Environmental Issues. Chapter 18

Transcription

1 Environmental Isses Chapter 18 Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 1

2 Environmental Isses Environmental health: the area of health concerns that focses on the interactions of hmans with all aspects of their environment Diseases associated with contaminated water, food, waste, and other polltants Polltants that reslt from hman and indstrial activities and that case chronic diseases and global environmental damage Climate change, the depletion of resorces, and world overpoplation Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 2

3 Water and Water Qality Water cycle: natral process by which the earth s spply of water is continosly collected, prified, and distribted Srface water: precipitation stored in lakes, reservoirs, and wetlands on the srface of the earth Grondwater: precipitation that sinks into the grond and makes p 95% of the world s spply of freshwater Deep aqifers: giant ndergrond reservoirs Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 3

4 Water Spplies and Shortages In U.S. and Canada water spplies abndant bt mch of it is contaminated Withdrawal rates of srface water projected to doble in the next 20 years Conflicts between regions and states over water spplies Main case of water waste is artificially low cost of water Government sbsidies to agricltre and indstry lead to limited financial incentive to invest in water-saving technologies Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 4

5 Water Spplies and Shortages Consmers and bsinesses need to se water-saving technologies Farmers and the agricltral indstry need to develop ways to irrigate crops more efficiently Government and policy makers mst manage water basins and grondwater fairly and effectively Failre to address or water-related problems will lead to economic and health problems, increased environmental degradation, and loss of biodiversity Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 5

6 Virtal Water Virtal water: water sed to prodce foods, consmer prodcts, and other services One hambrger = 640 gallons of water The amont of water needed to prodce a give amont of a prodct is its water footprint Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 6

7 Water Footprint for Food Prodction Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 7

8 Water Polltion Any chemical, biological, or physical change in water qality that harms living organisms or makes water nsitable for desired se Most srface-water reservoirs are contaminated by polltants at specific locations throgh sewers, pipes, or ditches Main sorces of grondwater contamination: Storage lagoons Septic tanks Landfills and hazardos waste dmps Undergrond storage tanks filled with gasoline, oil, solvents, and hazardos waste Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 8

9 Safe Drinking Water The Safe Drinking Water Act (1974) established many health standards for drinking water 98% of Americans have plmbing where lead can leach into tap water as pipes and fixtres deteriorate over time Cold water from the tap is less likely to contain lead from spply pipes Rn water after being away to flsh ot potential contamination Many benefits to water floridation, bt excessive floride consmption can lead to florosis Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 9

10 Conserving Water Americans se three times the water per capita of the average worldwide 70% sed for washing and carrying away waste There are many ways to se less water: Bathroom: shorter showers, trn off facet when brshing teeth; low-flow toilet; water-saving showerheads Landry: wash only when fll load; by only Energy Star appliances Kitchen: rn dishwasher only with fll load; do not rn water continosly when doing dishes by hand Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 10

11 Earth s Atmosphere Troposphere: lower atmosphere, containing abot 80% of the earth s air Stratosphere: pper atmosphere, 11 to 30 miles above the earth s srface Greenhose effect: warming of the earth s srface by heat trapped by gases in the lower atmosphere Greenhose gases: carbon dioxide, water vapor Ozone in the pper atmosphere shields s from abot 95% of the sn s UV rays Protective in pper atmosphere, bt at grond level it is a main sorce of air polltion Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 11

12 Air Polltion Air polltion: the presence of one or more chemicals in the atmosphere in sfficient qality and qantity to case harm to life Air Qality Index (AQI): measre of air polltion issed daily by the EPA 100 or higher, air is considered nhealthy for sensitive grops, sch as people with asthma 300 or higher, air is considered hazardos The EPA charts for polltants: ozone, particle polltion, carbon monoxide, and slfr dioxide Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 12

