Topic notes for the IBDP Environmental Systems and Societies course.

1. IB Environmental Systems and Societies p. 1
Topic 1: Foundations of environmental systems and societies (16 hours)
1.5 Humans and Pollution
Significant Ideas:
➔ Pollution is a highly diverse phenomenon of human disturbance in ecosystems.
➔ Pollution management strategies can be applied at different levels.
Knowledge & Understanding: Use these notes to familiarize yourself with ESS terminology and concepts.
1.5.1 ​Pollution​ is the addition of a
substance or agent through human
activity, at a rate greater than that at
which it can be rendered harmless by
the environment, and which has an
appreciable effect on the organisms in
the environment.
1.5.2 ​Pollutants​ may be in the form of
organic​ or ​inorganic​ substances, light,
sound or thermal ​energy​, biological
agents or invasive species, and may
derive from a wide range of human
activities including the combustion of
fossil fuels.
1.5.3 Pollution may be ​nonpoint​ or
point​ source, persistent or
biodegradable, acute or chronic.
Point source:
Nonpoint source:
Persistent:
Biodegradable:
Acute:
Chronic:
Original Source​: International School of Prague
https://sites.google.com/site/environmentalsystemssocieties/home
Modified by Brad Kremer, May 2017

2. IB Environmental Systems and Societies p. 2
Topic 1: Foundations of environmental systems and societies (16 hours)
1.5.4 Pollutants may be ​primary​ (active
on emission) or ​secondary​ (arising from
primary pollutants undergoing physical
or chemical change).
Give TWO examples of primary pollutants:
Give TWO examples of secondary pollutants:
How might a “time lag” between the moment when the pollution
enters a system and its detection by scientists impact the effect on
organisms?
1.5.5 ​Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane
(DDT) exemplifies a conflict between
the utility of a “pollutant” and its effect
on the environment.
Why was DDT invented?
What was the discovered effect of DDT on the environment and who
was responsible for bringing this to the public’s attention?
Original Source​: International School of Prague
https://sites.google.com/site/environmentalsystemssocieties/home
Modified by Brad Kremer, May 2017

3. IB Environmental Systems and Societies p. 3
Topic 1: Foundations of environmental systems and societies (16 hours)
Applications & Skills: Treat the following prompts as assessment questions on your IB ESS exam. Use the
terminology and concepts from the notes above to respond to each of these prompts
1.5.AS1 ​Construct​ ​two systems diagrams to show the impact of the following pollutants.
Diagram 1​: Plastic microbeads in a marine food web (at least 5 organisms and 3 feeding (trophic) levels)
Diagram 2​: Thermal pollution’s effect on dissolved oxygen levels in a stream ecosystem
Original Source​: International School of Prague
https://sites.google.com/site/environmentalsystemssocieties/home
Modified by Brad Kremer, May 2017

4. IB Environmental Systems and Societies p. 4
Topic 1: Foundations of environmental systems and societies (16 hours)
1.5.AS2 ​Evaluate​ the effectiveness of each of the three levels of intervention, with reference to ​Figure 3​.
Mention any advantages to employ earlier strategies rather than later ones
1.5.AS3 ​Evaluate​ the uses of DDT. Include both the antimalarial use and agricultural use of DDT.
Original Source​: International School of Prague
https://sites.google.com/site/environmentalsystemssocieties/home
Modified by Brad Kremer, May 2017

5. IB Environmental Systems and Societies p. 5
Topic 1: Foundations of environmental systems and societies (16 hours)
Original Source​: International School of Prague
https://sites.google.com/site/environmentalsystemssocieties/home
Modified by Brad Kremer, May 2017