Greeniacs Glossary

When water flows over or through sulfur-bearing materials forming acidic solutions. The water that flows from the mines contains high concentrations of metal, which reacts chemically with rocks containing sulfur-bearing materials like pyrite. Acid mine drainage comes mainly from abandoned coal mines and currently active mining. Environmental impacts include: contaminated drinking water, disrupted growth and reproduction of aquatic plants and animals, and corroding effects of acid on parts of infrastructure such as bridges.

A mixture of wet and dry deposited material from the atmosphere containing higher than normal amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids. The main human-made source of acid rain is when fossil fuel combustion releases nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide, which form acidic compounds when mixed with oxygen and water in the atmosphere. Natural sources include volcanoes and decaying vegetation. Acid rain kills wildlife, damages buildings and cars, and reduces visibility in the air.

Liquid and solid wastes from farming, including: runoff and leaching of pesticides and fertilizers; erosion and dust from plowing; animal manure and carcasses; crop residue; and debris. Agricultural pollution is a crucial global environmental issue because the planet’s growing population requires an ever-increasing supply of food. Prevention and remediation of agricultural pollution are needed to protect water supplies, human health, and ecosystem health worldwide.

A combination of forestry with agriculture to create integrated and sustainable land uses. An example of this practice is “alley cropping,” where an agricultural crop is grown simultaneously with a long-term tree crop to provide annual income while the tree crop matures. Agroforestry is an important advance in environmentally-friendly farming practices because it promotes the growth of trees rather than clear-cutting. This practice also takes advantage of an ecosystem-based approach to farming, which promotes biodiversity.

The presence of particulates, noxious gases, or other impurities in the air that harm human or environmental health. Air pollution can occur both outdoors and indoors. Some of the harmful effects of air pollution include smog, acid rain, the greenhouse effect, and holes in the ozone layer. A common source of particulate air pollution is the burning of fossil fuels and other industrial processes.

The concentration of pollutants allowed by regulations for a given time in a defined area. Air quality standards are set based on health effects on an area’s average population. These standards control human exposure to air pollution and may vary among governments.

The rapid growth of aquatic plants which occurs when specific wind and water current conditions produce an environment favorable to their growth. Algal blooms also occur due to over-enrichment of nutrients due to runoff from lawns, roads, and farmland. These blooms can adversely affect the health of people and marine ecosystems as well as the health of local and regional economies. Algal blooms are an important environmental issue because they are usually caused by humans and can have disproportional effects on marine ecosystems.

Nontraditional farm products. Traditional crops include corn, soybeans, and wheat. Some alternative crops are milkweed, flax, lentils, and sunflower. Alternative crops have gained popularity due to changes in farm subsidies and the consumer markets. They allow farmers to diversify their income streams, ward off insect pests naturally, and help maintain the health of soil by rotating through different crops. Alternative crops are a part of an effort to achieve sustainable agriculture by limiting pesticide use and maintain biodiversity.

The science of breeding, feeding and care of domestic animals, including housing and nutrition. Animal husbandry is an environmental issue because breeding often involves large, dense populations with similar genetic makeup. These populations can be susceptible to disease and produce a great deal of waste. Sustainable animal husbandry involves breaking these populations into smaller groups and avoiding overuse of antibiotics.

The cultivation of the natural products of the water such as fish, shellfish and plants under control conditions. Aquaculture can be regarded as the agriculture of the oceans, lakes and rivers. It differs from fishing because aquaculture involves the active maintenance of stocks of fish, rather than only harvesting. Aquaculture is environmentally beneficial because it helps prevent over fishing and depletion of natural fish stocks. However, some methods of aquaculture are environmentally damaging, such as the spread of disease from crowded fish nurseries, pollution from fish wastes, and loss of biodiversity.

An agent that destroys bacteria. Bactericides are used as disinfectants, antibiotics, and antiseptics. Bactericides have some significant environmental effects. First, if used improperly or excessively, bactericides can kill non-target organisms, disrupting natural ecosystem function. Second, overuse of bactericides can help breed resistant, “super-bacteria.”

Substances in contaminated air, water, or food that increase in concentration in living organisms exposed to them because the substances are very slowly metabolized or excreted. Some examples of common bioaccumulants are DDT, methyl mercury, and lead. Bioaccumulation can also occur up the food chain as predators eat contaminated prey or when grazing animals eat contaminated plants. This is an environmental issue because humans and animals can be poisoned by toxins that have been accumulating through the food chain.

