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
Indoor PollutionHHW: Household hazardous waste
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
Indoor PollutionHHW: Household hazardous waste
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
Indoor PollutionHHW: Household hazardous waste
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
Earth~One Enormous EcosystemThree basic principles of ecology:
2) EVERYTHING MUST GO SOMEWHERE
Nothing can really be “thrown” away. It all ends up somewhere and has some effect on the environment
Earth~One Enormous EcosystemThree basic principles of ecology:
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
Biodiversity and Environmental Health
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
Biodiversity and Environmental Health
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
Biodiversity and Environmental Health
BiomonitoringInvertebrates used:
CrayfishPill bugsMollusks (clams, mussels and snails)MitesEarthwormsLeechesInsects (mayflies, stoneflies, damselflies, beetles, dragonflies)
Biodiversity and Environmental Health
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
Biodiversity and Environmental Health
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