Water Pollution

Water Pollution

Sources and Examples

Water Quality

Health Effects

Sources• Two Types: Point sources and nonpoint sources

– Ex: Point: sewage plants; nonpoint: runoff• Examples of sources:

– Chemicals (metals, solvents, oils)– Air pollution– Microbiological sources– Mining– Noise– Nutrients– Oil spills– Oxygen depleting substances (biodegradable)– Suspended matter– Thermal sources– hormones

Water Quality1. Cultural Eutrophication: the process by which human activity increases the amount of nutrients entering surface water. (nitrogen and phosphorus) nutrients= algae = DEAD ZONES(oligotrophic = low nutrients Eutrophic= high nutrients)2. Tests to monitor water quality:• Nitrogen (Fertilizers)• Chlorine (disinfects)• Hardness (usually caused by calcium and magnesium)• Copper (fertilizers, septic tanks and industrial waste)• DO (dissolved oxygen) flowing = increase (closer to surface)• Phosphate: fertilizers• pH: needs to be close to 73. EPA Standards• Primary: health concerns• Secondary: aesthetics

We will be testing water on Friday. If you have water you want to test. Bring it and we will test it

• Awesome Video

Effects• Infectious diseases

– Chronic: slowly impairs the function– Acute: rapidly impairs function

• Spread of disease: epidemic vs. pandemic– Epidemic: rapid increase of a disease– Pandemic: the disease spreads to other places

• Toxicology: study of harmful chemicals– Neurotoxins- disrupt the nervous system ( lead and mercury)– Carcinogens: cause cancer (radon, formaldehyde)– Teratogens: interfere with embryo development– Allergens: cause an allergic reaction (not pathogens)– Endocrine disruptors: interfere with normal hormone function

(cleaning products and household goods)• Biomagnification: the increase of a chemical in animal

tissues as it moves up the food chanin.

What can be done?• Water treatment– Septic Tanks: two parts- septic tank and leach field. – Sewage treatment plant:

• Primary (reduces oils, includes sand catchers, screens, and sedimentation)

• Secondary (gets rid of the biological content) includes: filters, activated sludge, filter (oxidizing) beds, trickling filter beds, and secondary sedimentation.

• tertiary treatments(final stage before releasing into the environment. May include: filtration, lagooning, constructed wetlands, nutrient removal through biological or chemical precipitation, denitrification using bacteria, phosphorous removal using bacteria, microfilration and disinfection using UV, chlorine or ozone.

– Treatment Methods and remediation technologies• Adsorption• Disinfection• Filtration• Flocculation• Ion Exchange• Aeration• Air stripping• Bioreactors• Constructed wetlands• Deep-well injections• Enhanced bioremediation• Fluid-vapor extraction• Granulated activated carbon• Hot water flushing• In-well air stripping• phytoremediation• UV oxidation

• Legislation– Stockholm Convention: (2001): a group of 127

countries gathered in Sweden. 12 chemicals were banned, phased out or reduced. (the “the dirty dozen”)

– Clean Water Act: (1972) issued water quality standards that defined acceptable limits of various pollutants in US waterways. (Surface water not ground water)

– Safe Drinking Water Act: (1974, 1986, 1996) sets the national standards for safe drinking water. (MCL: maximum contaminant levels)

Noise Pollution

• Causes: Human created sound that disrupts the environment. (transportation, factories, appliances, audio entertainment systems)

• Health Effects: hearing loss, cardiovascular problems, decrease in ability to memorize, nervousness, pupil dilation, decrease in visual field, insomnia, bulimia, high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, and sexual dysfunction.

• Control: noise barriers (trees) and new technologies.

Solid Waste• Types: – Organic: kitchen waste, vegetables, flowers (usually

decomposes in 2 wks ** Wood can take up to 10-15 years)– Radioactive: spent fuel rods, smoke detectors (100 of

thousands of years)– Recyclable: paper, glass, metals, and some plastics.

(paper- 10 days, glass- never, metals- 100-500 years, plastics- some up to 1 million years)

– Soiled: hospital waste (cotton cloth-2-5 months)– Toxic: paints, chemicals, pesticides (100’s of years.)

• Uses in the US:

• Disposal and Reduction Flow Chart

Solid Waste

• Choices to disposal:1. Burning, incineration or energy recovery2. Detoxify3. Exporting4. Land disposal(land fills)5. Land disposal (open dumping)6. Ocean dumping7. Recycling8. Reuse