The property of being capable of decomposing under natural conditions. Objects that are not biodegradable pose an environmental challenge because they last a long time when disposed, filling landfills or requiring complex end-of-life processing. Biodegradable materials are generally preferable to the environmental movement.

Water with a higher concentration of dissolved salts than fresh water, but less than that of sea water. Brackish water occurs where rivers meet the ocean and can form important habitat such as mangrove forests and wetlands. Examples of brackish water include the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea.

A colorless, practically odorless, and tasteless gas or liquid. It results from the incomplete oxidation of carbon in combustion (i.e. burning fossil fuels). Carbon monoxide’s health effects include fatigue and chest pain at low concentrations. Exposure at higher concentrations leads to impaired vision, headaches, dizziness, confusion, and nausea. It is fatal at very high concentrations. Carbon monoxide is an important pollutant because of its widespread production from the use of fossil fuels and its toxic effects.

A toxic, clear, colorless, halogenated, organic liquid with a distinctive odor used as a refrigerant and propellant for aerosol cans, as a solvent for oils, fats, lacquers, and as a grain fumigant and a dry cleaning agent. Carbon tetrachloride has been shown to cause cancer, but was widely used by consumers and industry before this was known. It is an environmental concern because it is toxic, depletes the ozone layer, and is a greenhouse gas.

Causing cancer or contributing to the causation of cancer. There are natural carcinogens and man-made carcinogens. The release of chemicals and industrial materials into the environment has increased the exposure of the general population to carcinogens.

The size of the population or community that can be supported indefinitely upon the available resources and services of a given ecosystem. Living within the limits of an ecosystem depends on three factors: the amount of resources available in the ecosystem; the size of the population or community; and the amount of resources each individual within the community is consuming. This concept is important to the environmental movement as the human population grows larger and the natural resources on the planet remain the same.

Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) are devices which convert electrical energy into visible light. These light bulbs contain a gas that produces invisible ultraviolet light (UV) when the gas is excited by electricity. When that ultraviolet light hits the white coating of the bulb, the light becomes visible. CFLs are energy-efficient when compared to conventional incandescent light bulbs, which reduces environmental impacts from energy production. They typically last longer than conventional bulbs. CFLs contain a small amount of toxic mercury, which can be released if the bulb is broken or disposed of improperly.

Any significant change in measures of climate (such as temperature, precipitation, or wind) lasting for an extended period (decades or longer). Climate change may result from: natural factors, such as changes in the sun’s intensity or slow changes in the Earth’s orbit around the sun; natural processes within the climate system (e.g. changes in ocean circulation); human activities that change the atmosphere’s composition (e.g. through burning fossil fuels) and the land surface (e.g. deforestation, reforestation, urbanization, desertification, etc.). A change in the earth’s climate, regardless of the cause would have far reaching effects on food sources, where people live, and the planet’s ecosystems. The environmental movement seeks to limit human impacts on climate change.

A fossil fuel formed from the decomposition of organic materials that have been subjected to geologic heat and pressure over millions of years. Coal is one of the most abundant and readily available fuel sources in the United States. Coal poses an important environmental issue because its use releases the toxins sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury. Coal power plants in the US are equipped with devices to remove some of these toxins. Burning coal also releases the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Other environmental impacts of coal energy include land degradation from mining, high water consumption, and generation of ash waste.

A process that converts forested lands to non-forest uses. Examples of such processes are agriculture, logging, and land development. Deforestation is an important environmental issue because it has direct implications on natural resources, biodiversity, and climate change. Lumber from forests provide much of the world’s paper and building supplies. The world’s forests are also home to a wealth of plant and animal species—deforestation destroys this habitat. Deforestation contributes to climate change through two processes: First, the decomposition of wood after logging releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. Second, deforestation removes trees that once absorbed carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

A group of 30 chemically similar compounds. In common language, the term refers to one of the most toxic and well-studied dioxins, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Dixons are produced as a by-product of some industrial processes such incineration of waste, chlorine bleaching of pulp and paper, and certain types of chemical manufacturing and processing. Dioxin’s toxic effects include altering cell growth and development, causing cancer, and suppressing the immune system. Dioxins are an important environmental concern because they last a long time and travel large distances in the air, so they are found in most places on earth.

All the organisms in a particular region and the environment in which they live. The elements of an ecosystem interact with each other in some way, and so depend on each other either directly or indirectly. Understanding the concept of ecosystems is important to the environmental movement because it gives us a framework to discuss and study the environment around us.

