Monitoring PollutionLO: What methods do we use to monitor pollution?

Why are these people wearing masks?

KEYWORDS

Monitor PollutionLichen

Indicators

Learning Outcomes

All Identify a variety of living and non-living indicators of pollution

MostDescribe how the environment influences which living indicators are present

SomeAnalyse data and deduce how pollution has changed over time with reference to indicators

Specification DetailsLiving and non-living indicators can be used as a

measure of the level of pollution in an ecosystem:a. lichens are sensitive to sulfur dioxideb. algae and freshwater shrimps as indicators of

water pollutionc. dissolved oxygen and nitrate concentration in

water as non-living indicatorsof water pollutiond. limestone buildings can be eroded by acid

rain.

Air Monitoring StationsAir quality monitoring station. Various instruments are being used here to measure the amount of pollutants in the air, along with other standard data .

Which pollutants might they measure?

Monitoring Air Quality

Monitoring levels of air pollution

BuildingsWhat about this building indicates some level of pollution?

What kind of pollution do you think caused this?

pH meterA pH meter is an electronic instrument measuring the acidity or alkalinity of water, soil etc.

Gathering Rainwater/Soila soil test is the

analysis of a soilsample to determine nutrient content, composition and other characteristics, including contaminants.

How do we know it’s polluted? Ecologists use pollution indicators -

Organisms that are sensitive to the effects of pollution. If they are present, the environment is healthy.

Some organisms point to an unhealthy environment (one that is polluted)

Pollution indicator - clean

Mayfly larvae Caddis fly larvae Stonefly larvae

Pollution indicators – some pollution

Water lice Shrimp

Pollution indicators - Polluted

Bloodworm Sludge worm

Is it polluted?Clean Mayfly Larvae

Stonefly LarvaeCaddis fly

Some Pollution

ShrimpsWater Lice

Polluted Blood wormsSludge Worms

Which organisms would you expected to find in a lake which has had sewage pouring into it? Explain why.

Which organisms would you expect to find in a mountain stream, surrounded by forests? Explain why.

LichensLichens absorb water and

minerals from rainwater and directly from the atmosphere. This makes them extremely sensitive to atmospheric pollution. So there are usually very few lichens around industrial centres and towns.

Different lichen species vary in their tolerance to pollution and therefore make very good biological indicators of levels of atmospheric pollution.

Lichens are sensitive to sulphur dioxide.The cleaner the air the more lichens will grow.

Will there be more lichen in the countryside or in the town? Why?

Plants The impact of air pollution

can be seen when people garden in areas that have high levels of pollution.

some species are more sensitive to foul air than others.

You can see some of the

impact of air pollution on gardening when you look at damaged plants

E.g. discolored leaves and speckled leaves that often look like they are burned or have been bleached