...V: Results and Discussions: After doing research and sifting through all information pertaining to the goals set forth in this paper, the results and discussions explain fully just how the information was received and used to comply with all the goals and reasons for the research paper. The main goal was to explain fully what activated carbon is and that is charcoal that has been heated or otherwise treated to increase its adsorptive power. In the course text, Controlling Environmental Pollution: An Introduction to the Technologies, History, and Ethics: authors P. Aarne Vesilind and Thomas D. DiStefano describe activated carbon adsorption as a method of BOD removal (2006). The authors also go on to describing the process as an added advantage...
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...The Analysis of Impact of Irrigation Water Quality on Human Health: a case study in Musi River in Hyderabad, India Jeena T. Srinivasan and V. Ratna Reddy have conducted this research project in Hyderabad, India. Srinivasan has worked at Research Unit for Livehoods and Natural Resource (RULNER) which is promoted by the Center for Economic and Social Studies (CESS) in Hyderabad, India. Reddy has worked at Livelihoods and Natural Resources Management Institute which is also promoted by CESS. Srinivasan is the corresponding author who leads the whole research. By taking six villages with wastewater for irrigation along with Musi River and one control village with normal quality water (Srinivasan & Reddy, 2009, P.2800), the researchers tried to evaluate the difference of human health risks level between the two groups villagers. Besides, the researchers used the term “Morbidity Rates” associated with cost of illness to explain the different health risks exposing to individual family members in a household. Thus, there is a need for government to take several responsibilities to break the vicious circle which contaminated wastewater discharges from urban users to inflict harm on rural residents, and in turn as crops and meats for urban consumption (P. 2802). On the other hand, the researchers also tried to figure out determinants of morbidity. They classify households into high or low risk groups with four factors: location, the degree...
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...Outline for Research Paper Topic: Fracking & Water Contamination in USA pressure in order to fracture shale rocks to inside. Hydraulic Fracturing or otherwise known as Fracking is a technique of drilling and injecting fluid into the ground at a high pressure in order to fracture shale rocks to extract natural gas. United States has numerous shale gas bases. Each gas well requires an average of 400 tanker trucks to carry water and supplies to and from the site. The water brought in is mixed with sand and chemicals to create fracking fluid. Approximately 40,000 gallons of chemicals are used per fracturing. In order to frack it needs up to 600 chemicals including carcinogens and toxins such as lead, uranium, mercury, ethylene glycol, radium, hydrochloric acid and formaldehyde. The fracking fluid is then pressure injected into the ground through a drilled pipeline, which goes about contaminating the wells, and threatens potential earthquake. The mixture reaches the end of the well where the high pressure causes the nearby shale rock to crack, creating fissures where natural gas flows into the well. During this process, methane gas and toxic chemicals leach out from the system and contaminate nearby groundwater. Methane concentrations are 17 times higher in drinking water wells near fracturing sites than in normal wells. Contaminated well water is used for drinking water for nearby cities and towns. There have been over 1000 documented cases of water contamination next to areas...
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...Fukushima Radiation Causes Growing National Concern: Time for New EPA Policy Eric Zoppi 3279672 2 December 2013 On March 11th, 2011 the Tōhoku earthquake and the resulting tsunami wreaked havoc upon Japan. Unfortunately, this natural disaster resulted in the largest nuclear disaster since Chernobyl, as the tsunami crippled the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Following this severe breach in security, numerous radioactive isotopes and radioactive particles were released into the environment, specifically the Pacific Ocean and the surrounding air/atmosphere, thus contaminating groundwater, soil and seawater, as well as effectively shutting down a myriad of Japanese fisheries. The ocean and air mainly came in contact with high levels of Iodine-131, Cesium-137, and Cesium-134, as well as lower levels of Tellurium, Uranium, and Strontium, which were concentrated closer to the surrounding area of the nuclear power plant. However, the impact that these radioactive materials will have upon the United States, in particular, has caused quite the national controversy. Despite heavy national acceptance of the occurrence of the disaster, two popular and opposing hypotheses have formed as a result of the Media’s lack of focus on recent analyses of the impending effects of Fukushima Disaster upon the U.S.: (1) the radioactive material that leaked as a result of the TEPCO nuclear power plant failure will not have a drastic, threatening...
