax / Green Tax – an attempt to apply “total cost” of environmental
destruction to everyday products
Actual example of attempts to reduce emissions
-
Removal of lead from gasoline
-
Catalytic Converters on vehicles
-
Scrubbers in coal fired plants
-
Reduction of Sulfur emission from gas
Thermal Inversion – warm air traps smog next to the surface of the earth and increases the
levels of dangerous air pollutants.
Chapter 6.2
Effects on Human Health
20
Chronic Bronchitis
Asthma
COPD - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Emphysema
Lung Cancer
Indoor Air Pollution
1.
Mold
2.
House hold products
3.
Pesticides
4.
Radon Gas
5.
Carbon Monoxide
6.
Asbestos
7.
Formaldehyde
8.
Lead
Is Air Quality a Problem in My Home?
The subject of indoor air pollution or "sick building syndrome" has received a great deal of
attention in recent years. Although most of the concern originally focused on the workplace,
more people are looking for answers to health and comfort problems occurring in their
homes. The American Industrial Hygiene Association has produced this pamphlet to help
homeowners, landlords, and tenants of single-family dwellings recognize and respond to
indoor air quality problems. Much of the information presented here applies to apartment
buildings as well, but often, only the apartment building owner or manager can remedy the
problem. You can prevent or resolve many problems with common sense and a little
knowledge of potential air pollutant sources and building systems. This short bulletin cannot
address all of the potential problems in the indoor environment. You should also be aware
that indoor air quality problems may be due to more than one cause and the health problems
may not necessarily be caused by the indoor environment. For these reasons, industrial
hygienists and other environmental health scientists will continue to research these complex
issues.
What Is Indoor Air Quality?
It is sometimes easier to recognize "poor" indoor air quality than it is to define "good" indoor
air quality (IAQ). A few examples that may suggest poor indoor air quality include:
21

Stale ("stuffy") air

Lingering disagreeable odors

Air that causes eye, nose or throat irritation

Mold or mildew problems

Relative humidity levels below 30% or over 60%

Tobacco smoke

Excessive dust or allergens, such as animal dander

Good indoor air quality should not cause discomfort or health problems. You can be
affected by many factors in the indoor environment to varying degrees. Your health
and comfort can also be affected by factors other than air contaminants, such as
food, drinking water, poorly designed chairs, air temperature, humidity, and
lighting.
Other potential problems are not as obvious as those listed above and can only be
detected with scientific testing equipment. These include:

Naturally-occurring radon gas

Combustion gases or smoke containing carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and
other contaminants from indoor appliances and vehicles

Pesticides (insecticides, herbicides, fungicides)

Asbestos from deteriorated insulation

Lead and other heavy metal dust
Can Poor Indoor Air Quality Cause Serious Health Problems? Most indoor air quality problems
cause discomfort but do not result in health problems. Not everyone reacts the same to IAQ
problems. Some people who experience symptoms find that they feel much better soon after
leaving the area. Below are some examples of problems that you should be aware of,
because they can result in serious illness or death. Carbon monoxide - Carbon monoxide can
build up to hazardous or fatal levels in homes where insufficient outside air is provided to
appliances that burn natural gas, propane, fuel oil, or wood. This may include furnaces,
space heaters, fireplaces, stoves, water heaters, and clothing dryers. An adequate quantity
of outside air should be provided to the furnace area to make up for the air that goes up the
exhaust flue. Otherwise, combustion gases containing high amounts of carbon monoxide can
"back-draft" down the flue. Combustion appliances should be inspected and cleaned
periodically for proper combustion and venting. This is an instance of indoor air problems
22
that can be created by "over tightening" a building for energy saving. Some outside air must
be let into your home to replace exhausted air. Radon gas - Inhalation of radon gas over
many years increases the risk of developing lung cancer. Certain soils and rocks give off
radon gas. It enters the home through cracks in the foundation, porous concrete blocks,
sump openings, unfinished basement floors, and, in some areas, untreated well water. The
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that you test your home
to see if radon reduction methods are needed. If a radon reduction device is needed, it
should be installed so that it will not cause back-drafting of your furnace or other appliances.
Environmental Tobacco Smoke - Cigarette smoke, which contains carbon monoxide,
formaldehyde and thousands of other chemicals, can pose a serious problem in the home
environment. Recent studies have shown that exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke may
result in inner ear infections, asthma, and lung cancer in non-smokers. The EPA has listed
environmental tobacco smoke as a confirmed cancer-causing agent. Parents can greatly
improve indoor air quality and reduce discomfort and health risks by preventing indoor
smoking.
What You Can Do To Control Indoor Air Pollutants
A quick and cost-effective way to improve the quality of your air is by reducing your use of
chemical materials indoors. Some basic rules for maintaining good indoor air quality are:

