ATP: Overview 📖

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• • Absorption: The process by which substances are taken in or assimilated by tissues or organs through direct contact. 
  • Acute exposure: Short-term contact or ingestion of a substance resulting in immediate adverse effects on health. 
  • Activated sludge: A biological wastewater treatment process that uses microorganisms to break down organic matter in sewage. 
  • Additive effects: Combined effects of two or more substances equal to the sum of their individual effects. 
  • Anaerobic: Occurring in the absence of oxygen, such as in anaerobic digestion processes. 
  • Antagonistic effects: Interactions between substances that diminish the effects of one or both substances when combined. 

• • Bacteria: Microscopic single-celled organisms that can be beneficial or harmful, often found in various environments including soil, water, and living organisms. 
  • Bar screen: A mechanical filtration device used in sewage treatment plants to remove large objects and debris from wastewater. 
  • Bioaccumulation: The accumulation of substances, such as pollutants or toxins, in the tissues of living organisms over time. 
  • Biodegrade: The process by which organic substances are broken down into simpler compounds by the action of microorganisms. 
  • Biogas: A mixture of gases produced by the breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen, often used as a renewable energy source. 
  • Biological nutrient removal: A wastewater treatment process that removes nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus using biological processes. 
  • Biological oxygen demand (BOD): The amount of dissolved oxygen consumed by microorganisms while decomposing organic matter in water. 
  • Biomagnification: The process by which the concentration of certain substances, such as toxins or pollutants, increases in organisms at higher trophic levels of a food chain. 

• • Cholera: An infectious disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, typically transmitted through contaminated water or food and characterized by severe diarrhea and dehydration. 
  • Cultural eutrophication: The process by which human activities, such as the input of nutrients from fertilizers, accelerate the natural aging of lakes and other bodies of water. 
  • Chronic exposure: Long-term contact or ingestion of a substance over an extended period, potentially resulting in cumulative health effects. 
  • Compost: Organic material that has decomposed and can be used as a soil conditioner and fertilizer. 
  • Coral bleaching: The loss of color in coral reefs due to stressors such as elevated sea temperatures, leading to the expulsion of symbiotic algae. 

• • Dead zones: Areas in bodies of water where oxygen levels are so low that marine life cannot survive, often caused by nutrient pollution. 
  • Disinfection: The process of destroying or removing harmful microorganisms from water or other substances to prevent the spread of disease. 
  • Dissolved oxygen: The amount of oxygen gas dissolved in water, vital for the survival of aquatic organisms. 
  • Dose: The quantity of a substance received or absorbed by an organism over a specific period. 
  • Dose-response assessment: The study of the relationship between the amount of exposure to a substance and the resulting health effects. 
  • Dose-response curve: A graphical representation of the relationship between the dose of a substance and the response or effect observed in an organism. 
  • Dysentery: An infectious disease characterized by inflammation of the intestines, leading to severe diarrhea with blood and mucus. 

• • Ecological tolerance: The ability of an organism to withstand fluctuations in environmental conditions, such as temperature, pH, or salinity, within certain limits. 
  • Electronic waste (e-waste): Discarded electronic devices such as computers, smartphones, and televisions, that can contain hazardous materials and require special handling for disposal. 
  • Emergent aquatic vegetation (EAV): Plant life that grows partially submerged or rooted in shallow water areas, providing habitat and stabilizing shorelines. 
  • Endocrine disruptors: Chemical substances that interfere with the normal functioning of hormones in animals, potentially causing developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune disorders. 
  • Endocrine system: The system of glands, hormones, and receptors that regulate various physiological functions in organisms. 
  • Eutrophic: A condition in aquatic ecosystems characterized by excessive nutrient enrichment, leading to increased plant growth and decreased oxygen levels. 

• • Fungi: Diverse group of organisms, including molds, yeast, and mushrooms, that play various ecological roles, including decomposition and nutrient cycling. 

