Form 4 Chapter 9: Endangered Ecosystem

1. Pollution: Any undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological

characteristics of the natural environment, brought about by human activities.

2. When the river is polluted:

(a) High biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)
(b) Low concentration of dissolved oxygen in the water
(c) Present large number of microorganisms in the water and not living organisms
(d) High amount of oxygen is taken up by microorganisms that decompose
organic matter in water

3. Thermal pollution:
(a) Discharge of hot water into the water sources
(b) Reflection of heat from glass buildings
(c) Power stations and factories

4. Effects of thermal pollution:

(a) Rapid growth of algae
(b) An increase in BOD value
(c) Adversely influences the food chain and ecosystem
(d) An increase in temperatures of water and the surrounding
(e) Death of aquatic organisms as they cannot accommodate with the sudden
change of water temperature

Types of
5. Effect Solving Method
Pollution
(A) Water Pollution
(i) Oil spills - Destroy aquatic animal in the - Use biogas
river. technology like
- Reduce oxygen content in the palm oil wastes
sea. are decomposed
by
microorganisms.
The methane
gas produced is
used as fuel.
(ii) Agricultural - Have toxic effects on a living - Agricultural
runoffs organism when the water is industrial wastes
(including drunk. are directly
herbicides and - Eutrophication burned in a
pesticides)  Result of an abundant supply heating furnace
of fertilizers or sewage in and thick smoke
lakes, ponds or rivers. is filtered.
 Fertilisers contain high - The heat
content of nitrates and produced can
phosphates. When used generate
excessively, these inorganic electrical
nutrients which are highly energy.

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 soluble will not stay long in - Organic
the soil and will go into rivers. fertilizers does
 Prevent sunlight from not contain
reaching plants in lower many nitrates &
depths of water & plants die. release nutrients
 Number of aerobic bacteria gradually giving
increases usage of O2 in crops time to
water & concentration of O2 absorb.
reduced.
 Rapid growth of algae and
decomposition process by
bacteria used up O2 supply in
water & increase the BOD.
 BOD is the amount of O2
taken up by microorganisms
that decompose organic
waste matter in water.
 High BOD: Presence of large
number of microorganisms
which suggests a high level of
pollution, lower concentration
of dissolved O2 in water.
 Eutrophication process:
Organic fertilizer flows into
the lake  Block out light for
plant  Rate of
photosynthesis  Dissolve
oxygen  Algae grow and
cover the surface of the lake
 The rate of bacteria
reproduction increases 
Used up oxygen  BOD
value increases  Aquatic
organism die lack of oxygen
(iii) Untreated - Pathogen such as vibrio - Recycling the
sewage bacteria is found in unpurified waste.
(including water which can cause cholera. - “Love Our River”
effluents such campaign.
as human - When sewage is
wastes and treated, water
domestic can be used
wastes) again.
(iv) Non- - Floating rubbish & oil reduce the - Disposal drums
biodegradabl penetration of light & diffusion of made of
e rubbish oxygen into water, leading to strontium to
death of aquatic organisms. keep radioactive
wastes like
uranium /
plutonium deep

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 below the soil
surface ocean.
(v) Industrial - Contaminate water physically.
wastes (toxic - Decomposition of organic
chemical wastes reduces concentration of
wastes from O2 in water.
electronic - Accumulation of toxic chemicals
factories, (non-biodegradable) through
organic food chain in aquatic organisms
wastes from results in poisoning of aquatic
remains of oil animals and man.
palms and - Toxic substances damage
rubber body organs and harmful to
plantations) man, causing cancer &
mutation.
(B) Air Pollution
(i) Fossil fuels - Release of CO2 which absorb & - Enforcement of
burning trap heat from sun, cause laws.
(petroleum, greenhouse effect. The effect: - Education /
natural gas  Weather warmer. awareness
and coal)  Desert area bigger. campaigns.
 Sea level rise / flash flood.
 Global warming.
(ii) Release of - When burning during lack of - Enforcement of
carbon oxygen, the effect is reducing the Natural
monoxide the ability of red blood cells to Forestry Act to
carry oxygen to the brain. encourage
replanting of
trees.
(iii) Release - Sulphur dioxide & nitrogen - Use scrubber
acidic gases dioxide cause acid rain which (liquid spray) to
(by vehicle) corrodes roof & destroy aquatic dissolve
life. poisonous gases
such as nitrogen
dioxide / sulphur
dioxide.
(iv) Release of - Cause haze. - Use electrostatic
smoke, dust - Visibility reduced. precipitator in
or soot (by - Respiratory problem. chimney.
factory) - Reduce the rate of - Fix
photosynthesis. electrostatic
- Decreases light intensity. precipitator /
- Destroy plants / trees. air filter to filter
smoke in the
chimney.
- The filtered coal
ashes can be
used to process
fertilizer.

