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Acid rain refers to precipitation with elevated levels of hydrogen ions (low pH), often caused by the release of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere. It can harm ecosystems, damage buildings and statues, and acidify water bodies.

Bioaccumulation occurs when an organism absorbs a substance at a rate faster than it is lost by catabolism and excretion, leading to a high concentration of the substance, often toxins like mercury, in the organism's tissues.

An Environmental Impact Assessment is a process of evaluating the potential environmental effects of a proposed project or development before decisions are made, ensuring that environmental implications are considered.

Alternative energy sources include wind, solar, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass energies that are renewable and generally have a lower environmental impact than fossil fuels, thus being critical for sustainable development and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Heavy metal contamination refers to the accumulation of heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, in the environment, which can have detrimental effects on human health and ecosystems due to their toxicity and persistence.

Biomagnification is the process wherein the concentration of a toxin in an organism exceeds the background level of the substance due to its presence higher in the food chain, often leading to severe effects on ecosystem health and human health.

Eutrophication is the process by which a body of water becomes overly enriched with nutrients, leading to excessive growth of algae and other aquatic plants, which can create dead zones by depleting oxygen in the water.

Desalination is the process of removing salts and minerals from seawater or brackish water, making it suitable for human consumption and irrigation, which is crucial in areas with freshwater scarcity.

Photodegradation is the alteration of materials by light, often leading to their decomposition. This process helps in the breakdown of pollutants that are exposed to sunlight, such as certain plastics and chemicals.

Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen using sunlight energy. It is essential for the production of oxygen and as a base for the food chain.

Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide. It is a method used to reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere with the aim to mitigate global warming.

Bioremediation involves using organisms, usually microbes or plants, to detoxify and restore polluted sites. It is important for cleaning up oil spills, heavy metals, and other contaminants from the environment.

Ozone depletion refers to the thinning of the Earth's ozone layer, primarily caused by the release of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other ozone-depleting substances (ODS). It results in increased ultraviolet radiation reaching the Earth, which can lead to health issues and environmental damage.

The Air Quality Index is a quantitative measure used to describe the quality of air and the level of pollution, including particulates and other pollutants. It is important for public health as it helps to inform and protect individuals from poor air quality.

Renewable resources are materials or energy sources that can be replenished naturally within a human lifespan, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are fundamental for sustainable development.

Biodegradation is the chemical dissolution of materials by bacteria, fungi, or other biological means. It's a crucial process for the decomposition of organic material and the subsequent recycling of nutrients in ecosystems.

Climate change encompasses global warming and its impacts, such as changes in weather patterns, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events, caused by human activities that lead to an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Water treatment is the process that improves the quality of water to make it more acceptable for a specific end-use, such as drinking, industrial water supply, or river flow maintenance, by removing impurities and contaminants.

Sustainable agriculture is the practice of farming using principles of ecology, the study of relationships between organisms and their environment, which aims to meet society's food needs without compromising future generations.

The greenhouse effect is the warming of Earth's surface and atmosphere caused by the presence of greenhouse gases that trap heat. This is crucial for maintaining temperatures that sustain life, but excessive greenhouse gases can lead to global warming.

Chlorination is the process of adding chlorine to water as a method of water purification to make it suitable for drinking by eliminating pathogens. However, it can lead to the formation of harmful disinfection byproducts.

The global carbon cycle is the process by which carbon is exchanged among the biosphere, pedosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere of the Earth, involving carbon storage and exchanges between these Earth systems.

Non-renewable resources consist of materials and energy sources like coal, oil, natural gas, and minerals that cannot be readily replaced by natural means at the same rate as they are consumed, hence their sustainable use is critical.

Smog is a type of air pollution that is a combination of smoke and fog, typically exacerbated by industrial and vehicular emissions, often containing ozone and particulate matter, which can lead to respiratory problems and other health issues.