APES Final Study Guide
Brownfields
Abandoned or underused urban areas in which redevelopment is blocked by liability or financing issues related to toxic contamination.
Biomass
the total mass or weight of all living organisms in a given population or area.
*Know the following people.*
*Know the significant role they played in environmental science.*
*Know the following laws, acts, and agreements*
*Know to which areas of environmental science they relate.*
*Know the Following Acronyms*
*What they stand for, what they do, what they are responsible for, and the role they play in environmental science.*
NGO
*nongovernmental organizations* (NGOs) A term referring collectively to pressure and research groups, advisory agencies, political parties, professional societies, and other groups concerned about environmental quality, resource use, and many other issues. Some examples are Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund. These groups play a role in protecting the environment by addressing the environmental issues facing the 21st century - climate change, water shortages and supplies, population growth, and loss of biodiversity.
Primary/Secondary pollutants
*primary pollutants* are pollutants released directly from the source into the air in a harmful form *secondary pollutants* are modified to a hazardous form after they enter the air or are formed by chemical reactions.
Jane Goodall
A British primatologist, ethologist, anthropologist, and UN Messenger of Peace Considered to be the world's foremost *expert on chimpanzees*, Goodall is best known for her *55-year study of social and family interactions of wild chimpanzees in Tanzania* She is the founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and the Roots & Shoots program, and she has worked extensively on conservation and animal welfare issues [Roots & Shoots has the goal of bringing together youth from preschool to university age to work on environmental, conservation and humanitarian issues. Many of the chapters operate through schools and other organizations. Participants are encouraged to identify and work on problems in their own communities affecting people, animals, or the environment.]
Wangari Maathai
A Kenyan environmental and political activist She founded the Green Belt Movement, an environmental non-governmental organization focused on the planting of trees, environmental conservation, and women's rights. She was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize
Neo-Malthusian
A belief that the world is characterized by scarcity and competition in which too many people fight for too few resources. Named for Thomas Malthus, who predicted a dismal cycle of misery, vice, and starvation as a result of human overpopulation.
LD50
A chemical dose of a substance that is lethal to 50% of a test population.
Food web
A complex, interlocking series of individual food chains in an ecosystem; multiple intertwined food chains in which energy from multiple producers flows through many levels of consumers and finally through decomposers.
NOx
A generic term for the mono-nitrogen oxides NO and NO2 In areas of high motor vehicle traffic, the amount of nitrogen oxides emitted into the atmosphere as air pollution can be significant. NOx gases are formed whenever combustion occurs in the presence of nitrogen
Population
A group of individuals of the same species occupying a given area.
Sanitary landfill
A landfill in which garbage and municipal waste is buried every day under enough soil or fill to eliminate odors, vermin, and litter.
Food chain
A linked feeding series; in an ecosystem, the sequence of organisms through which energy and materials are transferred, in the form of food from one trophic level (feeding level) to another; a simple path of energy flow from the producer to the various consumers.
Strategic mineral
A mineral a country cannot produce itself but that it uses for essential materials or processes
Utilitarian conservation
A philosophy that resources should be used for the greatest good for the greatest number of people
Ecofeminism
A pluralistic, nonhierarchical, relationship-oriented philosophy that suggests how humans could be equal with the environment
Smelting
A process that separates desired ore from other materials in mine ore. It is usually accomplished by heating the ore and ladling off the desired molten element. Emissions from older smelters emitted toxic oxides of metals causing arsenic poisoning, cadmium which is responsible for heart disease, and mercury which is responsible for nerve damage. The mining sector is known to be a major cause of pollution in the environment.
David Brower
A prominent environmentalist and the founder of many environmental organizations, including the John Muir Institute for Environmental Studies, Friends of the Earth, the League of Conservation Voters, Earth Island Institute, North Cascades Conservation Council, and Fate of the Earth Conferences. From 1952 to 1969, he served as the first Executive Director of the Sierra Club.
Montreal Protocol (1987)
A protocol detailing the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and aims at limiting the production of substances harmful to the stratospheric ozone layer by reducing and phasing out the production of ozone-destroying compounds. The treaty has been modified 7 times and still highlights the importance of phasing ouft CFCs. Since the protocol came into effect, the atmospheric concentrations of CFCs and related hydrocarbons have either leveled off or decreased. The Montreal Protocol is one of the most successful international environmental agreements in history.
