Unit 8 Vocabulary

a diffuse area that produces pollution.

refuse collected by municipalities from households, small businesses, and institutions

any impaired function of the body with a characteristic set of symptoms

a study that exposes organisms to different amounts of a chemical and then observes a variety of possible responses, including mortality or changes in behavior or reproduction

an experiment that exposes organisms to an environmental hazard for a long duration

A chemical that interferes with the normal functioning of hormones in an animal’s body

An experiment that exposes organisms to an environmental hazard for a short duration.

recycling a product into the same product

Recycling one product into a different product

creation of organic maatter (humus) by decomposition under controlled conditions to produce an organic-rich material tha enhances soil structure, cation exchange capacity, and fertility

liquid that contains elevated levels of pollutants as a result of having passed through municipal solid waste (MSW) or contaminated soil

the amount of oxygen a quantity of water uses over a period of time at specific temperatures

describes a lake with a high level of productivity

the increase in chemical concentration in animal tissues as the chemical moves up the food chain

describes a lake with a low level of productivity

a distinct location from which pollution is directly produced

a dramatic change in water temperature that can kill organisms

liquid, solid, gaseous, or sludge waste material that is harmful to humans or ecosystems

The common name for the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA); a 1980 US federal act that imposes a tax on the chemical and petroleum industries, funds the cleanup of abandoned and non-operating hazardous waste sites, and authorizes the federal government to respond directly to the release or threatened release of substances that may pose a threat to human health or the environment

an approach to waste disposal that employs several waste reduction, management, and disposal strategies in order to reduce the environmental impact of MSW

a species that indicates whether or not disease-causing pathogens are likely to be present

a chemical that interferes with the normal development of embryos or fetuses

an engineered ground facility designed to hold municipal solid waste with as little contamination of the surrounding environment as possible

a systems tool that looks at the materials used and released throughout the lifetime of a product–from their procurement of raw materials through their manufacture, use, and disposal