Environmental Review

16 cards·by clementinetalmage

Salinization of Soil

in arid, regions, water evaporates leaving salt behind

Ways to conserve water

(agriculture-drip/trickle irrigation), (industry-recycling), (home-use gray water, repair leaks, low flow fixtures)

Point vs. non-point sources

(point: from specific location such as a pipe), (non-point: from over an area such as runoff)

B.O.D.

biological oxygen demand, amount of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic decomposers to breakdown organic materials

Eutrophication

rapid algae growth caused by and excess of N and P, decreases dissolved oxygen

Hypoxia

when aquatic plants die, the BOD rises as aerobic decomposers break down the plants, the DO drops and the water cannot support life

Minamata Disease

mental impairments caused by mercury

Primary air pollutants

produced by humans and nature (CO, CO2, SO2, NO, hydrocarbons, particulates)

Secondary Pollutants

formed by reaction of primary pollutants

Particulate matter (source, effect, reduction)

(burning of fossil fuels and car exhaust), (reduces visibility and respiratory irritation) (filtering, electrostatic precipitators, alter E)

Nitrogen Oxides

Source: auto exhaust, Effect: acidification of lakes, res irritation, smog+ozone, Redduc: catalytic converter, NO+O2=NO2+H20=HNO3

Sulfer Oxides

Source:coal burning, Effects: acid deposition, res irritation, damage plants, Reduc:scrubbers, burn low sulfur fuel, SO2+O2=SO3+H2O=H2SO4

Carbon Oxides

S: auto exhaust, incomplete combustion, E:CO binds 2 hemoglobin - bloods ability to carry O, CO2 cont GW, R: cc, emis test, O fuel, mass T

Ozone

Form: 2nd pollutant, NO2+UV+NO2+O, O+O2=O3, w/ VOC, E: res Ir, plant dam, R: reduce NO emissions + VOC

Industrial Smog

found in cities that burn large amounts of coal, suffer based problem

Photochemical Smog

formed by chemical reactions involving sunlight (NO, VOC, O3)