Topic 3.0 – Monitoring the Environment

I. Monitoring Water Quality A. Using Biological Indicators o The use of live organisms (bacteria and invertebrates) to determine health of water o Invertebrates respond quickly to oxygen levels, water temp and pH.

Stone fly (GOOD) Midge fly larvae (BAD)

Poor water quality sample

I. Monitoring Water Quality A. Using Biological Indicators Poor quality water signs: ◦Bacteria ◦Bacteria present ◦Low variety of species ◦Midgefly larvae and worms present

I. Monitoring Water Quality B. Concentration of Chemicals in Water Concentrations of chemicals/minerals in water are measured using parts per million (ppm) ppm = mass (mg) volume (L) *If sodium is 25 ppm, then there are 25 sodium particles in a million water particles ◦The higher the concentration (ppm) the more toxic the water is.

Ex. If 2.4 mg of potassium is found in 550mL bottle of water, how many ppm’s are present?

Halloween Face paint article The lead found ranged from parts per million to 0.65 parts per million. Four of 10 products had nickel, ranging from 2.1 to 5.9 parts per million; two of 10 had cobalt, with levels from 4.8 to 5.5 parts per million. Five of 10 had chromium, ranging from 1.6 to 120 parts per million. According to the report, levels of each should not exceed 1 part per million for consumer products.

I. Monitoring Water Quality C. Dissolved Oxygen The higher the dissolved oxygen, the more species that are able to survive in the water Low O 2 levels are caused by: ◦Higher temperatures ◦Little wind ◦Lots of photosynthesis (lots of algae present) ◦Too many organisms in the water ◦Too much phosphorus and nitrogen

I. Monitoring Water Quality C. Dissolved Oxygen midge larvae The presence of only midge larvae and worms indicates a low oxygen lake

I. Monitoring Water Quality N and P from sewage outfalls and run-off from fertilized fields enter water Lots of nutrients causes algae and plants to grow (use O 2 ) More plants = more dead matter Bacteria increase to decompose dead plants (use O 2 ) Little O 2 causes fish and insects to die D. Phosphorus and Nitrogen Levels

Mississippi Delta Satellite Image from NASA

I. Monitoring Water Quality D. Phosphorus and Nitrogen Levels Summary: Summary: ◦Higher P and N levels are from fertilizers ◦Higher levels cause lower oxygen levels ◦Higher levels cause lower oxygen levels and decreased variety of organisms

I. Monitoring Water Quality E. Acidity spring acid shock o Too low of a pH (caused by acid rain or spring acid shock) reduce the number of organisms in a lake Spring acid shock – when acid precipitation (snow) melts into lakes and streams it lowers the pH

pH LEVELEFFECTS <6 *Basic forms of food die off. Eg. Mayflies and stoneflies are important food sources for fish. They can't survive at this pH level. <5.5 *Fish cannot reproduce. *Young have difficulty staying alive. *More deformed adult fish due to lack of nutrients. *Fish die of suffocation. <5.0*Fish population die off. <4.0 *Very different lifeforms, if any, from before. Summary of the effect of the pH level of the lake on its lifeforms.

I. Monitoring Water Quality F. Toxins Toxins Toxins – substances that produce death/health problems in an organism persistent Ex. DDT – a pesticide used which is persistent (toxins that accumulate in the environment) >eggs shells of osprey and eagles were thinned causing a drop in their population numbers

Clutch of mallard eggs damaged by DDT

I. Monitoring Water Quality F. Toxicity We measure toxicity by LD 50 (lethal dose of 50%). > This number is the mass of toxins needed to kill 50% of the population Ex. Which is more toxic? 50 mg/kg or 30 mg/kg

I. Monitoring Water Quality F. Toxicity Heavy metals – metal elements that have a high density ◦Ex. Mercury, cadmium, lead, copper, nickel ◦These metals are toxic for living organisms and their concentration must be monitored closely ◦Effects of heavy metals: nerve damage, brain damage, death ◦Acidic or basic water can help dissolve these metals so they enter water sources ◦These metals deposit in fat layers of humans and animals

