APES Objectives – Unit 8

Summary

Unit 8, “Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution,” explores pollution in water and on land. It distinguishes between point and nonpoint sources of pollution and describes the impacts of human activities on aquatic ecosystems, including coral reefs, wetlands, and mangroves. The unit explains the effects of oil spills, heavy metals, and litter, and introduces the concepts of eutrophication and thermal pollution. It also covers persistent organic pollutants (POPs), explaining how they can bioaccumulate and biomagnify up the food chain, affecting both wildlife and human health. The unit concludes by detailing solid waste disposal methods like landfills and incineration, and discusses strategies for waste reduction, such as recycling and composting, along with the process of sewage treatment. This unit accounts for 7-10% of the AP Exam.