apes unit 13
What are advantages and disadvantages to incineration?
Communities suffering from a lack of space often turn to the burning of solid waste, called incineration. Incineration has the advantage of reducing the volume of solid waste by about 70%. The remaining ash must still be buried in a landfill. Major contributor to air pollution! Incinerators are expensive to construct and usually have higher tipping fees (charge levied upon a given quantity of waste received at a waste processing facility) than landfills. greatly reduces waste stream bc burning it - not going to deforest to create landfill use refuse derived fuels and can reuse waste by burning it and create electricity - paper and cardboard can be burned- ash has to be disposed of and can be in landfills - some of it can be toxic - more expensive to build - not every thing can be burned smoke - air pollution cancer some stuff when burned release toxic chemicals
E-Waste: What regulations are in place for E-waste? What international agreement governs this? Why are large quantities of e-waste shipped to developing countries rather than being recycled right here in the U.S.? How can retailers/Manufacturers reduce the amount of e-waste?
Composed of discarded electronic devices including televisions, cell phones, and computers.Although most industrialized nations have agreed to stop shipping hazardous and toxic waste to less-developed countries, the practice still continues. An international agreement was passed in 1994 called the Basel Convention that banned the export of hazardous waste. In spite of this ban, electronic waste is still often smuggled to poorer countries.Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). Also known as the "Superfund" Aimed at rapid containment, cleanup, or remediation of abandoned toxic waste sites. Anyone associated with a site can be held responsible for the entire clean-up cost.E-Waste Recycling & Reuse E-waste contains hazardous chemicals such as lead & mercury Can leach into groundwater, soil and air if they are not disposed of properly Solution is recycling, reusing, repairing, reducing Costly & not done universally Sometimes illegally exported to countries who don't have laws on handling or disposing of it so it is dumped international agreement is the basil convention which banned the export of E waste to other less developed countries - still other hazardous waste and e waste still smuggle to poor countries - it ship to other countries bc lower labor cost in developing countries - disposal is cheaper less regulation and less for safe handling of them - shipping and landfill costs less in the les ss developed countries corruption - nimby exists and people didn't want to see it ship the waste away not create it in first place regulators cannot see the waste - environmental impact of disposal more visible long term - les likely to harm area where come to contact with it - workers in less developed countries will not complain no watchdog organization - reduce e waste change production processes recycle - keep things for longer ways to instead repair and refurbish products- incentivize and make people can get revamp products and new products reduce the amount of e waste
CERCLA (Superfund):
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). Also known as the "Superfund" Aimed at rapid containment, cleanup, or remediation of abandoned toxic waste sites. Anyone associated with a site can be held responsible for the entire clean-up cost.
Hazardous Waste: What are ways production can be minimized? How can it be legally disposed of? What are some economic incentives for improving environmental quality & reducing resource waste?
EPA estimates U.S. industries generate 265 million metric tons of officially classified hazardous wastes annually. At least 40 million metric tons of toxic and hazardous wastes are released into the environment each year. What is hazardous waste?Although most industrialized nations have agreed to stop shipping hazardous and toxic waste to less-developed countries, the practice still continues. An international agreement was passed in 1994 called the Basel Convention that banned the export of hazardous waste. In spite of this ban, electronic waste is still often smuggled to poorer countries.Legally, hazardous waste is any discarded liquid or solid that contains substances known to be: Fatal to humans or laboratory animals in low doses. Toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, or teratogenic (dangerous to embryo/fetus) to humans or other life-forms. Ignitable with a flash point less than 60o C. Corrosive Explosive or highly reactive.Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976. Comprehensive set of laws that require the proper treatment and storage of hazardous wastes. Companies must track and account for all wastes from their creation to eventual disposal. - produce less of it finding ways this can happan change proccess of production to produce less of hazard waste - reuse waste generated and recyle it - use less materials change aspects of production - change process to reduce process - convert hazardous substances to less hazardous or not hazardous substances - bioremediation to treat hazardous waste- chemical treatment - to creat neutral substance- get rid of it - legal sisposal in landfills in steel drums - injecting underground - where nonreactive areas deserts underground waste piles - chemical methods - to less hazardous or non hazardous - exportation of waste use locl hazardous waste lined disposal pits — it reduces overall price of products - save money in production so is good - main law was rcra bc companies responsible for waste so less waste to dispose of - economic incentive for company to be cleaner
Municipal solid waste:
Garbage from households, businesses, schools, etc.