Kyoto Protocol (1997)
A protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, focusing on combating global warming through the stabilization of the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. 39 industrialized countries and the European Union are committed to the reduction of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and sulfur hexafluoride) along with two groups of gases (hydrofluorocarbons and perfluorocarbons). They agreed to a *reduction of their greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2%* from 1990 levels. The U.S. has not signed the Kyoto Protocol.
Environmental justice
A recognition that access to clean, healthy environment is a fundamental right of all human beings.
Ecosystem
A specific biological community and its physical environment interacting in an exchange of matter and energy. It includes both living and nonliving components. It includes all living organisms, rocks, water, and climate.
Julia Butterfly Hill
An American environmental advocate and a tax redirection advocate She is best known for having lived in a 55 m tall, roughly 1500-year-old California Redwood tree for 738 days. Hill lived in the tree, affectionately known as "Luna", to prevent Pacific Lumber Company loggers from cutting it down
Gifford Pinchot
An American forester and politician. Pinchot served as the first Chief of the United States Forest Service. He advocated for the conservation of the nation's reserves by planned use and renewal.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
An ecological based pest-control strategy that relies on natural mortality factors, such as natural enemies, weather, cultural control methods, and carefully applied doses of pesticides. The goal of IPM is to reduce pest impact while also reducing pesticide use.
Green business
An enterprise that has minimal negative impact on the global or local environment, community, society, or economy
ANWR
Arctic National Wildlife Refugee National wildlife refugee in northeastern Alaska. Consists of about 19,000,000 acres in the Alaska North Slope region. The questions of whether to drill for oil in the ANWR has been an ongoing political controversy in the United States since 1977. The controversy surrounds drilling for oil in a 1,500,000 acres (6,100 km2) subsection on the coastal plain, known as the "1002 area". Much of the debate over whether to drill in the 1002 area of ANWR rests on the amount of economically recoverable oil, as it relates to world oil markets, weighed against the potential harm oil exploration might have upon the natural wildlife, in particular the calving ground of the Porcupine caribou.
Aldo Leopold
Author of A Sand County Almanac Influential in wilderness conservation
Rachel Carson
Author of Silent Spring, a 1962 book on the dangers and effects of using pesticides, specifically DDT
CFC
Chlorofluorocarbons Contribute to the greenhouse affect Used to be in air conditioners, refrigerators, and aerosol cans. As early as the mid-1950s, a thinning of the ozone layer above the Antarctic was observed. In the 1970s atmospheric scientists hypothesized, and later proved, that declining stratospheric ozone levels were due to a group of man-made chemicals known as CFCs.
Trading pollution credits
Companies have a certain amount of pollution credits which limits how much they can pollute. If one company releases less pollution than their pollution credits allow, they can sell those pollution credits to other companies who need more credits
CERCLA
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (1980) Provides federal money to be used for the cleanup of hazardous waste sites, including accidents and spills. If a responsible party can be identified, the EPA has the power to hold the party responsible for remediation. If a responsible party cannot be identified or if the responsible party is unable to pay for cleanup, "Superfund" monies will pay for the remediation of the hazardous waste site. This act is commonly know as *Superfund*. CERCLA created a tax on the chemical and petroleum industries and provided broad Federal authority to respond directly to releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances that may endanger public health or the environment. It established prohibitions and requirements concerning closed and abandoned hazardous waste sites. It provided for liability of persons responsible for releases of hazardous waste at these sites. It established a trust fund to provide for clean up when no responsible party could be identified.
Resource Conservation Act Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (1976)
Controls hazardous waste throughout its entire life cycle, including generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal. RCRA also manages nonhazardous solid waste.
CITES
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species It regulates trade in living specimens and products derived from listed endangered species
Environmental racism
Decisions that restrict certain people or groups of people to polluted or degraded environments on the basis of race; communities that are primarily made of minorities experience worse environmental conditions. Because they don't have a lot of power, most are not able to stop companies from polluting their communities
DDT
Diphenyl-trichloroethane. A pesticide widely used in the United States from 1939 to 1973, when it was found to be toxic to humans, wildlife, and ecosystems. The author Rachel Carson raised awareness of the dangers of DDT and other pesticides in her book *Silent Spring* published in 1962. Nations at extreme risk of malaria still use DDT. Much of the DDT used internationally is manufactured in the U.S. Goods that we import from countries that still use DDT, may contain trace amounts of the substance. The results of historic use of DDT in the U.S. include the decline and near extinction of birds of prey, such as hawks, ospreys, brown pelicans, peregrine falcons, and bald eagles. The existence of DDT in water sources led to its proliferation in food webs, where it began to bioaccumulate in organisms (it accumulates in the fatty tissues of all animals) and biomagnify throughout food webs. In birds of prey, the pesticide weakens egg shells, causing the shells to prematurely break before hatching, leading to a decline of these bird populations. Even though it has been banned since 1973, DDT is still found in some groundwater aquifers in the U.S.