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...Research Paper Shannon Tyler RES/351 Date Larry Oslund Research Paper As the American energy crisis grows, we continue to look for domestic solutions. The United States contains large reserves of unconventional natural gas resources in coal beds, shale, and tight sands. Recent technological advances have led to a rapid increase in the development of these resources. The new advances have led to an average annual growth rate of 48% in shale gas alone and is expected to grow until 2035. This new technology has also increased the number of wells from 18,485 to 25,145 between the periods of 2004 to 2007 alone. One of the plausible advances’ is natural gas obtained through hydraulic fracking. A process commonly known as fracking. With the increase in production that fracking brings, it also brings some health hazards and presents danger to the environment. Though this process brings some hazards both health wise and environmentally, it has its benefits. The benefits it brings is a process that extracts clean fossil fuels that gives off less carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and sulfur dioxide. So even this process harms the environment it inadvertently helps the environment along with its ability to create jobs, influence energy cost and fix a growing energy crisis. Like any new process, both the benefits and the drawbacks need to be addressed. The problem...
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..."Remediate" means to solve a problem, and "bio-remediate"" means to use biological organisms to break down harmful chemicals and pollutants in order to return the environment to its original natural condition. This would include an environmental problem such as contaminated soil or groundwater. In a non-polluted environment, bacteria, fungi, protists, and other microorganisms are constantly at work breaking down organic matter. What would occur if an organic pollutant such as oil contaminated this environment? Some of the microorganisms would die, while others capable of eating the organic pollution would survive. Bioremediation works by providing these pollution-eating organisms with fertilizer, oxygen, and other conditions that encourage their rapid growth. These organisms would then be able to break down the organic pollutant at a correspondingly faster rate. In fact, bioremediation is often used to help clean up oil spills. Bioremediation of a contaminated site typically works in one of two ways. In the case described above, ways are found to enhance the growth of whatever pollution-eating microbes might already be living at the contaminated site. In the second, specialized microbes are added to degrade the contaminants. Bioremediation provides a good cleanup strategy for some types of pollution, but as you might expect, it will not work for all. For example, bioremediation may not provide a feasible strategy at sites with high concentrations of chemicals that are toxic...
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...Communication and Crisis Paper Tara Littleton HCS/320 1/18/16 Ann Maleta Communication and Crisis Paper Official reports indicate that the public water supplies in several different towns in the area are contaminated with a biological agent that is life threatening. Being the director of the Emergency Management Office, there has to be a contingency plan put into place within the office’s organization and with the public without creating a widespread panic. Knowing the situations in the past, the issues have to be dealt with immediately. Doing research and using the information from the Three Mile Island nuclear reactor malfunction in 1979, will help to know how to respond to this disaster. Even though there were no deaths or injuries from this particular incident, it drew a lot of media attention and created great concern within the local area and surrounding areas. The major forms of communication used in this situation were three major television networks and the local radio stations. Also, there was another situation in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina went through New Orleans and left it devastated. Many of the local citizens and their families were affected and most of them...
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...environment. Bioremediation techniques have become a major mechanism for removing oil residues on the affected shorelines. Among the different techniques to enhance natural biodegradation by indigenous microorganisms, seeding of new bacteria and fertilizing the indigenous populations have attracted the most interest. The application of nutrients as nitrogen and phosphorus in the form of fertilizers have shown to be most effective in accelerating the biodegradation process and at the same time to be environmentally safe. I. Introduction Since the freighter Pallas caused the worst oil pollution of the tidel shallows in the North Sea last November, thousands of sea birds and probably numerous other species lost their lives in the polluted water. The responsible parties have not yet taken any measures to mitigate the damage, neither have they provided for the prevention of a similar catastrophe in the future. This is especially striking as the first devastating oil spill occurred no less than ten years ago, when the tanker Exxon Valdez ruptured in Prince William Sound. The...