Cluster development:
High density housing units are concentrated on one portion of a parcel with the rest of the land used for commonly shared open space.
Given a LD50 graph of a chemical, be able to determine what the LD50 level is for that chemical for the sample population & what the threshold value is. Given LD50 graph/values for a group of chemicals, be able to identify which one would be most toxic. What is LD50? What is threshold toxicity? What are potential limitations to LD50 values obtained from a test population?
LD50 = lethal dose that will kill 50% of test population within given amount of time on a trst population mice rabbits ect. brine shrimp crustaceans we can determine it will kill humans ec.t threshhold toxicity is loweest dose to cause death in a population - threshold first dose cause death most toxic - 50% of test drug with this toxin ld 50 is lower means that it is more toxc less toxin to kill 50% of test population depend on what organisms being tested on - brine shrimp physiology different than humans crustacean and insect mice vs. human body system not same fatty tissue systems different but is best estimation we can get
Agricultural waste:
Leftover plant material, manure, pesticides, herbicides.
Hazardous waste:
Legally, hazardous waste is any discarded liquid or solid that contains substances known to be: Fatal to humans or laboratory animals in low doses. Toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, or teratogenic (dangerous to embryo/fetus) to humans or other life-forms. Ignitable with a flash point less than 60o C. Corrosive Explosive or highly reactive.
Contrast biodegradable & non-biodegradable waste. Identify some examples of biodegradable waste & non-biodegradable waste.
Material that can be broken down by naturally occurring decomposers is called biodegradable. Food scraps, yard trimmings, etc. Material that is synthetic or not able to be broken down is called non-degradable. Plastics, glass. biodegradable is thing that can break down and decompose over tiem - plastic never decompose and only get smaller - advantages because save ener
Open dumps:
Open Dumps Villages of people will leave their waste in a shared open area. The waste is exposed, attracts wildlife, and is aesthetically unpleasant. Open dumps are illegal in most developed countries.
Mining waste:
Ore, gravel, and wastewater from mining operations
What are some advantages & disadvantages to recycling? What are steps municipalities could take to encourage recycling?
Reduced Energy Consumption Recycling Isn't Always Cost Effective Decreased Pollution High Up-Front Costs Considered Very Environmentally Friendly Needs More Global Buy-In Slows The Rate Of Resource Depletion Recycled Products Are Often Of Lesser Quality Recycling is the process by which certain solid waste materials are processed & converted into new products Less expensive than producing new raw materials. Reduces space needed for landfills. Japan recycles about half of all household and commercial wastes. Lowers demand for raw resources, like minerals, metals etc. Reduces energy consumption and air pollution. Can be energy-intensive & costlyotential Problems Can be energy-intensive & costly Market prices fluctuate wildly. The recycled materials must be separated by type. There are several different forms of plastics, labeled #1-7. Each must be separated before recycling is possible.E-Waste Recycling & Reuse E-waste contains hazardous chemicals such as lead & mercury Can leach into groundwater, soil and air if they are not disposed of properly Solution is recycling, reusing, repairing, reducing Costly & not done universally Sometimes illegally exported to countries who don't have laws on handling or disposing of it so it is dumped advantages are less landfill space recycled paper causes more also some times we need to buy recycled products doesn't work in rural areas recycling processes not efficient unskilled workers - people more willing to buy products to encourage recycling municipalities - make it easier to do - give economic incentive or charge them less or more for certain things - tax rebate on recycling - get paid for recycling pay recycling fee
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA):
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976. Comprehensive set of laws that require the proper treatment and storage of hazardous wastes. Companies must track and account for all wastes from their creation to eventual disposal.
What are advantages and disadvantages to sanitary landfills? Why would leaching be greater when waste is crushed into smaller pieces rather than left in large pieces? (Hint: think surface area to volume ratio) Landfills produce flammable gas. What are they and how can they be minimized?
