 All the external conditions, circumstances, and influences surrounding and affecting the growth and development of an organism or a community of organisms.

 Caused by forces either internal to the earth’s surface or on the surface itself.  i.e. Earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanoes.

 Contaminated water and food  Warmer temperatures  Loss of shelter for people and animals.  i.e. Hurricane Katrina

 Urine and feces  Garbage  Agricultural waste  Transportation wastes such as carbon monoxide

 Urbanization  Industrialization  Population Growth among humans  Production and use of disposable products and containers.

 Urbanization is the process in where people come together and live in cities.  This leads to overcrowding and inadequate space for the disposal of waste.

 Solid waste  Hazardous waste

 Solid refuse from households, agriculture and businesses.  Solid waste is managed by the use of landfills, which spread the waste in layers and then covers the waste with dirt.  Solid waste is traced to four major sources: mining, gas, and oil production, agriculture, industry, and municipalities.

 Collection, transportation, storage, and disposal of waste by incineration or in landfill.  80% of the money spent on solid waste management is spent on collecting the waste.

 Solid waste or a combination of solid waste that is dangerous to human health or the environment.  To be classified as hazardous, waste must first be identified as solid waste.  This can be liquids, gaseous materials or semisolids.

 Overseen and regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Most common method is underground injection-pumps hazardous waste into wells up to 10,000 feet below earth’s surface.  Other methods include: special landfills, incineration, and treatment.

 Contamination of the air that interferes with the comfort, safety, and health of living organisms.

 Chemicals found in air pollution can cause cancer, birth defects, brain and nerve damage, and long-term injury to the lungs.

 Transportation  Electric power plants fueled by oil and coal.  Industry, mills, and refineries.

 EPA sets limits on how much of a pollutant can be in the air anywhere in the United States.  Six Pollutants they monitor: carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ground- level ozone, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide.

 Standards created by the EPA for allowable concentration levels of outdoor air pollutants.

 Acid Rain-results from emissions of burning fossil fuels that react with water vapor.  Global Warming  Destruction of the ozone layer  Thermal Inversion-occurs when warm air traps cooler air, this reaction traps pollutants including photochemical smog.

 Water Pollution- any physical or chemical change in the water that can harm living organisms or make it unfit for other uses.

 Biological Pollutants-pathogens such as parasites, bacteria, viruses, and other living organisms that enter our water through runoff.  Chemical Pollutants-industrial solvents, pesticides, and herbicides.

 Has deteriorated because of population growth, increased chemical manufacturing, reckless land-use, and disposal of hazardous wastes.

 Sedimentation-the water is permitted to stand so that the large particles will settle out.  Filtration-the water passes through filters in order to remove any solids and dissolved chemicals that may remain.  Disinfection-adding chlorine to kill things such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi.

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