13 Air Qality Index 13

14 Ozone and Particlate Matter Ozone is poisonos to most living organisms Grond-level ozone cases respiratory irritation, aggravates respiratory and heart disease, and damages the lngs, especially in those with respiratory problems Particlate matter consists of particles or droplets of dst, soot, oil, metals, or other componds sspended in the air Small particles may remain in the lngs and irritate and damage alveoli; and may also trigger an immne system response that contribtes to heart disease and lng disease Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 14

15 Smog Smog: mixtre of polltants in the lower atmosphere that makes the air hazy Indstrial smog: air polltion that forms mostly in cold weather Coal and oil brning Photochemical smog: sits as a thick haze over cities in the smmer Vehicle exhast, indstry, and other sorces combine, prodcing large amonts of ozone and more than 100 other chemicals Fossil fels: oil, coal, natral gas Problems amplified by temperatre inversion Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 15

16 Acid Deposition and Precipitation Acid deposition: the depositing of acidic polltants from the atmosphere on the earth s srface, in either dry or wet form Acid precipitation: mixing of acidic polltants in the atmosphere with moistre and their precipitation in the form of rain, snow, sleet, hail, or fog Environmental damage depends on the ability of the soil to netralize acid Less damage where soils are alkaline Midwest Extensive damage where soils are netral or acidic northwestern U.S., northeastern North America Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 16

17 Redcing Otdoor Air Polltion Clean Air Act (1990) empowered the EPA to set emission standards Improved air qality Clear Skies Initiative (2002) set mandatory caps to redce emissions of slfr dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and mercry A new car today emits 75% less polltion than cars bilt in % of Americans still live in areas where the air is considered nhealthy at some time of the year Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 17

18 Global Warming and Climate Change Climate change is the long-term changes in average daily weather that occrs over many years Sbstantial evidence of earth s warming; debate over whether it s natral or hman-cased Hman activities have increased the amont of greenhose gases in or atmosphere As a reslt, global temperatres have risen Melting glaciers and polar ice caps; rising sea levels Intensification of greenhose effect has led to global warming Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 18

19 The Greenhose Effect 19

20 Greenhose Gases from Food Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 20

21 What Needs to Be Done? Kyoto Protocol (1997), not ratified by Congress 2009 Copenhagen Accord: prodced a nonbinding pledge to redce greenhose gas emissions 2013 world s top scientist endorsed a cap on greenhose gases Scientists now worried abot feedback loops and that delaying prevention efforts cold be devastating Sbstantial redctions will reqire massive changes in indstrial processes, transportation, energy sorces, and personal lifestyles Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 21

22 Predicted Effects of Climate Change Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 22

23 Yor Carbon Footprint Every time yo se fossil fels yo contribte to carbon dioxide emissions Driving a car, trning on a light, rnning a dishwasher The more CO 2 yo generate, the larger yor carbon footprint Walk more; drive less Consme less electricity Recycle Eat less or no meat Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 23

24 Indoor Air Polltion Indoor air polltion can be higher and more hazardos than otdoor air polltion; yet we spend 80 90% of or time indoors Eleven of the most common air polltants are sally 2 to 5 times higher inside the home Environmental tobacco smoke, formaldehyde, radon, carbon monoxide, mold, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) Also dst mites, animal dander, mildew Redce many polltants by keeping the hose, pets, and bedding clean; maintaining 30 50% hmidity; and removing shoes Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 24

25 Solid Waste Any nwanted or discarded material that is not a liqid or gas; garbage 1,600 ponds per person per year in U.S. E-waste is the fastest growing problem; the U.S. sends most to Afghanistan and Haiti for disposal and recycling Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 25

26 Hazardos Waste Any discarded solid or liqid material that meets one or more of for criteria: Contains a toxic, carcinogenic, or mtagenic compond at levels that exceed EPA standards Catches fire easily Can explode or release toxic fmes Corrodes metal containers Direct exposre poses health hazards Federal laws restrict the storage of hazardos waste in sanitary landfills Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 26

