Gizmo Answer: Water Pollution

Name: Kaylee Perdomo Data:04/11/2025 Student Exploration: Water Pollution Vocabulary: bacterial pollution, nutrient pollution, sediment pollution, toxic pollution, water pollution Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.) 1. Water pollution is the addition of harmful substances to water. Some of these substances are found at home. What household chemicals might be harmful if not disposed of properly? Radioactive waste , pesticides, mercury ,lead ,gasoline , oil , paint , and battery acid _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ 2. What are some other causes of water pollution? Sediments , excessive nutrients, and bacteria __________________________________ Gizmo Warm-up The Water Pollution Gizmo will teach you about some of the main kinds of water pollution. On the TYPE tab, under Types of pollution, check that Toxic is selected. Read the paragraphs on the right and bottom of the Gizmo. 1. What is toxic pollution? Pollution caused by chemicals that can cause death disease, or birth defects when ingested or absorbed by organisms._____________________________ 2. What are some examples of toxic pollutants listed in the Gizmo? Radioactive waste , pesticides, mercury, lead, gasoline, oil, paint, and battery acid_____________________ _________________________________________________________________________ 3. Can you think of other examples of toxic substances, not listed in the Gizmo? Paraben_ , lead _________ 2019 Activity A: Types of water pollution Get the Gizmo ready:  Check that the TYPE tab and Toxic pollution are selected. Question: What are the main types of water pollution? 1. Read and learn: Besides toxic pollution, the other types of pollution are sediment pollution, nutrient pollution, and bacterial pollution. You have already described toxic pollution on the previous page. Read about the other types, and describe each in your own words. Sediment pollution Description: Pollution caused by erosion and build-up Causes: Logging, mining , farming , and construction can expose soil to erosion Consequences: Destroys fish and wildlife habitat, and clouds the water, blocking sunlight and interfering with aquatic plants. Nutrient pollution Description: Pollution Caused By Excessive Nutrients In Water Causes: Fertilizer, Manure, untreated human waste , and some detergents. Consequences: Caused Explosive Algal Growth, Which When The Algal Die , The Decomposition Consumes Oxygen And Leads To Hypoxia Or Low Oxygen Conditions , Killing Fish And Other Aquatic Animals Bacterial pollution Description: Pollution Caused By untreated human or animal waste is released directly into water resources. Causes: Animal manure and untreated human waste Consequences: Drinking water contaminated with fecal bacteria may cause outbreaks of cholera and dysentery. Fecal bacteria caused health problems for animals and plant as well 2019 Get the Gizmo ready: Activity B:  Select the EXAMPLE tab.  Check that example 1/12 is selected. (If not, use the arrow buttons to get to example 1/12.) Real-world examples Question: What are the real-world causes of water pollution? 1. Practice: For each Real-world example presented in the Gizmo, guess which type or types of pollution will result by checking the boxes. When you are ready, click Check answer to see if you were right. Read the explanation, and then use your own words to fill in the table. Example 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Pollution type(s) Nutrient and bacterial Toxic and nutrient Toxic and nutrient Sediment Toxic Sediment Toxic Explanation Manure contains bacteria and is very high in nitrogen. During rainstorms, the manure will run off into the river and cause bacterial and nutrient pollution The gasoline that leaks at the gas station can make its way to local water resources, causing toxic pollution. Nitrogen oxides can contribute to acid rain and also raise levels of nitrogen in water bodies, causing both toxic and nutrient pollution. Excess fertilizer, herbicides, and pesticides can run off or seep into water resources. Fertilizers are high in phosphorous and nitrogen, causing nutrient pollution. Herbicides and pesticides cause toxic pollution harmful to many forms of life. Because there are no plants to anchor soil, wind and rain will cause significant erosion. The silt fence will help, but will not be able to prevent sediment pollution Oil and antifreeze, as well as many other chemicals found in cars, are toxic to the environment. These chemicals can seep through soil or runoff into nearby water supplies, harming plants and wildlife The roots of the trees and shrubs around a lake help hold the soil in place during heavy rain or when the waves hit the shore. Removal of the vegetation can cause erosion, thus causing sediment pollution Paint and solvents such as turpentine and paint thinner are toxic to the environment and should always be disposed of in dedicated household toxic waste facilities. Toxic chemicals may seep into soil and water at the landfill and contaminate water resources 2019 8 Nutrient and Bacterial 9 Toxic and Sediment 10 11 12 Nutrient Water treatment facilities can only treat a certain amount of sewage each day. If too much water enters the facility, excess untreated sewage will be released into the environment. Sewage containing human waste will cause both bacterial and nutrient pollution Toxic materials on the surface of the parking lot may runoff into the stream, causing toxic pollution. Sediment pollution may occur when land is cleared for the parking lot and playground. Although different plants require different amounts of fertilizer, any plant has a maximum amount of fertilizer it can use. Excess fertilizer can wash into nearby waterways, causing nutrient pollution Sediment Paper and cardboard are made from trees. As demand for paper and cardboard increases, forests will decrease in size as trees are logged. This will expose more areas to erosion and cause sediment pollution. Nutrient and bacterial Over time, old septic tanks can fill up or start to leak. This can cause untreated human waste, rich in bacteria and nutrients, to be released into the environment (Activity B continued on next page) 2019 Activity B (continued from previous page) 2. Practice: Classify each of the following examples as toxic, sediment, nutrient, and/or bacterial pollution. Explain your classifications. A. Logging removes trees from a hill, leaving a barren landscape. Classification: Sediment Explanation: Erosion caused by the logging will end up in nearby rivers or water resources B. A man washes clothes in a stream using a detergent that contains phosphorus. Classification: Toxic Explanation: The chemical is toxic, and carrying these fumes could harm wildlife habitat_________________________________________________________ C. At an old gas station, gasoline leaks from an underground storage tank. Classification: Toxic Explanation: he gasoline can run into rivers and pollute drinking water, aquatic habitat and kill fish and other aquatic animals _________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ D. At a research lab, a scientist carelessly pours cultures of living microbes down the drain. Classification: Bacterial Explanation: The scientist didn’t properly dispose of the microbes, possibly polluting drinking water by pouring them down the drain Think and discuss: Many sources of water pollution are found within the home. What actions can you take to reduce water pollution? Take shorter showers, don't over water your lawn or wash your car too frequently. Use less toxic products and avoid cutting down too many trees 3. _________________________________________ 2019 _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ 2019