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...environment. Bioremediation techniques have become a major mechanism for removing oil residues on the affected shorelines. Among the different techniques to enhance natural biodegradation by indigenous microorganisms, seeding of new bacteria and fertilizing the indigenous populations have attracted the most interest. The application of nutrients as nitrogen and phosphorus in the form of fertilizers have shown to be most effective in accelerating the biodegradation process and at the same time to be environmentally safe. I. Introduction Since the freighter Pallas caused the worst oil pollution of the tidel shallows in the North Sea last November, thousands of sea birds and probably numerous other species lost their lives in the polluted water. The responsible parties have not yet taken any measures to mitigate the damage, neither have they provided for the prevention of a similar catastrophe in the future. This is especially striking as the first devastating oil spill occurred no less than ten years ago, when the tanker...
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...Running head: FRACKING AND THE EFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT Fracking and the Effects on the Environment and Public Health G. White Professor Wells English 215 Research and Writing August 2, 2013 Fracking and the Effects on the Environment and Public Health People are now recognizing some serious concerns to the public health and the drinking water becoming contaminated, because the fracturing of shale in our communities and what can be done to stop it all. The hydraulic fracturing of shale needs to be, banned until further investigations are completed to determine how safe it is to people and the environment surrounding the drilling site. It all started with a few cases of illness, which everyone assumed was a virus that was going around. Over the past couple of years, these illnesses have become a very serious problem, not only to people but to animals and livestock too. This is a big concern and it is obvious that it is not a genetic disease as first thought. Far too many families, who are living near these drilling sites and have contracted the same illnesses in many different areas across the United States,. Is this a coincidence or facts of serious problems taking place in the United States from fracking? It is very important that everyone should be aware and to take notice how close to where they live and if any hydraulic fracturing is taking place because there is much more to this story than many people realize. The hydraulic fracturing of...
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...Michael Donma Chem/Tox Research/Term Paper Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) Table of Contents Executive Summary………………………………………………………………3 Chemical Name…………………………………………………………………….3 Physical Properties……………………………………………………………….4 Common Uses……………………………………………………………………….5 Exposure Limits…………………………………………………………………….6 Toxicokinetics……………………………………………………………………….6 Acute Effects…………………………………………………………………………7 Chronic Effects………………………………………………………………………8 Personal Protective Equipment……………………………………………..9 Industrial Hygiene sampling………………………………………………..10 Reference……………………………………………………………………………11 Safety Data Sheet ……..……………………………………………………….13 Chemical Name and Executive Summary The chemical I chose to write my paper about is Polychlorinated biphenyl or PCB. Polychlorinated biphenyls were manufactured from 1929 until it was banned in 1979. PCB’s were used in hundreds of things because of their non-flammability, chemical stability, high boiling point, and electrical insulating characteristics. PCB’s range in form from light oil to a heavy wax. The largest producer of PCB was the Monsanto Corporation who marketed it under the trade name, Aroclor. For years and years PCB was thought as a chemical who had unlimited advantages to human life and no negative consequences. It was used any way possible and was discharged just the same way. Many people simply discarded it into rivers, waterways, and landfills. It wasn’t until 1960s when the world began to question the health consequences...
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...the amount of pollution in our waters. The ocean waters we swim in have toxins dumped into it daily, increasing bacteria levels, making the waters unfit to swim in or eat fish from. There are several factors that affect our waters, such as the pulp paper mill industry. Paper mill companies are partially to blame for the pollution in our oceans, streams, rivers, and lakes. Fifty-three percent of the rivers and streams in the U.S assessed by the EPA remain too polluted for swimming, fishing and drinking. The government has established some Acts to help clean up the waters, but we need to also do our part to help the situation. With twelve pulp mills, eight panel and engineered-wood product mills, 97 saw mills and 73 other types mills currently operating statewide, the paper production industry generates roughly $20 billion in annual revenue for Georgia and create thousands of jobs for Georgians. Industrial companies, such as pulp paper companies, dump millions of pounds of toxic chemicals into America’s lakes, oceans, rivers and streams each year threatening our health. The discharge of toxic chemicals into our waterways poses a threat to the environment and human health. Toxic chemicals can accumulate in fish, riverbeds and the water column...
