IB Environmental Systems & Societies 2
Midterm Review 12-13
WASTE (chapter 23)
municipal solid waste
nonmunicipal solid waste
sanitary landfills
leachate
NIMBY
photodegradable
biodegradable
mass burn incinerators
modular incinerators
lime scrubbers
electrostatic precipitators
bottom ash
slag
fly ash
source reduction
Pollution Prevention Act
dematerialization
fee-per-bag approach
hazardous or toxic waste
dioxins
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
RCRA
CERCLA
Superfund Act
Superfund National Priorities List
bioremediation
phytoremediation
Basel Convention
integrated waste management
Chapter Objectives:
1. Distinguish between municipal solid waste and nonmunicipal solid waste.
2. Describe the features of a modern sanitary landfill and relate some of the problems associated with sanitary landfills.
3. Describe the features of a mass burn incinerator and relate some of the problems associated with incinerators.
4. Summarize how source reduction, reuse, and recycling help reduce the volume of solid waste.
5. Define hazardous waste and briefly characterize representative hazardous wastes (dioxins, PCBs, and radioactive wastes).
6. Contrast the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (the Superfund Act).
7. Discuss the scope, accomplishments, and shortcomings of the Superfund Program.
8. Define environmental justice and discuss the issue of international waste management as it relates to environmental justice.
Questions to think about:
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS.
1. Identify the sources of municipal solid waste and then briefly discuss the contribution made by municipal waste to the solid waste disposal problem.
2. Define photodegradable. What type of material(s) does this typically apply to and how effective is this in reducing the problem of solid waste?
3. Compare and contrast the use of open dumps and sanitary landfills to dispose of solid waste.
4. How is fly ash produced and what method should be used to dispose of it?
5. What is cullet and how can it be used?
6. Describe the fee-per-bag approach to controlling solid waste.
7. Compare and contrast recycling and reuse.
8. Identify 5 examples of everyday products that come in containers that could be reused over and over again.
9. What are the provisions of the Basel Convention?
10. What is the Superfund National Priorities List?
11. Compare and contrast the following terms: bioremediation and phytoremediation.
12. List two ways to manage the hazardous waste being produced today and provide a one-sentence explanation for each.
DISCUSSION OR THOUGHT QUESTIONS.
13. Discuss municipal and nonmunicipal solid waste. Your discussion should include 1) identification of the sources of each type of solid waste and 2) the relative contribution of each source to the waste disposal problem. Would it be easier to minimize the waste produced by municipal or nonmunicipal sources? Explain your answer.
14. Describe the structure and protective features of a modern sanitary landfill. What problems can still be associated with sanitary landfills and how can these problems be avoided or at least minimized?
15. Discuss the problems of plastic as a solid waste material and then discuss some solutions to these problems.
16. Describe the features of a mass burn incinerator and then discuss the role of incineration in dealing with solid and hazardous waste disposal issues. What problems are associated with the incineration process itself and how can these be addressed?
17. Discuss the roles of reduction, reuse, and recycling in the reduction of solid waste. Be sure that you clearly indicate the differences between each of these goals. Which of the three is most beneficial for the environment? Which of the three is most beneficial from an economic perspective? Justify your answers.
18. Identify the main challenges presented by discarded cars and trucks. Describe three specific types of materials that are currently recycled and what is being done to address the remaining challenges.
19. Why does the United States not reuse more glass containers? Should more effort be put into the reuse of glass containers? Why or why not? What steps could be implemented to improve this reuse effort?
WATER POLLUTION (chapter 21)
water pollution
sewage
enrichment
cellular respiration
BOD
disease-causing agents
fecal coliform test
sediment pollution
inorganic plant & algal nutrients
hypoxia
organic compounds
inorganic chemicals
radioactive substances
thermal pollution
oligotrophic
eutrophication
point source pollution
nonpoint source pollution
primary treatment
primary sludge
secondary treatment
secondary sludge
tertiary treatment
endocrine disrupters
Safe Drinking Water Act
maximum contaminant level
Clean Water Act
RCRA
Chapter Objectives:
1. List and briefly define eight categories of water pollutants.
2. Discuss how sewage is related to eutrophication, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and dissolved oxygen.
