Chapter 14 Environmental Problems This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: Any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; Preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; Any rental, lease or lending of the program.

Myth or Fact? Environmental pollution did not become a problem until the 1960s and 1970s. Environmental conditions deteriorated in the last half of the twentieth century. MYTH MYTH

Globalization and the Environment Two aspects of globalization that have affected the environment are The permeability of international borders to pollution and environmental problems. Growth of free trade and transnational corporations.

Bioinvasions Red fire ants, known for their painful sting, are an example of bioinvasion. They came from Paraguay and Brazil on shiploads of lumber to Mobile, Alabama, in 1957 and have spread throughout the southern states.

Planned Obsolescence The manufacturing of products that are intended to become inoperative or outdated in a fairly short period of time.

Greenwashing Refers to the way environmentally and socially damaging companies portray their corporate image and products as being “environmentally friendly” or socially responsible.

Damage to Ecosystems Ecosystems are the complex and dynamic relationships between forms of life and the environments they inhabit Over the past 50 years, humans have altered ecosystems more rapidly and extensively than in any other comparable period of time in history.

Depletion of Natural Resources Freshwater resources are being consumed by agriculture, by industry, and for domestic use. More than 1 billion people lack access to clean water The demand for new land, fuel, and raw materials resulted in deforestation, the conversion of forest land to nonforest land. Desertification is the degradation of semiarid land, which results in the expansion of desert land that is unusable for agriculture.

Social Sources of Environmental Problems The social and cultural conditions that lead human beings to behave in ways that are detrimental to the environment include population growth Affluence Technology economic growth cultural values

The Functionalist Perspective Functionalists see the ecosystem in terms of the interdependence among land, air, water, people, and other resources in it. Problems arise when changes in the ecosystem produce social disorganization or dysfunctional consequences.

The Conflict Perspective Conflict theorists see environmental problems in terms of groups having competing interests in how the environment is to be used. Pollution becomes a problem when a group with some power feels that its interests are not being served.

The Interactionist Perspective Interactionists stress the importance of social definition and subjective assessments of reality rather than the objective amount of pollution or degradation of the environment.

The Social Construction of Environmental Problems Environmental problems do not exist as social problems until people identify and define them as such. The social construction happens as the media, influential people, and the government publicize the problems and enact social policies.

Problems Related to Water Water Supply and Pollution The hydrologic cycle purifies water. The effects of pollution on the water supply include acid rain and eutrophication.

Acid Rain Air pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, mix with precipitation to pollute rain, snow, and fog that contaminate crops, forests, lakes, and rivers. As a result of the effects of acid rain, all the fish have died in a third of the lakes in New York’s Adirondack Mountains.

Global Warming Accumulation of various gases collect in the atmosphere and act like glass in a greenhouse, holding heat from the sun. Effects: Shifts in plant and animal habitats and extinction of some species. Melting of glaciers and permafrost, resulting in rise in sea level.

Greenhouse Gases Gases (primarily carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide) that accumulate in the atmosphere and act like the glass in a greenhouse, holding heat from the sun close to the earth.

CO2 Emissions Per Capita by Region, 2003

Nuclear Waste Radioactive waste from nuclear power plants and weapons production is associated with cancer and genetic defects. Radioactive plutonium, used in nuclear power and weapons production, has a half-life of 24,000 years. Disposal of nuclear waste is risky and costly,

Problems Related to Nuclear Wastes and Land Radioactive waste Problems related to radioactive wastes include their lifespan of thousands of years; NIMBY (Not in My Back Yard syndrome); transporting them; and the use of temporary storage for lack of permanent storage. Land Degradation Desertification and deforestation are examples of land degradation that results from human influence on the environment.

Problems Related to Waste Solid and Toxic Wastes The average person in the U.S. throws away between four and five pounds of waste everyday. Toxic waste can be problematic to dispose.

Problems Related to Biodiversity and Air Declining Biodiversity The decline in the number of species means that there is a loss of species that might be of use to humans and there may be a threat to the ability of the ecosystem to support human life. Air Pollution Threats to air quality come from various sources. Concern and controversy surround the “greenhouse effect,” global warming, and climate change.

Problems Related to Chemicals Pesticides and Other Chemicals The volume of synthetic organic chemicals produced has skyrocketed in the last fifty years. Alternatives to pesticide use include integrated pest management

Problems Related to Energy Energy Resources The affluent nations in the world use an inordinate share of the world’s energy. Most existing forms of energy are finite.

Future Prospects Collective action by environmental groups continues to be a significant source of pressure in the environmental realm. New cultural values and social institutions may be need to emphasize living in harmony with the environment, rather than mastering it.

Future Prospects Efforts to alleviate environmental problems include moderating economic growth using government regulation using environmental partnerships reducing, reusing, recycling developing renewable energy resources developing international cooperation