4.4 Protecting Resources

Americans represent 6% of the world’s population Americans represent 6% of the world’s population. They use about 1/3 of the world’s resources and produce 1/3 of the world’s garbage. This high consumption of squanders resources many of which are nonrenewable. Manufacturing and disposal of these resources products use enormous amounts of energy and pollution. How can we control this waste? Conservation is the careful use of resources. Pollution prevention means stopping pollution from entering the environment.

Between 1940s and 1970; Severe pollution problems occurred in the air killed and sickened hundreds of people. Many beaches closed due to an oil spill off California coast that killed wildlife. In 1969, News reports showed Ohio’s polluted Cuyahoga River catching fire and burning for days.

Keeping water clean and safe 1. America’s polluted rivers and lakes got early attention from the government. In 1972 Clean Water Act (CWA) passed by the congress. This law requires factories to reduce or eliminate point source pollution into surface waters. Because of CWA, the USA surface water increased from 36% to 62 % between 1972-1990. 2. The Safe Drinking Water Act (1974) helped protect drinking water resources. It set the contaminant levels for Pollutants that may harm people’s health.

Protecting the air In 1970, Congress passed the Clean Air Act, the nation’s most important air pollution law. This law established National Ambient Air Quality Standards( NAAQS) for six pollutants that cause health problems; Carbon monoxide, ozone, lead, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and fine particles. 3. If the maximum permissible level of pollutants in the air is exceeded then local authorities must come up with plans to bring these levels down. Air monitors used to sample the air.

The emissions of the these pollutants had regulated under the Clean Air Act and decreased 24% between 1970-2001. In the same time , the energy consumption increased 42% and US population grew 29%. Today, Power plants and motor vehicles use; pollution control devices to reduce or eliminate the byproducts of fossil fuel combustion by using low-sulfur coal, cutting down the emission of sulfur and nitrogen oxides that produce acid rain.

- Increase the use of clean alternate energy sources that could also clean the air such as ; solar, wind and hydroelectric power. Using cars with electric or hybrid ( combination of electric and either natural gas or gasoline or diesel) motors produce fewer or no tailpipe emission. Advantages of using such cars; Very effecient High gas mileage. Use less fuel and creates less pollution.

How can you conserve energy? See table 4 on page 115.

Caring of land resources. Protecting land resources involves preventing pollution and managing land resources wisely. 1.Farmers use many soli conservation practices to prevent the loss of top soil and preserve soil fertility by plowing across the contour hillsides. This farming method decreases the water run off that washes away topsoil. 2. Strip cropping; crops with different nutrient requirements are planted in adjacent rows.it helps preserve the soil fertility.

3. Selective cutting conserves forest resource 3. Selective cutting conserves forest resource. Some trees in an area of a forest are cut, while other ones remain. Also it preserves the topsoil and the forest habitat. Clear –cutting removes the whole forest and destroy habitats and contributes to the erosion of topsoil. 4. Using less pesticides and inorganic fertilizers to reduce chemicals in soil and on crops. Using compost or animal manure (natural fertilizers) have replaced of inorganic commercial fertilizers. Compost is partly decomposed organic fertlizer.

5. Integrated Pest Management uses natural predators or mechanical process like vacuming pests off leaves to reduce the number of pests. Reducing the toxic substances getting into the soil; Since 1977, sanitary landfill have replaced open dumps and old style landfills. They have plastic or clay liners which prevent water leak into surrounding soil or ground water. The Resource Conversation an Recovery Act(RCRA in 1976) decreased the illegal and unsafe dumping of hazardous waste. It requires companies to store, transport and dispose of hazardous waste.

Recycling is the collecting and processing of used items so they can be made into new products. It saves resources, reduces energy consumption and prevents pollution.