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Difficulty: MediumPollution Types, Causes, Effects, and Control

Match each environmental pollution control technique on the left with its corresponding primary ecological mitigation impact on the right.

  • Bioremediation using hydrocarbon-degrading bacteriaMicrobial breakdown of crude oil slicks into non-toxic compounds in marine habitats
  • Installation of electrostatic precipitators in factory chimneysTrapping of fine particulate matter and ash emissions before atmospheric release
  • Adoption of biological pest control in crop farmingElimination of synthetic pesticide runoff that leads to food chain biomagnification
  • Tertiary treatment stage of municipal wastewaterRemoval of dissolved inorganic nutrients (NO3−NO_3^- and PO43−PO_4^{3-}) to prevent aquatic eutrophication

Answer

Bioremediation pairs with microbial breakdown of crude oil slicks; electrostatic precipitators pair with trapping of fine particulate matter; biological pest control pairs with elimination of synthetic pesticide runoff; tertiary wastewater treatment pairs with removal of dissolved inorganic nutrients to prevent eutrophication.
Each pollution control method correctly corresponds to its specific environmental target: bioremediation degrades petroleum hydrocarbons, electrostatic precipitators capture solid industrial particulate emissions, biological pest control prevents bioaccumulative pesticide contamination, and tertiary sewage treatment strips algal nutrients to halt eutrophication.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the primary mechanism of bioremediation.
Bioremediation utilizes living organisms (such as bacteria) to clean up environmental pollutants, specifically oil spills.
Microorganisms break down complex hydrocarbons into simpler, non-toxic molecules.
2
Identify the physical function of electrostatic precipitators.
Electrostatic precipitators charge solid particles in flue gas so they are attracted to collector plates.
This prevents particulate matter and fly ash from escaping into the atmosphere.
3
Evaluate the ecological benefit of biological pest control.
Biological control uses natural ecological interactions instead of synthetic chemical pesticides.
Avoiding synthetic chemicals stops toxic compounds from accumulating and biomagnifying up trophic levels.
4
Determine the focus of tertiary sewage treatment.
Tertiary treatment removes inorganic chemical nutrients after primary (physical) and secondary (biological) treatments.
Removing nitrates and phosphates prevents nutrient overload (eutrophication) in aquatic ecosystems.

Key Concept

Pollution Control Strategies and Their Target Ecological Impacts
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Pollution Types, Causes, Effects, and Control

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