Sanitary Landfills Large, excavated pit that is lined at the bottom with clay and plastic. Storm water collection system & leachate collection system Prevents the escape of water that drains through the landfill, called leachate. A cap: placing a cover over contaminated material; isolates contaminants to prevent the spread of them Methane collection system: as waste degrades through anaerobic digestion, methane is released; this needs to be captured (can then be used as an energy source) Refuse compacted and covered everyday with a layer of dirt. cells don't grow larger they divide. If you have smaller particles of waste water drains through crushed waste faster than bigger pieces - accumulation of leaching is less w bigger pieces it is good for closed and soil and groundwater pollution NIMBY endanger species stench - particulate matter of landfill - hurt tourism industry hazardous waste dumped there - breeding ground for microbes flammable gas actors that affect landfill decomposition include: Composition of trash (biodegradable vs. non biodegradable) Conditions needed for microbial decomposition (including climate [temperature], if oxygen is present, moisture) Anaerobic Digestion/Digestors - Reduces landfill volume Process through which bacteria break down organic matter—such as animal manure, wastewater biosolids, and food wastes—in the absence of oxygen Produces biogas: methane (50-75%); carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, water vapor & trace others Biogas can be used as an energy source (heating, cooling, electricity) trace gases and biggest contributor is methane - anaerobic digestors help collect biogas that can be used for what ect. to collec they have tubes - minimize methane release in atmosphere
Urban heat island:
Urban regions that become warmer than rural surroundings forming an "island" of warmer temperatures in the landscape.
Emergent disease:
as infectious diseases that have newly appeared in a population or have existed but are rapidly increasing in incidence or geographic range, or that are caused by one of the NIAID Category A, B, or C priority pathogens.
Why might there be a greater health risk associated with eating large, predatory fish than from eating small, non-predatory fish?
bioaccumulation and biomagnification - bioaccumulate in the fatty tissues of fish and toxins can accumulate more overtime and biomagnify eat for longer periods of time and predatory fish - eat higher trophic levels needs more things to consume 10% rule so eat a bunch and food bioaccumulates eat a lot of fish to get its requirement his is accumulating and dangerous to eat those kinds of fish
Discuss the issue with run-off in urban areas: why does it occur more, effect on surface water quality, flooding events, habitat issues, how can it be minimized
cities have a lot more impervious cover 75% upt to 100% impervious cover and water cannot infiltrate down into it and a natural cover area has infiltration that can occur rural areas have shallow and deep infiltration city area has 15% infiltration - the runoff in natural groundcover = 10% of water in system running off in urban is 35% bc water cannot infiltrate through it - evapotranspiration in natural 40% urban is 30% so far less than urban areas - still lots of runoff bc impervious surfaces streets roofs sidewalks ect. water do not gothrough them in ground runoff brings pollution on street ect. trash oil gasoline spilled on ground can minimize rural vs. city there are things in between if areas consicoiusly planting vegetation - in terms of city lfe having rooftop gardens increases amount of vegetation cover and decreasing the amount of runoff planting trees and parks and vegetation cover and roof gardens decreases runoff. limiting amount of impervious surface you have for ex. use type of material that is not as impervious use a pervious surface so water can infiltrate to groundwater sources- maybe surface for parking lot sidewalks is pervious when water running off onto surface waters brings toxins accumulated in city into surface water - in flooding events to vegetation or pervious surface for water to infiltrate into you will getflooding events. habitat issues if you take place with lots of habitat and creat city w n o habitat you destroy habitat for biodiversity that existed destroys habitat
Noise Pollution: what are effects on wildlife and human health/what can result?
common sources are airports airplanes traffic amplified music construction industry activity domestic disputes emergency vehicles are all sources of noise pollution in urban areas there are acute affects at that moment decreased sleep and quality and quantity- mor annoyance stresss distraction - temporary change in hearing - long term exposure lead to permanent hearing loss chronic effects- high blood pressure less learning and productivity and problems with hormone levels endocrine disruptors long term effects = heart disease and deaht prematurely animals also experiences these things communicaiton issues gov regulations effect in noises and how long they can go for it is in place
Describe some advantages and disadvantages to urbanization.
economically sociologically + environmentally
What are some factors that will increase the spread of infectious diseases? As an example, how might increased air travel affect infectious disease spread?
