chapter 1 -10 Flashcards
what is environment
means a nonhuman or natural world apart from human society
what is environmental science
how the natural world works and how our environment affects us and how we can effect the environment
interdisciplinary= involving or borrowing techniques from multiple traditional fields of study and bringing together the research results.
humans and the environment are one= nature biological world
what is natural resource
various substances and energy sources that we take from our environment and that we need in order to survive
renewable
renewed over time
sun wind waves = perpetual
wood ,fertile soils , clean water and animal populations
nonrenewable
finite and renewed very slowly
example oil ,coal , natural gas and minerals
human population
increased after agricultural revolution
people began to grow crops and raise domestic animals
larger population means more resources consumed = more environmental pressure
ecosystem services
arise from normal functioning of natural systems and are not meant for our benefit
examples - nutrient cycling air and water purification and climate change
industrial revolution
animal powered agriculture and manufacturing by craftsman to an urban society powered by fossil food
fossil fuels = nonrenewable energy sources such as coal , oil and natural gas
ecological footprint
generalized from wealthy nations
impact on the environment
expressed as the amount of land required to sustain a persons or populations use of natural resources
cumulative area of biologically productive land and water required to provide the resources a person or a population dispose of recycle the waste the person or production consumes
overshoot
the amount by which humanity resources use as measured by ecological footprint
natural capital
earths accumulated wealth of natural resources and ecosystem services
scientific thinking
observe ,question , test and discover
natural science vs social science
and environmental studies
natural science = academic displumes that study the natural world
social science = address human interactions and institutions
environmental studies= emphasizes the social science as well as natural science
environmentalism
a social movement dedicated to protect the natural world by extension people
science
is a systematic process for learning about the world and testing our understanding of it
descriptive science
simply observing ,measuring and documenting
scientist gather basic information about organism materials systems or processes that are not yet well known
hypothesis
posing a question to test= research that proceeds in a more targeted and structured manner using experiments to test hypotheses known as a scientific method
statement or claim that supported or rejected by experiments
peer review
experts review over research before publication
the process by which a scientific manuscript submitted for publications is examined by specialists in the field who provide comments and criticism
independent variable and dependent variable
independent variable = the variable that a scientists manipulates in an experiment
dependent variable = that is affected by the manipulation of the independent variable in an experiment
theory
well tested cause and effect relationship that has been repeatedly validated through research
is a widely accepted and well tested explanation of one or more cause and effect relationships that has been extensively validated by a great amount of research
control experiment
a variable has been left unmanipulated to serve as a point of comparison with the treatment
data and correlation
data - information , generally quantitative information
correlation - statistical association positive or negative among variables
paradigm
the dominant philosophical and theoretical framework within a science disciplines
environmental ethics
application of ethical standards to relationships between people and non human entities
examine how people judge right from wrong by clarifying the criteria that people use in making judgements
examples - destroyed habitats or drive species to extinction to grow food
anthropocentricism
human centered view
example - humans willingness to cause environmental damage for economic benefit
biocentrism
grants and inherent value to living things
example - religious and cultural practices taking place in the natural world
ecocentrism
concerned with effects on entire ecosystems
examples -consisting with living and nonliving elements and the relationships among them
relativist vs universalist
relativist - who maintains that ethics do and should vary with social context
universalist - who maintains that there exists objective nations of right and wrong that holds across culture
preservation ethic
preserve nature in its pristine ,unaltered state
holds that we should protect the natural environment.
conservation ethic
uses resources wisely
utilitarian - most good to the most people for the longest time
put natural resources to good use
land ethic
holistic approach to protecting ecological lands by preserving their interconnecting parts
environmental justice
fair and equitable treatment all people with respect to environmental policy and practice
poor people typically exposed to more environmental hazards air pollution water contamination exposure to toxins
example flint michigan
sustainability
issues mainly from population x affluent lifestyles
living in a way that will allow for earth to sustain humanity and all life into the foreseeable future
traditional economic
largely ignores the environment
assumes natural resources are endless
assumes wastes can be endlessly absorbed
all at no cost
Watershed protection
forests cleanse water by filtering pollutants and they conserve water and reduce soil erosion by slowing runoff
Biodiversity
tropical forests such as costa Ricas are especially rich in life
Scenic beauty
recreation and ecotourism which bring money to the economy
classical economics
self interested economic behavior will benefit society pillar of free market of thought some contended this thinking worsens inequality
Carbon sequestration
by pulling carbon dioxide from the atmosphere forests slow global warming
The country already gets 99 percent of its electricity from renewable sources and its hopes that carbon dioxide stored by newly conserved forests will help cancel out carbon dioxide emissions from gasoline burning vehicles.