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 (v) Burning - Lungs cancer. - Conservations
down the - Asthmatic. efforts need to
forest be done on
forests because
multitude of
trees can
generate more
oxygen & reduce
amount of
carbon dioxide
in atmosphere.
(vi) Radioactive - Causes mutation, cancer and
radiations genetic diseases.
(nuclear
power
stations)
(vii) Agrochemica - Can passed on in food chains
l substances and become concentrated in
(activities of body, causing harm to
agricultural organisms because it is non-
industry) biodegradable
- Hinder the physiological
process.
- Toxic to body.
(viii) Chlorofluoro - Chlorine causes ozone
)
carbon depletion and global warming.
) - Skin cancer, sunburn, UV
radiation.
- Crop yield reduced due to UV
radiaton.
- Rate of photosynthesis
increases.
- Distrupt food chain & damage
egg of certain amphibian.
(C) Noise Pollution
(i) Automobiles - World Heath Organization (WHO) - Education /
and airplanes recommends a noise level of not awareness
(ii) Construction more than 55 decibels. campaigns.
sites - Prolonged exposure to the
(iii) Entertainment surrounding noise level of more
sites than 80 decibels will cause severe
(iv) Operating headaches, emotional and
machines deafness, heart attack.
(D) Land Pollution
(i) Disposal of - Increase number of pest / rat /
domestic cockroach / flies.
waste on the - Increase disease transmission.
ground

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Experiment:
Aim: Problem Statement: Hypothesis:
To analyse What inference can be made on the The higher the B.O.D.
data on water level of water pollution for different value, the more polluted
pollution. sources of water based on the B.O.D. the source of water.
value?
Variables Apparatus: Technique:
Manipulated: Samples of Four samples of water from Record the time
water different sources, reagent taken for
Responding: Time taken bottle with stoppers, stopwatch methylene blue
for methylene blue solution to
solution to decolourise Materials: decolourise by
Constant: Volume of the Syringe, 0.1% methylene blue using a stopwatch.
methylene blue solution solution
Procedure:
1. 100 ml of river water is collected in a reagent
bottle.
2. By using a syringe, 1 ml of 0.1% methylene blue
solution is added to the bottom of the water
sample as shown in Figure.
3. The reagent bottle is closed with its glass cover
A reagent bottle and labelled P. Do not shake the mixture of water
containing one of the and methylene blue.
water samples 4. Steps 1 to 3 are repeated using water from
Discussion: different sources such as drain water, pond water,
1. Rapid decolonisation well water and tap water. The bottles are labelled
of the methylene blue Q, R, S, T respectively.
solution shows that the 5. All the bottles are kept in a dark cupboard and the
water has very little time is recorded.
oxygen. Hence, the 6. At intervals of one hour for a period of four hours,
B.O.D. value of the each bottle is examined for any change of the
water sample is high. colour of the methylene blue to become
2. A high B.O.D. value colourless. The time taken for the methylene blue
means that the content solution to be decolourised is recorded.
of oxygen is very low Results:
because of the large Time taken for discolourisation of
Water methylene blue solution
number of organic sample
substances and 1 hour 2 hours 3 hours 4 hours
bacteria in it. Hence, River
Blue Colourless Colourless Colourless
the water is most water (P)
polluted. Drain
Blue Blue Colourless Colourless
water (Q)
3. Slow decolourisation of Pond
the methylene blue Blue Blue Blue Colourless
water (R)
shows that the B.O.D. Well water
Blue Blue Blue Blue
value is low and the (S)
water is the least Tap water
Blue Blue Blue Blue
(T)
polluted.
Conclusion:
1. The hypothesis is accepted.
2. The river water has the highest B.O.D. value. Hence, the river water is most

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 polluted.
3. The tap water has the lowest B.O.D. value. Hence, the tap water is the least
polluted.

6. Acid rain:
Increases the acidity of aquatic
ecosystems leading to the killing
of planktons and aquatic
organisms
Corrodes metals, marble, rubber,
plastics, stonework and other
materials

Leaching of minerals
from the soil such as
EFFECT OF
calcium, causing infertile
Destroys plant tissues and ACID RAIN
soil
damages plant roots

Reduces the pH of the soil making it Releases ions of heavy metals such as
unsuitable for farming lead which may contaminate the water

7. The greenhouse effect:

(i) The phenomenon of over warming of earth due to increasing amount of
greenhouse gases such as CO 2 gas that causes greenhouse effect,
methane (CH 4 ), nitrous oxide (N 3 O) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that are
released will form a layer of gas in the atmosphere.
(ii) Energy from the Sun reaches Earth through radiation to warm surfaces of sea
and land.
(iii) As the Earth is warmed, heat in form of infrared radiation is prevented from
radiated back into space.
(iv) As a result, the infrared radiation is radiated back to the Earth's surface and
warmed the Earth further.
(v) An increase in greenhouse gases is caused by human activities, mainly
burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.
Effect of greenhouse effect:
(i) The increase in carbon dioxide
concentration traps heat.
(ii) Cause a rise in the Earth’s
temperature.
(iii) The melting of polar ice raises the
sea level.