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...risen due to environmental debates that have rose due to the process. This is because in order to increase the output of gases in the wells, chemical toxins that are harmful to aquatic life and human beings are released to the environment. There are also many risks that arise during and after the process leading to issues of negligence. State regulations have enacted laws and policies that prevent any harm caused by negligence from affecting the environment. Therefore, this paper contains a discussion of the legal issues that are raised by hydraulic fracturing process. Fracking and the safe drinking water Act issues is the most common discussed legal issue. Many arguments have risen due to the quality of underground water since it is contaminated with chemicals thus endangering aquifers. Some concerns raised involve contamination of drinking water since most of it comes from the wells. This water can be dangerous to the ecosystem if it enters drinking water wells. Secondly, management of the contaminated water from fracking wells is also a legal concern. State regulation should ensure that the extraction of the natural gas does not have detrimental effects to the environment. Additionally, public complaints on natural gas extraction have also been increased hindering Hydraulic fracturing process. Public complains arise from the negative impacts of the increase of natural gas development. States should enact minimum requirements through endangerment standard to prevent contamination...
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...Tides Raymond A Martin College of Central Florida Abstract There are large, toxic blooms of dinoflagellates that leave a red coloration in the water. This rouge discoloring has become known as a red tide. Red tides have many damaging effects on the coastal environment and the ecosystem of the seas. They occur naturally as far north as southern Alaska to date. This paper will discuss what a red tide is and some of its causes. It will also explore the environmental impacts as well as health risks associated with these large toxic blooms. Next, we’ll look at the economic effect and the sociological impact of a red tide. Lastly, we can examine what to do to protect yourself from its harmful effects. Red Tide/Red Algae Effects What is Red Tide? Harmful algal blooms, or HABs, occur when colonies of algae—simple plants that live in the sea and freshwater—grow out of control while producing toxic or harmful effects on people, fish, shellfish, marine mammals, and birds. The human illnesses caused by HABs, though rare, can be debilitating or even fatal. While many people call these blooms 'red tides,' scientists prefer the term harmful algal bloom. (NOAA 2012) Algal blooms, during which algae become so numerous that they discolor the coastal waters, visibly seen as reddish-brown. The algal bloom may also deplete oxygen in the waters and/or release toxins that may cause illness in humans and other animals. Species in the United States that release these harmful toxins include: ...
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...The purpose of this paper is to select a representative natural ecosystem in or near the Louisiana area such as a preserves or parks that are managed for native species. Once a representative is chosen, the major structural, and functional dynamics (processes) of that ecosystem including how it has changed over time will be explained. Next the subject is to explain how humans may have affected the ecosystem, and in conclusion an explanation of how that ecosystem’s structure and function can help or has helped to develop plans for its management, and restoration. The Nature Conservancy is a nonprofit organization that works in different countries and all 52 states to help safeguard important lands and waters for nature and people. The organization works to keep safe the plants, animals, and land free from decay by protecting the lands, and waters humans, and habitat need to survive. The organization also focuses on leaving a sustainable world for future generations. Clean water is a must for humans, and animals to live. Fresh water ecosystems provide water for plants, and fish for humankind to eat (Gomez, 2008). Not only in Louisiana, but also all around the world, rivers, and lakes are becoming contaminated, and this affects people, animals, and plants. Research shows that possibly by 2025 more than one-third of Earth’s population could face tremendous water shortages (Botkin & Keller, 2009). The Nature Conservancy works in many states, including Louisiana...
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