7.7 Review

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of a biological pollutant? (7.1)

• plastic waste

• bacteria

• carbon monoxide (CO)

• Nitrogen oxides (NOx)

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of a chemical pollutant? (7.1)

• plastic waste

• pesticides

• sediment

• pollen

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of a physical pollutant? (7.1)

• plastic waste

• carbon monoxide (CO)

• bacteria

• pollen

​primary vs secondary air pollutants

​Primary air pollutants are directly emitted from sources.

Examples:
-Carbon monoxide (CO) – Released from vehicle exhaust and incomplete combustion of fuels.

-Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) – Emitted from burning fossil fuels, especially coal, and industrial processes.

-Nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) – Produced by vehicles, power plants, and industrial activities.

-Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – Emitted from gasoline, solvents, and industrial emissions.

-Particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5) – Generated from construction sites, wildfires, and industrial emissions.

-Lead (Pb) – Released from industrial processes, leaded gasoline (historically), and smelting.

​Secondary air pollutants form through chemical reactions in the atmosphere.

Examples:
-Ozone (O₃) – Formed when nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react in sunlight.

-Sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) – Produced when sulfur dioxide (SO₂) reacts with water and oxygen, contributing to acid rain.

-Nitric acid (HNO₃) – Forms from nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) reacting with water vapor, also leading to acid rain.

-Peroxyacetyl nitrates (PANs) – Created from VOCs and NOₓ in sunlight, contributing to photochemical smog.

-Particulate matter (PM) – Some fine particles, like sulfates and nitrates, form from atmospheric chemical reactions.

Categorize

Options (6)

Smoke from a factory chimney.

Formation of smog due to vehicle emissions

Release of gases from volcanic eruptions

Chemical reactions between sunlight and nitrogen oxides.

Emission of smoke and dust from burning wood.

Sulfur dioxide converts to sulfuric acid in the atmosphere.

Identify each example as a primary or a secondary air pollutant (7.2)

Primary air pollutant

Secondary air pollutant

​explain programs and regulations intended to reduce air pollution

​EPA (Environmental Protection Agency): A U.S. federal agency responsible for enforcing environmental laws and regulating pollution to protect human health and the environment.

• Clean Air Act (CAA): A landmark U.S. law that sets air quality standards and regulates emissions from industries and vehicles to reduce air pollution.

• The Use of Catalytic Converters: Devices installed in vehicle exhaust systems to reduce harmful emissions by converting pollutants into less harmful gases.

• The Development of Zero-Emission Vehicles (ZEVs): Advances in electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles eliminate tailpipe emissions, reducing air pollution and reliance on fossil fuels.

• Clean School Bus Program (2004): A U.S. initiative that funds the replacement of older diesel school buses with cleaner alternatives to reduce emissions and improve air quality for students.

Multiple Choice

What is the primary goal of the Clean Air Act?

• Reduce noise pollution

• Control air pollution and improve air quality

• Increase industrial production

• Promote deforestation

Multiple Choice

Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) are designed to:

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions

• Use only diesel fuel

• Increase fuel consumption

• Produce more air pollution

Multiple Choice

What is the main function of a catalytic converter in vehicles? (7.2)

• Improve fuel efficiency

• Reduce harmful emissions from exhaust gases

• Increase engine power

• Remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

Multiple Choice

The Clean School Bus Program aims to:

• Replace old diesel buses with cleaner alternatives

• Build more schools

• Increase the number of school buses

• Reduce the number of students on each bus

​Point source vs nonpoint source water pollution

​Point Source Pollution = Pollution that originates from a single, identifiable source, making it easier to regulate and control.

Examples:
-Factory smokestacks emitting pollutants into the air
-Wastewater discharge from a sewage treatment plant
-Oil spills from pipelines or tankers
-Exhaust emissions from a power plant
-Chemical discharge from industrial facilities

​Nonpoint Source Pollution = Pollution that comes from multiple, diffuse sources, often carried by runoff, making it harder to regulate.

Examples:
-Pesticides and fertilizers washing off agricultural fields
-Oil and grease runoff from roads and parking lots
-Sediment from construction sites entering waterways
-Animal waste from livestock farms contaminating water sources
-Household chemicals and lawn treatments leaching into groundwater

Match

Match the following (7.3)

• originates from specific, identifiable sources, such as pipes or discharge outlets.

• comes from multiple sources across landscapes, making it challenging to identify the exact origin of contamination.

• :)

point source pollution

nonpoint source pollution

:)

• point source pollution

• nonpoint source pollution

• :)

Categorize

Options (7)

A factory releases untreated waste water directly into a river.

Malfunctioning septic systems from various

buildings leak into groundwater.

Untreated sewage is discharged from a municipal treatment plant into a stream.

Oil leaks into the ocean from an oil tanker.

Rainwater carries pollutants from streets and

lawns into a stream.

Excess fertilizers on farmlands lead to chemical

surface runoff.

Chemicals are released into a lake from a broken

pipeline.

Organize these options into the right categories

Point Source Pollution

Nonpoint Source Pollution

Multiple Choice

The image shows a layer of algae forming on a lake due to pollution. Which of the following statements best describes the most likely outcome if the algae continue to cover the lake? (7.3)

• an increase in the acidity of the water

• increased biodiversity from the growth of new aquatic plants

• decreased biodiversity due to less dissolved oxygen in the water from eutrophication

• there will be minimal effect on the lake ecosystem

​Point Source Pollution Management

1. Regulatory enforcement through the government: Governments set and enforce pollution limits through laws, permits, and penalties to ensure industries comply with environmental standards.