Economy
is a social system that converts resources into goods material commodities made and bought by individuals and business and services work done for others as a business
Economics
is the study of how people decide to use potentially scarce resources to provide goods and services that are in demand – study of human society
Natural resources
are the substances and forces that sustain us the fresh water we drink and the trees that supply our lumber the rocks that provide our metals and the energy from sun and wind ,water and fossil fuels
discounting
is meant to reflect how people tend to grant more importance to present conditions then to future conditions
Greek root ,oikos meaning
household
economic growth
can be defined as an increase in an economy’s production and consumptions of goods and services believes that economic growth is essential for maintaining social order because a growing economy can alleviate the discontent of people who are less economically well off by creating opportunities for them to become wealthier
Inputs to the economy such as more labor or natural resources or by improvement in the efficiency of production due to better methods or technology
Environmental economics
feel we can modify neoclassical economic principles to make resource use more efficient and thereby attain sustainability without current economic system
Promote Steady-State Economy: Focused on stabilizing rather than constantly growing economy. Mirrors natural systems
Assign ecosystem services nonmarket values because they are not included in the price of a good or service
Examples: Aesthetic value, Educational Value, Scientific value, Etc.
neoclassical economics
Supply: The amount of product offered for sale at a given price
Demand: The amount people who will buy a product at a given price
Cost-Benefit Analysis: Estimated costs and benefits of proposed action.
Monetary benefits are easily recognized and accounted for
Environmental/Ecological costs are often ignored or missed
external cost
costs that affect someone other than the buyer or seller.
Ecological economics
feel that sustainability requires more far reaching changes
Nonmarket values
the aesthetic and recreational pleasure we obtain from natural landscapes is something of real value
policy
when society is recognizing a problem it leaders may try to resolve the problem
Formal set of general plans and principles intended to guide decision making
public policy
policy made by people in the government
Environmental policy
pertains to our interactions with our environment aims to regulate resources
Generally, aims to promote human wellbeing and/or protect natural ecosystems
Steady state economy
an economy that does not grow or shrink but remains stable
Gross domestic product
the total monetary value of goods and services a nation produces each year
Genuine progress indicator
to calculate we begin with conventional economic activity and add it positive contributions not paid for with money such as volunteer work and parenting and then subtract negative impacts such as crime and pollution
Full cost accounting
GPU because it aims to account fully for all costs and benefits
market failure
do not take account the positive outside effects on economies such as ecosystem services or the negative side effects of economic activity or external costs
tragedy of the commons
pertains to many types of resources held and used in common by the public forests ,fisheries clean air and clean water
Unregulated, publicly accessible resources tend to become depleted or damaged
Two main methods to alleviate:
Management
Restriction
free riders
a factory that avoids the efforts others are making and they have to develop policy for publicly held resources
Make voluntary management difficult because one bad apple spoils the bunch.
Example: One power plant pollutes more while the others are cutting back
internalizing costs
Policy helps companies realize external costs (water pollution, human health impacts, etc) by forcing them to clean up pollution, pay fees or penalties, etc
Legislation
by crafting bills that can become law with signature of the head of the executive branch the president
regulations
specific rules intended to achieve objectives of a law
first wave 1780s to late 1800s):
Promoted expansion and extraction, accompanied westward movement
General Land Ordinances – Federal government granted Ex-Native lands to settlers to farm and develop
Second Wave
Recognition that natural resources and lands are not inexhaustible
Forest reserves and national parks established
Soil conservation and wilderness preservation begins
third wave
Rachel Carson – Silent Spring – Harm created by DDT and overuse of pesticides
Cuyahoga River – caught fire many times due to pollution
Many pieces of legislation and environment Acts (Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, etc) passed to protect environment and people’s health
The public trust doctrine
which holds that natural resources such as air , water and soil and wildlife should be held in trust for the public and that the government should protect them from exploitation by private parties
National environmental policy act
– prepared for any major federal action that might significantly affect environmental quality
Signed into law in 1970
Environmental impact assessments (EIAs) must be performed before federal action that might impact environmental quality
Environmental protection agency
was charged with conducting and evaluating research monitoring environmental quality and setting and enforcing standards for pollution levels.
