262 Index
metabolism (enzymes), 14
enzymatic reaction, 14
maximum potency of enzyme, 14
Michaelis-Menten relationship, 14
speed at which food is used, 14
photosynthesis, respiration,
chemosynthesis, 15–16
aerobic oxidation, 15
anaerobic oxidation, 15
autotrophic organisms, 16
bacteria, 15
electrons, removal of, 15
endogenous respiration, 16
extracellular enzymes, 16
glucose molecules, 15
hydrogen sulphide, 15
methane, 15
oxidation, 15
protoplasm, oxidation of, 16
reactions of synthesis, 16
septic processes, 15
storage of energy, 14
adenosine, 14
chemical energy, 14
Organophosphates, 144
Orthophosphates, 72
Oxidation
aerobic, 15, 190–191
anaerobic, 15, 190–191
protoplasm, 16
Oxygen cycle, 70–71
excessive oxygen production, 70
human action, 71
need for oxygen, 70
opposite image of carbon cycle, 70
ozone layer, 71
stability of, 128
Oxygen depletion (eutrophication), 164
Ozone depletion, 174–177, 204
chlorofluorocarbons, 176
international agreements, 176–177
nitrogen oxides, 176
ozone hole, 175
ozone layer, depletion of, 174
phytoplankton, decrease of, 175
ultraviolet radiation, 175
Ozone layer, 67, 71
P
Palaeolithic man, 86
PAN, see Peroxyacyl nitrates
Parasite examples, 35
Passive smoking, 126
PBT compounds, see Persistent,
Bioaccumulative, Toxic
compounds
PCBs, see Polychlorinated biphenyls
Peroxyacyl nitrates (PAN), 172
Persistent, Bioaccumulative, Toxic (PBT)
compounds, 139
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP), 139
Pesticides, 141
Phosphorous
aquatic ecosystems, 82
cycle, 71–72
human activity, 72
imperfect cycle, 71
limiting factor, 72
ocean upward currents, 72
recycling, 72
as regulator of biogeochemical
cycles, 71
reservoir, 72
urban fluid discharges, 72
eutrophication, 72, 161–165
accumulation of radioactivity, 165
biomagnification, 165
compensation point, 164
decomposing microorganisms, 162
emergence of toxicity, 164
euphotic zone, 164
less clarity, 164
limiting factor, 163
nutritive salts, 163
oxygen depletion, 164
photosynthesis, 163
poisoning cases, 164–165
scum creation, 165
self-perpetuating eutrophication,
164
Photochemical smog, 172
Photosynthesis, 18, 163
Phytoplankton, 54, 175
Pinus
brutia, 105
halepensis, 105
sp., 105
Pistacia lentiscus, 105
Plankton, 77
Poikilothermic animals, 19
Pollution, see also Toxic pollution
air, see Air pollution and global
change
metabolism (enzymes), 14
enzymatic reaction, 14
maximum potency of enzyme, 14
Michaelis-Menten relationship, 14
speed at which food is used, 14
photosynthesis, respiration,
chemosynthesis, 15–16
aerobic oxidation, 15
anaerobic oxidation, 15
autotrophic organisms, 16
bacteria, 15
electrons, removal of, 15
endogenous respiration, 16
extracellular enzymes, 16
glucose molecules, 15
hydrogen sulphide, 15
methane, 15
oxidation, 15
protoplasm, oxidation of, 16
reactions of synthesis, 16
septic processes, 15
storage of energy, 14
adenosine, 14
chemical energy, 14
Organophosphates, 144
Orthophosphates, 72
Oxidation
aerobic, 15, 190–191
anaerobic, 15, 190–191
protoplasm, 16
Oxygen cycle, 70–71
excessive oxygen production, 70
human action, 71
need for oxygen, 70
opposite image of carbon cycle, 70
ozone layer, 71
stability of, 128
Oxygen depletion (eutrophication), 164
Ozone depletion, 174–177, 204
chlorofluorocarbons, 176
international agreements, 176–177
nitrogen oxides, 176
ozone hole, 175
ozone layer, depletion of, 174
phytoplankton, decrease of, 175
ultraviolet radiation, 175
Ozone layer, 67, 71
P
Palaeolithic man, 86
PAN, see Peroxyacyl nitrates
Parasite examples, 35
Passive smoking, 126
PBT compounds, see Persistent,
Bioaccumulative, Toxic
compounds
PCBs, see Polychlorinated biphenyls
Peroxyacyl nitrates (PAN), 172
Persistent, Bioaccumulative, Toxic (PBT)
compounds, 139
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP), 139
Pesticides, 141
Phosphorous
aquatic ecosystems, 82
cycle, 71–72
human activity, 72
imperfect cycle, 71
limiting factor, 72
ocean upward currents, 72
recycling, 72
as regulator of biogeochemical
cycles, 71
reservoir, 72
urban fluid discharges, 72
eutrophication, 72, 161–165
accumulation of radioactivity, 165
biomagnification, 165
compensation point, 164
decomposing microorganisms, 162
emergence of toxicity, 164
euphotic zone, 164
less clarity, 164
limiting factor, 163
nutritive salts, 163
oxygen depletion, 164
photosynthesis, 163
poisoning cases, 164–165
scum creation, 165
self-perpetuating eutrophication,
164
Photochemical smog, 172
Photosynthesis, 18, 163
Phytoplankton, 54, 175
Pinus
brutia, 105
halepensis, 105
sp., 105
Pistacia lentiscus, 105
Plankton, 77
Poikilothermic animals, 19
Pollution, see also Toxic pollution
air, see Air pollution and global
change