Smart growth
Efficient use of land resources and existing urban infrastructure.
ESA
Endangered Species Act. (1973) Protects threatened and endangered species in the U.S. and their habitats. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are the organizations responsible for enforcing the ESA, with the FWS in charge of maintaining a global endangered species list.
EPA
Environmental Protection Agency. Created when Nixon consolidated two agencies into one bureau to responsible for environmental protection. The EPA was created for the purpose of protecting human health and the environment by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress. The agency is led by its Administrator, who is appointed by the president and approved by Congress. The EPA is not a Cabinet department, but the administrator is normally given cabinet rank. The agency conducts environmental assessment, research, and education. *It has the responsibility of maintaining and enforcing national standards under a variety of environmental laws, in consultation with state, tribal, and local governments.* EPA enforcement powers include fines, sanctions, and other measures. The agency also works with industries and all levels of government in a wide variety of voluntary pollution prevention programs and energy conservation efforts. *The EPA has identified six criteria pollutants: Carbon monoxide (CO), lead (Pb), Ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and particulates.*
Monkey wrenching
Environmental sabotage, such as driving large spikes in trees to protect them from loggers, vandalizing construction equipment, pulling up survey stakes for unwanted developments, and destroying billboards.
Monoculture
Farming strategy in which large fields are planted with a single crop, year after year. Seen mainly in industrialized agriculture. Generally, it makes planting and harvesting more efficient. However, since a monoculture crop shares genetic makeup, the crop is at increased risk of decimation by one pathogen or pest. Also, monoculture allows fewer ecological niches, decreasing the potential for biodiversity.
Debt for Nature Swaps
Forgiveness of international debt in exchange for nature protection in developing countries.
John Muir
Founder of the Sierra Club Scottish-American naturalist, author, and environmental philosopher who advocated for preservation of all wilderness in the United States
GMO
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) Organisms whose genetic code has been altered by artificial means such as interspecies gene transfer; the genetic engineering process alters their DNA.
Teddy Roosevelt
He set up many environmental friendly laws and policies. During his presidency, he increased the area of national forest lands by 400%, establishing 150 new national forests and adding areas to others. He established the first 51 bird reserves. He also established 5 national parks, including the Grand Canyon. Roosevelt's term as president has been called the *Golden Age of Conservation* because of the many environmentally friendly laws and polices he put into effect.
Black lung disease
Inflammation and fibrosis (the thickening and scarring of connective tissue, usually as a result of injury) caused by accumulation of coal dust in the lungs or airways.
Green plan
Integrated national environmental plans for reducing pollution and resource consumption while achieving sustainable development and environmental restoration.
IPCC
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the international body for *assessing the science related to climate change.* The IPCC was set up in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to *provide policymakers with regular assessments of the scientific basis of climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation*. IPCC assessments provide a *scientific basis for governments at all levels to develop climate-related policies*, and they underlie negotiations at the UN Climate Conference - the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The assessments are policy-relevant but not policy-prescriptive: they may present projections of future climate change based on different scenarios and the risks that climate change poses and discuss the implications of response options, but *they do not tell policymakers what actions to take*. The IPCC embodies a unique opportunity to provide rigorous and balanced scientific information to decision-makers because of its scientific and intergovernmental nature. IPCC assessments are written by hundreds of leading scientists who volunteer their time and expertise as Coordinating Lead Authors and Lead Authors of the reports.
IWC
International Whaling Commission Main purpose is to provide for the proper conservation of whale stocks and thus make possible the orderly development of the whaling industry
LULU
Locally unwanted land use A nuisance or detriment to local sites and neighboring lands In land-use planning, a locally unwanted land use (LULU) is a land use that is useful to society, but objectionable to its neighbors - few people want to live near them because of their externalities, real or perceived. Planning seeks to distribute and reduce the harm of LULUs by zoning, environmental laws, community participation, buffer areas, clustering, dispersing and other such devices. Thus planning tries to protect property and environmental values by finding sites and operating procedures that minimize the LULU's effects. Examples: power plants, prisons, factories, landfills, etc.
