1. The Health of the Environment

2. Air and Water
Air Pollution: Contamination of the earth’s atmosphere with substances that pose threats to human, plant and animal health.
Other than oxygen, there are several other dangerous, man made gasses that are in the air.

3. Gas Pollutants Carbon Monoxide
A colorless gas caused by the burning of most substances. It prevents your body from utilizing hemoglobin, the oxygen carrying part of the blood.
Nitrogen Oxides and Sulfur Dioxides
Produced by the burning of fossil fuels. Can cause burning and tearing eyes.
This is also primarily responsible for Acid Rain.

4. Gas Pollutants Carbon Dioxide
The burning of fossil fuels creates carbon dioxide. As we breathe we exhale carbon dioxide from our lungs.
This gas is what is primarily responsible for the Greenhouse Effect.
Global Warming is one of the most important agenda items in today’s political arena.

5. Gas Pollutants Hydrocarbons
Incomplete burning of fossil fuels or the evaporation of solvents form a combo of hydrogen and carbon.
Hydrocarbons produced with nitric oxide in the presence of sunlight forms smog. Ah ha, this is why we have OZONE ACTION DAYS!
Motor vehicles are the prime source of hydrocarbons which have been linked to certain types of cancer and asthma.

9. Gas Pollutants
Chlorofluorocarbons: Known to the public as CFCs. It is a combo of chlorine, fluorine and carbon, which forms an invisible and odorless gas.
These chemicals, found mostly in refrigerants, are what cause the depletion of the OZONE layer in the atmosphere.

10. Particulates
Particulates can be defined as tiny particles suspended and moved through the air. These cause asthma and other health related problems.
Examples include:
Dust
Soot
Mold spores
Lead: mostly found in paint and pipes
Asbestos: an insulator

11. Asbestos

12. Water Pollution
Raw Sewage: Waste water dumped that is non-biodegradable contains harmful bacteria, viruses, chemicals and other dangerous substances.
Causes
Manufacturing
Chemical Plants
Mining

16. Chemicals in Water
Herbicides, Pesticides and Insecticides are spread by farmers and lawn owners. These can run off into water supplies and have been linked to cancer and birth defects.
Oil Spills can be caused by tank flushing, oil rig drilling and ships run aground.

17. Land Pollution
Every year BILLIONS of tons solid waste are buried or burned.
Landfill space is becoming limited.
The Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, controls what and where things are buried and burned.

18. Land Pollution
Hazardous Waste: substances that are considered explosive, corrosive, flammable and toxic to human or other forms of life.
Once these wastes are buried gases and toxins can seep into the water system. Lining the landfills is one means of preventing this catastrophe.

19. Land Pollution
NUCLEAR WASTE: Causes cancer and birth defects. With the increase in nuclear waste from power plants there becomes a problem of finding new ways and places to store the waste.
It can take up to 10,000 years for the radioactive material to breakdown.

22. Expansion and Development
Because of population increase and overdevelopment, there has been a dramatic increase in the amount of waste stored in landfills.

23. Deforestation
Deforestation: The rapid removal of trees. This is done to create more agricultural land and industrial profits.
Think about the Dust Bowl of the 30s and how that affected the health of people in that area.
Deforestation affects rivers, lakes, natural species, oxygenation of the region and even the water cycle.

24. Desertification
Desertification is the clearing of grasslands, rain-fed cropland or irrigated cropland to desert like conditions.
This is mostly caused by overgrazing

25. MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Conservation: The act of preserving and protecting our natural resources found in the environment.

26. MAKING A DIFFERENCE What can we do to make a difference?
Heating and cooling?
Water?
Lighting?
Cooking?
Driving?
Anything else?

27. MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Recycling: the treating of waste so that it can be reused.
Can you name some items that can be recycled?

30. TAKE ACTION What can you do to help preserve the environment?
What things in your environment could have a negative impact on your health?
Become an informed and EDUCATED citizen.

31. TAKE ACTION Join environmentally conscious organizations.
Take action against local polluters.
Change your daily lifestyle and habits.
Purchase products wisely.