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Topic 3.0 – Monitoring the Environment
I. Monitoring Water Quality
A. Using Biological Indicatorso The use of live organisms (bacteria and
invertebrates) to determine health of water
o Invertebrates respond quickly to oxygen levels, water temp and pH.
Stone fly (GOOD) Midge fly larvae (BAD)
Poor water quality sample
I. Monitoring Water Quality
A. Using Biological IndicatorsPoor quality water signs:
◦Bacteria present◦Low variety of species◦Midgefly larvae and worms present
I. Monitoring Water Quality
B. Concentration of Chemicals in WaterConcentrations of chemicals/minerals in
water are measured using parts per million (ppm)
ppm = mass (mg) volume (L)
*If sodium is 25 ppm, then there are 25 sodium particles in a million water particles
◦The higher the concentration (ppm) the more toxic the water is.
Ex. If 2.4 mg of potassium is found in 550mL bottle of water, how many ppm’s are present?
Halloween Face paint article
The lead found ranged from 0.054 parts per million to 0.65 parts per million.
Four of 10 products had nickel, ranging from 2.1 to 5.9 parts per million; two of 10 had cobalt, with levels from 4.8 to 5.5 parts per million.
Five of 10 had chromium, ranging from 1.6 to 120 parts per million.
According to the report, levels of each should not exceed 1 part per million for consumer products.
I. Monitoring Water Quality
C. Dissolved OxygenThe higher the dissolved oxygen, the
more species that are able to survive in the water
Low O2 levels are caused by:◦Higher temperatures◦Little wind◦Lots of photosynthesis (lots of algae present)◦Too many organisms in the water◦Too much phosphorus and nitrogen
I. Monitoring Water Quality
C. Dissolved OxygenThe presence of only midge larvae and
worms indicates a low oxygen lake
I. Monitoring Water Quality
N and P from sewage outfalls and run-off from fertilized fields enter water
Lots of nutrients causes algae and plants to grow (use O2)
More plants = more dead matter
Bacteria increase to decompose dead plants (use O2)
Little O2 causes fish and insects to die
D. Phosphorus and Nitrogen Levels
Mississippi Delta Satellite Image from NASA
I. Monitoring Water Quality
D. Phosphorus and Nitrogen LevelsSummary:
◦Higher P and N levels are from fertilizers◦Higher levels cause lower oxygen levels and
decreased variety of organisms
I. Monitoring Water Quality
E. Acidityo Too low of a pH (caused by acid rain or
spring acid shock) reduce the number of organisms in a lake
Spring acid shock – when acid precipitation (snow) melts into lakes and streams it lowers the pH
pH LEVEL EFFECTS
<6 *Basic forms of food die off. Eg. Mayflies and stoneflies are important food sources for fish. They can't survive at this pH level.
<5.5
*Fish cannot reproduce. *Young have difficulty staying alive. *More deformed adult fish due to lack of nutrients. *Fish die of suffocation.
<5.0 *Fish population die off.
<4.0 *Very different lifeforms, if any, from before.
Summary of the effect of the pH level of the lake on its lifeforms.
I. Monitoring Water Quality
F. ToxinsToxins – substances that produce
death/health problems in an organism
Ex. DDT – a pesticide used which is persistent (toxins that accumulate in the environment)>eggs shells of osprey and eagles were thinned causing a drop in their population numbers
Clutch of mallard eggs damaged by DDT
I. Monitoring Water Quality
F. Toxicity We measure toxicity by LD50 (lethal dose of
50%). > This number is the mass of toxins
needed to kill 50% of the population
Ex. Which is more toxic? 50 mg/kg or 30 mg/kg
I. Monitoring Water Quality
F. ToxicityHeavy metals – metal elements that have
a high density◦Ex. Mercury, cadmium, lead, copper, nickel◦These metals are toxic for living organisms and
their concentration must be monitored closely◦Effects of heavy metals: nerve damage, brain
damage, death◦Acidic or basic water can help dissolve these
metals so they enter water sources◦These metals deposit in fat layers of humans
and animals
Nervous system damage (mercury poisoning)
Mad Hatter’s Disease
“Mad hatter disease is a disease of the nervous system caused by mercury poisoning.
