Unit 8 APES Review

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What is bioaccumulation?

Back

Bioaccumulation is the process by which persistent pollutants, such as mercury or PCBs, build up in the tissues of an organism over time as they consume contaminated food.

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What is biomagnification?

Back

Biomagnification refers to the increasing concentration of pollutants in the tissues of organisms at each successive level of the food chain.

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What is point-source pollution?

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Point-source pollution is pollution that originates from a single, identifiable source, such as a factory discharging waste into a river.

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What is nonpoint-source pollution?

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Nonpoint-source pollution is pollution that comes from multiple, diffuse sources, making it harder to identify and control.

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What is the Stockholm Convention?

Back

The Stockholm Convention is an international treaty aimed at eliminating or reducing the release of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) into the environment.

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What is lead and its impact on health?

Back

Lead is a persistent inorganic pollutant that can impair neurological functioning, particularly in children.

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What is the Clean Water Act?

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The Clean Water Act is a U.S. federal law that aims to restore and maintain the integrity of the nation's waters by preventing point and nonpoint source pollution.

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What are persistent organic pollutants (POPs)?

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Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are organic compounds that are resistant to environmental degradation and can accumulate in the food chain.

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What is the tragedy of the commons?

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The tragedy of the commons is an economic theory that describes how individuals acting in their own self-interest can deplete shared resources, leading to negative outcomes for the whole community.

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What is the difference between bioaccumulation and biomagnification?

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Bioaccumulation refers to the accumulation of pollutants in a single organism, while biomagnification refers to the increase in concentration of these pollutants as they move up the food chain.