Find out what chemicals you have and reduce unnecessary use of chemicals

Do not bring home chemicals designed for use in the workplace

Open your windows and/or use fans when using products that give off vapors

Use household chemicals outside, if possible

Do not remove paint or varnish indoors with strong solvents or heat guns without
adequate ventilation

Never sand or use a heat gun on lead-based paint indoors

Do not disturb or remove asbestos-containing materials yourself; hire a contractor
licensed for asbestos work

Store toxic chemicals away from occupied areas

Use non-chemical methods of pest control whenever possible.

Properly dispose of any chemicals you do not need
Chemicals in the Home
Inventory all the commercial chemical products or chemically-treated items in your home.
23
You may be surprised to know how many common products contain toxic or irritating
chemicals that can affect indoor air. For example, freshly dry-cleaned clothing may give off
solvent vapors. Air out your freshly dry-cleaned clothes in an unoccupied room. Petroleum
solvent-based paints release solvent vapors during use and during brush cleaning. Use
water-based paints whenever possible, but make sure they do not contain mercury. Paint
stripping chemicals can contain methylene chloride, which is a suspected cancer-causing
agent. Never store gasoline in the home. It is highly flammable and may release benzene
(which may cause cancer) and other hydrocarbon vapors. Never use gasoline as a cleaning
solvent! Pesticides should only be used when absolutely necessary. Even moth balls give off
potentially hazardous substances in small amounts. Pesticides should be stored in the garage
or away from inhabited areas. Hire a licensed pesticide applicator if you have a major pest
problem. Check the pest control company's references, ask to see Material Safety Data
Sheets for the products it uses and review the company's procedures to ensure that they
address your concerns. Be careful when disposing of unneeded chemicals. Many localities
have household hazardous material disposal sites to drop off old paints, solvents, pesticides,
and other chemicals.
How Can Building Materials and Furnishings Affect Indoor Air?
A number of materials used in constructing, furnishing, and insulating a home contribute
small, but sometimes noticeable amounts of dusts or irritating vapors.
Formaldehyde
Plywood, particle-board, and other pressed wood products are often held together with
formaldehyde-based resins. Formaldehyde can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, and
several federal agencies list it as a cancer-causing agent. Some people can become
sensitized to formaldehyde and experience severe skin or respiratory symptoms. Federal
standards require formaldehyde emission testing and labeling. Look for this labeling when
you buy wood products.
Insulation
Insulation materials can affect indoor air quality. Urea-Formaldehyde Foam Insulation (UFFI)
was used in the walls of many homes in the 1970s. UFFI is very rarely used today. This type
of insulation resulted in significant levels of formaldehyde in some homes. Formaldehyde
vapors from this source decrease with time, but sensitized people may react to low levels or
decomposed UFFI dust. Exposed fiberglass insulation inside air ducts can release irritating
24
fibers if it breaks down with age or water damage. Try to find fiberglass insulation with a
plastic outer lining. Any kind of insulation can be a problem if it gets wet, since it can harbor
molds and mildew.
Carpet Furnishings
Old carpets and some fabrics can harbor molds, dust mites (microscopic insects that may
cause allergic reactions), allergenic animal hairs or dusts, and lead-containing dust. Because
the air filters on most household vacuum cleaners are not very efficient, microscopic
allergens can get into the air. If you have a respiratory illness or severe allergies you should
consider installing a central vacuum system that discharges the filtered air outside the
building; or try using a portable vacuum cleaner equipped with high efficiency particulate air
(HEPA) filters. New carpets, carpet backings and adhesives may release volatile organic
compounds and other irritating vapors. Here are a few simple suggestions for preserving
good indoor air quality:

