If We Wear Out Our Planet,Where Will We Live?

The Big 8 Concerns:

Population Growth Air pollution The ozone Greenhouse effect

Water pollution Acid rain Solid waste Toxic waste

THE EARTH’S POPULATION

1830 1 billion

1950 2 billion

1990 4 billion

PROJECTED for 2050:10 billion

Air Pollution =Pollution source

+

Mountain and valley so winds can’t blow out

+

Temperature inversion

(Warm air, trapping cooler air)

TEMPERATURE INVERSION

SMOG = Ozone

Carbon monoxide

Sulfur dioxide

Nitrogen dioxide

Major Sources of Air Pollution

Burning of fossil fuels

Burning solid waste

Natural pollutants like forest fires

Air Pollution Risks:

Increased smog = decreased oxygen Breathing difficulties for people with:

Asthma COPD Congestive heart failure Emphysema

Imagine that the earth is 80” in diameter. It’s atmosphere would =

1/10”

ACID RAIN =Atmospheric pollutants

+Moisture in the air

Falls to earth as rain, sleet, snow or hail.

Effects of Acid Rain:

Acidified lakes and streams = no fish. Damaged trees. Toxic substances released into soil. Corrodes metals on buildings. Damages stone and paint on buildings. Damages monuments and cars.

What Can We Do? Cut back on driving: ride bike, use

public transportation, walk, car-pool, drive a fuel-efficient car

Keep car tuned up and well-maintained, use unleaded gas and keep tires inflated

Stay in speed limit.

No quick starts.

Don’t use air conditioning.

Don’t idle the car.

THE OZONE

A layer of gases,

10-30 miles above the earth’s surface,

which shield the planet from UV rays

Problem: the OZONE is thinning

Primary Cause: CFC’sChlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s)are industrial chemicals used:

Coolants in refrigerators and home and car air conditioners

Foaming agents in some foam products Propellant in aerosol spray cans

(banned in 1978)

CFC’s

Rise into the atmosphere

and break down the

ozone layer.

REMEMBER:

The Ozone is:

Good up there Bad down here

The Effects: More UV rays = increase in skin cancer More UV rays = decrease in crop yields

(interferes with photosynthesis)

Change in weather patterns

What Can We Do?

Buy energy star appliances.

Dispose of old refrigerators, air conditioners and humidifiers wisely.

Have your car’s air conditioner checked and serviced by a

station that recycles CFC’s.

The Greenhouse Effect

The Good News: The greenhouse gases

include: carbon dioxide, water vapor, and methane

Allow light in Trap heat to help

raise earth’s temp Natural process

The Bad News:

One of the Causes: O

Some of the Results: Florida’s coast,

battered by hurricanes

California fries

Kansas plains confront the fury of the skies

Global Warming =Melting Icecaps

Melting icecaps = rising sea levels

Miami, Fla. and New Orleans, La. would disappear

Every city on the U.S.Eastern seaboard would be inundated

WHAT CAN WE DO?

Run dishwasher with a full load, only. (Reduces carbon dioxide 200 lbs. Per year.)

Wash clothes in warm or cold water, not hot.(Reduces carbon dioxide by 500 lbs. per year.)

Turn down water heater to 120°.(Reduces carbon dioxide by 500 lbs. per year.)

SOLID WASTE

What’s in our garbage? Paper products: 38.9% by weight Yard waste: 14.6% Plastics: 9.5% by weight

18% of space Metals 7.6% Wood 7.0% Food 6.7% Glass 6.3%

ENDURING LITTER:Paper

2-4 weeks

Cotton Rag1-5 months

Rope

3-14 months

Wool Sock1 year

Bamboo Pole

1-3 years

Painted Wooden Stake

13 years

Tin Can100 years

Aluminum Can200-500 years

Undetermined

Glass Bottle

Plastic 6-packCover

450 years

Sanitary Landfills: A site that is not near

groundwater is selected.

Layers of solid waste are covered with dirt.

Grass and trees may be planted on top.

Little decomposition occurs.

Despite the liner, contaminants can leak into surrounding soil and groundwater.

What Can We Do?

Buy products with the least amount of packaging

Reuse paper and plastic bags

Avoid using foam or paper cups.

Recycle newspapers, glass, cans, paper and other recyclables. Take foam pellets to a recycling center.

Start a compost pile for your organic garbage.

When shopping, take along your own bag.

reduce, reuse, recycle

WATER

DRINKING WATER:Where does it come from?

1. Wells / ground water

2. Surface waterriverslakesstreamsponds

In Contra Costa County:

Water comes from the Sacramento – San Juaquin Delta

It’s transported in the Contra Costa Canal

Stored in reservoirs like Los Vaqueros

Treated by the Contra Costa Water District

POTENTIAL CONTAMINANTS:

• industrial wastewater

• urban and highway runoff

• agricultural runoff

Contaminants, continued:

• pesticides

• mine runoff

• grazing animals

What’s in your Drinking Water?

microbial contaminants: bacteria, viruses

inorganic contaminants: salts, metals pesticides and herbicides organic chemicals radioactive contaminants

What Can We Do?PRESERVE

Never put anything but clean water into a gutter or down a storm drain.

Use non-chemical pesticides and fertilizers.

Always recycle used motor oil. Use non-toxic cleaning alternatives. Clean up after your pet.

CONSERVE

Take showers, not baths Don’t let water run when you’re not using it. Run dishwashers and washing machines with a full load. Purchase water-efficient shower heads and toilets. Fix leaky faucets.

IS IT WORTH SAVING?