topic 3.0 – monitoring the environment

Topic 3.0 – Monitoring the Environment

I. Monitoring Water Quality

A. Using Biological Indicatorso The use of live organisms (bacteria and

invertebrates) to determine health of water

o Invertebrates respond quickly to oxygen levels, water temp and pH.

Stone fly (GOOD) Midge fly larvae (BAD)

Poor water quality sample

I. Monitoring Water Quality

A. Using Biological IndicatorsPoor quality water signs:

◦Bacteria present◦Low variety of species◦Midgefly larvae and worms present

I. Monitoring Water Quality

B. Concentration of Chemicals in WaterConcentrations of chemicals/minerals in

water are measured using parts per million (ppm)

ppm = mass (mg) volume (L)

*If sodium is 25 ppm, then there are 25 sodium particles in a million water particles

◦The higher the concentration (ppm) the more toxic the water is.

Ex. If 2.4 mg of potassium is found in 550mL bottle of water, how many ppm’s are present?

Halloween Face paint article

The lead found ranged from 0.054 parts per million to 0.65 parts per million.

Four of 10 products had nickel, ranging from 2.1 to 5.9 parts per million; two of 10 had cobalt, with levels from 4.8 to 5.5 parts per million.

Five of 10 had chromium, ranging from 1.6 to 120 parts per million.

According to the report, levels of each should not exceed 1 part per million for consumer products.

I. Monitoring Water Quality

C. Dissolved OxygenThe higher the dissolved oxygen, the

more species that are able to survive in the water

Low O2 levels are caused by:◦Higher temperatures◦Little wind◦Lots of photosynthesis (lots of algae present)◦Too many organisms in the water◦Too much phosphorus and nitrogen

I. Monitoring Water Quality

C. Dissolved OxygenThe presence of only midge larvae and

worms indicates a low oxygen lake

I. Monitoring Water Quality

N and P from sewage outfalls and run-off from fertilized fields enter water

Lots of nutrients causes algae and plants to grow (use O2)

More plants = more dead matter

Bacteria increase to decompose dead plants (use O2)

Little O2 causes fish and insects to die

D. Phosphorus and Nitrogen Levels

Mississippi Delta Satellite Image from NASA

I. Monitoring Water Quality

D. Phosphorus and Nitrogen LevelsSummary:

◦Higher P and N levels are from fertilizers◦Higher levels cause lower oxygen levels and

decreased variety of organisms

I. Monitoring Water Quality

E. Acidityo Too low of a pH (caused by acid rain or

spring acid shock) reduce the number of organisms in a lake

Spring acid shock – when acid precipitation (snow) melts into lakes and streams it lowers the pH

pH LEVEL EFFECTS

<6 *Basic forms of food die off. Eg. Mayflies and stoneflies are important food sources for fish. They can't survive at this pH level.

<5.5 *Fish cannot reproduce. *Young have difficulty staying alive. *More deformed adult fish due to lack of nutrients. *Fish die of suffocation.

<5.0 *Fish population die off.

<4.0 *Very different lifeforms, if any, from before.

Summary of the effect of the pH level of the lake on its lifeforms.

I. Monitoring Water Quality

F. ToxinsToxins – substances that produce

death/health problems in an organism

Ex. DDT – a pesticide used which is persistent (toxins that accumulate in the environment)>eggs shells of osprey and eagles were thinned causing a drop in their population numbers

Clutch of mallard eggs damaged by DDT

I. Monitoring Water Quality

F. Toxicity We measure toxicity by LD50 (lethal dose of

50%). > This number is the mass of toxins

needed to kill 50% of the population

Ex. Which is more toxic? 50 mg/kg or 30 mg/kg

I. Monitoring Water Quality

F. ToxicityHeavy metals – metal elements that have

a high density◦Ex. Mercury, cadmium, lead, copper, nickel◦These metals are toxic for living organisms and

their concentration must be monitored closely◦Effects of heavy metals: nerve damage, brain

damage, death◦Acidic or basic water can help dissolve these

metals so they enter water sources◦These metals deposit in fat layers of humans

and animals

Nervous system damage (mercury poisoning)

Mad Hatter’s Disease

“Mad hatter disease is a disease of the nervous system caused by mercury poisoning.