MAB
Man and Biosphere Program (MAB) A design for nature preserves that divides protected areas into zones with different purposes. A highly protected core is surrounded by a buffer zone and peripheral regions in which multiple-use resource harvesting is permitted.
NEPA
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) The cornerstone of U.S. environmental policy. It authorizes the Council on Environmental Quality, directs federal agencies to take environmental consequences into account when making decisions, and requires an environmental impact statement (EIS) for every major federal project likely to have adverse environmental effects.
NPS
National Parks Service Manages all US national parks and American national monuments Founded in 1916 by Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Stephen Mather, and Horace M. Albright *The NPS is charged with a dual role of preserving the ecological and historical integrity of the places entrusted to its management while also making them available and accessible for public use and enjoyment.*
NIMBY
Not in my backyard. The concern for one's own safety (causing them to suffer from mental stress, anxiety, and depression) causes people not to want things that will have negative effects on their well being in their back yard. NIMBY (an acronym for the phrase "Not In My Back Yard", or Nimby (as a word, instead of an acronym), is a pejorative characterization of opposition by residents to a proposal for a new development because it is close to them (or, in some cases, because the development involves controversial or dangerous technology) often with the connotation that such residents believe that the developments are needed in society but should be further away. The residents are often called Nimbies and their state of mind is called Nimbyism. Examples of projects likely to be opposed include any sort of housing development, skyscrapers, homeless shelters, oil wells, chemical plants, industrial parks, military bases, fracking, wind turbines, desalination plants, landfill sites, incinerators, power plants, quarries, prisons, pubs, adult entertainment clubs, firearms dealers, mobile phone masts, electricity pylons, abortion clinics, children's homes, nursing homes, youth hostels, sports stadiums, shopping malls, retail parks, railways, roads, airports, seaports, nuclear waste repositories,storage for weapons of mass destruction, and cannabis dispensaries and recreational cannabis shops.
PVC
Polyvinyl chloride, more correctly but unusually poly(vinyl chloride), commonly abbreviated PVC, is the third-most widely produced synthetic plastic polymer. PVC comes in two basic forms: rigid (sometimes abbreviated as RPVC) and flexible. The rigid form of PVC is used in construction for pipe and in profile applications such as doors and windows. It is also used for bottles, other non-food packaging, and cards (such as bank or membership cards). It can be made softer and more flexible by the addition of plasticizers, the most widely used being phthalates. In this form, it is also used in plumbing, electrical cable insulation, imitation leather, signage, inflatable products, and many applications where it replaces rubber. PVC is made from petroleum (non-renewable resource). The production process also uses sodium chloride. Recycled PVC is broken down into small chips, impurities removed, and the product refined to make pure white PVC. It can be recycled roughly seven times and has a lifespan of around 140 years. Weathering degradation of plastics, such as those made from PVC, results in their surface embrittlement and microcracking, yielding microparticles that continue on in the environment. Also known as microplastics, *these particles act like sponges and soak up Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) around them. Thus laden with high levels of POPs, the microparticles are often ingested by organisms in the biosphere.* Vinyl products are pervasive—including toys,car interiors, shower curtains, and flooring—and initially release chemical gases into the air. *Some studies indicate that this outgassing of additives may contribute to health complications.*
Wicked problems
Problems with no simple right or wrong answer where there is no single, generally agreed-on definition of or solution for the particular issue.
Endangered Species Act (ESA) (1973)
Protects threatened and endangered species in the U.S. and their habitats. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are the organizations responsible for enforcing the ESA, with the FWS in charge of maintaining a global endangered species list.
Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) (Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act) (1977)
Regulates coal-mining activities to protect both humans and environments. It also governs the restoration of abandoned mining locations.
OSHA
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration Congress established the agency under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which President Richard M. Nixon signed into law on December 29, 1970. OSHA's mission is to "assure safe and healthful *working conditions* for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance". The agency is also charged with enforcing a variety of whistleblower statutes and regulations.
