1. Environmental Problems

2. Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources
Resource Depletion
Any natural material that is used by humans is called a natural resource.
For example:
Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources
Renewable
Nonrenewable
Energy from the sun
Metals (such as iron, copper)
water
Nonmetallic materials (such as salt, sand, clay
wood
Fossil fuels (coal, oil)
soil
Air

3. Resource Depletion
Resources are said to be depleted when a large fraction of the resource has been used up.
Example: If trees are harvested faster than they can grow naturally in an area, deforestation will result.
How many more examples of resource depletion can you think of? List them….

4. Resource Depletion

5. Pollution Is an effect of the Industrial Revolution. Why?
Pollution is an undesired change in air, water, or soil that adversely affects the health, survival, or activities of humans or other organisms.
Human activities are the main producer of pollution.

6. Pollution Two main types of pollutants:
1. Biodegradable- pollutants that CAN be broken down by natural processes.
Examples: human sewage and food waste

7. Pollution
2. Nondegradable Pollutants- Pollutants that CANNOT be broken down by natural processes, such as mercury, lead, and some types of plastics.
These pollutants are extremely bad for the health of the environment.

8. Loss of Biodiversity
Biodiversity- the number and variety of species that live in an area.
Extinction is a natural process, but is now happening at alarming rates. Why??

9. Loss of Biodiversity
Biodiversity is important because we depend on other organisms for
Food
Oxygen
Medicine
Clothing/building materials
**A species is considered a nonrenewable resource, because once it’s gone (extinct), it’s gone forever!

10. Classifying Environmental Problems
Overfishing
Oil Spills
Dirty drinking water
Air pollution
Deforestation
Fossil fuel depletion
Antibiotics in our food
Genetically modified food
Methane emissions from cattle
Mining
Soil contamination
Improper disposal of toxic waste
Ivory trade in Africa (killing elephants)
Radioactive waste sites
Overpopulation of humans
Natural disasters (hurricanes, earthquakes, etc.)

11. Classifying Environmental Problems
On your list, describe whether you think these problems are local, regional, or global concerns.