The name refers to the effects of chronic mercury exposure on hatters who had to work with mercury-treated fur and felt.

It was an occurrence in the 1800s. Mercury was once used in the making of hats.

This is known to affect the nervous systems of the hatter, causing them to shake and seem insane.

Mercury exposure can cause aggressiveness, irrational behavior and mood swings.

I. Monitoring Water Quality

F. ToxinsBiomagnification – where the concentration

of toxins increase as you go up a food chain

Why????

o Good water conditions:o pH around 5.5-7.0o Plenty of dissolved oxygeno Numerous specieso Low concentration of toxinso Low-moderate levels of P and No Low levels of bacteria

II. Monitoring Air Quality

Air is monitored for the concentration of particles and gases within the air

Air Quality for Ontario November 16, 2009, 10:00 AM

Station Name AQI Cause

Toronto Downtown

12 Ozone (O3)

Toronto East 10 Ozone (O3) Toronto North 14 Ozone (O3) Toronto West 10 Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

Air Quality Index (AQI) Categories AQI0-15 Very Good16-31 Good32-49 Moderate50-99 Poor100+ Very PoorAir Quality in Alberta

II. Monitoring Air Quality

Common Air PollutantsA. Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)Forms smog and acid

precipitationSource: combustion of coal,

oil and natural gasReduction: Use of

scrubbers (containing lime) in industrial plants

II. Monitoring Air Quality

B. Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)Forms smog and acid precipitationSource: Vehicle emissions Reduction: Catalytic converters

Smog over LA

II. Monitoring Air Quality

C. Carbon Dioxide (CO2)Source: Combustion of

coal, gas, treesEffects: Greenhouse

gas/ acid rain

II. Monitoring Air Quality

D. Ozone (O3)High level ozone is required in the

atmosphere to reduce harmful UV rays that come to earth

Ground level ozone is harmful – causes breathing difficulty

Source: Vehicle emissions

III. Monitoring the Atmosphere

Two main concerns regarding our atmosphere:◦Effects of carbon dioxide◦Maintenance of ozone layer

III. Monitoring the Atmosphere

A. Greenhouse EffectWhen gases in atmosphere trap heat from

the Sun (like a greenhouse)GOOD: Keeps temperatures at levels we

can live at (without we would die!)- would be extremely cold without the greenhouse effect

Greenhouse gases: CO2, H20, methane, NOx

III. Monitoring the Atmosphere

B. Enhanced Greenhouse EffectWhen humans emit more greenhouse

gases than necessary which traps too much heat (BAD)

Sources: Fossil fuel combustion releases greenhouse gases

Causes the OVERALL increase in temperature on Earth

III. Monitoring the Atmosphere

C. Global WarmingThe increase in worldwide temperatures

caused by enhanced greenhouse effectHow do we stop or curb this?

◦Reduce CO2 emissions◦Maintain carbon sinks (trees, oceans)

III. Monitoring the Atmosphere

D. Climate ChangeThe trend of a change in climate over AT

LEAST 30 years!NOT a year to year thing – long term

trend!!!!!Potentially caused by global warming

II. Monitoring the Atmosphere

E. CFC’s (chlorofluorocarbons)Were used in aerosol cans, coolants and to

make StyrofoamCauses reduction in the high level ozone,Ozone prevents harmful UV rays to reach

earthLess O3 causes increase in skin cancer

levels

Ozone hole over Antarctica

Air Pollutants Review

Greenhouse Gases Acid Rain Components

Carbon dioxide CO2 Carbon dioxide CO2

Nitrous oxide NOx Nitrous oxide NOxH20 Sulphur dioxide SO2

Methane CH4