This document discusses various types of pollution and their impacts. It begins by defining pollution and the goal of determining threats to resources and developing scientific solutions. It then discusses different components of the biosphere - the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. Specific topics covered include soil contamination, water contamination from agricultural runoff, fossil fuel emissions increasing greenhouse gases, and alternatives to fossil fuels. Food chains and trophic levels are explained, showing how pollution can impact entire ecosystems. Solutions proposed include better land management, alternative energy sources, and reducing agricultural and industrial runoff.

1. 11
PollutionPollution
PHSciencePHScience

2. 22
ChallengeChallenge
• To define pollution;To define pollution;
• To determine threats to our air/water/landTo determine threats to our air/water/land
resources;resources;
• To develop solutions to some of theseTo develop solutions to some of these
problems using SCIENCE!problems using SCIENCE!

3. 33
BackgroundBackground
• To understand how theTo understand how the
biosphere gets polluted,biosphere gets polluted,
we must study each ofwe must study each of
the “spheres” of thethe “spheres” of the
biosphere (where all lifebiosphere (where all life
exists) and how theyexists) and how they
interact:interact:
– the atmosphere (airthe atmosphere (air
layers)layers)
– the lithosphere (soil andthe lithosphere (soil and
rocks);rocks);
– the hydrosphere (waterythe hydrosphere (watery
regions);regions);
– and the ecosphereand the ecosphere
(plants and animals).(plants and animals).

4. 44
LithosphereLithosphere
• The lithosphere is the hard shell of theThe lithosphere is the hard shell of the
Earth, consisting of the crust and theEarth, consisting of the crust and the
topmost part of the upper mantle.topmost part of the upper mantle.

5. 55
MineralsMinerals
• Minerals are solid inorganic substances withMinerals are solid inorganic substances with
clearly defined composition and properties;clearly defined composition and properties;
• Rocks are made of different proportions ofRocks are made of different proportions of
minerals.minerals.
• There are many different types of granite rockThere are many different types of granite rock
depending on the relative concentrations of thedepending on the relative concentrations of the
minerals - feldspar (red), quartz (white) and micaminerals - feldspar (red), quartz (white) and mica
(black)(black)

6. 66
RocksRocks
• Rocks are classified according to their:Rocks are classified according to their:
– Density – mass/volume;Density – mass/volume;
– Hardness – Mohs Scale;Hardness – Mohs Scale;
– Colour – colour of rock on the inside;Colour – colour of rock on the inside;
– Streak – of colour on a porcelain tile;Streak – of colour on a porcelain tile;
– Transparency – how you can see thru’ it;Transparency – how you can see thru’ it;
– Acid test results – does HCl make it bubble;Acid test results – does HCl make it bubble;
– Origin – sedimentary, igneous, metamorphic;Origin – sedimentary, igneous, metamorphic;

7. 77
SoilSoil
• Soil is the mixture ofSoil is the mixture of
– Organic matter – decomposing plantsOrganic matter – decomposing plants
and animals;and animals;
– Minerals;Minerals;
– Broken-down rock material;Broken-down rock material;
• The 5 soil horizons or layers are:The 5 soil horizons or layers are:
– Organic matter;Organic matter;
– Topsoil;Topsoil;
– Subsoil;Subsoil;
– Fragmented parent rock;Fragmented parent rock;
– Unaltered parent rock (bedrock);Unaltered parent rock (bedrock);

8. 88
Life in the soilLife in the soil
• For soil to support life it must have:For soil to support life it must have:
– A sufficient amount of dissolved minerals;A sufficient amount of dissolved minerals;
– Enough moisture;Enough moisture;
– A good soil pH that is neither too acidic (pHA good soil pH that is neither too acidic (pH
1-6), nor too basic (pH 8-14);1-6), nor too basic (pH 8-14);
o Soil acts as a buffer so that its acidity doesSoil acts as a buffer so that its acidity does
not change too much;not change too much;

9. 99
ActivityActivity
• Soil analysis demo;Soil analysis demo;
• Rock collection;Rock collection;
• Workbook, page 97 & 99, 101 & 102;Workbook, page 97 & 99, 101 & 102;
• Textbook page 184 – 191;Textbook page 184 – 191;

10. 1010
ProblemsProblems
• Soil depletion – the loss of soil fertility;Soil depletion – the loss of soil fertility;
• Soil erosion – soil being washed away;Soil erosion – soil being washed away;
• Soil contamination - the abnormal presence ofSoil contamination - the abnormal presence of
harmful substances;harmful substances;
• Water depletion – loss of water because of over-Water depletion – loss of water because of over-
use reduces its availability for others;use reduces its availability for others;
• Water contamination – contaminated water willWater contamination – contaminated water will
move downstream and affect other areas.move downstream and affect other areas.