global air travel connects ppl we never saw in the past we can contact people w the disease and we can go to country and go to disease airplane w ppl contact global trade increase transmission of disease - poverty lasck of healthcare - war and conflicts - displacements of population - migration - disease clusters where people congregate - rampant in a cluster antibiotic resistance in pathogen species - transmission increased exposure to wind and water animal vectors mosquito bites west nile virus and zika droplets airborn people
Urban sprawl What is it? What causes it/promotes it? Because urban sprawl often leads to less agricultural land near urban centers, what are some practical ways to increase food production within urban areas?
having rooftop gardens is important in urban areas and gardens in backyard and make own vegetables and fruits- local city community gardens where each individual has a plot of land to grow things on in a area in a park ect. increase food production in urban areas urban sprawl is - where you have movement from high population density center cities out to low density rural undeveloped land spread from central city outwards go from urban area and moving / spreading outwards contribute factors ample land low cost gas highways taxes that encourage home ownership race religion age and want to get away from certain parts of city life that are antithesis to race relgiion or age - cultural factors crime rates housing more jobs in suburbs and commmuting networks - more space - more infrastructure and land rates notenough planning for people when population bom- increase living standards to more infrastructure effects are concentrations of poverty in city center - commute increase traffic and increase energy consumption more pollution shortage o financial resources in city centers and not good education decreases in social problems environmental effects of the city
The number of emergent infectious diseases affecting humans is increasing. Provide some reasons why this is happening.
human factors live in globalized society more contact w each other urbanization with poor hygiene sanitation - travel and touristry not good healthcare congregating more hunting eating wild animals poor people deforestation farming build dams w standing water - host species more common more contact with wild animals and agriculture cells mutating emergent diseases more common develop resistance Urbanization
In what ways does the water cycle differ in urban areas VS rural areas? How does groundwater get affected in urban areas?
in urban areas there is more evaporation off of hydrophobic impervious surfaces urban areas more evaporation not as much transpirations so drier and surface wateraccumulate into and runoff less evapotranspiration. increase in runoff in urban than rural areas - they have things to caths more groundwater pollution in urban areas toxins on street surfaces that runoff - in rural areas there is the problem with fertilizer runoff but that causes trophic and algae but not toxins like urban areas
Most diseases DO NOT drive their host populations to extinction. Why do diseases rarely cause extinction?
it is not in best interest for pathogen bc lose ability to live no effect evolutionarily speaking unless host species ide off - want to keep host around as much as possible and get host to reproduce and get energy from it - natural selection not favor this
There were 3 phases of urbanization in the U.S. What are they (in the correct order of occurrence)?
migrations from rural area to large central cities - then migration from large central cities to suburbs and smaller cities - urban sprawl — finally migration from north and east to the south and west
Urban Heat Islands: What are they? What are some differences between urban and rural areas that contribute to the differences in temperature between them?
more urban a area mor elak of vegetation there is increase of temp - - rural land 10 degrees cooler more structures their are they absorb sun heat more than natural landscapes highly concentrated - less greenery so areas of higher temps - heat islands a lot in humid regions - form bc reduction of natural landscape that provided natural cooling evap surface water - transpiration from plants - so have hard dry surfaces - less shade and moisture - human made material in a urban environment such as pavement and rooftops reflect less solar energy but now absorb and emit sun enrgy
Be able to identify all the levels in the integrated waste management pyramid & know which levels should be implemented 1st. As an example: here is an integrated waste management pyramid you might see:
ntegrated waste management arranges all of the strategies of dealing with MSW in order from top-to-bottom. By utilizing the top methods first, the amount of material that must be incinerated or buried is minimized. Then landfills can be restored into habitat for parks! start at top and least amount of materials end up at bottom of pyramid - reducing waste altogether and reduction in production of waste - compost and recycle 0 incineration and less toxic ashes - very bottom = landfill anything not recycled reused or incinerated
Municipal Solid Waste: what is the biggest component of MSW in the U.S.? What is the primary method of waste disposal in the US?
