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EnglandEnvironmental Science

3.4 Pollution

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

What are the main air pollutants, where do they come from, and what damage do they cause?

The main air pollutants and their sources, the effects of air pollution including acid rain, smog, ozone depletion and the enhanced greenhouse effect, and methods of controlling air pollution.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level Environmental Science 3.4.2, covering the main air pollutants and their sources, the effects including acid rain, smog, ozone depletion and the enhanced greenhouse effect, and control methods.
12 min answer →

What makes something a pollutant, and what properties decide how much harm it does?

The definition of pollution, the properties of pollutants that determine their impact (toxicity, persistence, bioaccumulation and biomagnification), and how pollutants are dispersed and degraded in the environment.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level Environmental Science 3.4.1, covering what pollution is, the properties of pollutants that determine their impact, and how pollutants are dispersed and broken down in the environment.
11 min answer →

How can pollution be controlled, and what strategies prevent it rather than just cleaning it up?

Strategies for controlling pollution including prevention at source, treatment, legislation and economic instruments, the principle of the critical pathway, and the polluter pays principle.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level Environmental Science 3.4.5, covering strategies for controlling pollution, the difference between prevention and treatment, the critical pathway, legislation and economic instruments, and the polluter pays principle.
11 min answer →

What happens to our solid waste, and how can we move from disposal to a circular economy?

The sources and types of solid waste, methods of waste disposal including landfill and incineration and their impacts, and the waste hierarchy of reduce, reuse and recycle moving towards a circular economy.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level Environmental Science 3.4.4, covering sources and types of solid waste, disposal methods including landfill and incineration, their impacts, and the waste hierarchy and circular economy.
11 min answer →

What pollutes our water, and why is eutrophication such a damaging process?

The main water pollutants and their sources, the process and consequences of eutrophication, the use of indicator species and biological oxygen demand to monitor water quality, and methods of controlling water pollution.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level Environmental Science 3.4.3, covering the main water pollutants and their sources, eutrophication and its consequences, monitoring with indicator species and biological oxygen demand, and control methods.
12 min answer →