1. Chapter 5 Air and Water Resources
Finding Pollution Solutions
Section 3
Notes 5-4

2. Reducing Air Pollution
Clean Air Act: development of air pollution control technologies
Scrubber: removes pollutants from air with a stream of water droplets
Pollutants fall into a container after being dissolved in the water
Filters: trap particles of soot and ash
Catalytic Converter: device on vehicles
Reduces carbon monoxide emissions by forming less harmful carbon dioxide and water

3. Reducing Air Pollution
CFC substitutes
1987 many nations agreed to stop using CFCs by 2000.
Refrigerators and air conditioners use less harmful substances
New ways to create plastic foam without CFCs

4. Cleaning Up the Water Sewage Treatment To reduce water pollution:
Treat wastes so they are less harmful
Find substitutes for pollutants
Sewage Treatment
Primary Treatment: removes solid materials from wastewater
Water passes through filters
Solids are held in tanks and particles settle out

5. Cleaning Up the Water
Secondary Treatment: bacteria break down solid wastes
Water is treated with chlorine to kill disease causing organisms
Arcata, CA
Wastewater flows into ponds with algae
Algae breaks down sewage
Water moves to marshes with cattails and bulrushes to clean the water
Areas are also for habitats for fish and birds
Also areas for bike riding and trails for recreation

6. Cleaning Up the Water Oil and Gasoline
Oil spills can be cleaned up with bacteria
Bacteria eat the oil and reproduce as long as there is food
They die off as soon as their food disappears
Big oil spills affect the wildlife before the bacteria can restore the ecosystem
Gasoline spills are hard to clean up
Soil can be removed
However, if gasoline reaches the groundwater…much worse!
Water has to be pumped out and cleaned
Then it can be put back into the ground

7. Cleaning Up the Water Industrial Chemicals Farming Chemicals
Industries can recycle their wastes
They save money and reduce pollution
Industries can change how they produce their product
Use less water or create less harmful wastes
Farming Chemicals
Finding alternatives to pesticides and fertilizers
DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane)
1972 DDT usage was stopped
Today it is labeled as a probable human carcinogen
Stays in an organism for a long time

8. What can you do? Little changes can make a big difference
Walk or ride a bike
Save electricity by turning off lights and other devices
Carpool
Buy a more fuel efficient vehicle
Don’t pour chemicals down the drain
Don’t put old medicines in the toilet