The introduction by man into the environment of substances or energy which can cause harm to human health and to living resources and ecological systems.
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Contamination
A substance/energy is present in the environment but not causing obvious harm.
Many contaminants turn to pollutants but not all of them.
All pollutants have been a contaminant before.
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Types of pollutants.
PRIMARY
Exert harmful effects in the form in which they entered the environment.
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Types of pollutants.
SECONDARY
Synthesised as a result of a chemical process.
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Source of the pollutant
Where the pollution comes from/ where it is released from.
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Recipient of the pollutant
Where the pollutant ends up, which may be a part of the environment, or animals that become contaminated.
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Point source
Identifiable points or places that you can easily locate. e.g. sewage plant.
- easy to regulate and monitor
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Non-point source
Also known as diffuse pollution.
Difficult to identify the exact origin of the pollution.
E.g. run-off of pesticides into a river.
- Hard to regulate and monitor.
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Water Pollution
Characterised by the presence of excess physical, chemical and biological substances that changes the qualities of the water.
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Air Pollution
Local and global.
Gases and solid particles.
Presence in the air of abnormal amounts of chemical constituents.
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Soil Pollution
Linked to water pollution.
Both liquid and solid waste can have an impact on soil.
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Pathways of Pollution
The way the pollutant moves from source, through the environment to the recipient.
- Usually reaches humans through consumption of contaminated and polluted water and food and breathing polluted air.
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How effects of pollutants are reduced:
DISPERSION
Smoke disperses into the air and is no longer noticeable from the source.
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How effects of pollutants are reduced:
DILUTION
Soluble pollutants are diluted in the water of a river of lake.
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How effects of pollutants are reduced:
DEPOSITION
Some suspended solids carried in a river settle (are deposited) on the river bed.
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How effects of pollutants are reduced:
DEGRADATION
Some substances break down by natural processes into different, simpler substances that are not polluting-particularly relevant with oil pollution.
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
A substance/energy is present in the environment but not causing obvious harm.
Many contaminants turn to pollutants but not all of them.
All pollutants have been a contaminant before.
Back
Contamination
Card 3
Front
Exert harmful effects in the form in which they entered the environment.
Back
Card 4
Front
Synthesised as a result of a chemical process.
Back
Card 5
Front
Where the pollution comes from/ where it is released from.
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