Pollution

How long it takes to degrade

Negative effect on living organisms

relative toxicity with different organisms

how much the pollutant reacts with the environment

pollutant sticks to physical surfaces

water soluble and lipid soluble

effect increases as it is passed down the food chain

where two or more pollutants react and have a different effect

pollutant DNA structure of organisms

Can affect somatic cells Can affect gonadic cells Can cause cancer

Doesn’t mutate DNA but can cause birth defects

how far and fast pollutants travel

how fast it is going to degrade into nothing

temperature light oxygen

volume of water flow of water (speed and direction)

wind velocity and direction

in a valley still conditions cloudless skies

Cold air sinks as trapped by a layer of warm air, and creates condensation resulting in a fog. This increases the albedo of the area and reflects IR radiation which keeps the still cold air, cold

pollutants and prevents dispersal

low sloping plain between the pacific ocean and huge mountain ranges lying to the NE cold air from the coast is trapped by mountains and warm air descends into the basin the lid of the inversion is at 600m high ~ UV intensity meaning high levels of O3

predicting pollutant pathways and judging the severity of a pollutant event

it’s characteristics

It will stay in the same place and is unlikely to be taken up

take pollutant properties into account and focuses on environmental factors