paper is first Garbage from households, businesses, schools, etc.Municipal solid waste is a mixture of multiple types of materials. Material that can be broken down by naturally occurring decomposers is called biodegradable. Food scraps, yard trimmings, etc. Material that is synthetic or not able to be broken down is called non-degradable. Plastics, glass.municipal solid waste (MSW) production has increased from 88 million tons to 250 million tons annually. (2010 EPA MSW Fact Sheet) There are a limited number methods used to dispose of this waste. Open Dumps Villages of people will leave their waste in a shared open area. The waste is exposed, attracts wildlife, and is aesthetically unpleasant. Open dumps are illegal in most developed countries. dispose most biggest = landfills sanitary landfills anitary Landfills Large, excavated pit that is lined at the bottom with clay and plastic. Storm water collection system also incineration
Poor sanitation is often sighted as a reason why certain diseases spread. Why is this? If an area has GOOD sanitation, why can those same diseases spread there?
poor sanitation has lack of access to clean drinking water and no way for drinking water can be monitored water and sanitation infrastructure makes good health- make ways to clean drinking water which helps learn about it increased hygeine which makes improved health slide 10 poverty sticken low income areas contaminated drinking water and lack sanitary infrastructure and no place to dispose of waste open dumps lots of bacteria and contaminants leaching into surface waters - sewage treatment - these diseases also in developed countries global travel bring back disease and items can become exposed to hazardous sewage raw sewage breakthrough cases - food and vegetables vome into country w diseases
Generally speaking, what is the overall trend in urbanization globally?
rate of increase of urban populations increasing 52% of ppl urban area rn immigration from rural areas either pushed or pulled in bc better life for family proportion of global population living in urban area is increasing as well as the number and size of the urban area mushrooming - urban growth is slower in developed countries(urban sprawr_ and poverty is becoming urbanized - in developed countries -
List the following waste management strategies from least to most energy required: Recycling; Reducing; Reusing
reducing - reduction not purchase smt bc amount of waste when consume reuse - still purchase will go to waste stream but reuse recycling - remad into certain products
Urban Planning: What type of urban planning could a city council employ that might protect threatened species and provide for urban expansion? (Be specific); Describe specific ways in which city councils could encourage smart growth.
sustainable cities- eco cities conventional land - use planning and encouraging economic development - also building up and decreasing urban sprawl - zoning with land dedicated for certain uses along with parks mixed used zoning that will have both residential and business in same areas and ecnouragin mass transport - biking walking ect. smart growth — reduce dependence on cars - controls and directs sprawls - uses zoning to channel growth - sustain biodiversity instead of destroying - cities protect biodiversity to preserve surrounding land - large central parks - greenbelts - open green area surrounding a citytaxes subsidies tax rats - tax land on value of use - tax breaks for not allowing certain development- revitalizing existing towns and cities plan for the future - bc of this cities healthier and viable communities - sustainable cities have this help surrounding ecosystems reduced waste with farms lower crime clean air water environmental diversity
Are higher gasoline taxes easy or difficult to implement? Why?
they are very difficult to implement because competing reasons - oil industry doesnt wanna charge ppl more than what they have to bc can turn customers away - wouldn't be and no oil company want tax on gas and general public say no no pay more for gas bc they need to commute and not in developmental areas where they can bike or walk places all the time - we want our cars and luxury vehicles can be status symbol - convenient for a single occupancy vehicle go wherever you wnat whenever you want - although would curb behavior but be difficult bc ppl cannot drive less ect.
What types of things would a sustainable city emphasize?
