Environmental Conditions Quality of Life Environmental Conditions

Objective I can describe how the following environmental conditions affect the quality of life: Water Quality Climate Population Density Smog

Essential Questions What are water quality and Climate? How do these affect the quality of life? What are population density and smog?

Quality Quality is defined as the standard of something as measured against other things of a similar kind; the degree of excellence of something Or in other words: how good or bad something is

Water Quality Water quality refers to the chemical, physical, biological, and radiological characteristics of water. It is a measure of the condition of water relative to the requirements of human or plant need or purpose Water quality is different for different living things. Humans require a certain level of water quality to stay healthy, whereas plants and animals typically require a different level of water quality to stay healthy Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies (e.g. lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and groundwater), very often by human activities.

Water Quality Picture 1 Is this good water quality? How do you know?

Air Quality the degree to which the air is pollution-free Air pollution occurs when gases, dust particles, or smoke are introduced into the atmosphere in a way that makes it harmful to humans, animals and plant. This is because the air becomes dirty (contaminated or unclean). Things that pollute the air are called pollutants.

Air Quality Picture 1 Is this good Air quality? How do you know?

Smog Smog is a combination of smoke and fog Smog is also a term that is used to describe when polluted air (from cars and factories) mixes with water vapor and becomes visible. Smog is different from haze Haze can be natural materials (dust, dirt, pollen) that is blown up into the air and creates a “hazy” quality. Haze can be harmful to some people Smog is harmful to all people, animals, and plants.

Land Quality Land quality is the ability of land to perform specific functions. Land pollution is the destruction of the earth’s land surfaces, often directly or indirectly as a result of man’s activities and their misuse of land resources. It occurs when waste is not disposed of properly, or can occur when humans throw chemicals onto the soil in the form of pesticides, insecticides and fertilizers during agricultural practices. Exploitation of minerals (mining activities) has also contributed to the destruction of the earth’s surface.

Land Quality Picture 1 Is this good land quality? How do you know?

Population Density The population density of a country or city is a way of showing how crowded that place is. It is calculated by dividing the population by the area. For example, France has a population of 60,561,200, and an area of 551,695 square kilometers, so its population density is about 109.8 persons per square kilometer.

Population Density

How does population density affect quality of life? More people living in an area, means more space and land is needed Old Main 1889

University of AZ today

Other types of Pollution Noise Pollution Light pollution

How does population Density Affect quality of life? More people means more cars More people means more trash

More people means more pollution

How are people affected? Pollution can be spread by wind or when it enters the water cycle. Water, air, and land pollution gets into the land and water, which is absorbed by animals and plants (which we eat). We also drink water, absorb water through activities or drinking, and breath in air. If our water, food, or air is polluted, then it can cause us to get sick.

What can we do to help? Recycle Be Ecofriendly

Ecofriendly Using less plastic and more decomposable containers Reusing things or fixing broken things, not just throwing it out Planting trees Alternative forms of energy (wind, solar, hydroelectric) instead of burning fossils fuels Buying things made from recycled materials Using organic or chemical free products.