Created in 1970
Conducts research, enforces standards for pollution, and educates the public
Plays a central role in U.S. environmental policy
typically set human chemical exposure standards for adults and extrapolate downward for infants and children
command and control
sets rules and punishes violators
in which a regulating agency such as the EPA set rules standards or limits on certain actions and threatens punishments for violations
climate change
is in the spotlight because our planet is warming rapidly due to emissions from fossil fuel use and people are now feeling impacts in their own lives. Carbon pollution from any one nation spreads through the atmosphere and oceans affecting all nations
globalization
which the worlds societies have become more interconnected linked by trade , diplomacy and communication technology
Our biggest health and environmental challenges are global in scale such as climate change ,ozone depletion overfishing and biodiversity loss.
United nations
seeks to maintain peace , security and friendly relations among nations to promote respect for human rights and freedom
Founded in 1945
Seeks to maintain peace, security, and promote collaboration
world bank
Established in 1944
Funds major development and infrastructure projects
Some scientists argue that development needs to be more sustainable
one of the largest sources of funding for economic development and major infrastructure projects
world trade organization
Founded in 1995
Seeks to reduce obstacles and promote fair and open trade between nations
Sometimes works against environmental policy (strict policies may create barriers to trade)
represents multinational corporations and it promotes free trade
Customary law
arises from long standing practices or customs held in common by most cultures
conventional law
arises from conventions or treaties written contracts into which nations enter
nongovernmental organizations
nonprofit mission driven organizations not overseen by any government have become international in scope and influences over policy.
Non-profit, mission-driven organizations that are independent from government.
Environmental NGOs seek to protect environments through education, shaping policy, research, lobbying, or organizing protests
green tax
a tax on an environmentally harmful activity or product a firm owning a polluting factory might pay taxes on the pollution it discharges the more pollution , the higher the tax payment
Tax on an environmentally harmful activity
Helps internalize external costs (pollution, land degradation, human health)
polluter pays principle
which specifies that the party creating pollution be held responsible for covering the cost of the impacts
Party creating pollution must cover impact costs
Subsidy
a government giveaway of money or resources that is intended to support or promote an industry or activity.
green subsides
: governmental financial aid granted to more environmentally-friendly products, practices, and businesses
Currently and in recent history, MUCH more subsidies granted to heavy polluters like oil and gas industries, animal agriculture, etc
Emissions trading
a government creates a market in permits for the emission of pollutants and companies utlities or industries then buy and sell permits among themselves
Pollution permits that can be traded on open market
cap and trade
emissions trading system the government first caps the overall amount of pollution it will allow then grants or auctions off permits to polluters.
Government first caps overall pollution allowed
greenwashing
some businesses may try to mislead us into thinking that their products are more sustainable then they actually are.
sustainable development
economic progress that maintains resources for the future.
economic progress that maintains resources for the future
Triple bottom line
a trio of goals including economic advancement environmental protection and social equity.
attempts to promote economic advancement social equity and environmental protection
environmental health
assessment of environmental factors on human health
influence human health and quality of life and the health of ecological system that is essential to our well being
physical
Occur naturally in environment (sun exposure, earthquakes, fires, floods, hurricanes)
occur naturally in our environment and pose rises to human life or health shielding our skin from intense sunlight with clothing and sunscreen ( ultraviolet radiation)
Scientists can map geologic faults to determine areas at risk of earthquakes
chemical
Compounds that are harmful or even deadly, either man-made or natural (pesticides, BPA, dioxins, venoms)
many of the synthetic chemicals that our society manufactures such as pharmaceuticals and disinfectants and pesticides
biological
Interactions among organisms that results in harm or death (viruses, bacterial infections, malaria spread by mosquitos)
result from ecological interactions among organisms
cultural
Hazards that result from our lifestyle, including place of residence, socioeconomic status, and behavioral choices (exposure to toxins in workplace, access to healthy and nutritious food, smoking)
result from our place of residence our occupation the circumstances of our socioeconomic status or behavioral choices
Phthalates
a class of endocrine – disrupting chemicals found in fire retardants plasticizers
Range of adverse health impacts such as birth defects , breast cancer and reduced sperm counts diabetes and cognitive impairment in children exposed to phthalates in the womb
BPA
is present in polycarbonate plastic a hard clear type of plastic used in water bottles
vector
an organism such as mosquito that transfers the pathogen to the host = infectious disease
noninfectious disease
develops as a result of the interaction of an intentional organism genes lifestyle and environmental exposures rather than by pathogenic infection
toxicology
examines how poisonous chemicals affect human health and other organism
how poisonous chemicals affect the health of humans and other organisms
toxicity
the degree of harm a chemical substance can inflict
a toxic chemical stored or manufactured in the tissues of living organisms for example a plants used to ward off hemovores
toxicant
any chemical substances may exert negative impacts if we expose ourselves to it
environmental toxicology
which deals with specifically with toxic substances that come from or are discharged into the environment
toxic substances that come from or are discharged into the environment
Carcinogen
Substances or radiation that cause cancer
Radon -a radioactive gas that seeps up from the ground are leading indoor hazards and are the topic two causes of lung cancer
mutations
Substances that create genetic mutations in DNA
Asbestos
used in the past as insulation in walls and other products is dangerous when inhaled
lead
heavy medal
lead poisoning
by ingestion or inhalation of the heavy metal lead causing an array of maladies including damages to the brain ,liver and kidney and stomach.