3. Distinguish between oligotrophic and eutrophic lakes and explain how humans induce artificial eutrophication.
4. Contrast point source pollution and nonpoint source pollution.
5. Describe how most drinking water is purified in the United States and discuss the chlorine dilemma.
6. Distinguish among primary, secondary, and tertiary treatments for wastewater.
7. Compare the goals of the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act.
Questions to think about:
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS.
20. Define water pollution and identify eight categories of water pollutants.
21. What is BOD? In 2 or 3 sentences explain how BOD is related to levels of dissolved oxygen.
22. What is a fecal coliform test and how is this test valuable?
23. Compare and contrast oligotrophic lakes and eutrophic lakes.
24. List three examples each of point source and nonpoint source pollution.
25. Why do we specifically add chlorine to our drinking water supply?
26. What is the intended role of fluoridating most drinking water supplies? Briefly explain why this procedure is controversial.
27. Describe the process and purpose of primary treatment for wastewater. What pollutants remain in the wastewater at the end of this stage of wastewater treatment?
28. Identify and briefly describe two ways in which polluted soil can be decontaminated.
29. What are red tides and how might they be related to water pollution?
30. Identify ONE freshwater system outside the U.S. List 2 or 3 major sources of pollution and the impact of water pollution on the local residents and area.
DISCUSSION OR THOUGHT QUESTIONS.
31. List, describe, and identify the sources of five categories of water pollutants.
32. Discuss the relationship between artificial eutrophication, BOD, dissolved oxygen, and various types of water pollution. Are the effects of artificial eutrophication reversible? Justify your answer.
33. Compare and contrast point source and nonpoint source pollution. Include the following components in your comparison: sources, impact, prevention, and regulation of each type of pollution.
34. Identify various components of municipal water pollution. For each of these sources of municipal water pollution, identify alternatives or ways of reducing the environmental impact.
35. Identify and then compare three different methods of purifying drinking water. Which method is used most commonly and why? Is there a better method? Why or why not?
36. Explain the intended purpose of adding chlorine to drinking water supplies. What can happen as the result of non-chlorinated drinking water? Why is the addition of chlorine to drinking water controversial? What has been the response to this controversy and why?
37. Describe the process of wastewater treatment, including primary, secondary, and tertiary treatment. Include the methods involved in each stage of treatment, the level of water quality following each treatment, and any concerns or considerations involved in each level of treatment.
38. How are wetlands used to treat wastewater? Describe the process involved. Then discuss the pros and cons of this wastewater treatment process with particular emphasis on the benefits gained that may be related to environmental issues beyond water quality.
39. Compare the provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act. Briefly discuss the effectiveness of each act and highlight any areas in which pollution is still "escaping" regulation.
40. How does salinization of soils occur and why is it a problem? List and discuss two possible methods for removing the excess salts from the soil. Which method of decontaminating the soil is preferred and why?
41. Identify five ways in which individuals may be contributing to water pollution problems and then identify ways in which each of these may be either reduced or eliminated. What would it take for you to implement such changes in your neighborhood or community? List the problems that you would encounter, along with ways that you could deal with each problem.
ATMOSPHERE (chapter 19-20)
Chapter 19- Air Pollution
air pollution
primary air pollutants
secondary air pollutants
particulate matter
solid particulate matter
nitrogen oxides
greenhouse gas
sulfur oxides
carbon oxides
hydrocarbons
ozone
air toxics
smog
industrial smog
photochemical smog
temperature (aka thermal) inversion
urban heat island
dust domes
Clean Air Act
global distillation effect
sick building syndrome
radon
Reading Prong
mesothelioma
sound
noise pollution
intensity
cochlea
hair cells
Chapter Objectives:
1. List the seven major classes of air pollutants and describe their characteristics and effects.
2. IBESS: Describe methods of monitoring air pollution.
3. Relate the adverse health effects of specific air pollutants and explain why children are particularly susceptible to air pollution.
4. Describe industrial smog, photochemical smog, temperature inversions, urban heat islands, and dust domes.
5. Summarize the effects of the Clean Air Act on U.S. air pollution.
6. Contrast air pollution in highly developed and developing countries.
7. Describe the global distillation effect and tell where it commonly occurs.
8. Summarize the sick building syndrome.
9. Describe the physiological effects of noise pollution on the human body.
Questions to think about:
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS.
42. Identify the four gases that comprise over 99.9% of the atmosphere. Provide a one sentence explanation for the importance or role of each of these for living organisms and/or the environment.