8. Measures needed to overcome the phenomenon:

(a) Stop the practice of open burning of rubbish.
(b) Conservations efforts need to be done on forests and reduce the amount of
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere through the photosynthesis process.
(c) Enforcement of the Natural Forestry Act to minimise deforestation and encourage
replanting of trees.

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 (d) Recycling paper can reduce cutting down of trees.
(e) Impose maximum fine to factories and vehicles that release excessive levels of
smoke to atmosphere.
(f) Use public transport.
(g) Use alternative energy from natural source.

9. Effect of phenomenon if the concentration levels of carbon dioxide are

increasing:
(a) Solar radiation enters the Earth by penetrating the atmosphere. The solar
radiation will be changed into heat energy.
(b) Part of the heat energy will be radiated back into space in infracted radiation form
whereas rest remain in atmosphere is absorbed by carbon dioxide.
(c) If the carbon dioxide concentration level increases, more heat will be trapped and
it will not be able to escape from the atmosphere.
(d) The consequence is an increase in Earth’s temperature.
(e) Also causes global warming and melting of ice at the poles.
(f) The sea level rises which causes low-lying areas to be flooded.
(g) Affect the weather pattern, wind direction and rainfall.
(h) Affect the yield of crops and water supply.
(i) Land becomes dry and infertile due to drought.

10. Global warming: Excessive deforestation increases the concentration of CO 2

that can trap heat in the atmosphere, causing a rise in the temperature. Example:
Forest burning.

The Effects of Global Warming

- Spread of pests of diseases-carrying - Infertility of soil and a decline in the yield
vectors. of crops.
- Melting of polar ice at the poles and - Changes in weather pattens with intense
increase in sea levels. rains in some countries.
- Floods in low-lying countries and - Changes in sea current and wind
droughts. direction which cause climate change.
Extinction will cause great biodiversity - Disruption to the carbon cycle and
loss. nitrogen cycle.
Steps to Reduce Damage to the Environment
- By replanting plant, sharing transport and reducing the usage of fossil fuel,
we can greatly reduce the concentration of CO2 in atmosphere to reduce the
problem of global warming .

11. Deforestation:
Good Effects Bad Effects
(a) Improves (a) Causes loss of habitat for wildlife.
infrastucture (b) Exposure of the soil layer to wind & air may cause thinning
of residential of soil. As the top layer of soil crumbles, this may lead to
area such as landslide. Soil erosion (heavy rain water flow soil down
the new river & water level rise causing flood to occur).
development (c) Reduction in the number of trees may contribute to global
buildings & warming.
roads. (d) Damage water catchment area that leads to flash flood.

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 (b) Increases (e) Increase in CO 2 amount in air.
job (f) Causes loss of biodiversity (destruction of natural habitat).
opportunities (g) Leads to extinction of many species.
of that area. (h) Destruction of recreational sites.
(i) Melting of ice at Artic / Antartic, drought occur.
(j) Reduce water catchment area.
(k) Flash floods.

Thinning of the Ozone Layer

(a) Ozone layer is present in the
atmosphere.
(b) High concentrations of ozone layer
can absorb large quantities of UV
radiation from the sun.
(c) This ozone layer shields the Earth
from the harmful effects of UV
radiation.
(d) Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) is the
- causing factor.
During the Destruction of the Ozone Layer
(a) Ultra violet ray breaks down CFC molecules from the air conditioner and
releases a chlorine atom.
(b) The highly reactive chlorine atoms break down ozone layer & produce chlorine
monoxide and oxygen molecules.
(c) Free oxygen atom will break the chlorine monoxide bond.
(d) Free chlorine atom repeats the chain reaction.
Impact on the Environment
(a) Allow the UV light to penetrate to the (f) Many plants die causing carbon
Earth. dioxide to increase.
(b) Destroy plankton in the food web. (g) Atmospheric temperature
(c) Disturb the ecology balance in the increases.
water ecosystem. (h) Lead to green house effect / global
(d) Decrease the number of stomata warming.
and chlorophyll on the leaves. (i) Many organisms which feed on
(e) Plant cannot carry out plants die.
photosynthesis / biotic component (j) Disturb the food web / ecosystem.
threatened.
Ways to Reduce the Impact on the Environment
(a) Introduce new chemical substance (b) Enforce the laws to ban the use of
HCFC to replace the used of CFC. material contains CFC.

Recycling: Collecting and segregating waste according to type of material &

turning waste into new products.
(a) Glass and bottles can be reused.
(b) Plastic can be processed into waste paper baskets.
(c) Save energy & reduce use of natural source.
(d) Maintain balance of nature by practising 4R.

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