History of Environmentalism

Question 1

discuss chernobyl

Answer 1

Chernobyl disaster
Build up of h2 lead to explosion
layer of uranium on soil, nutrient cycle badly damaged
lead to birth defects
Many more safety rules and regulations have been put in place

Question 2

Discuss silent spring

Answer 2

Inorganic insecticides were used
Water treatment plant couldnt remove chemicals because multiple chemicals in catch basins could be even more detrimental
The chemicals such as DDT were on the plants which are then eaten by larger animals and the concentration of the chemical increases because of biomagnification, the animals have to eat multiple plants. As trophic levels increase, the concentration rises.
In the case of DDT, top predators are most at risk. For example it was damaging towards bald eagle populations as the levels of DDT caused their eggs to thin and their young would die. Carson wrote a book called Silent spring in response to her research and due the popularity of the book, DDT was banned.