43. Identify four of the seven most important types of air pollutants and indicate whether they are primary or secondary in origin.
44. Explain what a secondary air pollutant is and give an example of one.
45. Compare and contrast the following terms: industrial smog and photochemical smog.
46. What are hybrid cars, and how does this design reduce the release of air pollutants?
47. Identify and briefly discuss the provisions of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.
48. Identify and briefly discuss two reasons why air quality in developing countries is rapidly deteriorating.
49. Briefly describe the global distillation effect.
50. What is asbestos, and what are the physical properties that have made it a valuable construction material?
51. Identify and briefly discuss two ways to control or minimize noise pollution.
DISCUSSION OR THOUGHT QUESTIONS.
52. Identify five of the seven most important types of air pollutants and discuss the origin or source, environmental impact, and human health impact of each.
53. Discuss five adverse health effects associated with specific air pollutants and explain why children are more susceptible to these effects than adults.
54. Explain how a thermal inversion occurs and then discuss its relationship to air pollution. Include two specific geographic locations where thermal inversions occur and describe their effect on local air quality.
55. What are urban heat islands and how are they produced? What is their relationship to dust domes? How do these factors influence the air quality in an affected area and what can be done to minimize the impact?
56. Identify and discuss five ways that air pollution can be reduced or controlled. At least two of these should relate to reducing pollutants from mobile sources of air pollution.
57. What is the US Clean Air Act? What has it accomplished? How? What problems have yet to be resolved?
58. Compare and contrast the air quality issues of Los Angeles, CA and Mexico City, Mexico. Include the role of population growth, transportation, and topography, and then discuss the steps taken to date to resolve the issues and problems that remain.
59. Identify and discuss 1) sources of indoor air pollution, 2) human health effects, and 3) possible solutions to this type of air pollution.
60. What are the current trends with respect to cigarette smoking in highly developed and developing countries? Discuss the reasons for any differences in these trends.
61. How can sound be a pollutant? What types and levels of sound are characterized as pollutants and what effects can they have on human health?
Chapter 20- Atmospheric Changes
positive feedback
greenhouse gases
greenhouse effect
enhanced greenhouse effect
aerosols & aerosol effect
models
negative feedback
permafrost
Kyoto Protocol
carbon management (CCS, etc)
ultraviolet (UV) radiation
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Montreal Protocol
acid deposition
wet deposition
dry deposition
pH scale
forest decline
Chapter Objectives:
1. Describe the greenhouse effect and list the five main greenhouse gases.
2. Discuss the ramifications of some of the potential effects of global warming, including rising sea level, changes in precipitation patterns, effects on organisms, effects on human health, and effects on agriculture.
3. Give examples of several ways to mitigate and adapt to global warming.
4. IBESS: Outline climate change arguments and global dimming.
5. Describe the importance of the stratospheric ozone layer and distinguish between tropospheric and stratospheric ozone.
6. Explain how ozone depletion takes place and relate some of the harmful effects of ozone depletion.
7. Relate how the international community is working to protect the ozone layer.
8. Evaluate national and international organizations’ roles in reducing CFCs.
9. Explain how acid deposition develops and relate some of the effects of acid deposition.
10. Describe how North American lakes are affected by interactions among global warming, ozone depletion, and acid deposition.
11. IBESS: Evaluate pollution management strategies for climate change.
Questions to Think about:
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS.
62. Identify two greenhouse gases and provide a 1 to 2 sentence explanation of how greenhouse gases impact global warming.
63. Identify two specific organisms that may be affected by global warming and provide a brief explanation of the possible impact on each.
64. Compare and contrast the greenhouse effect and the aerosol effect. Include the identification of the gas(es) involved in each as part of your comparison.
65. List 2 methods used to mitigate global warming and provide a 1 to 2 sentence explanation for each.
66. What are climate models? Provide a 2 to 3 sentence explanation of why these models are important in our attempts to understand climate change.
67. Compare and contrast chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
68. List three activities of your everyday life that contribute to ozone depletion.
69. List three consequences of ozone depletion and provide a one sentence explanation for each.
70. Compare and contrast acid rain and acid deposition.
71. Briefly explain the relationship between acid deposition and increased metal toxicity that then affects aquatic organisms and terrestrial plants, most notably forests.
DISCUSSION OR THOUGHT QUESTIONS.