Waste Management

• What is biodiversity?

  The variety of different species of organisms
• Why is maintaining biodiversity important?

  It makes ecosystems more stable
• How has the human population changed in the last 100 years?

  It has increased massively
• What has increased alongside the human population?

  The average standard of living
• What is a consequence of increased resource use by humans?

  More waste is produced, leading to pollution
• What types of pollution are caused by human waste?

  • Water pollution
  • Air pollution
  • Land pollution
• What is a major source of water pollution from humans?

  Large amounts of sewage produced
• What does sewage contain?

  Urine and feces
• How is sewage treated in the UK?

  It is treated before being released
• What can happen if untreated sewage is released?

  It can accidentally pollute rivers or streams
• What effect do fertilizers have on rivers and streams?

  They cause dissolved oxygen levels to fall
• What can happen to aquatic organisms due to low oxygen levels?

  They can die
• What type of chemicals can pollute rivers from factories?

  Toxic chemicals
• How does waste from human activity affect biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems?

  It reduces biodiversity
• What is a consequence of burning coal in power stations?

  It releases acidic gases causing acid rain
• What can air pollution from burning coal do to plants and animals?

  It can kill them
• What is one way land is polluted by waste?

  Dumping millions of tons in landfills
• What do landfills destroy?

  Habitats for plants and animals
• What can happen to toxic chemicals in landfills?

  They can leach out and pollute soil
• What can happen when toxic chemicals are dumped directly onto land?

  They can kill living organisms
• What is the overall impact of human waste on biodiversity?

  • Reduces biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems
  • Causes pollution in air and land
  • Necessitates careful waste handling and disposal