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5 marksPollution Concepts, Pathways, and Receptors

CAPE Environmental Science Unit 2 · 2010 · Paper 2 · Question 8(c)

It is suggested that pregnant women do not eat shark because shark meat may contain high concentrations of mercury.

Explain how a shark can exhibit possibly dangerous levels of mercury, if it does not come into contact with actual metallic mercury, and the concentration of mercury in the ocean is extremely low.

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  1. 8(a)(i)At what distance from the sewage plant is the dissolved oxygen concentration at its LOWEST?[1 mark]
  2. 8(a)(ii)What is the LOWEST dissolved oxygen concentration in the river?[1 mark]
  3. 8(a)(iii)Given that fish must have a minimum of 3 mg/L dissolved oxygen for survival, for what distance downstream of the sewage treatment plant is the river completely…[1 mark]
  4. 8(b)(i)Copy and complete Table 2 to show the name and ONE source of THREE different water pollutants EXCEPT nitrates.[3 marks]
  5. 8(b)(ii)Outline how TWO of the pollutants you mentioned in (b)(i) above impact the environment.[4 marks]
  6. 8(d)(i)You have been asked to recommend a nitrate-measuring method for your new laboratory. Assuming that you only need to consider the data provided in Table 3,…[4 marks]
  7. 8(d)(ii)Before you can make a final decision on which method to use for your laboratory, what is the MOST important factor that you must take into account?[1 mark]

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