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ENV 207 - Lecture 8 - Eutrophication

Eutrophication is the process where water bodies receive excess nutrients, leading to excessive plant growth, particularly algal blooms, which reduce dissolved oxygen levels and can harm aquatic life. Nutrient sources include agricultural fertilizers, atmospheric nitrogen deposition, soil erosion, and sewage discharges, with nitrates and phosphates being the primary contributors. The process results in increased turbidity, sedimentation, and the development of anoxic conditions that release harmful gases.

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7 views11 pages

ENV 207 - Lecture 8 - Eutrophication

Eutrophication is the process where water bodies receive excess nutrients, leading to excessive plant growth, particularly algal blooms, which reduce dissolved oxygen levels and can harm aquatic life. Nutrient sources include agricultural fertilizers, atmospheric nitrogen deposition, soil erosion, and sewage discharges, with nitrates and phosphates being the primary contributors. The process results in increased turbidity, sedimentation, and the development of anoxic conditions that release harmful gases.

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robiulhaquebhuyan
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ENV 207: Environmental Degradation and Pollution

Chapter: Water Pollution

Topic: Nutrient Pollution and Eutrophication


Textbook: Understanding Environmental Pollution, By Marquita K Hill
What is Eutrophication
Eutrophication is a process whereby water bodies, such
as lakes, estuaries, or slow-moving streams receive
excess nutrients that stimulate excessive plant growth
(algae, periphyton attached algae, and nuisance plants
weeds).

This enhanced plant growth, often called an algal bloom,


reduces dissolved oxygen in the water when dead plant
material decomposes and can cause other organisms to
die.

Nutrients can come from many sources, such as


fertilizers applied to agricultural fields, and gardens;
deposition of nitrogen from the atmosphere; erosion of
soil containing nutrients; and sewage treatment plant
discharges.

The main nutrients responsible for eutrophication are


nitrates (NO3-) and phosphates (PO4-3) Image Source: https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-effects-and-
solutions-to-eutrophication.php
So how does Eutrophication happen?
Oligotrophic lake with a low level of nutrients.
Artificial input of nutrients from run-off and discharge of effluent.
Eutrophic lake with a high level of nutrients
Rapid growth of algae and other biomass resulting in a decrease in the
concentration of dissolved oxygen.
Turbidity (cloudiness) of water increases as does rate of sedimentation.
Algal blooms during the Summer months. Note that dissolved oxygen levels
are at their lowest at night when plants respire rather than photosynthesis.
Development of anoxic conditions and release of noxious gases such
as hydrogen sulphide, thioalcohols and ammonia.
Eutrophication
• Eutrophication is the process in which a water body
becomes overly enriched with nutrients, leading to the
plentiful growth of simple plant life.

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