A ground vehicle propelled by a motor that is powered by electrical energy from rechargeable batteries or other energy storage device onboard the vehicle, or from an external source in, on, or above the roadway. Examples include battery-powered automobiles and trolley buses connected to a wire system above the road. Electric vehicles hold great potential for improving the environmental performance of our transportation system. If the electricity is generated in a sustainable method and technology improves, these vehicles could help replace gas vehicles and their environmental impacts.

Pollutants released by human activity into the atmosphere or into water. Emissions from industrial activities and automobiles have negative impacts on the environment because they often contain substances which are toxic to humans and wildlife.

The ability to do work or the ability to move an object. Electrical energy is usually measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), while heat energy is usually measured in British thermal units (Btu). Energy relates to the environment because the sources of energy we use to heat our homes and power our cars are natural resources from the environment. This includes renewable sources, like wind and solar, as well as non-renewable sources such as fossil fuels. The extraction of some of these energy sources has environmental impacts through drilling and mining. The processing and use of some of the chemical sources release materials into the air and water, affecting the environment.

The wearing away of land or soil by the action of wind, water, or ice. Erosion is an important environmental issue because human activity often accelerates this natural process, depleting soil that could be used for agriculture or wildlife habitat. Activities that accelerate the process of erosion include deforestation, road building, and construction.

A condition in an aquatic ecosystem where high nutrient concentrations cause algae to bloom and grow rapidly. While some lakes are naturally eutrophic, new algal blooms can interfere with fish and plant populations and disrupt recreational uses of water bodies. Algae blooms disrupt the ecosystem in two ways. First, algae blocks sunlight that is needed by the underwater grasses which feed fish and other animals. Second, when the algae die and decompose, they use up oxygen in the water that is needed by fish and other animals. Human activities such as agriculture runoff, urban runoff and sewage leakages can cause these increased nutrient levels which lead to eutrophication.

The biological process of adaptation from one generation of organisms to another. A central idea of biological evolution is that all life on Earth shares a common ancestor. The natural environment plays an important role in evolution because it determines which organisms survive from one generation to the next. It is possible for human-made changes to the environment to change the way evolution unfolds over time.

The practice of cultivating, managing, using, and conserving forests for human and environmental benefit. Long-term forest health is important to the environment’s health. Forests contain a high level of biodiversity and produce important goods for humans. Sustainable forestry is gaining momentum as foresters look for ways to continue producing forest goods while providing habitat and maintaining forest stocks.

A policy in which countries exchange goods, services, and money without applying restrictions or tariffs on imports or exports. Free trade can affect the environment because firms may choose to conduct business where environmental regulations do not apply. It remains to be seen whether less regulated trade has a major negative impact on the environment.

A substance that can release energy when its chemical or physical structure is altered. A common method of releasing this energy is through combustion, or burning the fuel. Fuels store energy so it can be harnessed when needed. The various fuels used by humans have varying environmental impacts. For example, fossil fuels release greenhouse gases and pollution while nuclear fuels pose environmental issues in disposal and exposure.

Food made from crops in which the genetic material (DNA) of the plant has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally. This process allows selected individual genes to be transferred from one organism into another. Traits that can be introduced into food crops include pest-resistance, color, freeze-resistance, and size, among others. So far, foods currently available on the international market have passed risk assessments and are not likely to present risks for human health. Environmental risks involved include introduction of engineered genes into wild populations and decreases in biodiversity.

The study of the planet earth — the materials it is made of, the processes that act on those materials, the products formed, and the history of the planet and its life forms since its origin. Understanding geology is important for the environmental movement because the earth’s materials are an important element of our environment that play crucial roles in many chemical cycles.

The average increase in the temperature of the atmosphere near the Earth’s surface and in the troposphere, which can contribute to changes in global climate patterns. Global warming can occur from a variety of causes, both natural and human induced. Examples of human activities which contribute to global warming include greenhouse gas production from automobiles and changes in land surface through deforestation. Volcanoes are an example of a natural cause of warming.Global warming is an important environmental issue because changes in global climate patterns are unpredictable and could impact where we live, water supplies, agriculture, and the natural habitat of many other species.