pesticide
an artificial chemical used to kill insects called insecticides plants called an herbicide or fungi called fungicide
teratogens
chemicals that harm the unborn fetuses
neurotoxins
chemicals that harm nervous system
allergens
substances that over activate the immune system
Polybrominated diphenyl
a class of synthetic compounds that provide fire retardant prosperities and are used in a diverse array of consumer products including computers ,televisions ,plastics and furniture.
Pathway inhibitors
are toxicants that interrupt vital biochemical processes in organism by blocking one or more steps in a pathway
endocrine disruptor
toxic substances that interfere with the endocrine system
DDT
is still manufactured today because some developing countries with tropical climates use it to control disease vectors such as mosquitos that transmits malaria
Skin and scales and feathers
the first line of defense against toxic substances because they resist uptake from the surrounding environment
acute exposure
by a hazard often varies according to whether a person experiences high exposure over a long period of time
chronic exposure
low exposure over a period of time
atmospheric circulations
can move through air
ocean currents
water soils and animals including humans
breakdown products
a compound that results from the degradation of a toxicant
The BT toxin used in biocontrol and in genetically modified crops has a very short persistence time whereas chemicals such as DDT and PCBs can persist for decades
Bioaccumulation
the buildup of toxicants in the tissues for an animals
where toxicants accumulate typically in fat cell of organisms and reach high concentrations over time for example - mercury ,seafood dioxins in animals products
Biomagnification
toxic substances that bioaccumulate in an organisms tissues may be transferred to other organism as predators consume prey
toxins from prey organisms into predators up the food chain
case history or case study
observation and analysis of individual patients
Provides knowledge on effects, processes, and outcomes of disease and/or toxins
Does not provide larger data on exposure levels, probability of sickness, risk
epidemiological studies
large scale Comparisons among groups of people usually contrasting a group known to have been exposed to some hazards against a group that has not
Typically exposed group vs non-exposed (control)
Long period of time to discover differences in illness, disability, death, general outcomes, etc
Dose response analysis
a set of experiment that measures the response of test animal to different doses of a toxicant
toxicity quantified by strength and effects and number of animals affecting at varying dose
dose
is the amount of substances the test animal receives and the response is the type of magnitude of negative effects the animal exhibits as a result
amount of substance subject received
dose response curve
a curve that plots the response of test animal to different doses of a toxicant as a result of dose response analysis
dose x axis to response to y axis in the relationship
lethal dose
50 results in death for 50 of tested subjects
threshold dose
the amount of a toxicant which begins to effect animals within the population
where the response can occur over a certain dose of threshold
ED
effective dose 50 results in some effects for 50 test subjects
Synergistic effect
an interactive effect that is more then or different from the simple sum of their constituent
risk
the mathematical probability that some harmful outcome for instance injury and death and environmental damage or economic loss will result from a given action even or substance
risk assessment
Quantitative measurement and comparison of risks of different activities or substances
is the way to identify and outline problems
risk management
Strategies to minimize risk
which consists of decisions and strategies to minimize risk
Toxic substances control act
that directs the environmental agency to monitor thousands of industrial chemicals and gives the EPA authority to regulate and ban substances
reactionary approach
risk-based decision making): Substances are harmless until proven harmful
Precautionary approach:
Substances assumed to be harmful until proven harmless