Clean Water Act (1972)
Regulates the discharge of pollutants into waterways and establishes quality standards for surface waters, including industry wastewater standards. The objective of the CWA is to *restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters.* This is *accomplished by (1) preventing point and nonpoint pollution sources, (2) helping publicly owned water treatment plants to improve wastewater treatment, and (3) working to maintain the integrity of wetlands.*
RCRA
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (1976). Controls hazardous waste throughout its entire life cycle, including generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal. RCRA also manages nonhazardous solid waste.
Marine Mammal Protection Act (1972)
Seeks to protect whales, dolphins, sea lions, seals, manatees, and other marine mammals, many of which remain threatened or endangered. The law requires wildlife agencies to review any activity (for example the use of underwater explosives or high-intensity active sonar) that has the potential to "harass" or kill these animals in the wild. The law is our nation's leading instrument for the conservation of these species and is an international model for such laws.
Basel Convention (1992)
The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal controls the transport of hazardous waste between nations, especially the transfer of wast from developed to less-developed countries. It also focuses on exemplary management practices and the reduction of toxic waste.
BLM
The Bureau of Land Management Formed in 1946 The mission of the BLM is "to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations." Oversees over 247.3 million acres of land in the United States. Primarily known for managing lands for grazing, livestock, and extraction of minerals, oil, and natural gas.
Clean Air Act
The Clean Air Act protects land and its inhabitants by regulating the emissions of particulate pollutants and harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. *The provisions of the Clean Air Act promote respiratory health, reduce acid precipitation, and preserve visibility in cities, parks and wilderness areas through smog reduction.* The seven major pollutants of the US Clean Air Act of 1970 are sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, particulates, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, photochemical oxidants, and lead
Earth Charter
The Earth Charter Initiative is a global movement of organizations and individuals that embrace the Earth Charter and use it to guide the transition towards a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world; it is a set of principles for sustainable development, environmental protection, and social justice developed by a council appointed by the United Nations. The Charter has been formally endorsed by organizations representing millions of people, including the UNESCO, over 250 universities around the world, the World Conservation Union of IUCN, the Indian National Capital Territory of Delhi, the 2001 U.S. Conference of Mayors, and dozens of youth organizations.
Green revolution
The advent of industrialized agriculture in the mid and late 20th century came to be known as the *Green Revolution.* It is the term used to describe the transformation of agriculture in many developing nations that led to significant increases in agricultural production between the 1940s and 1960s. This dramatically increased agricultural production was brought about by "miracle" strains of grain, usually requiring high inputs of water, plant nutrients, and pesticides.
Biocentric preservation
The belief that all creatures have rights and values; being centered on nature rather than humans
Anthropocentrism
The belief that humans hold a special place in nature; being centered primarily on humans and human affairs
Composting
The biological degradation of organic material under aerobic (oxygen-rich) conditions to produce compost, a nutrient-rich soil amendment and conditioner.
Precautionary principle
The decision to leave a margin of safety for unexpected developments.
Pragmatic realism
The doctrine that knowledge comes by way of action According to pragmatic realism, the mind is not outside the realm of nature The doctrine that knowledge comes by way of action, that to know is to act by hypotheses which result in successful adaption or resolve practical difficulties.
Sustainability
The endurance of systems and processes that have little negative impact on the environment; increasing the quality of goods without depleting the natural resources needed to make the goods. Ways of reducing negative human impact are environmentally-friendly chemical engineering, environmental resources management and environmental protection. Ways of living more sustainably can take many forms from reorganizing living conditions (e.g., ecovillages, eco-municipalities and sustainable cities), reappraising economic sectors (permaculture, green building, sustainable agriculture), or work practices (sustainable architecture), using science to develop new technologies (green technologies, renewable energy and sustainable fission and fusion power), or designing systems in a flexible and reversible manner,and adjusting individual lifestyles that conserve natural resources. Despite the increased popularity of the use of the term "sustainability", the possibility that human societies will achieve environmental sustainability has been, and continues to be, questioned—in light of environmental degradation, climate change, overconsumption, population growth and societies' pursuit of indefinite economic growth in a closed system
Biological community
The populations of plants, animals, and microorganisms living and interacting in a certain area at a given time.
Habitat fragmentation
The process by which habitat loss results in the division of large, continuous habitats into smaller, more isolated remnants
Cogeneration
The process of recapturing waste heat generated by industrial processes for further uses; the simultaneous production of electricity and steam or hot water in the same plant.
Bioremediation
The safe removal of pollutants or hazardous chemicals from the environment; use of biological organisms to remove or detoxify pollutants from a contaminated area.
