Topic 4-6 Enviormental Chemistry

Pollutant: Any form of energy or matter that causes harm to a living organism Pollution: Any enviormental changes chnages which produces conditions harmful or living organisms

Parts Per Million: Shows how many units of an element of substance can be found in one million units of a solution.

Percentage: Out of 100 Parts Per Trillion: Out of 1 Trillion Parts Per Million: Out of 1,000,000 Parts Per Billion: Out of 1,000,000,000

Solute (g) / Solution (g) X 10^6 = PPM

Decreasing the concentration of a substance by constantly adding dilutions.

The ability of a chemical to cause harm to an organism

Serious symptoms occur after exposure

Symptoms build up after multiple exposures

Lethal Dose 50: This refers to the dose of a chemical that will kill 50% of the population of which it is applied.

-Bodyweight -How they were exposed/mode of exposure -Genetic susceptibility -Acquired tolerance

When the potential risk of a substance is outwighed by the benefits.

Non - Persistent: Waste that can be broken down. Ex. fertilizers, sewage Persistent: Waste that accumulate in the enviorment because they break down very slowly. Ex. pesticides, heavy metal

Point Source: Pollution from a single idnetifiable source. Non - Point Source: Pollution that orginated form many scattered locations.

-Dissolved oxygen -Acidity -Heavy Metals -Nutrients (nitrogen/phosphorus) -Pesticides -Turbidity

-High levels of dissolved oxygen -Low turbidity -Neutral ph levels (near 7) -Low levels of minerals

The measure of relative clarity in a fluid

Oxygen in water that is essential for aquatic life -Depends On: -Temp -Wind/water turbulence -Amount of photosynthesis -The number of organisms in the water that uses up the oxygen

When nutrient-rich water causes excessive algae growth, it can reduce oxygen levels and lead to the death of aquatic life.

1.Excess nutrients lead to algae and extra plant growth 2.Algae dies → increases decomposing bacteria 3.Bacteria use up (not create) dissolved oxygen 4.Low dissolved oxygen → fish and insects die

Naturallyy occur in rocks and soil, but may also be present due to human activity. Ex.Acid rain Ex. Copper, lead, zince, mercury, nickel, cadmium

Point Source: Swage pipes, agricultural facilities, oil tanks Non-Point Source: Golf courses, fields, roads, personal vehicles

Species whihc abscene or abundance indecate the enviormental conditions of an ecosystem. Ex. Frogs and invertebrates.

Different species have different tolerances to pollutants, so by observing the distribution of species, you cna reveal what is happenig in the enviorment.

Organisms without a backbone that can be seen with the human ey e. THey are often sued to help determine the quality of an aquatic ecosystem