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ESS Topic 5.2 - Detection and Monitoring of Pollution

There are direct and indirect methods to monitor pollution levels. Direct methods include measuring air pollutants like CO2 or particulate matter, or testing soil and water for nitrates, phosphates, and bacteria. Indirect methods assess correlated factors - biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) measures pollution's oxygen impact on water, while biotic indices use indicator species' presence to infer pollution levels. The Trent Biotic Index evaluates streams based on 6 key organisms' presence, allowing moderate to severe pollution classification but lacking sensitivity at mild-moderate levels.

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276 views

ESS Topic 5.2 - Detection and Monitoring of Pollution

There are direct and indirect methods to monitor pollution levels. Direct methods include measuring air pollutants like CO2 or particulate matter, or testing soil and water for nitrates, phosphates, and bacteria. Indirect methods assess correlated factors - biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) measures pollution's oxygen impact on water, while biotic indices use indicator species' presence to infer pollution levels. The Trent Biotic Index evaluates streams based on 6 key organisms' presence, allowing moderate to severe pollution classification but lacking sensitivity at mild-moderate levels.

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arctusshade
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ESS Topic 5.

2 - Detection and Monitoring of Pollution

5.2 Detection and Monitoring of Pollution


5.2.1 Describe two direct methods of monitoring pollution.
You should know one method for monitoring air pollution and another method for
monitoring either soil or water pollution.
air pollution measure the acidity of rain water to determine levels of
measure CO2, CO, or NOx levels in the atmosphere using a gas sensor
measure particulate matter suspended in the atmosphere
soil pollution
conduct tests for nitrates and phosphates according to the test manufacturers
instructions (refer to the LaMotte tests we have in class)
measure the level of organic matter in the soil
water pollution
nitrate and phosphate tests
fecal coliform tests
tests for heavy metals
5.2.2 Define the term biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and explain how this
indirect method is used to assess pollution levels in water.
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) is the amount of oxygen required to support
respiration by organisms living in a water sample.
high BOD indicates there are many organisms using oxygen for respiration
low BOD indicates relatively few organisms needing oxygen for respiration
high BOD = low DO levels = high pollutant levels, especially nitrate & phosphate
low BOD = high DO levels = low pollutant levels
5.2.3 Describe and explain an indirect method of measuring pollution levels using a
biotic index.
We can measure pollution levels 2 different ways: we can measure the pollution itself
directly, or we can use some other factor that is correlated to pollution levels as an
indirect indicator of those pollution levels.
Trent biotic index - Here is what I found about the Trent Biotic Index:

The Trent Biotic Index was first published by Woodiwiss (1964) who was employed
by the Trent River Authority (England)....Hand samples and kick samples taken with
a hand net (780 micron mesh) are taken in such a way as to include material from
all microhabitats. He devised a scheme in which the number of groups of defined
benthic [on the bottom under a body of water] taxa was related to the presence of
six key organisms found in the fauna. These organisms were plecopteran larvae,
ephemeropteran larvae, trichopteran larvae, Gammarus, Asellus and tubificids plus
red chironomid larvae. In practice, organisms are sorted into groups and streams

International School of Tanganyika IBDP ESS 2010-2011

Instructor: Mr Brad Kremer

ESS Topic 5.2 - Detection and Monitoring of Pollution

are classified (10 for clean water to 0 for grossly polluted) according to the presence
or absence of key groups and the diversity of fauna. This index like the saprobic
system does not take into account the relative abundance of the organisms present.

Balloch et al. (1976) reviewed the Trent Index and listed a number of advantages
and disadvantages associated with its use. Most notable advantages mentioned
were ease of use and its ability to correctly classify moderate to grossly polluted
waters. In general Balloch et al. were very critical of this index and indicated that it
was not suitable for use as a criterion of water quality because of its general
insensitivity to varying levels of impact, especially mildly and moderately polluted
waters. When compared to the Chandler scores (CBS and ACBS noted below) the
Trent index proved of little value in determining intermediate levels of pollution in
rivers known to have a well defined spatial pattern from clean to grossly polluted
conditions (Murphy 1978). Both Murphy (1978) and Balloch et al. (1976) also
suggested that the Trent Biotic Index was affected by habitat quality making
interpretation of the index difficult. Overall, the Trent Index appears to lack the
sensitivity desired by most workers interested in assessing the degree of biological
impairment associated with various levels of water quality. (Source:
http://www.cpcb.ku.edu/datalibrary/assets/library/KBSreports/KBSRept35b.pdf )
In summary:
the Trent Biotic Index uses the presence or absence of 6 key organisms
(plecopteran larvae, ephemeropteran larvae, trichopteran larvae, Gammarus,
Asellus and tubificids plus red chironomid larvae) to indicate the relative level of
pollution in a stream.
Advantage: Easy to use, especially for moderately or heavily polluted sites.
Disadvantages: not specific enough, doesnt fully account for habitat quality
We can also use abiotic factors that change as a result of the pollutant to indirectly
test the pollution levels such as dissolved oxygen (DO) or BOD levels of the water (IB
ESS Course Companion p.278).
Indicator species are those species that are present either only in polluted areas or
only in unpolluted areas. Refer to p. 280 of the Course Companion. For example
freshwater shrimp
freshwater mussels
stonefly nymphs
caddisfly larvae
rat-tailed maggot and sludge worms in polluted water
peppered moth wing color (predominantly black indicates high levels of soot
and particulate matter in the air; predominantly light grey indicates relatively
particulate-free air)
Gammarus - small crustaceans that are sensitive to different salinity levels

International School of Tanganyika IBDP ESS 2010-2011

Instructor: Mr Brad Kremer

ESS Topic 5.2 - Detection and Monitoring of Pollution

Asellus - another small freshwater crustacean, which is relatively tolerant of


pollution, and therefore an indicator of polluted sites

International School of Tanganyika IBDP ESS 2010-2011

Instructor: Mr Brad Kremer

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