2. Technological solutions: Industries implement advanced filtration, scrubbers, and treatment systems to reduce pollutants before they are released into the environment.

3. Public awareness and education: Informing communities and businesses about pollution impacts and best practices encourages compliance and proactive pollution reduction efforts.

​Nonpoint Source Pollution Management

1. Streamside vegetation zones: Planting and maintaining vegetation along water bodies helps filter pollutants, reduce erosion, and improve water quality.

2. Soil conservation practices: Techniques like cover cropping, contour farming, and no-till agriculture prevent soil erosion and reduce runoff carrying pollutants.

3. Green infrastructure: Solutions like rain gardens, permeable pavements, and wetlands absorb and filter stormwater, reducing pollutant runoff into waterways.

​Examine the laws and regulations that remediate water pollution

• ​Clean Water Act (CWA) – USA (1972): Establishes regulations to limit pollutant discharges into U.S. waters and sets water quality standards.

• Stockholm Declaration – International (1972): Recognizes the global responsibility to protect the environment and promotes sustainable development principles.

• Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) – USA (1974): Ensures safe public drinking water by setting standards for contaminants and requiring water system monitoring.

• Water Framework Directive (WFD) – EU (2000): Aims to achieve good water quality across EU member states through integrated water resource management.

Multiple Choice

What is the primary purpose of the Clean Water Act? (7.3)

• To protect and restore the quality of the nation's waters

• To promote the use of water for industrial purposes

• To encourage the privatization of water resources

• To regulate fishing practices in U.S. waters

Multiple Choice

What was the primary focus of the Stockholm Declaration of 1972?

• Strengthening international economic agreements

• Establishing global trade policies

• Emphasizing the interaction between humans and nature

• Creating policies for urban development

Multiple Choice

What is the primary purpose of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) of 1974?

• To regulate air pollution from industrial sources

• To ensure that public drinking water systems are safe and free from harmful contaminants

• To regulate the use of pesticides in agriculture

• To protect endangered species in water ecosystems

Multiple Choice

What is the primary goal of the European Union's Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2000?

• To regulate the price of water across Europe

• To protect and restore the quality of water bodies throughout Europe

• To promote water privatization in member states

• To increase the availability of groundwater for agricultural use

Multiple Choice

What is a watershed?

• a type of aquatic plant.

• a man-made structure for storing water.

• a measurement of rainfall in a region.

• an area of land that drains water to a common outlet.

​Sources of Watershed Pollution

​-Agricultural runoff: Fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste wash into waterways, causing nutrient pollution and algal blooms.
-Urban stormwater: Rainwater picks up oil, chemicals, and debris from streets and sidewalks, polluting nearby water bodies.
-Industrial discharge: Factories release chemicals, heavy metals, and heated water that degrade water quality.
-Sewage and wastewater: Untreated or poorly treated sewage introduces bacteria, nutrients, and toxins into water sources.
-Deforestation and erosion: Tree removal increases sediment runoff, clouding water and disrupting aquatic ecosystems.
-Mining activities: Acid mine drainage and heavy metals leach into water, harming aquatic life and drinking water supplies.
-Septic system failures: Leaking or poorly maintained septic systems release bacteria and nutrients into groundwater and surface waters.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following pollutants is most likely to enter a watershed via surface runoff over agricultural land?​

• Heavy metals

• wastewater

• acidic drainage

• animal waste

Multiple Choice

How do factories contribute to pollution in a watershed? (7.4-7.5)

• By increasing water temperature

• By promoting groundwater recharge

• By discharging sewage into bodies of water

• By releasing heavy metals, chemicals, and toxins

Multiple Choice

How does untreated sewage from sewage treatment plants affect a watershed?​

• It increases the water flow

• It introduces pathogens and excess nutrients

• It filters out pollutants

• It helps maintain biodiversity

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a pollutant commonly released from urban areas into watersheds?​

• Animal waste

• Pesticides

• Oil, heavy metals, and litter

• Pathogens from sewage

Multiple Choice

What is the most common way pollution enters a watershed? (7.4-7.5)

• From fish releasing waste into the water

• 
  From leaking underground rivers

• 
  Only through factory dumping

• 
  From runoff carrying pollutants like fertilizers and oil

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the most effective approach to managing water pollution in the long term? (7.4-7.5)

• 
  increasing waste treatment facilities in urban areas

• 
  Focusing solely on cleaning up contaminants after they enter the water

• 
  implementing regulations that reduce discharges at the source

• 
  encouraging voluntary pollution reduction actions without regulation

Multiple Choice

Which of the following efforts could help restore the Chesapeake Bay Watershed? (7.4-7.5)

• 
  Removing oysters from the bay

• 
  Draining wetlands to build houses

• 
  Planting buffer trees and plants near rivers and streams

• 
  Using more fertilizer on farms

Multiple Select

Why is it important to know which watershed you belong to? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY

• To understand where your water comes from and how it is used

• To prevent floods by altering water flow

• To identify specific plant species native to your area

• To understand and address pollution sources affecting your water quality

Poll

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