All Flashcards
How can reducing waste at the source promote sustainability?
It minimizes resource consumption, energy use, and pollution associated with waste disposal.
How can recycling promote sustainability?
It conserves resources, reduces energy consumption, and minimizes the need for landfills.
How can reusing items promote sustainability?
It reduces waste, conserves resources, and minimizes the environmental impact of producing new items.
What are the effects of Eutrophication?
Algal blooms, oxygen depletion, fish kills, and reduced biodiversity.
What are the consequences of oil spills?
Death of marine life, habitat destruction, and economic losses for coastal communities.
What are the environmental problems associated with landfills?
Leachate contamination of groundwater, methane production, and habitat destruction.
What are the effects of thermal pollution on aquatic ecosystems?
Reduced oxygen levels, harm to aquatic organisms, and altered ecosystem dynamics.
What are the human health impacts of pollution?
Respiratory problems, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, neurological disorders, and endocrine disruption.
What are the environmental consequences of mining?
Habitat destruction, soil erosion, water pollution, and air pollution.
Why is waste reduction important?
It minimizes the need for landfills, conserves resources, and reduces pollution.
How do wetlands act as natural filters?
They trap pollutants, excess nutrients, and sediments, improving water quality.
Why are children and the elderly more vulnerable to pollution?
Their immune systems are often less developed (children) or weakened (elderly), making them more susceptible to the harmful effects of pollutants.
What is the significance of LD50 in toxicology?
LD50 helps determine the toxicity of a substance by measuring the dose required to kill 50% of a test population. It aids in setting safe exposure limits.
Explain the difference between point and nonpoint source pollution.
Point source pollution comes from a single, identifiable source, while nonpoint source pollution comes from diffuse sources.
What are the main concerns regarding electronic waste (e-waste)?
E-waste contains toxic materials that require special handling to prevent environmental and health hazards.
Why is it important to understand the difference between bioaccumulation and biomagnification?
Bioaccumulation is the build-up of toxins within a single organism, while biomagnification is the increasing concentration of toxins as you move up the food chain. Understanding the difference helps to predict and mitigate the impact of pollutants on ecosystems.
What is the role of sewage treatment plants?
Sewage treatment plants remove pollutants from wastewater to protect water quality and human health.
Why are oceanic dead zones a major environmental concern?
Dead zones are areas with very low oxygen levels, which cannot support marine life, leading to ecosystem collapse.
Why is it important to consider environmental justice when addressing pollution?
Pollution disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, and environmental justice seeks to ensure fair distribution of environmental benefits and burdens.