Gases that absorb infra-red radiation in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), halogenated fluorocarbons (HCFCs) , ozone (O3), perfluorinated carbons (PFCs), and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). They can be both naturally occurring (CO2) or human-made (PFCs and HFCs). Greenhouse gases are important to the environment because they help control the earth’s climate. Without greenhouse gases absorbing radiation from space, Earth would be a cold and inhospitable place. Increased concentrations of greenhouse gases, however, cause global warming.

A harmful chemical consisting of 3 oxygen molecules. Symptoms of exposure include chest pain, coughing, throat irritation, and congestion. It can worsen bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma. Ground level ozone is created by a reaction between two types of pollutants—nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compounds—and the presence of sunlight. These pollutants are released from motor vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions, gasoline vapors, chemical solvents and natural sources. Ground-level ozone is chemically the same as the ozone layer, which is considered “good” because it protects earth from harmful ultraviolet rays.

Water located beneath the Earth’s surface, stored in the soil and fractures in rocks. Groundwater is used for drinking water and irrigation. Human activity can alter the accessibility and purity of groundwater. First, groundwater can be overdrawn so that the water level drops deeper than existing wells can reach. Excessive pumping can also cause the land above groundwater to sink. Pollution of groundwater is also an important environmental issue. Pollutants can seep from the Earth’s surface and spread across large volumes of groundwater, contaminating wells and natural areas.

The act of preserving land areas that are home to wildlife. The reasons for conserving habitat vary depending on ideology and include preservation for hunting, fishing, overall ecological health, human health, and religious reasons. Habitat conservation efforts use legal means to create land areas that remain natural and management work to maintain the quality of the habitats.

An organic chemical compound that is comprised only of carbon and hydrogen atoms. Hydrocarbons are an important energy source and are found in fossil fuels. When burned, hydrocarbons release energy. Certain hydrocarbons, like those found in coal, release toxins like mercury and carbon monoxide when burned. The burning process also releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

The quality of the air that affects the health and well-being of a building’s occupants. This usually refers to how well the air is suited for healthy breathing conditions. Factors which contribute to indoor air quality include moisture, temperature, air circulation, ventilation, the presence of toxins, and molds. Some common effects of poor indoor air quality are discomfort, difficulty breathing, cancer, and odors. The indoor environment is important because it has direct effects on human health and productivity within work buildings and the home.

Any plant, animal, or microbe that is not native to a given ecosystem which is likely to harm the ecosystem, human health, or cause economic losses. Invasive species can displace native species, spread disease to new areas, and cause millions of dollars due to crop destruction and removal efforts.

Any material discarded in a location other than a designated disposal area, especially in a public place or outdoors. Litter often includes small pieces of paper or plastic. Litter is an aesthetic issue and an environmental issue. Litter impacts the environment by directly harming wildlife through choking or poisoning, can cause fire hazards, or by harming human health. It can also diminish water quality by releasing toxins or by changing oxygen levels important to aquatic life.

The scientific study of organisms that live in or depend on the sea for survival. This includes organisms that live in estuaries and airborne and terrestrial organisms that depend directly on bodies of saltwater for food and other necessities. The study of marine organisms and their interactions with the ocean is important because humans use ocean life as an important source of food, raw materials. Ocean animals also play an important role in the carbon cycle, which helps regulate the earth’s climate. Ocean plants create much of the earth’s oxygen.

An adverse physical reaction to low levels of many common chemicals. Symptoms include congestion, sneezing, rashes, breathing problems, and more. Multiple chemical sensitivity is not accepted as a disease by the entire medical community and is difficult to study because of complex interactions of chemicals in the environment. This is an environmentally-related condition that is caused by pollution.

A nonrenewable gaseous fossil fuel consisting primarily of methane. It is used primarily for heating and electricity generation and increasingly as a transportation fuel. It burns more cleanly than other fossil fuels, releasing lower levels of sulfur carbon, and nitrogen than coal or oil, and it has almost no ash particles left after burning. A major environmental concern for natural gas is that it releases greenhouse gases when burned. In addition, the transportation, storage, and production of this fuel have environmental impacts.

A type of chemical commonly used as cleaners and insecticides. The presence of a chlorine atom in these molecules makes them ideal for degreasing and dry cleaning. However, some of these molecules have significant biological and environmental toxicity effects. Organochlorides are persistent within animal tissue for long periods of time. Examples of toxic organochlorides include DDT, dioxins, and phosgene. Some organochlorides are safe for human consumption and are used as pharmaceuticals.