• • Garbage patch: Areas of marine debris, primarily consisting of plastic, concentrated by ocean currents, such as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. 
  • Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP): An area of marine debris concentration in the North Pacific Ocean, primarily composed of plastics and other waste materials. 
  • Gyre: Large-scale circular ocean currents formed by global wind patterns and the Earth's rotation, responsible for circulating water and transporting marine debris. 

• • Hazardous materials (HAZMAT): Substances that pose a risk to health, safety, or the environment due to their chemical properties. 
  • Hormones: Chemical messengers produced by glands in the endocrine system that regulate physiological processes in organisms. 
  • Hypoxic: A condition characterized by low oxygen levels in water, often leading to ecological stress and the formation of dead zones. 

• • Incineration: The controlled burning of waste materials to convert them into ash, gases, and heat, often used for waste disposal and energy recovery. 
  • Infectious disease: Illness caused by pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites, capable of spreading from one organism to another. 
  • Ingestion: The process of taking in substances through the mouth, such as food, drink, or toxic substances. 
  • Inhalation: The act of breathing in air, gases, or particles into the respiratory system through the nose or mouth. 

• • LD50: The median lethal dose, a measure of the toxicity of a substance representing the dose at which 50% of the exposed population dies within a specified time frame. 
  • Leachate: Liquid that drains or leaches from a landfill, often containing dissolved and suspended contaminants from decomposing waste. 

• • Malaria: A life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes, characterized by symptoms such as fever, chills, and anemia. 
  • Mangrove swamp: Coastal wetlands dominated by salt-tolerant trees and shrubs, providing habitat for diverse marine and terrestrial species. 
  • MERS: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, a viral respiratory illness caused by the MERS coronavirus, characterized by fever, cough, and shortness of breath, with a high mortality rate. 
  • Mesotrophic: A condition in aquatic ecosystems characterized by moderate levels of nutrients and biological productivity. 
  • Municipal solid waste (MSW): Refuse collected from households, businesses, and institutions within urban areas, commonly referred to as trash or garbage. 

• • Nonpoint sources: Diffuse sources of pollution that cannot be traced to a single, identifiable point of origin, such as agricultural runoff and urban stormwater. 

• • Oligotrophic: A condition in aquatic ecosystems characterized by low levels of nutrients and biological productivity. 
  • Optimum level: The ideal concentration or condition of a factor, such as temperature or pH, for the growth or functioning of an organism or process. 
  • Optimum range: The range of values within which a factor, such as temperature or pH, is most favorable for the growth or functioning of an organism or process. 

• • Parasite: An organism that lives on or inside another organism (the host) and derives nutrients or other benefits at the host's expense. 
  • Pathogen: A microorganism, such as a bacterium, virus, fungus, or parasite, capable of causing disease in a host organism. 
  • Pasteurization: The process of heating food or beverages to a specific temperature for a certain period to kill harmful microorganisms while preserving flavor and nutritional value. 
  • Persistent organic pollutants (POPs): Toxic chemicals that persist in the environment, bioaccumulate in organisms, and pose risks to human health and the environment. 
  • Plague: An infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, typically transmitted through fleas and rodents, and characterized by fever, chills, and swollen lymph nodes. 
  • Poison: A substance that can cause illness, injury, or death when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed by an organism. 
  • Point sources: Specific, identifiable sources of pollution that discharge contaminants from a single location, such as industrial facilities and sewage treatment plants. 
  • Preliminary treatment: The initial stage of sewage treatment involving physical processes such as screening and grit removal to remove large solids and debris. 
  • Primary clarifier treatment: The process of removing settleable solids from sewage through settling tanks, allowing the separation of suspended solids from the liquid phase. 
  • Primary treatment: The first stage of sewage treatment involving physical processes such as sedimentation and filtration to remove suspended solids and reduce biochemical oxygen demand. 