11. 1111
Fossil Fuels and theFossil Fuels and the
AtmosphereAtmosphere
• Fossil fuels result from the transformation ofFossil fuels result from the transformation of
organic residue like plants, animals;organic residue like plants, animals;
• These energy resources consist of:These energy resources consist of:
– Oil;Oil;
– Natural gas;Natural gas;
– Coal;Coal;
• Burning these fossil fuels releases CarbonBurning these fossil fuels releases Carbon
Dioxide (CODioxide (CO22) into the atmosphere.) into the atmosphere.
• These add to the naturalThese add to the natural Greenhouse GasesGreenhouse Gases
which act as a blanket to trap the Earth’s heat;which act as a blanket to trap the Earth’s heat;
• Global Warming is caused by too high aGlobal Warming is caused by too high a
concentration of Greenhouse Gases whichconcentration of Greenhouse Gases which
increases the world’s average temperature;increases the world’s average temperature;

12. 1212
ContaminationContamination
• Contamination is the abnormal presenceContamination is the abnormal presence
of a harmful substance in an environment;of a harmful substance in an environment;
• E.g. Selenium metal is necessary in lowE.g. Selenium metal is necessary in low
dosages, but in high dosages it is toxic;dosages, but in high dosages it is toxic;

13. 1313
Pollution from PlasticsPollution from Plastics
• Fossil fuels are used to make plastics;Fossil fuels are used to make plastics;
• Plastics can take 100s of years to decompose;Plastics can take 100s of years to decompose;
• Burning fossil fuels releases their chemicalBurning fossil fuels releases their chemical
energy in the form of thermal energy or heat;energy in the form of thermal energy or heat;
• The thermal energy can be converted toThe thermal energy can be converted to
mechanical energy in car engines;mechanical energy in car engines;
• One of the products of burning fossil fuels isOne of the products of burning fossil fuels is
Carbon Dioxide (COCarbon Dioxide (CO22 ););
• This also increases the greenhouse gas effectThis also increases the greenhouse gas effect
and warms the Earth up;and warms the Earth up;
• Other products are Nitrogen Oxides (NOOther products are Nitrogen Oxides (NOxx) and) and
Sulphur Dioxide (SOSulphur Dioxide (SO22) which form acid rain;) which form acid rain;

14. 1414
Alternate Energy SourcesAlternate Energy Sources
• Geothermal Energy – from energy of theGeothermal Energy – from energy of the
Earth;Earth;
• Wind Energy – from energy of the wind;Wind Energy – from energy of the wind;
• Solar Energy – from energy of the Sun;Solar Energy – from energy of the Sun;
• Tidal Energy – from ebb and flow of oceans;Tidal Energy – from ebb and flow of oceans;
• Hydro-Electric Energy – from falling water;Hydro-Electric Energy – from falling water;
• Current Energy – from the ocean’s currents;Current Energy – from the ocean’s currents;
• Nuclear Energy – the energy stored in theNuclear Energy – the energy stored in the
bonds between the particles in the nucleusbonds between the particles in the nucleus
of an atom;of an atom;

15. 1515
HydrosphereHydrosphere
• The Hydrosphere is the Earth’s outer layerThe Hydrosphere is the Earth’s outer layer
of water:of water:
– Liquid water – waterLiquid water – water
– Solid water – iceSolid water – ice
– Gaseous water – water vapourGaseous water – water vapour

16. 1616
CryosphereCryosphere
• The Cryosphere consists of all the frozen waterThe Cryosphere consists of all the frozen water
of the Earth’s surface;of the Earth’s surface;
• The Polar Ice Caps are floating masses of ice atThe Polar Ice Caps are floating masses of ice at
the North and South Poles;the North and South Poles;
• Melting of the Polar Ice Caps releases water intoMelting of the Polar Ice Caps releases water into
the ocean, dilutes the denser sea water, andthe ocean, dilutes the denser sea water, and
affects the Thermohaline Circulation;affects the Thermohaline Circulation;
• The Thermohaline Circulation is the movementThe Thermohaline Circulation is the movement
of salty ocean water around the world due to itsof salty ocean water around the world due to its
density and temperature.density and temperature.
• The air masses that are over the ocean pick upThe air masses that are over the ocean pick up
the heat; this helps create prevailing windthe heat; this helps create prevailing wind
patterns.patterns.