Contact the manufacturer and ask for any available health testing information

Have the dealer unroll and air out the carpet before installation

Try using nails instead of adhesives, if possible

Provide plenty of fresh air to the space during installation and for a few days after
installation
What About Mold and Mildew?
Many people are allergic to molds, mildew, and other fungal spores. Some molds cause
disease or release toxic substances. Molds and mildew may be in areas of your home with
high humidity such as areas with improper drainage, porous foundation materials and
improperly maintained humidifiers, dehumidifiers, or air conditioners. A single flooding event
can create a mold or mildew problem. To avoid these problems, do not allow water to form
pools or wet spots inside or immediately outside your home. Thoroughly clean and disinfect
or remove surfaces where molds have grown in the past. Humidifiers with a water reservoir
can cause mold or bacterial contamination of indoor air, and should be cleaned thoroughly at
least once a week. Empty and clean the water collection pans of refrigerators, dehumidifiers,
and air conditioners frequently. Testing for airborne fungi is generally not necessary and is
expensive. It is generally more cost-effective to remove all visible mold growth and disinfect
or dispose of the material. Reduce the moisture that leads to mold growth by sealing and
25
patching walls and floors either at the source and/or by using a dehumidifier. If your home
suffers flood damage, clean and disinfect water-damaged furnishings and construction
materials as soon as possible. Porous surfaces, such as carpets or fabrics, may not be as
easy to clean as smooth or painted surfaces, such as linoleum. Discard anything you cannot
clean and dry, since even dry spores can continue to cause allergies. Contact the IAQ
Clearinghouse for EPA flood clean-up guidelines. What if You Cannot Control the Source?
Ventilation and air-cleaning devices can reduce exposure to air pollutants that cannot be
eliminated by source control:
To reduce carbon monoxide build-up and improve efficiency, provide outside air to the
furnace
For new construction, consider air-to-air heat exchangers to save energy while bringing in
more outside air

