All Flashcards
Explain the importance of safety regulations in nuclear power plants.
Strict safety regulations and frequent inspections are crucial to prevent nuclear disasters and protect public health and the environment.
What is the significance of double-layered walls in oil tankers?
Double-layered walls provide extra protection against oil spills, reducing the risk of environmental damage from tanker accidents.
Explain the role of scrubbers in reducing air pollution.
Scrubbers filter pollutants from industrial emissions, reducing the amount of harmful substances released into the atmosphere.
Why is proper waste disposal important?
Proper waste disposal prevents contamination of soil and water, protecting human health and the environment from toxic chemicals.
Explain the connection between fossil fuels, climate change, and ocean health.
Burning fossil fuels increases CO2 levels, leading to climate change and ocean acidification, which harms marine ecosystems.
Why is government regulation important for hazardous chemicals?
Government regulations ensure the safe storage and handling of hazardous chemicals, preventing accidental releases and protecting public health.
Explain the concept of exclusion zones after a nuclear disaster.
Exclusion zones are areas around a nuclear disaster site deemed uninhabitable due to high radiation levels, preventing human exposure.
Why are coral reefs important?
Coral reefs are biodiversity hotspots, providing habitat for many fish species and protecting coastlines from erosion.
Explain how a thermal inversion worsens air pollution.
Thermal inversions trap pollutants near the ground, preventing them from dispersing and increasing their concentration.
What role does public trust play in nuclear energy?
Public trust in government regulation of nuclear reactors is essential for the acceptance and use of nuclear energy.
What are the steps of coral bleaching?
Increased water temperature/ocean acidification -> Coral stress -> Algae expulsion -> Coral turns white.
What are the steps involved in bio-magnification of mercury in Minamata Bay?
Industrial waste contaminates bay with mercury -> Mercury accumulates in fish -> Humans consume contaminated fish -> Mercury poisoning and Minamata Disease.
What is the purpose of the Clean Air Act?
To regulate air emissions from stationary and mobile sources.
What does CERCLA (Superfund) do?
Provides a Federal 'Superfund' to clean up uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous-waste sites as well as accidents, spills, and other emergency releases of pollutants and contaminants into the environment.