MIDTERM Flashcards
Describe the field of environmental science and explain its interdisciplinary nature.
- Fundamental insight is that our interactions with the natural world matter a great deal
- Understanding these interactions is first step towards devising solutions to environmental problems
An interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physical, biological and information sciences (including ecology, biology, physics, chemistry, zoology, mineralogy, oceanology, limnology, soil science, geology, atmospheric science, and geodesy) to the study of the environment
Know the FIVE DIRECT drivers of environmental change and which of the five is believed to have the greatest capacity to alter the biosphere. (HIPOC)
1) Habitat Destruction (Land cover change)
2) invasive species
3) pollution (air/soil/water)
4) over-appropriation or exploitation of resources,
5) climate change*
Be able to name and describe at least THREE of the INDIRECT drivers of environmental change.
Demographic Change
Market failures
Scientific and Tech change
Institutional Gaps
Know the specific definition of ecological footprint and how many Earths it would take if everyone lived like the average US citizen.
4 Planets. Ecological footprint measures how fast we consume resources and generate waste.
Be able to give examples of increases in GDP that are not reflective of benefits to public health and the environment.
GDP- building prisons, oil spills,
Be able to explain how conventional economic assumptions are problematic with regards to environmental and public health protection.
Resources are infinite (not the case), long term effects are discounted (decisions are made to maximize short-term benefits), costs and benefits are internal (external costs of people not involved. Not included in the price of goods), growth is good.
Be able to differentiate between renewable and nonrenewable resources. Know examples of renewable resources that can become nonrenewable if used unsustainably.
Natural Resources - Materials or substances such as minerals, forests, water, and fertile land that occur in nature and can be used for economic gain.
Renewable resources- oxygen, fresh water, solar energy, timber, and biomass.
Nonrenewable- oil, natural gas and coal
-> Soils, arg crops, forest products, fresh water
Know factors that influence the toxicity of a harmful chemical. (9)
Factors Influencing Toxicity
- Chemical and physical properties
- e.g., structure, solubility… - Dose amount
- Amount of an agent that comes into contact with a living organism or a part of a living organism - Dose frequency - how often exposure occurs
- e.g., daily, weekly, 5 days out of 7, etc… - Dose duration - how long or the total period of time exposure occurs
- e.g., a week, a month, a year, a lifetime - Route of exposure
- Ingestion, inhalation, dermal (skin contact) - Fate in the body
- Absorption, distribution, metabolism, storage, excretion - Individual characteristics - age, sex, body weight, genetics
- Health status - preexisting health problems, physical stresses
- Interactions with other chemicals
- e.g., additive, synergistic or antagonistic
Know the FIVE questions you should ask yourself when evaluating scientific claims.
- Who is it that is making a particular claim or statement and are they qualified to speak on the subject?
- Are they being paid to make the claim, and if so, how might that affect what they are saying?
- What evidence is presented to back the claim?
- Was the evidence obtained through proper scientific procedures including the process of peer review?
- Are the views of the scientific community being accurately portrayed?
Be able to define and give examples of ecosystem services.
Nat. service- air purification, water purification, soil renewal, nutrient recycling, food production, pollination, grassland renewal, forest renewal, waste treatment, climate control, population control, pest control
Be able to give TWO examples of endocrine disrupting chemicals and name a product in which they are found.
BPA- Children’s toys, water bottles, canned food
Polybrominated flame retardants (PBDEs)- Flame retardants. Couches, pillows, chairs.
Focus on human impacts of the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles for now.
Harvesting of rocks containing phosphorus for fertilizer, the treated and untreated sewage runs into water ways and boosts algae blooms- leads to dead zones. Present in some soaps and detergents.
Greatly increased transfer of N from land to
water bodies- eutrophification. Reduces biodiversity. Increased atmospheric concentrations of the N compounds that produce, Smog, Greenhouse gases, Acid precipitation
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
- Set procedures of toxic chemicals in public commerce. EPA charged with monitoring.
Functions of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – make sure you know the difference between laws and regulations
Func- Evaluate research, monitor environmental quality, set and enforce regulations, educate public.
Regulations are the specific rules based on the more broadly written statutory law.
Recognize waves of environmental policymaking as described in class and in the textbook.
Late 1700’s: westward expansion. 1960’s: laws promoted conservation- creating national parks and forests, soil conservation. Laws curbed pollution and other environmental problems- Silent Spring (1962), Santa Barbara Oil Spill, Cuyahoga river catches fire
1st-1800-1900s Mineral Land Act
2nd- 60s Creation of National Parks
3rd- Laws to curb Pollution
4th- Wave for sustainability and developing goals
