Chapter 3 Notes-Environmental Health

Chapter 3

Environmental Health

Common Soil PollutantsThings we have already talked about:

AgricultureSedimentPesticidesAnimal wastesFertilizersIrrigation ditches which collect pollutants and salts

Common Soil PollutantsLandfills

Solid wastes buried in landfills; harmful substances leak into the soil

Industrial ProcessesToxic substances released as wastes like lead and mercury

Mining practicesAcid mine drainage

Common Soil PollutantsOil and gas wells; underground petroleum tanks

If not sealed properly oil and gas can leak into and contaminate the soil

Common Soil Pollutants

Radioactive Wastes

Nuclear Power PlantsHospitalsIndustriesResearch facilities

LLW: low level wastes

HLW: high level wastes

Common Soil PollutantsHLW: High Level Wastes

Wastes that are highly radioactive and pose health risks for thousands of years

Mostly Nuclear Fuel from power plantsNuclear reactor componentsIndustrial radiation gauges

Disposal and storage of HLW is the responsibility of the US Government

Common Soil PollutantsLLW: Low Level Wastes

Wastes that small amounts of materials that are radioactive and that decay to safe levels in about 100 years

Trash or other materials that have been contaminated by radioactive materials

Disposal and storage of LLW is the responsibility of individual states

Common Soil PollutantsLLW: Low Level Wastes

In PA, this includes:ClothingFiltersPaper and glass Certain kinds of resinsRadiation gaugesNuclear reactor ash Nuclear reactor solid waste

Indoor PollutionHHW: Household hazardous waste

Remodeling materialsPaintsCleaning productsOilsPesticidesYard equipment gas/oilGlues/Adhesives


Ways to reduce the risks:

Read and follow directions

Use minimum amounts necessary

Give leftovers to someone else to use

Dispose of leftovers according to label


Many communities have programs

http://www.southwindsor.org/pages/swindsorct_dpw/hazardous

http://www.ci.redlands.ca.us/utilities/waste_household_hazardous.htm

http://www.co.berks.pa.us/berks/ical/eventDetail_page.asp?date_ID=CDCACEC7C683CDC9CA








Manufacturing Household Cleaning Products

Ammonia: combines nitrogen and hydrogen gases; nitrogen escapes and pollutes air (nitrogen dioxide)

Chlorine bleach: Chlorine gas is poisonous and irritates upper respiratory systems and lungs

Laundry detergents: petroleum by products; methyl alcohol; sulfuric acid; strong bases can get out and pollute the environment

Earth~One Enormous EcosystemEcology: the scientific study of interactions between organisms and their environments

Ecologists: Collect and analyze quantitative data about populations (counts and measurements)

Ecologists: Gather qualitative data (descriptive) about relationships between species in an ecosystem

Earth~One Enormous EcosystemThree basic principles of ecology:

1 ) EVERYTHING IS RELATED TO EVERYTHING ELSE

The simplest disturbance in any natural process sets off a chain reaction


2) EVERYTHING MUST GO SOMEWHERE

Nothing can really be “thrown” away. It all ends up somewhere and has some effect on the environment


3) NATURE KNOWS BEST

The Earth and all of it’s life-forms have been here for billions of years. Humans share and we make changes that could cause long term effects

Humans must live in harmony with the Earth… if we use a resource, it must be returned at some point… either by natural processes or by human activities

Earth~One Enormous EcosystemNonpoint Source Pollutants

Pollutants that are carried far from their sources by rain and melting snow

Fertilizers and pesticidesOil, grease Toxic chemicalsSedimentBacteria and nutrientsMany others

Earth~One Enormous EcosystemNonpoint Source Pollutants

Where do they come from?

FarmsResidential areasFactoriesConstruction sitesForestsFaulty Septic SystemsMining and logging

Earth~One Enormous EcosystemNonpoint Source PollutantsLeading cause of water quality problems in USSome responsibility for reducing at Federal Government levelSome responsibility for reducing at State levelIndividuals can prevent and eliminate too! Keep litter, pet wastes, leaves and

debris out of gutters and drainsCut back on lawn and household chemicalsControlling soil erosion

Earth~One Enormous EcosystemPoint Source Pollutants

Pollutants that are discharged or emitted from an identifiable source

Where do they come from?

Factory pipesLeaking landfillsFood processing plants and slaughterhousesWaste water treatment facilitiesMany others

Earth~One Enormous EcosystemDetecting PollutantsTechnologies for when our eyes and noses can’t see it

Detecting Hazardous WastesUnderground storage tanks can be monitored with seismic vibration imaging

Abandoned storage sites have to be checked before they can be torn downHazardous metals monitored from incinerators and combustion facilities

Earth~One Enormous EcosystemDetecting Air Pollutants

CEMS-Continuous Emission Monitoring System; measures gas or particulate matter in the air

FTIR-Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometer; measures >100 of 189 air pollutants listed in Clean air actComing soon: Electronic “tasters”; for water pollution; Electronic “noses” for air pollution

Earth~One Enormous EcosystemNatural Events and Environmental Health

Already know about: Fires, Severe Weather, Natural Oil Seeps

El Nino: disruption between Earth’s hydrosphere and atmosphere (water level and gas level) in the Tropical Pacific Ocean

Happens about every 4 years

Volcanic Eruptions

Natural Events and Environmental Health

Volcanic eruptions send tons of gases, ash and dust into the atmosphere

Pollutants travel far and affect wide circle of habitats

Affects last for many years

Biodiversity and Environmental Health

Biodiversity: the variety of living things on Earth

When a habitat is in equilibrium, the number of species is in balance with the resources available

When a habitat is stressed or damaged it’s organisms are no longer in equilibrium


Biomonitoring

The biological approach to monitoring an ecosystem’s health

Organisms occur and thrive within a limited range of conditions. When these conditions change, the numbers and distribution of organisms in the affected site also change


BiomonitoringWater quality monitoring

In rivers and streams; bottom dwelling invertebrates are used

Present in almost every aquatic ecosystemRelatively easy to identify and collectLimited mobility; cannot easily avoid poor conditionsSensitive to a wide range of environmental impacts


BiomonitoringInvertebrates used:

CrayfishPill bugsMollusks (clams, mussels and snails)MitesEarthwormsLeechesInsects (mayflies, stoneflies, damselflies, beetles, dragonflies)


BiomonitoringInvertebrates caughtIdentified and countedData compared with information gathered in same site at different timeData also compared with information gathered at same time in different stream


Humans and Species Extinction

In PA.. Estimated that up to 50,000 species are becoming extinct each yearEstimated that the current rate of extinction is 10,000 times that which is “normal” or “natural”

Humans and Species ExtinctionSprawl

Unplanned development that results in more and more suburbs

Contributes significantly to air and water pollution

Major cause of habitat loss

Humans and Species ExtinctionPollution

Pollution of the air, water, and land result in habitat degradation and loss

Some pollutants affect organisms directly

Pesticide DDT has affected various species of birds especially bald eagles and peregrine falcons

Humans and Species ExtinctionLogging and Mining

Logging: removing timber from forests and mining coal fields have destroyed many wildlife habitats in PA

Ecosystems polluted with sediment, soil and acid mine drainage

Humans and Species ExtinctionFire Suppression

Pine forests need naturally occurring forest fires

Fire suppression can leave native plants vulnerable to competitors

Disrupting the natural cycle can destroy the habitat

Technology

Chapter 3 Notes-Environmental Health