Technological optimism
Those who believe that technology and human enterprise will find cures for all our problems (also known as Promethean environmentalism)
FWS
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats. The mission of the agency is "working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people." The FWS is responsible for enforcing the Endangered Species Act (along with NOAA) and is responsible for maintaining a global endangered species list. The vast majority of fish and wildlife habitat is on non-federal lands. Therefore, the FWS works closely with private groups such as The Partners for Fish and Wildlife, Partners in Flight, Sport Fishing and The Boating Partnership Council, to assist voluntary habitat conservation and restoration.
USFS
United States Forest Service The mission of the Forest Service is "To sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations." Its motto is "Caring for the land and serving people." As the lead federal agency in natural resource conservation, the US Forest Service provides leadership in the protection, management, and use of the nation's forest, rangeland, and aquatic ecosystems. The agency's ecosystem approach to management integrates ecological, economic, and social factors to maintain and enhance the quality of the environment to meet current and future needs. Through implementation of land and resource management plans, the agency ensures sustainable ecosystems by restoring and maintaining species diversity and ecological productivity that helps provide *recreation, water, timber, minerals, fish, wildlife, wilderness, and aesthetic values for current and future generations of people. (Especially timber as a renewable resource.)* The everyday work of the Forest Service balances resource extraction, resource protection, and providing recreation.
Urban sprawl
Unlimited outward extension of city boundaries that lowers population density, consumes open space, generates freeway congestion, and causes decay in central cities.
VOC
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) organic chemicals that exist as gases in the air; unstable substances that can be released as gases from a wide variety of products, including carpeting, paints, aerosol sprays, cleaning products, building supplies, pesticides, printers, glues, wood preservatives, moth balls, and air fresheners.
Grasshopper effect
When compounds accumulate in polar regions by evaporating from water and soil in warm areas and then condense and precipitate in colder regions
WHO
World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that is concerned with international public health. It was established on 7 April 1948, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The WHO is a member of the United Nations Development Group. The WHO's Constitution states that its objective "is the attainment by all people of the highest possible level of health." Since its creation, it has played a leading role in the eradication of smallpox. Its current priorities include communicable diseases, in particular HIV/AIDS, Ebola, malaria and tuberculosis; the mitigation of the effects of non-communicable diseases; sexual and reproductive health, development, and aging; nutrition, food security and healthy eating; occupational health; substance abuse; and driving the development of reporting, publications, and networking.
ZPG
Zero Population Growth A condition of demographic balance where the number of people in a specified population neither grows nor declines
Dian Fossey
an American zoologist, primatologist, and anthropologist who undertook an extensive study of *mountain gorilla* groups over a period of 18 years.
CAFO
concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) Facilities in which large numbers of animals spend most of their life in confinement.
DALY
disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). A measure of premature deaths and losses due to illnesses and disabilities in a population.
DO
dissolved oxygen the amount of oxygen present in water
POPs
persistent organic pollutants (POPs) Chemical compounds that persist in the environment and retain biological activity for a long time.
Point and Non-point source pollution
point sources - specific locations of highly concentrated pollution discharge nonpoint sources - scattered, diffused sources of pollutants; for non-point sources, it is difficult to identify the main source of pollution and it may come from a multitude of smaller sources.
PCB
polychlorinated biphenyls disrupt the immune system and make it susceptible to a variety of infections
Acquifer
porous layer of sand, gravel, or rock lying below the water table that allows the movement of water between layers of nonporous rock or clay. Acquifers are frequently tapped for wells.
Heat island effect
urban areas that heat up more quickly and retain heat better than nonurban areas. The term "heat island" describes built up areas that are hotter than nearby rural areas. The annual mean air temperature of a city with 1 million people or more can be 1.8-5.4°F (1-3°C) warmer than its surroundings. In the evening, the difference can be as high as 22°F (12°C). Heat islands can affect communities by increasing summertime peak energy demand, air conditioning costs, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, heat-related illness and mortality, and water quality. Some causes are that pavement, concrete, and asphalt absorb heat during the day and radiate back into the air at night. Less shade from trees and vegetation leads to more sunlight shining directly on the ground, further increasing the absorbed heat. The natural water cycle is disrupted because the higher concentration of pavement causes rainfall to run off into waterways (as opposed to percolating through the soil) reducing humidity and increasing temperatures.