27 Hazardos Waste Common forms: Hosehold hazardos waste: batteries, paints, hosehold cleaners, oils, pesticides Emergent contaminants: pharmaceticals, cosmetics, antibacterial soap, shampoo, shaving cream, dishwashing liqids, plastic, flame retardants, and other chemical componds Medical waste: any solid or liqid waste that is generated in the medical diagnosis, treatment, or immnization of hman beings or animals Radiation and radioactive waste: low-level radiation sed in medical and dental procedres; high-level radioactive waste from nclear weapons and power plants Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 27

28 Approaches to Waste Management Sanitary landfills are careflly selected sites where waste is bried in plastic-lined pits Incinerators brn waste and sometimes sell the energy generated by the brning Not in my backyard Living near a hazardos waste dmp increases risk for respiratory disorders and cancer Recycling: circle, or loop, program; materials collected, sorted, cleaned, and processed into raw materials to make new prodcts Many commnities provide crbside pickp; and many states have deposit/refnd programs Individals can also by recyclable, resable, or compostable materials 28

29 Recycling Plastic Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 29

30 Ecosystems and Biodiversity Ecosystem: an interconnected commnity of organisms living together as a balanced, mtally spportive system Biodiversity: variety of different animal and plant species on earth and the genetic variation in their gene pools Hman activities significantly disrpt these ecosystems and have cased a decline in biodiversity throgh: Deforestation Desertification Loss of freshwater resorces Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 30

31 Protecting Ecosystems Stringent federal and state protection of animal and plant habitats in forest, deserts, and wetlands is a component of sstainable land management programs Protecting endangered species; controlling climate change Individals can help: Resing and recycling paper prodcts Refsing the by prodcts or materials made from endangered or threatened species Prchasing wood with the Good Wood Seal Stopping jnk mail Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 31

32 Energy Resorces World energy consmption contines to rise World s largest consmers: 1. China 2. United States 3. India Nonrenewable energy provides 93% of the commercial energy sed in the U.S. Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 32

33 Energy Resorces Crde oil: U.S. reserves will be depleted by 2100 Coal: largest domestic sorce for heat and electricity; dirtiest of all fossil fels Natral gas: a mixtre of gases, mostly methane; costly to extract Cold meet U.S. energy demands for abot 82 to 118 years Fracking: environmental and health costs nknown Nclear power: problems with storing nclear waste, and concerns abot safety Three Mile Island (1979); Chernobyl (1986); Fkshima (2011) Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 33

34 Solar Energy, Liqid Biofels, and Energy Conservation Solar energy: cold meet 25% of consmer demand by 2050 Wind, geothermal, and hydro power also being explored Biofels biodiesel and bioethanol made from plants and other biological material Problems inclde increased forest clearing and soil erosion, se of water, loss of biodiversity Environmentalists believe the soltion is to conserve Redce ecological effects, diminish energy waste; shift to renewable, nonpollting energy sorces Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 34

35 Yor Electronic Footprint Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 35

36 Poplation Growth How many people can the planet spport? Global carrying capacity is estimated at 50 billion people Cltral carrying capacity the nmber the earth can spport at an optimm standard of living is mch less As it stands today, there are probably not enogh resorces to extend an optimm standard of living to everyone on planet right now Crrently abot 1.4 billion people are living in extreme poverty Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 36

37 Approaches to Poplation Control and Management Family planning: informed decisions abot the nmber and spacing of children Programs provide information on birth control, birth spacing, breastfeeding, and prenatal care Cold have a significant effect if implemented in developing contries Smart growth: concentrates growth in compact rban centers and environmentally sstainable commnities Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 37

38 A Sstainable Planet An ecological footprint compares hman consmption of resorces with the planet s capacity to regenerate them Can reveal how sstainable a particlar lifestyle is Can point ot ineqities of resorce se and consmption The ecological footprint of the United States is the largest in the world Consme more resorces, generate more polltion, and discard more waste Each of s can take actions today to redce that footprint Copyright 2015 McGraw-Hill Edcation. All rights reserved. No reprodction or distribtion withot the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Edcation. 38