Environmental Chemistry Lesson 6

• what is biological monitoring?


  It is when you examine physical, chemical, and biological characteristics
• what are biological indicators?


  they are organisms used to determine quality
• what are two different types of biological indicators and explain them
• what are two different biological indicators and explain them:


  microbiological indicators are samples that are taken from water sources people use to determine the number and type of microscopic organisms such as bacteria that are present. Aquatic indicators are invertebrates or animals without backbones that are used as indicators of water quality since they have a specific preference for living conditions
• what are the chemical factors that we use for monitoring Water Quality?

  dissolved oxygen, the measure of concentration (ppm) of chemicals, phosphorus and nitrogen, acidity, pesticides, and toxicity
• what is dissolved oxygen? and what does it depend on?

  Oxygen molecules that are dissolved in water. it depends on water temperature, turbulence, photosynthesis and the number of organisms
• what can high concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen lead to?


  It can lead to increased growth of algae, which eventually leads to a buildup of dead plant organisms, causing an encouragement of a decomposer bloom, then bacteria increases to decompose the algae, then the dissolved oxygen decreases (it is used in the decomposition process)
• what happens when the dissolved oxygen lowers? 


  It leads to the death of many fish and insects
• why do we monitor the acidity of water? where is it a problem?

  As the pH of the water system drops, the diversity of plants and animals that can live in the water decreases. It's a problem in areas where soil and water lack bases to neutralize it.
• why do we monitor pesticides when monitoring water quality?


   Some have long-term toxic effects because they don’t degrade and become trapped in the tissues of animals.
• why do we monitor toxicity when monitoring water quality?

  We measure the LD50 in the water and heavy metals found in water can be very harmful to children.
• what are the two main ways to determine air quality?


  measuring the pollutants and estimating pollutants based on the emissions from known sources
• list some pollutants that can affect air quality:


  Sulfur dioxide, Nitrogen Oxide, Carbon Monoxide and ground-level ozone.
• how does sulfur dioxide affect the air and how does it get there in the first place?


  Sulfur dioxide contributes to smog and acid rain and it comes from the oil and gas industry, as well as the burning of fossil fuels
• how do we deal with sulfur dioxide?


  We use Scrubbers which removes up to 99% of sulfur dioxide from emissions by using limestone to convert it into a useful product like carbon dioxide and gypsum.
• how are Nitrogen Oxides formed?


  they are formed by the burning of fossil fuels
• how do nitrogen oxides affect the air quality?


  They affect organs in the respiratory system negatively as well as damage eyes and contribute to smog and acid rain.
• how is carbon monoxide produced?


  it is produced by the burning of fossil fuels and when anything containing carbon is burned (incomplete combustion).
• how do we deal with carbon monoxide?


  Catalytic converters convert it into carbon dioxide.
• why is ground-level ozone harmful?

  it affects respiratory systems, negatively affects crops, and deteriorates plastics.