Use exhaust fans to vent kitchen and bathroom pollutants to the outside

Use higher efficiency furnace air filters and change filters frequently

Consult EPA publications and choose air-cleaning devices carefully

A wide variety of "air cleaners" are now on the market. Before investing in such a
device, carefully evaluate the manufacturer's claims and the limitations of the
device. Many air cleaners work well controlling dust particles but do not control
odors or vapors. Pay particular attention to the frequency and cost of replacement
filters and ease of cleaning. A poorly-maintained air cleaner can frequently make
the air quality worse rather than better.
Testing Your Indoor Air Quality
No single air testing method is available to figure out the total quality of your home air. Air
testing is often not worthwhile unless you know exactly what to test for. Discomfort or
unusual odors are the best judge of indoor air quality in homes. Some pollutants, such as
radon and carbon monoxide, are odorless, colorless, and tasteless and can only be evaluated
by testing. Carbon monoxide and radon test kits may be available through your local
American Lung Association or your local hardware store. If you have concerns about
combustion product back-drafting, some contractors can help you test whether back-drafting
is likely in your home. Carbon monoxide detecting alarms are also available for continuous
testing. Other air monitoring devices are available for formaldehyde and specific organic
26
compounds. Use of some sampling devices requires scientific training and analysis by a
qualified laboratory. Your local or state department of health can refer you to local sources
for sampling device purchase and analysis. After you have exhausted all other avenues
without success, contact a reputable contractor or a professional industrial hygiene
consultant. Make sure to check references and indoor air quality experience.
Beware of Scams
The field of indoor air quality investigation and remediation is relatively new. As a result,
many opportunists have emerged to profit from your lack of knowledge and your desire for a
healthy environment. An example is the ozone generator, which some companies promote as
a "cure" for indoor formaldehyde and odors. Although the manufacturers claim that the units
neutralize odors and chemical pollutants, they may produce ozone at levels above what is
considered safe
6.3Acid Precipitation
Acid rain is caused mainly by sulfur and nitrogen emissions from the burning of
fossil fuels such as coal and oil in power plants, industrial boilers and car engines.
They combine with water vapor, sunlight and oxygen in the atmosphere to create a
diluted ‘acid soup’ which is washed out of the atmosphere by rain, snow crystals or
as dry particles, polluting the air and causing untold damage to trees and buildings.
*Acid precipitation is the highly acidic, pH 5 and below, (rain sleet or snow) that results from
the burning of fossil fuels.
US election
*Acid rain falls on lakes and other water systems changing the pH of the water making it
difficult for certain organisms to survive
*Acid shock is caused by the spring melt and increased runoff. Acid levels are often higher
in the spring.
*Problems with control:
-
International Boundaries
-
Actual methods and practices to implement?
-
Effectiveness of these implementations
*Solutions and Issues:
-
Reduce emissions, coal, sulfur, mercury
-
New cleaner technologies
27
Lime acidic lakes and rivers
Section 7
7.3
Greenhouse Gas and the Earth’s Temperature
CO2 is one of the most abundant greenhouse gases. If the amounts of CO2 we continue to
put into the atmosphere keep increasing, scientists believe that temperatures will also
increase. The predicted increase in temperature is 2oC – 4oC by 2050. This increase is
called Global Warming. Consider that it is estimated that a decrease in only 4oC caused the
last ice age?
Effects of a warmer Earth
oceans absorbing more heat causing more hurricanes and typhoons
1.
more rain, flooding in some areas and droughts in others.
2.
good farming weather found more northerly while the mid west will dry up.
3.
ice bergs breaking off and melting will raise sea levels.
The facts that support Global Warming
UN report that supports the fact that humans are a direct cause of the increased levels of
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
1.
monitored detection of increasing greenhouse gas levels.
2.
residing glaciers
3.
raising ocean levels
4.
raising global temperatures
These are all monitored and documented!
What can be done to help prevent this?
burn less fossil fuels
-
plant more trees
-
Carbon Sinks
-
Other suggestions??
7.4 The Ozone Shield O3
Ozone acts like a sun screen by filtering out harmful UV radiation before it reaches earth.
CFC’s (chlorofluorocarbons) are stable human made chemicals that were used in the 70’s as
coolants in refrigerators and air conditioners, the fizz in foams and as a propellant in spray
cans.
When CFC’s are released and rise into the atmosphere they are unstable and break apart
destroying O3 in the process. One CFC molecule can destroy 100 000 O3 molecules.
28
The Ozone hole was first reported in 1985 in Antarctica. Then it formed in the winter and
closed in the summer. WHY? This winter hole has been documented to be increasing
gradually through 1979 – 1990. O3 in the arctic is decreasing but has no hole as of yet.
O3 produced by pollution and lighting is too reactive to reach the ozone layer without
breaking up, therefore repairing the hole is very difficult.
Effects of O3 Depletion:1.more UV light reaches earth’s surface
1.
more cases of skin cancer
2.
death of single celled ocean organisms (phytoplankton)
3.
decreases fish stocks
4.
weaker immune systems
5.
increased numbers of cataracts in eyes
6.
less photosynthesis means increased CO2
Prevention:
1.
eliminate CFC’s from industry
2.
fund developing countries to help them switch from CFC’s
3.
ban other O3 “eaters”
4.
substitute plastic foams
5.
don’t leak CFC’s
6.
recycle CFC’s
Biodiversity
29