Measure of how poisonous a substance is. A toxin affects metabolic processes taking place within living organisms
1 of 39
Key term: What is deoxygenation?
Process of oxygen removal.
2 of 39
Why is carbon monoxide toxic?
It binds to haemoglobin and prevents it carrying oxygen. This process is not reversible
3 of 39
What is a neurotoxin?
A toxin that damages the nervous system.
4 of 39
Key term: Specificity of a pollutant. What does this mean?
This is a measure of the differing toxicity of a substance to different types of organisms. A particular dose of a toxin may kill some organisms at low levels; but harm others at higher levels.
5 of 39
Key term:- Persistance of a pollutant
Measure of how long it takes for a pollutant to chemically break down
6 of 39
What does CFC stand for?
Chloroflurocarbons
7 of 39
Where is ozone depletion due to CFC pollution taking place?
Stratosphere
8 of 39
Name the most well-known organochlorine pesticide
DDT
9 of 39
Key term:- what is biodegradability?
Process of chemical breakdown by biological processes
10 of 39
Key-term:- What is mobility? (as used to describe pollution)
A measure of how easily a pollutant moves in the environment.
11 of 39
Key-term:- What is solubility?
This is a measure of the ease with which the molecules of a material (the solute) separate and become dispersed in a liquid (the solvent)
12 of 39
What is the term used for soluble in fats and oils?
Lipo-soluble
13 of 39
Are organchlorines insecticides, dioxins and PCBs and mercury and lead soluble in fat or in water?
Soluble in fats (liposoluble)
14 of 39
Key-term:- What is bioaccumilation?
Process by which pollutants are absorbed and stored within living organisms.
15 of 39
Key term:- What is biomagnification?
Pollutants that have bioaccumilated becoming more concentrated as they pass along a food chain.
16 of 39
Key-term:- What is synergism?
This is the combined effect of an interaction between different substances that exaggerates the overall effect.
17 of 39
Key-term:- What is mutagenicity?
A material or form of energy that causes changes to DNA
18 of 39
Key-term:- What is carcinogenicity?
A mutagen that causes body cells to multiply in an uncontrolled way known as cancer
19 of 39
Key-term:- What is teratogenicity?
A teratogen causes non-heritable birth defects or abnormalities
20 of 39
Name the two main types of chemical compound that are involved in eutrophication
Nitrates and phosphates.
21 of 39
Name two gases that are present in "acid rain"
Sulphur dioxide, sulphur trioxide, nitrous oxide
22 of 39
Name the situation in the troposphere where the temperature is lower than normal so that warm air lies above cold air
Temperature inversion
23 of 39
The 1952 London smog, which killed 12000 people, led to UK legislation. What was the name and the date of this Act?
Clean Air Act (1956)
24 of 39
What international agreement dealt with the phasing out of CFCs and similar chemicals to prevent the depletion of stratospheric ozone?
Montreal Protocol 1987
25 of 39
What does a catalytic converter do?
A catalytic converter is a device fitted to vehicle exhausts to remove pollutants such as carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and unburnt fuel.
26 of 39
What metal is the catalyst in a catalytic converter?
Platinum
27 of 39
What common gas is a more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide?
Methane
28 of 39
Is oxygen more or less soluble in warmer water?
Less soluble
29 of 39
What is the term used for lakes with few nutrients, little plant growth eg mountain lakes?
Oligotrophic
30 of 39
What is BOD?
Biological Oxygen Demand
31 of 39
What adjective describes water with a lot of suspended solids?
Turbid
32 of 39
How iare the levels of suspended solids measured?
With a suspended Secchi disc.
33 of 39
What is measured in a coliform count?
The numbers of E.coli bacteria present (which indicate the level of faecal contamination)
34 of 39
Stonefly and mayfly larvae are found in clean or polluted water?
Very clean
35 of 39
Are bloodworms and mosquito larvae tolerant or sensitive to water pollution
Comparitively tolerant.
36 of 39
Are heavy metals more or less soluble in low pH conditions?
More soluble
37 of 39
Are heavy metals water or fat soluble?
Fat-soluble (lipo-soluble)
38 of 39
Name three heavy metals found as pollutants
Lead, mercury, cadmium, zinc.
39 of 39
Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
Key term: What is deoxygenation?
Back
Process of oxygen removal.
Card 3
Front
Why is carbon monoxide toxic?
Back
Card 4
Front
What is a neurotoxin?
Back
Card 5
Front
Key term: Specificity of a pollutant. What does this mean?
Comments
No comments have yet been made