things like smart growth reduce dependence on cars single occupants - control direct sprawl cut wasteful resources and produce less waste grow things instead of importing use zoning laws to channel growth -
For ALL the diseases that were given in the class notes for this section be able to do the following: determine how it is transmitted to humans determine any environmental conditions/issues that contribute to the spread of it methods for controlling the spread of it Generally speaking, if a disease is spread by a vector insect, how does the vector insect get the disease-causing agent? (i.e. mosquitos or ticks)
unsanitary conditions lack of access to clean water raw sewage in river methods of control bacterial antiobiotics viral - vaccines disease spread by vestor insect then control mosquito population Non-transmissible diseases are not caused by living organisms and are not contagious. Heart disease, cancer, asthma, diabetes Infectious diseases are caused by living organisms (Pathogens) and are usually transmissible. There are many different types of pathogens that can cause disease. Multicellular organisms are made of many cells working together. Unicellular organisms consist of only one cell. Prokaryotes are cells without a nucleus and organelles. Eukaryotes are cells with both a nucleus and organelles. Much larger than prokaryotes. Parasites are eukaryotic organisms can be either unicellular or multicellular. They cause disease by extracting resources from a host. Tapeworm Trichinella (roundworms) Liver flukes Fungi are also eukaryotic and multicellular. Most are decomposers but some can invade living tissue. Athlete's foot Ringworm (not an actual worm) Protozoa are unicellular eukaryotic organisms. Like fungi, most are harmless but some can cause disease. The historically most deadly human disease, malaria, is caused by a protozoa called plasmodium. Bacteria are unicellular prokaryotic organisms. Food poisoning (E. Coli, salmonella), staph infection. Viruses are not cells. They are non-living particles made from a core of DNA or RNA surrounded by a protein coat. Influenza, common cold, AIDS; COVID!!Prions are proteins with abnormal shapes. Convert normal proteins when they come into contact. Brain tissue is affected, leading to death. Mad cow disease and its human form, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, are caused by prions spread by the ingestion of nervous tissue (brain and spinal cord).Adapt to take advantage of new opportunities to infect & spread through human populations Specific pathogens can occur in many environments regardless of the appearance of sanitary conditions As tropical-type climate zones spread north & south into what are currently subtropical & temperate climate zones, pathogens, infectious diseases & any associated vectors are spreading into these areas where the disease has not previously been known to occur Poverty-stricken/low-income areas often lack sanitary waste disposal, have contaminated drinking water supplies, which increases the spread of infectious diseasesCaused by the bacterium, Yersinia pestis Disease carried by organisms infected with the plague bacteria Transferred to humans via the bite of an infected organism or through contact with contaminated fluids or tissues of infected persons tuberculosis Bacterial infection that attacks the lungs Spread by breathing in the bacteria from the bodily fluids of an infected person CHolera Bacterial infection transmitted from infected water or food Acute diarrhoeal disease that can kill within hours if left untreated Severe dehydration can result Most don't have symptoms but can transmit it to others Closely linked to inadequate access to clean water and sanitation facilities. Parasitic disease (Plasmodium) caused by bites from infected mosquitoes Commonly found in sub-Saharan Africa High fevers, chills, flu-like symptoms - malaria Transmitted to humans via bites from infected mosquitoes No symptoms in most Others can have fever, body aches, headache, fatigue, vomiting - west nile virus ZIKA Viral infection caused by bites from infected mosquitoes Can be passed from pregnant women to fetuses & can then cause birth defects Can be transmitted from infected to human to other humans via sex Most don't experience symptoms, but those who do: Fever, rash, headache, joint pain, muscle pain SARS A form of pneumonia: viral infection (a type of coronavirus) Transmitted by inhaling (airborne)or touching infected fluids High fever, dry, unproductive cough, shortness of breath, can progress to low blood oxygen levels MERS Viral respiratory illness (a coronavirus) Transferred from animals to humans: thought to be from camels to humans; then humans spread it to each other through close contact High fever, cough, shortness of breath DYSENTARY 2 Forms Bacterial - caused by Shigella Parasitic - caused by parasitic amoeba Entamoeba histolytica Parasitic form passed on by untreated sewage in streams & rivers; mostly tropical locales Transmitted by contaminated food, touch, swimming in contaminated water Symptoms include: diarrhea with severe cramping, fever, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, blood in diarrhea MESOTHEMIA Type of cancer caused mainly by exposure to asbestos Asbestos fibers get inhaled/swallowed and embed in parts of your body causing irritation that leads over time to cancer Cancer forms in thin lining that covers most of our organs - the mesothelium Cancerous tumors can form in lungs (most common), stomach, heart or other organs Symptoms are varied: chest pain, painful coughing, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, abdominal swelling, nausea, EMERGENT DISEASES n emergent disease is one not previously known or existed previously (new) OR has re-emerged. Many emergent diseases originated from a non-human animal species. HIV originated in chimpanzees. SARS came from the Masked Palm Civet, which is native to China. Influenza H1N1 is believed to have started in a swine farm in Mexico. The Spanish Flu of 1918, which killed 50-100 million people worldwide, may have originated from a swine or avian source. COVID-19!!!!!!
