Chapter 4 Section 2 Notes ‐ Pollution
A. A pollutant is a substance that contaminates the air, land, or water.
B. Air pollutants include soot, smoke, ash, and gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur oxides.
C. Smog is created when sunlight reacts with pollutants.
1 D. Acid precipitation results from air pollutants reacting with water in the atmosphere.
1. Acid rain can kill plants and animals.
2. Reducing the use of high sulfur coal and lowering pollutants from vehicle exhaust can help prevent acid rain.
2 3 Let's see what Tim and Moby have to say about acid rain and air pollution!
4 E. The atmosphere traps heat through the greenhouse effect; increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere may cause global warming.
F. Ozone depletion, the thinning of the ozone layer, is caused by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and can result in increased UV radiation reaching Earth’s surface.
G. Insulation can trap indoor air pollutants such as carbon monoxide or radon.
5 H. Water is polluted when air or land pollutants enter rivers, lakes, or oceans.
1. Surface water pollutants include chemical pesticides, raw sewage, and fertilizer.
2. Rivers and streams dump pollutants into the ocean; oil spills are also a source of seawater pollution.
3. Groundwater can become polluted as it seeps through particles of rock and soil or collects in underground pools called aquifers.
6 I. Erosion is the movement of soil from one place to another; it causes the loss of fertile topsoil.
J. Soil can be polluted by solid wastes in landfills or by hazardous wastes such as dangerous chemicals or radioactive materials.
7 DISCUSSION QUESTION:
How can important water sources such as surface water, ocean water, and groundwater be protected from pollution?
Treating and recycling solid waste before it reaches water sources; reducing the release of air pollutants into the air; improving the living conditions of human populations worldwide
8 See how much you know by taking the section 2 self‐check quiz!
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