Geography 2011A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Canadian Airspace, Sewage Treatment, Love Canal
20 Dec 2017
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Document Summary
5 pathways of pollution for contaminants to enter the environment: 4 indirect, 1 direct, direct = pipe. Indirect = atmospheric deposition, ground water run-off, surface water run-off, contaminated sediments: toxic chemicals carried long distances, difficult to control so many point sources that have contributed to the atmosphere. Dredging mixing up contaminated sediments back into the water. Heavy ships close to bottom of water which disturbs the sediment. Contaminated sediment in the great lakes areas of concern. Groundwater movement: water slowly passes through the ground and picks up dissolved materials that have been buried or soaked into the ground, ex. Point sources (direct): once identified and regulated, pollution control mechanisms work really well, need to know what the pollutant is, how dangerous it is and how to regulate it. Non-point sources (indirect): difficult to control, only one we had the idea on how to clean up was the contaminated sediments, other avenues - public education, voluntary action and pollution prevention.
