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N.I.M.B.Y.

N.I.M.B.Y. Inuit people living in the high Arctic have higher concentrations of PCBs in their blood compared to any other humans on Earth. How is this possible?.

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N.I.M.B.Y.

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  1. N.I.M.B.Y.

  2. Inuit people living in the high Arctic have higher concentrations of PCBs in their blood compared to any other humans on Earth. How is this possible?

  3. Air pollution from heavy industries is transported around the Earth by circumpolar winds. The average time it takes pollution to travel between Russia and Canada is only 3 days.

  4. CFC’s • Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) is another example of a human-made pollutant that was used for years without any known effects. It was cheap, non-toxic, and stable. • Common uses – Styrofoam, aerosol cans, air conditioner and refrigerator coolant

  5. In 1985, a hole in the ozone layer was discovered over the Antarctic which was caused by CFCs breaking down the O3 molecules. • By 1997, this hole was larger than the entire United States. • Since then, 81 countries have stopped producing and using CFCs.

  6. Surface water vs Ground Water • What is the difference between the two waters? • Surface water – our lakes, rivers, and oceans • most surface water pollution is from everyday activities

  7. Ground water – filters through the soil and fills spaces in the rock (pores) • pools of water sometimes form underground and can be useful sources of water (aquifers) • - good – water is naturally filtered and is free of bacteria • - bad – other contaminants (pesticides, solvents, spills) can pollute and are impossible to clean up.

  8. Is waste a problem? • Humans produce over 1000 billion kg of solid waste every year. Where can we put it all?

  9. Where Did It Go? • What happens to water that falls to the ground in a farmer’s field or your front yard? • Evaporates • Soaks into the soil and is taken up by plants (affects the substrate – the material on which an organism moves or lives) • Runs into puddles, ponds, and streams • Soaks through the soil and forms leachate – a liquid that dissolves substances in the soil and carries them with it.

  10. What is the best way to control pollution? • What about if the pollutants are already in the environment – how can we lessen its impact?

  11. Dispersion and Dilution • Dispersion – spread it out over a larger area • Dilution – make the concentration weaker

  12. Biodegradation • aerobic biodegradation – with air • anaerobic biodegradation – without air

  13. biodegradation factors • temperature • soil moisture • pH • oxygen supply • nutrient availability

  14. Other natural methods of breakdown: • Phytoremediation • e.g. hyacinth • Sunflower • Photolysis • Hydrolysis

  15. Who Is More Sensitive • Who do you think is more “sensitive” to pollution – boys or girls???

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