1. “The World We Create” NATS 101 Section 6
Please, turn in your homework!
PROJECT 3 Due Next Tuesday, April 13 Available in D2L!
04/06 1

2. Synthetic Materials as Solid Waste

3. LAST TIME…
E Last time we saw these pictures, which show a lot of negative effects synthetic materials can have on the world. Demonstration

4. How much waste do you generate?
In your groups:
Estimate how much waste in pounds (lbs) you generate each day (average per person in the group).
Why do you think this could be a problem?
5 minutes
E and S include all waste:even what u recycle, not body waste
3/8 bag= 1 lb,

5. How much waste do you generate?
According to the EPA, the average American produces :
4.4 pounds (2 kg) a day
(~1.7 full trash bags)
29 pounds (13 kg) per week
(~11 full trash bags)
1,600 pounds(726 kg) a year
(~608 full trash bags)
E ~1.7 trash bags= 4.4 lbs
29 lbs= 11 bags
1600= 608

6. Where do synthetic materials go after we use them?
In your groups:
Discuss what you think happens to synthetic materials after people throw them away (i.e., where do they go?). Name at least 4 places.
2 minutes E

7. Where do Synthetic Materials go after we use them?
Landfills
Recycling factories
Oceans, Streams, Rivers
Thrown on the ground E

8. The Pacific Garbage Patch

9. Environmental and Health Effects
Each group will be assigned a case study. You have 15 minutes to become experts on this case study.
After 15 minutes the groups will rearrange.
Each new group will have an expert on each case study and will “teach” the other members. Make sure to write down important ideas from each case study on back of worksheet 10 more minutes S

10. Case study #1 Landfills
What sort of environmental and health effects do synthetic materials cause at landfills?
Students give feedback and next slide only highlight things they didn’t cover in discussion

11. Case study #1 Landfills Synthetic materials have been shown to:
Transfer harmful chemicals that spread into ground water;
Reduce the amount of usable land (corruption of soil);
Release toxic gases into the air in the heat or when burned;.
Be non biodegradable and can be in landfills for centuries. S
This can affect:
Humans and wildlife who get their drinking supply from the ground water;
Birds and other wildlife that scout for food;
Any human and wildlife living nearby Respiratory problems.

12. Case study #2 Recycling factories
What are the health and environmental effects of processing plastics in recycling factories?

13. Case study #2 Recycling factories
Globally we use in excess of 260 million tons of
plastic per year which accounts for ~8% of the
world oil production.
The breakdown (burning) and manufacture of
synthetic materials release toxic chemicals into the
air.
During the washing and pelleting process,
contaminated water can be released into the
environment.
S Will mention that newer factories are now more safe, most older factories have been updated, and that this is an extreme example of recycling factories so they could see what sort of effects can be caused by synthetic materials.
These can cause: skin problems, breathing problems, memory loss, nose bleeds, eye irritation, fainting, fatigue, confusion, poisoning…..

14. Case study #3 Household Items
What is the controversy behind using BPA in plastics?

15. Case study #3 Household Items
Chemicals added to plastics are absorbed by human bodies and can cause multiple health effects.
Bisphenol A (BPA) have been found to affect hormonally-influenced areas of the body, including breasts, prostate, brains and reproductive areas and can lead to cancer in these areas.
It also has a powerful impact on young children and babies and can cause birth defects. E

16. Case study #3 Other Household Items
Synthetic fibers (used in clothing, carpet, and Insulation..etc) have respiratory health effects.
Fiber glass insulation causes itchiness and temporary skin irritation.
Pesticides (Pyrethroids) can flow into streams an rivers, and can contaminate at concentrations that can kill small creatures vital to the survival of fish and other aquatic life.
PVC(phthalates) in toys has been known to cause cancer, kidney disease as well as problems in development. E

17. Case study #4 Oceans
What are the effects, both on wildlife and health, of synthetic materials in the oceans?

18. Case study #4 Oceans
Plastic debris laced with chemicals and often ingested by marine animals, can injure or poison wildlife.
Floating plastic waste can survive for thousands of years in water, and can serve as mini transportation devices for invasive species. These invasive species than disrupt habitats. E

19. Synthetic Materials What can we do?
Imagine the government sees synthetic materials as a huge environmental and health hazard. They are looking for solutions to reduce or even fix this problem.
In your groups come up with:
At least 3 solutions for the government
One solution should include an alternative to synthetic materials (that means no more synthetic materials)
5 minutes E

20. What can we do? Reduce Reuse Recycle Make alternate materials
Use alternate products S

21. Reduce Combine shopping bags. Buy only what you need.
Avoid single serve containers.
Use drinking fountains instead of bottles S

22. Reuse Reusable shopping bags.
Reusable stainless steel containers (instead of plastic baggies or containers).
Use plastic containers as flower pots.
Bring your own cup to restaurants
Cloth Diapers or Diapers with Velcro wraps.
Use reusable aluminum bottles instead of plastic water bottles. S

23. Recycle
Recycle at
home, school and work! S

24. Make Alternate Materials
Alter the design, manufacture, or use of products and materials to reduce the amount and toxicity of what gets thrown away. S

25. Use Alternate Products
Wood flooring
Clothes that do not use synthetic fibers. S

26. Make an Advertisement
Based on what you learned today about environmental and health effects of polymers, make an advertisement. You will be turning this in so make sure you put your best effort into it!
Examples:
Advertise against using toys with BPA including warnings about the health effects and what we should do it about it.
Advertise against landfills including the environmental and health effects and what alternative solution would be better.
S Can skip to summary if run out of time

27. Stop Buying Toys for your Kids!
BPA is a chemical substance present in many plastic toys. This dangerous chemical can leak out and affect your children’s life negatively. Some studies suggest that infants and children may be the most vulnerable to the effects of BPA. This substance may be responsible for behavioral changes in children and it has been shown to lead to several types of cancer. BPA also can interfere with the reproductive system and development of young females.
Pick out the untrue statements
WHAT DO YOU THINK? WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?

28. Stop Buying Toys for your Kids!
BPA is a chemical substance present in many plastic toys. This dangerous chemical can leak out and affect your children’s life negatively. Some studies (in animals) suggest that infants and children may be the most vulnerable to the effects of BPA. This substance may be responsible for behavioral changes in children and it has been shown to lead to several types of cancer. BPA can also interfere with the reproductive system and development of young females.
Pick out the untrue statements
THINK! GET INFORMED! 28

29. The 3 R’s, making alternative materials, and
Summary
The amount of Synthetics as solid waste has increased dramatically since the 1940’s.
This has led to an increase in both environmental and human health effects.
There are steps that we as individuals can take to reduce these effects including:
The 3 R’s, making alternative materials, and
using alternative products.
S More for students to have on hand to refer to later