Impact of Pollution on Environment Flashcard

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What is pollution?

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Pollution is the introduction of harmful substances or products into the environment, causing adverse effects on ecosystems and human health.

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What are greenhouse gases?

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Greenhouse gases are gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect. Common examples include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O).

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How does pollution affect glaciers?

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Pollution contributes to the melting of glaciers by increasing the absorption of sunlight due to dark particles like soot, which lowers the albedo effect.

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What is the albedo effect?

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The albedo effect refers to the reflectivity of a surface. High albedo surfaces, like ice, reflect most sunlight, while low albedo surfaces absorb more heat.

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What is biodiversity?

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Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem, including the diversity of species, genetic variation, and ecosystem diversity.

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How does pollution disrupt food chains?

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Pollution can introduce toxins into the food chain, affecting species at various levels, leading to population declines and loss of biodiversity.

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What are heavy metals?

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Heavy metals are metallic elements with high densities that are toxic to organisms at low concentrations, such as lead, mercury, and cadmium.

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What is hypoxia?

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Hypoxia is a condition in which there is a deficiency of oxygen in a water body, often caused by pollution and leading to the death of aquatic life.

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What is nutrient enrichment?

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Nutrient enrichment occurs when excess nutrients, often from fertilizers, enter water bodies, leading to algal blooms and subsequent oxygen depletion.

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What is the impact of pesticides on aquatic ecosystems?

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Pesticides can be toxic to aquatic organisms, disrupting reproductive systems and leading to declines in fish populations.