APES Unit 8 : Water Pollution & Treatment

Front

What is a non-point source of water pollution?

Back

A non-point source of water pollution is a diffuse source that does not have a single point of origin, such as runoff from agricultural fields carrying pesticides into rivers.

Front

What is acidic runoff and what causes it?

Back

Acidic runoff is water that has a low pH, often caused by mine site drainage, which can leach heavy metals and other pollutants into nearby water bodies.

Front

By weight, what is the most abundant water pollutant?

Back

Sediments are the most abundant water pollutant by weight, often resulting from soil erosion and runoff.

Front

What is bioaccumulation?

Back

Bioaccumulation is the process by which persistent pollutants, like mercury or PCBs, build up in the tissues of an organism over time as they consume contaminated food.

Front

What is biomagnification?

Back

Biomagnification is the increase in concentration of pollutants in the tissues of organisms at each successive level of the food chain.

Front

What are effective strategies for minimizing sediment pollution?

Back

Effective strategies include trapping eroded sediment at construction sites, exposing a minimum amount of land, and providing protection for exposed soil.

Front

What is cultural eutrophication?

Back

Cultural eutrophication is the process by which water bodies become overly enriched with nutrients, leading to excessive growth of algae and depletion of oxygen.

Front

What is the impact of heavy metals in water?

Back

Heavy metals can be toxic to aquatic life and can accumulate in the food chain, posing health risks to humans and wildlife.

Front

What is the difference between point source and non-point source pollution?

Back

Point source pollution comes from a single, identifiable source (e.g., a sewage treatment plant), while non-point source pollution comes from multiple, diffuse sources (e.g., agricultural runoff).

Front

What is salinization?

Back

Salinization is the accumulation of salts in soil or water, often due to irrigation practices or the intrusion of saltwater into freshwater systems.