The name refers to the effects of chronic mercury exposure on hatters who had to work with mercury-treated fur and felt.
It was an occurrence in the 1800s. Mercury was once used in the making of hats.
This is known to affect the nervous systems of the hatter, causing them to shake and seem insane.
Mercury exposure can cause aggressiveness, irrational behavior and mood swings.
I. Monitoring Water Quality
F. ToxinsBiomagnification – where the concentration
of toxins increase as you go up a food chain
Why????
o Good water conditions:o pH around 5.5-7.0o Plenty of dissolved oxygeno Numerous specieso Low concentration of toxinso Low-moderate levels of P and No Low levels of bacteria
II. Monitoring Air Quality
Air is monitored for the concentration of particles and gases within the air
Air Quality for Ontario November 16, 2009, 10:00 AM
Station Name
AQI Cause
Toronto Downtown
12 Ozone (O3)
Toronto East 10 Ozone (O3)
Toronto North 14 Ozone (O3)
Toronto West 10 Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
Air Quality Index (AQI) Categories AQI
0-15 Very Good
16-31 Good
32-49 Moderate
50-99 Poor
100+ Very PoorAir Quality in Alberta
II. Monitoring Air Quality
Common Air PollutantsA. Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)Forms smog and acid
precipitationSource: combustion of coal,
oil and natural gasReduction: Use of
scrubbers (containing lime) in industrial plants
II. Monitoring Air Quality
B. Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)Forms smog and acid precipitationSource: Vehicle emissions Reduction: Catalytic converters
Smog over LA
II. Monitoring Air Quality
C. Carbon Dioxide (CO2)Source: Combustion of
coal, gas, treesEffects: Greenhouse
gas/ acid rain
II. Monitoring Air Quality
D. Ozone (O3)High level ozone is required in the
atmosphere to reduce harmful UV rays that come to earth
Ground level ozone is harmful – causes breathing difficulty
Source: Vehicle emissions
III. Monitoring the Atmosphere
Two main concerns regarding our atmosphere:◦Effects of carbon dioxide◦Maintenance of ozone layer
III. Monitoring the Atmosphere
A. Greenhouse EffectWhen gases in atmosphere trap heat from
the Sun (like a greenhouse)GOOD: Keeps temperatures at levels we
can live at (without we would die!)- would be extremely cold without the greenhouse effect
Greenhouse gases: CO2, H20, methane, NOx
III. Monitoring the Atmosphere
B. Enhanced Greenhouse EffectWhen humans emit more greenhouse
gases than necessary which traps too much heat (BAD)
Sources: Fossil fuel combustion releases greenhouse gases
Causes the OVERALL increase in temperature on Earth
III. Monitoring the Atmosphere
C. Global WarmingThe increase in worldwide temperatures
caused by enhanced greenhouse effectHow do we stop or curb this?
◦Reduce CO2 emissions◦Maintain carbon sinks (trees, oceans)
III. Monitoring the Atmosphere
D. Climate ChangeThe trend of a change in climate over AT
LEAST 30 years!NOT a year to year thing – long term
trend!!!!!Potentially caused by global warming
II. Monitoring the Atmosphere
E. CFC’s (chlorofluorocarbons)Were used in aerosol cans, coolants and to
make StyrofoamCauses reduction in the high level ozone,Ozone prevents harmful UV rays to reach
earthLess O3 causes increase in skin cancer
levels
Ozone hole over Antarctica
Air Pollutants Review
Greenhouse Gases Acid Rain Components
Carbon dioxide CO2 Carbon dioxide CO2
Nitrous oxide NOx Nitrous oxide NOx
H20 Sulphur dioxide SO2
Methane CH4