17. 1717
GlaciersGlaciers
• Glaciers are large land-based masses ofGlaciers are large land-based masses of
ice.ice.
• Global warming causes the glaciers toGlobal warming causes the glaciers to
melt and slide towards the oceans.melt and slide towards the oceans.
• This may cause the water levels of theThis may cause the water levels of the
oceans to rise.oceans to rise.

18. 1818
Causes of Ocean PollutionCauses of Ocean Pollution
• The Pacific Gyre is a place in the PacificThe Pacific Gyre is a place in the Pacific
Ocean where most of the water-borneOcean where most of the water-borne
plastics comes together.plastics comes together.

19. 1919
Causes of Freshwater PollutionCauses of Freshwater Pollution
• Farming activities releaseFarming activities release
– PesticidesPesticides
– HerbicidesHerbicides
– PhosphatesPhosphates
– NitratesNitrates

20. 2020
WatershedWatershed
• A watershed is an area of land in which allA watershed is an area of land in which all
inland waters drain into the same largerinland waters drain into the same larger
body of water;body of water;
• E.g. In Quebec, we have three:E.g. In Quebec, we have three:
– St. Lawrence River watershed;St. Lawrence River watershed;
– Ungava Bay watershed;Ungava Bay watershed;
– Hudson Bay watershed;Hudson Bay watershed;

21. 2121
Watershed FactorsWatershed Factors
• Factors that affect how water flows withinFactors that affect how water flows within
a watershed are:a watershed are:
– Topography – shape, slope, terrain of area;Topography – shape, slope, terrain of area;
– Geology – type, depth, structure of theGeology – type, depth, structure of the
bedrock;bedrock;
– Climate – rain or snowfall, winds andClimate – rain or snowfall, winds and
temperature;temperature;
– Vegetation – density and diversity;Vegetation – density and diversity;
– Land use – agricultural, industrial or urban;Land use – agricultural, industrial or urban;

22. 2222
EutrophicationEutrophication
• Eutrophication is the process by whichEutrophication is the process by which
natural waters lose their oxygen becausenatural waters lose their oxygen because
of an excessive accumulation of organicof an excessive accumulation of organic
matter and nutrients;matter and nutrients;
• This harms organisms at different trophicThis harms organisms at different trophic
levels in local food chains or food webs.levels in local food chains or food webs.

23. 2323
Trophic LevelsTrophic Levels
• Consumers are the organisms that mustConsumers are the organisms that must
eat other organisms for their foodeat other organisms for their food
(heterotrophs);(heterotrophs);
• 11stst
degree consumers eat the plants;degree consumers eat the plants;
• 22ndnd
degree consumers eat the 1degree consumers eat the 1stst
degreedegree
consumers;consumers;
• 33rdrd
degree consumers eat the 2degree consumers eat the 2ndnd
degreedegree
consumers;consumers;
• Decomposers are scavengers orDecomposers are scavengers or
detritovores that eat dead organisms;detritovores that eat dead organisms;

24. 2424
Food chainsFood chains
• Food chains show the path of food thru’Food chains show the path of food thru’
different trophic levels.different trophic levels.
• If one organism is affected, then otherIf one organism is affected, then other
organisms are affected.organisms are affected.

25. 2525
Trophic LevelsTrophic Levels
• The sun produces all the energy for theThe sun produces all the energy for the
earth;earth;
• Producers are plants that take the sun’sProducers are plants that take the sun’s
energy and turn it into food (autotrophs);energy and turn it into food (autotrophs);
• Primary productivity is a measure of whatPrimary productivity is a measure of what
mass (kg) of plant growth can occur in onemass (kg) of plant growth can occur in one
year.year.

26. 2626

27. 2727
ProblemsProblems
• What would happen to the number ofWhat would happen to the number of
foxes if the frog population decreased?foxes if the frog population decreased?
• If there was a contamination of DDT in theIf there was a contamination of DDT in the
swamp, which trophic level would have theswamp, which trophic level would have the
highest concentration?highest concentration?

28. 2828
ActivityActivity
• Textbook, p. 214-6, Q. 1-11,15-23Textbook, p. 214-6, Q. 1-11,15-23
• Test;Test;
• Monsters in the Lake;Monsters in the Lake;

29. 2929
Science SolutionsScience Solutions
ProblemsProblems SolutionsSolutions
Land -Land -
Land -Land -
Air -Air -
Air –Air –
Water -Water -
Water -Water -