5.1 Nature of Pollution

Sub-subtopics

5.1.1 Define the term pollution.5.1.2 Distinguish between the terms point source pollution and non-point source pollution, and outline the challenges they present for management.5.1.3 State the major sources of pollutants.

5.1.1 Pollution

●“the addition to the biosphere of a substance or an agent (such as heat) by human activity, at a rate greater than that at which it can be rendered harmless by the environment.” – Rutherford, pg. 276

3.1.1 Examples of Pollution●Gases●CO2?●Ozone (O3)?●Liquids●Solids●Noise●Light●Heat

5.1.2 Point Source PollutionPollution from an easily

recognizable, single siteChernobyl (26 April, 1986)Bhopal, India (2-3 December, 1984)

Tailpipe of a car (multiple point sources can act as a non-point source)Easy to manage/regulate

Identifiable source (factory chimney, waste disposal pipe, oil tanker, etc.)

Identifiable culprit (factory, house, drilling platform, etc.)

5.1.2 Non-point Source Pollution

Pollution released from numerous, widely dispersed sites

Chemical fertilizersNeighborhoods/citiesRunoff

Difficult to manage/regulateWho is the culprit?

More widespread laws difficult to enforce

Air pollution spreads hundreds of kilometers

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Sources and Effects

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5.1.3 Major Pollutants(from Rutherford, table 15.1, pg 277)

MAJOR SOURCE POLLUTANT EFFECTS

Combustion of fossil fuels

●Carbon dioxide CO2

●Sulfur dioxide SO2

●Nitrogen oxides NOX

●Photochemical smog●Carbon monoxide CO

●Greenhouse gas; climate change●Acid deposition; respiratory problems●Respiratory infections, eye irritation, smog●Damages plants, eye irritation, respiratory problems●Suffocation (binds w/ hemoglobin in red blood cell)

Domestic waste

●Organic waste (food & sewage)●Waste paper●Plastics (containers & packaging)●Glass●Tins

●Eutrophication; water-borne diseases●Landfill; deforestation●Landfill; derived from oil●Manufacturing energy; landfill (recyclable)●Landfill (recyclable)

Industrial waste

●Heavy metals (Hg, Pb, Cd, etc.)●Fluorides●Heat●Lead●Acids

●Poisoning●Poisoning●Reduces oxygen solubility (BOD)●Disabilities in children; poisoning●Corrosive

Agricultural waste

●Nitrates●Organic waste●Pesticides

●Eutrophication●Eutrophication; spread diseases●Biomagnification; bioaccumulation

5.1.3 AIR Pollutants – EU

Korea & the U.S.

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5.1.3 Major Pollutants – AIR

INDOOR

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5.1.3 Major Pollutants - WATER

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5.1.3 Major Pollutants - LAND

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