1. Environmental Problems & Solutions
Chapters 3 & 4
Environmental Problems & Solutions

2. Environmental Problems
1. Pollution
The presence of harmful substances in the environment such as: solid materials, chemicals, noise, or heat
2. Garbage
Americans produce more household waste than any other nation (we do not have the largest population…not even close)

3. Pollution continued…
3. Businesses, mines and industries produce waste also
Billions of kilograms of this is hazardous waste which means it harms people and the environment
4. Where is it?
Landfills – giant spaces designed to contain the waste.
Some companies dispose of waste illegally by dumping them into rivers and lakes
Some are burned – which pollutes the atmosphere

4. 5. Chemicals
Chemicals are everywhere: plastics, paints, hair spray, paint, etc
Many are useful and necessary, but some are destructive
Pesticides/Herbicides – used to kill crop destroying insects and weeds in crops and lawns.
Also pollute the soil and water.
Are designed to kill living cells. Once in your body they have adverse affects as well.
CFCs – banned chemical used in refrigerators and aerosols.
Destroy the Ozone Layer which protects the Earth from ultraviolet radiation
PCBs – banned chemical used in insulation and paints
Poisonous. Decays very slowly and is found in the environment even in remote parts of the world

5. Chemicals continued Nuclear waste
Radioactive wastes that take hundreds or thousands of years to decay to a harmless state.
These wastes cause conditions such as leukemia and birth defects in people, and many problems in other living things

6. 6. Heat
Earth’s atmosphere is a mixture of gases that acts as a blanket keeping the planet warm enough for life to exist.
Since the 1800s (industrial revolution) the CO2 in the air has increased by ~25%.
This increase has caused global temperatures to rise
Even slight increases in temperature can cause climate change including the melting of polar ice caps. This will raise ocean levels flooding coastal areas and polluting ground water, along with changes in sea water circulation around the globe.

7. 7. Resource depletion
Some of Earth’s resources are renewable, while others are nonrenewable
Renewable resource – one that can be used again and again or has an unlimited supply
Nonrenewable resource – can be used only once
Fossil fuels and most minerals
Some resources once thought renewable are becoming nonrenewable. Ecosystems are under so much pressure from overuse or inappropriate use that they are no longer able to produce resources
Problems include: soil erosion (a few cm of soil can take thousands of years to form and can be washed away in under a year), overuse of ground water, tropical forests being clear cut for farming when the soil can’t support crops for more than a few years.

8. 8. Alien species
Organisms that make a home for itself in a new place is called an alien
Alien species often thrive in a new place because it may have no predators as in the native habitat.
Examples:
Zebra mussels
Dandelion
Asian carp

9. 9. Human Population Growth
In 1800 there were 1 billion people on Earth
1900 = 5.2 billion
2100 = approaching 14 billion
Carrying capacity of Earth estimated at 12 billion
Already one in ten goes to bed hungry each day and millions die of starvation each year.

10. 10. Habitat destruction Biodiversity = ‘variety of life’
Loss of diversity due to habitat destruction is common and often irreversible
Many species found in rainforests are only located on a few acres of land so if it is destroyed so are they.
Deforestation – clearing of forests that we use for many products as well as oxygen
Wetlands – important for controlling flooding, provide breeding grounds for many animals, and restore depleted ground water supplies.
They are often drained and filled for building
Marine habitats – oil spills and run off are major pollutants in marine habitats. All oceans are connected so pollutants from one area can travel around the globe.

11. 11. Effect on Humans Damage done to the Earth affects us
Drinking polluted water can cause illness or death
Chemicals can cause cancers immediately or decades after exposure
Your children and grandchildren will have to deal with depleted resources
Anything that endangers other organisms will ultimately endanger us.
Caring for the environment requires being concerned about the present as well as looking toward the future

12. Environmental Solutions
What can we do?
1.Conservation
The wise use and preservation of natural resources
Riding a bike rather than driving to conserve fuel
Reducing waste
Consuming less
Using compost instead of chemical fertilizer

13. 2. Reduce Reducing waste & pollution
1/3 of waste is packaging.
Try to use reusable bags or carry purchases without a bag if possible
Support organic farming which reduces use of chemical pesticides and herbicides
Reducing use of nonrenewable resources
Lessen fuel use
Support geothermal heating and cooling and alternative energies
Everyone can help
How can you reduce the materials you use?

14. 3. Reuse 4. Recycle Reuse plastic bags Use rechargeable batteries
Use rain barrels to water lawns and plants
4. Recycle
Break down of trash to be reused in other products
Burning waste to produce electricity

15. 5. Maintaining biodiversity
Biodiversity keeps communities naturally stable
A forest with one type of tree can be destroyed by one disease or insect. A variety of 10 types of trees can stabilize the system.
Species protection
Laws forbid harm to endangered or threatened species
Habitat protection
Setting aside lands to preserve the intricate web of life protects all species, including those that are endangered