Bioremediation is a method used to clean up polluted areas by using natural or added microorganisms. The term “in situ” means “on site” and describes a process that happens at the location of the pollution without moving the polluted materials. Bioremediation helps reduce harmful substances such as hydrocarbons, chlorinated compounds, nitrates, toxic metals, and other pollutants through chemical reactions.
Environmental engineering is a type of engineering that works with environmental science. It uses knowledge from many areas, such as chemistry, biology, ecology, geology, hydraulics, hydrology, microbiology, and mathematics, to create solutions that help protect and improve the health of living things and the environment. Environmental engineering is a part of both civil engineering and chemical engineering.
Superfund sites are polluted areas in the United States that need long-term cleanup to remove harmful substances. These sites include landfills, mines, manufacturing facilities, and processing plants where toxic waste was not properly handled or disposed of. They were identified under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980.
Water fluoridation is the careful addition of fluoride to public water supplies to help reduce tooth decay. Fluoridated water keeps fluoride levels that are helpful for preventing cavities, whether the fluoride comes naturally or is added. In the mouth, fluoride helps protect tooth enamel by slowing the loss of minerals and helping to restore them in early cavities.
Drug pollution, also called pharmaceutical pollution, happens when medicines and their broken-down parts enter water sources like groundwater, rivers, lakes, and oceans through wastewater. This type of pollution is mainly a form of water pollution. A scientist from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, New York, said, “Pharmaceutical pollution is now found in waters around the world.” Causes include old or worn-out systems, sewage overflows, and runoff from farms.
Urban runoff is water from rain, irrigation, and car washing that flows over the ground in cities. Impervious surfaces, such as roads, parking lots, and sidewalks, are built during development. These surfaces, made of materials like asphalt and concrete, along with rooftops, prevent water from soaking into the soil.
Agricultural pollution refers to waste and chemicals from farming that harm the environment, ecosystems, and people. This pollution can come from specific places, like a single source of water pollution, or from widespread causes, such as runoff from fields or air pollution. Once in the environment, these pollutants can directly harm wildlife or contaminate drinking water.
Superfund sites are polluted places in the United States that need long-term cleanup of harmful materials. These sites include landfills, mines, factories, and processing plants where dangerous waste was not handled properly or thrown away. They were listed under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980.
The following is a list of Superfund sites in New Jersey that were named under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
The Camp Lejeune water contamination problem happened at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina, between 1953 and 1987. During this time, U.S. Marines, their families, and many international workers, including British personnel, used tap water that was polluted with harmful chemicals.