• • 5 R's: Refers to the principles of reduce, reuse, recycle, recover, and refuse, aimed at promoting sustainable waste management practices. 
  • Raw sewage: Untreated wastewater containing human waste, chemicals, and other pollutants, typically discharged from households and industries into water bodies. 
  • Range of tolerance: The range of environmental conditions within which an organism can survive and function optimally. 
  • Recycle: The process of collecting, sorting, processing, and remanufacturing materials such as paper, glass, plastic, and metal to produce new products. 
  • Resource recovery: The process of extracting valuable materials or energy from waste materials through recycling, composting, and other methods. 
  • Response: The reaction or effect produced by exposure to a stimulus or agent, such as the health effects of exposure to a pollutant. 

• • Salt marsh: Coastal wetlands dominated by salt-tolerant plants, such as grasses and sedges, providing important habitat and ecosystem services. 
  • SARS: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, a viral respiratory illness caused by the SARS coronavirus, characterized by fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, with a high mortality rate. 
  • Secondary treatment: The second stage of sewage treatment, involving biological processes to further remove organic matter and pathogens from wastewater. 
  • Sewage: Wastewater containing human waste, household chemicals, and other pollutants, typically discharged from homes and businesses into sewer systems. 
  • Sewage treatment: The process of removing contaminants from wastewater to produce treated effluent and biosolids suitable for disposal or reuse. 
  • Sewage treatment plant (STP): Facility designed to treat wastewater from domestic, commercial, and industrial sources to remove pollutants and protect public health and the environment. 
  • Sludge: The solid material remaining after primary or secondary treatment of sewage, often containing organic matter and pathogens. 
  • Solid waste: Discarded materials, such as household garbage, industrial waste, and construction debris, that are not in a liquid or gaseous state. 
  • Stenothermic organisms: Organisms with a narrow tolerance range for temperature, unable to withstand large fluctuations in temperature. 
  • Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV): Aquatic plants that grow entirely underwater, providing habitat, food, and oxygen for aquatic organisms. 
  • Synthetic: Produced by chemical synthesis or artificial means, rather than occurring naturally. 
  • Synergistic effects: Occur when the combined effect of two or more substances or factors is greater than the sum of their individual effects. 

• • Tertiary treatment: The final stage of sewage treatment, involving advanced processes to further remove nutrients, pathogens, and other contaminants from wastewater. 
  • Thermal pollution: The release of heated water or air into the environment, often resulting from industrial processes or the operation of power plants. 
  • Thermal shock: The rapid change in temperature that can cause stress and damage to organisms, particularly those living in aquatic environments. 
  • Threshold level: The minimum amount or concentration of a substance required to produce a detectable effect or response in an organism. 
  • Toxicology: The study of the adverse effects of chemicals or substances on living organisms, including their distribution, metabolism, and mechanisms of action. 
  • Tuberculosis: An infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily affecting the lungs and characterized by persistent cough, fever, and weight loss. 
  • Turbidity: The cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by suspended particles, such as sediment, plankton, or pollutants, reducing water clarity. 

• • Vector: An organism, typically an insect or other arthropod, that transmits pathogens or parasites from one host to another, contributing to the spread of infectious diseases. 
  • Virus: A small infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of other organisms, causing a wide range of diseases in humans, animals, and plants. 

• • Waste-to-energy (WTE): A process that converts non-recyclable waste materials into usable energy, such as electricity, heat, or fuel. 
  • West Nile virus: A mosquito-borne virus belonging to the flavivirus genus, capable of causing fever, headache, and neurological symptoms in humans. 
  • Wetlands: Areas of land saturated with water, such as marshes, swamps, and bogs, providing important habitats for diverse plant and animal species.
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  • Zika: A viral disease transmitted primarily through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, characterized by mild symptoms such as fever, rash, and joint pain, but can lead to severe complications, including birth defects.
  • Zones of stress: Areas in ecosystems where environmental conditions fall outside the optimal range for the survival or growth of organisms. 

• • Zooxanthellae: Symbiotic algae that live within the tissues of coral polyps, providing them with nutrients through photosynthesis and contributing to coral reef ecosystems.