Nervous system damage (mercury poisoning)

Mad Hatter’s Disease “Mad hatter disease is a disease of the nervous system caused by mercury poisoning.diseasenervous systemmercury poisoning The name refers to the effects of chronic mercury exposure on hatters who had to work with mercury-treated fur and felt. mercuryfurfelt It was an occurrence in the 1800s. Mercury was once used in the making of hats. This is known to affect the nervous systems of the hatter, causing them to shake and seem insane. Mercury exposure can cause aggressiveness, irrational behavior and mood swings.

I. Monitoring Water Quality F. Toxins Biomagnification Biomagnification – where the concentration of toxins increase as you go up a food chain Why????

o Good water conditions o Good water conditions: o pH around o Plenty of dissolved oxygen o Numerous species o Low concentration of toxins o Low-moderate levels of P and N o Low levels of bacteria

II. Monitoring Air Quality Air is monitored for the concentration of particles and gases within the air Air Quality for Ontario November 16, 2009, 10:00 AM Station Name AQICause Toronto Downtown 12Ozone (O 3 ) Toronto East10Ozone (O 3 ) Toronto North14Ozone (O 3 ) Toronto West10Nitrogen Dioxide (NO 2 ) Air Quality Index (AQI) Categories AQI 0-15 Very Good Good Moderate Poor 100+ Very Poor Air Quality in Alberta

II. Monitoring Air Quality Common Air Pollutants A. Sulfur Dioxide (SO 2 ) Forms smog and acid precipitation Source: combustion of coal, oil and natural gas Reduction: Use of scrubbers (containing lime) in industrial plants

II. Monitoring Air Quality B. Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Forms smog and acid precipitation Source: Vehicle emissions Reduction: Catalytic converters

Smog over LA

II. Monitoring Air Quality C. Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) Source: Combustion of coal, gas, trees Effects: Greenhouse gas/ acid rain

II. Monitoring Air Quality D. Ozone (O 3 ) High level ozone is required in the atmosphere to reduce harmful UV rays that come to earth Ground level ozone is harmful – causes breathing difficulty Source: Vehicle emissions

III. Monitoring the Atmosphere Two main concerns regarding our atmosphere: ◦Effects of carbon dioxide ◦Maintenance of ozone layer

III. Monitoring the Atmosphere A. Greenhouse Effect When gases in atmosphere trap heat from the Sun (like a greenhouse) GOOD: Keeps temperatures at levels we can live at (without we would die!) - would be extremely cold without the greenhouse effect Greenhouse gases: CO 2, H 2 0, methane, NO x

III. Monitoring the Atmosphere B. Enhanced Greenhouse Effect more When humans emit more greenhouse gases than necessary which traps too much heat (BAD) Sources: Fossil fuel combustion releases greenhouse gases Causes the OVERALL increase in temperature on Earth

III. Monitoring the Atmosphere C. Global Warming The increase in worldwide temperatures caused by enhanced greenhouse effect How do we stop or curb this? ◦Reduce CO 2 emissions ◦Maintain carbon sinks (trees, oceans)

III. Monitoring the Atmosphere D. Climate Change The trend of a change in climate over AT LEAST 30 years! NOT a year to year thing – long term trend!!!!! Potentially caused by global warming

II. Monitoring the Atmosphere E. CFC’s (chlorofluorocarbons) Were used in aerosol cans, coolants and to make Styrofoam Causes reduction in the high level ozone, Ozone prevents harmful UV rays to reach earth Less O 3 causes increase in skin cancer levels

Ozone hole over Antarctica

Air Pollutants Review Greenhouse GasesAcid Rain Components Carbon dioxide CO 2 Nitrous oxide NOx H20H20Sulphur dioxide SO 2 Methane CH 4