Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
1 point: Transportation of the final product to the store increases CO
2
from combustion of fossil fuels,
contributing to greenhouse-gas emissions and global climate change.
1 point: Increasing dust from mining operations decreases air quality.
1 point: Increasing soil runoff from erosion into streams increases turbidity in the stream and de-
creases photosynthesis.
• Environmental benefit (1 point):
1 point: A newer unit will reduce electricity usage, resulting in less CO
2
emissions if electricity is pro-
duced from the combustion of coal.
1 point: A newer unit will reduce electricity usage, which will result in a reduction of waste generated
from nuclear processes if energy is being created at a nuclear power plant.
1 point: Decreased transport of coal lowers CO
2
emissions from diesel-powered trains.
1 point: Decreased demand for uranium for nuclear energy generation.
1 point: Less coal is needed, reducing the effects of mining such as habitat destruction from strip min-
ing, air pollution from dust, runoff into streams that cause increased turbidity in the stream, and a
lesser decrease of photosynthesis.
• Economic cost (1 point):
1 point: The cost of purchasing the new air-conditioning unit.
1 point: The cost of installing the new air-conditioning unit.
1 point: The sales tax paid on the purchase.
• Economic benefit (1 point):
1 point: Retains jobs (sales, manufacturing, transportation, mining).
1 point: Taxes help cities, counties, and states.
1 point: Eventually saves money by using less electricity.
1 point: Any other reasonable cost or benefit.
3.
This question is worth a maximum of 10 points, as follows:
A. Explain how bacteria could develop resistance to a fungicide. (5 points maximum):
• 1 point: When a fungicide is applied, most of the targeted bacteria die, but some survive.
• 1 point: The bacteria that survive have a natural resistance to the fungicide, and the genes containing
this resistance are passed on during reproduction.
• 1 point: After several generations, only a population resistant to the fungicide remains, and the
chemical becomes ineffective against the bacteria.
• 1 point: New and possibly more powerful fungicides need to be developed in order to target these
resistant pests.
• 1 point: This creates a perpetual cycle of organisms evolving resistance to fungicides and humans
developing different means to control the bacteria.
• 1 point: The process of the development of resistance is natural selection.
B. Give two examples of how bacterial resistance to fungicide can economically impact orchard own-
ers. (2 points maximum):
• 1 point: Loss of fruit due to tree loss means loss of sales profits for the orchardist.