When the number of organisms in a given space exceeds the resources needed to sustain the population. This concept is commonly used to describe human populations. Overpopulation is based on the ecological concept of “carrying capacity,” or the number of organisms a given ecosystem can support without being depleted. Scientific opinion differs on what population the Earth can support.

A naturally occurring, nonrenewable fossil fuel made of hydrocarbons. Petroleum is a useful fuel because it has a high amount of energy for its volume, ease of transportation, and relative ease of extraction. Environmental concerns dealing with petroleum arise from its extraction, transport, and use. Extraction impacts the ecosystem where the drilling occurs. In the past, petroleum has been spilled during transportation, wreaking havoc on wildlife. When petroleum is burned, it can contribute to air pollution and produces greenhouse gases.

The release of contaminants (including chemical substances, noise, heat, light, energy) into the environment which cause harm to human health, wildlife, or ecosystem health. In addition to health risks, pollution is also detrimental to other uses of the environment such as natural resource extraction and recreation.

The acquisition of information about an object without being in physical contact with it. Commonly, remote sensing refers to the acquisition of spatial data using tools such as aerial photography, magnetic resonance, satellite images, or ultrasound, among others. Remote sensing is important to the environmental movement because it allows scientists to observe large-scale environmental changes, such as deforestation, that they would not be able to analyze by observation with the naked eye. In other words, remote sensing allows us to generate data on very large areas and analyze that data.

A form of air pollution produced by the reaction of sunlight with hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides that have been released into the atmosphere, especially by automotive emissions. Smog is an environmental concern because it is harmful to human health, causing asthma and other respiratory problems. Some natural sources of smog are forest fires and volcanoes.

A pattern of urban and suburban land development usually characterized by dependence on automobiles, separation of land uses, and low population density. Sprawl is important to the environment because this type of land development converts large natural and rural areas into urban uses. This has negative implications for wildlife habitat as well as noise and air pollution due to increased dependence on automobiles.

Business that contributes to an equitable and ecologically sustainable economy. The concept of sustainability is based on preserving the earth’s current resources and quality of life for future generations. Businesses play an important role in the attempt to achieve a sustainable society because they have a large direct impact on the environment and control capital that can be used to promote sustainable policies, products, and services.

The changing of temperatures of natural water bodies by human activity. A common source of thermal pollution is the use of lakes and rivers to cool factories and power plants. Thermal pollution decreased the amount of dissolved oxygen in water bodies, making it unsuitable for fish. The changes in temperature can affect numerous species including fish, bacteria, and plants, which cause a shift in the ecological makeup of the water body.

Harmful chemicals and sounds emitted by vehicles used for the mobility of humans and goods. Cars, trucks, trains, ships, and construction vehicles are examples of mobile sources of pollution. The most common transportation pollutants include carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. This group includes toxics, acid rain precursors, and carcinogens. Transportation pollution also includes greenhouse gases. Most of the pollutants are released from fuel combustion and evaporation. In order to promote a healthy environment, cleaner forms of transportation will be needed. The transportation system is a vital part of the world’s economy, and is poised to grow even larger.

Air in urban areas can be 6-8°F hotter than its surrounding areas due to the absorption of heat by the built environment and the lack of plants and trees, which usually cool the air through evapotranspiration. The production of air pollution and smog are intensified under conditions of warm temperatures. Energy consumption usually rises under heat island conditions because more people turn on their air conditioners.

Waves of electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength smaller than visible light. The sun emits “UV” rays. These UV rays are invisible to the human eye, but can damage skin if overexposure occurs, resulting in sunburn or skin cancer. UV rays have some beneficial health effects, one of which is the induced production of vitamin D in the body. The environmental movement is often concerned with the interaction of UV rays and the ozone layer. The ozone layer blocks much of the UV light that travels from the sun to the earth. The holes in the ozone layer, caused by the industrial chemicals chlorofluorocarbons, have coincided with increased incidence of skin cancer.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse human and environmental health effects. Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors. VOCs are emitted by products such as paints and lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials and furnishings, office equipment such as copiers and printers, correction fluids and carbonless copy paper, graphics and craft materials including glues and adhesives, permanent markers, and photographic solutions.

An area of land that drains down slope to the lowest point. The water moves through a network of drainage pathways (streams and rivers), both underground and on the surface. Watersheds, also known as drainage basins or catchment basins, drain into estuaries and eventually the ocean. Watersheds are very important pieces of the natural environment because they link various ecosystems together and provide freshwater. Because of the interconnected nature of watersheds, pollutants released from a single point source may affect a large area.